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| Russell Smarr Jr (ltor) and Don Corkran of B.A.S.S. Russ is the West Virginia representative in The B.A.S.S. Federation
National Championship next week. |
Follow the story at Bassmaster's
Bass Fishing's Amateur Championship Returns to Tennessee Next Week
It's Not The World Championship BASS Masters Classic, But, For The World's Top Amateur Anglers, It's A Springboard
To The July Event In Chicago.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., April 18, 2000 — The B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship, the final rung on the ladder
for amateurs climbing to the sport's world championship, returns next week to the two east Tennessee fisheries
where the tournament was held in 1998.
The competition is April 27-29 on Fort Loudoun and Tellico lakes with a full slate of activities planned for
fishing fans. Events include tournament weigh-ins, a fishing and boating show, and the semifinals of a national
youth casting program. At stake is a total payout of $50,000 with $15,000 going to the winner.
This competition consists of 51 anglers from four continents and six nations. The contestants belong to the
Bass Anglers Sportsman Society's B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation, a global network of bass clubs in 46 states and the
nations of Canada, Japan, Italy, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The anglers qualified for this competition after advancing
through local and state contests.
Ironically, winning this tournament is outranked by another more appealing treasure, a berth in the world championship
as an amateur. The national championship sends the top five anglers, one from each respective geographic region
of the federation, to the BASS Masters Classic set for July 20-22 in Chicago. There, they join the sport's top
40 pros to compete for the world championship on Lake Michigan.
The 1998 national championship was won by Ohio coal miner Mark Hickenbottom, who caught 28 pounds, 12 ounces
to win a tough contest ravaged by flash floods and tornadoes. Hickenbottom is not returning to defend his title,
although three other state champions from the 1998 tournament will be back. They are North Carolina's David Harp,
Scott Stephenson of Kansas, and Nebraska's Kent Priel, the overall runner-up in 1998. Taking a shot at a second
national championship title is 1991 winner Ed Cowan. Three contestants, Donnie Cox, Ed Cowan and Hoot Gibson, are
former national championship qualifiers who have competed in the Classic over the years.
Regardless of whether or not they have been here before, the anglers hope to find better weather and improved
fishing during this second trip to Loudoun and Tellico. For those desires to come true all depends on the weather,
a leading factor of success in springtime bass fishing. Local tournament angler Randy Sanders can't offer any long-range
weather forecasts, but he is qualified to make predictions about how the fishing will pan out. That is because
this east Tennessee native lives near Loudoun and grew up bass fishing in the area. Sanders is also known as the
offensive coordinator of the University of Tennessee Volunteers who won collegiate football's national championship
title in 1998.
"Two weeks ago the surface temperature in the Tennessee River was 65 degrees, but last week it was down
to 55 degrees," he says in referring to a series of cold snaps that had passed through the area in recent
weeks. "The fishing was obviously about to break wide open before the cold spell, and it could rebound if
the weather stabilizes." He predicts that Loudoun could again produce the winning catch as it did for Hickenbottom
in 1998.
The anglers are allowed to return to the weigh-in with five bass that must measure at least 14 inches in length.
The schedule of events includes the daily weigh-ins beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Knoxville Coliseum. Expo 2000,
displaying the latest in fishing and boating tackle, is open from 5-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and from 10 a.m.
to 7 p.m. on Saturday. The BASSMASTER CastingKids Semifinals presented by Zebco and BIG Kmart is on Saturday from
9 a.m.-Noon at the Hyatt Regency. Admission to all events is free.
Sponsors of the 2000 B.A.S.S. National Championship are: Ranger Boats, RangerTrail Trailers, Mercury Marine,
Chevrolet Trucks, BIG Kmart, Humminbird/Zercom Electronics, Pennzoil Marine, ACDelco Batteries, Flowmaster Exhaust
Systems, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Quantum Rods and Reels, Berkley Trilene, Berkley Power Bait, Eagle Claw Fishhooks,
worldwaters.com and Knoxville Sports Corporation.
2000 B.A.S.S. National Federation Contender List
FIRST LAST STATE
Bob Adams Ohio
Don Allen Wyoming
Jason Allred Washington
Todd Auten North Carolina
Ken Baumgardner Pennsylvania
Dave Beattie Zimbabwe
Brian Blaeser Minnesota
Andy Bravence Arizona
Doug Caskey Kentucky
Timothy Clark Arkansas
Ed Cowan New Jersey
Donnie Cox Colorado
Alan Denise New Hampshire
Mark Donovan Rhode Island
John Farrand Maine
Stan Fisher Montana
Michael Gauthier Wisconsin
Hoot Gibson Mississippi
Doug Haas South Dakota
Rickie Harp Alabama
David Harp Connecticut
Richard Hofmann Illinois
Billy Hurt, Jr. Tennessee
Rob Hyatt Ontario
Phil Jones Michigan
Paul Koluch Maryland
Trent Loukas New Mexico
Chuck Mann California
Joe Matt New York
Dean Matts Oklahoma
Bobby Maynard Texas
Terry McWilliams Indiana
Sandy Melvin Florida
James Mitchell Missouri
Katunori Mituhashi Japan
Alfie Nagel South Africa
Scott Nielsen Utah
Chris Price Delaware
Kent Priel Nebraska
Tom Ridley Georgia
Greg Rikard South Carolina
Marco Rodriguez Idaho
Stefano Sammarchi Italy
Russell Smarr Jr. West Virginia
Ray Sprano Vermont
Scott Stephenson Kansas
Michael Tamburello Massachusetts
Danny Paul Thompson Louisiana
Robert Welch Iowa
Lee Whaley Virginia
Gary Yexley Oregon
For more information contact George McNeilly, B.A.S.S. Director of Communications and Broadcast Development
at (334) 272-9530
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