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| FishTails |
 TRAVIS WINS THE HISTORIC BASS FEDERATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON LAKE WYLIE
News Release
For additional information, please contact: tbf@bassfederation.com
The Bass Federation Inc.: 580.765.9031
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 CHARLOTTE,
N.C. (April 26, 2008) - Brian Travis of Conover, N.C., a 30-year-old supervisor for Southeastern Freight Line,
is now "Living the Dream" after catching five bass weighing 14 pounds, 5 ounces on the final day of The
Bass Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard Saturday on Lake Wylie. He captured the TBF
National Championship title with a three-day total catch of 15 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces.
For his victory Travis received a $100,000 prize package that includes automatic entry into the $1 million Wal-Mart
Bass Fishing League All-American presented by Chevy on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark., May 29-31 and automatic
entry into the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by Castrol in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17, where the top pro
can pocket as much as $1 million - the biggest award in bass fishing.
"This is an unbelievable feeling, a dream come true," said Travis, who represents the Southern Division
and fishes Lake Wylie on a regular basis. "I look forward to the future and my fishing career with FLW Outdoors.
Travis started his fishing Saturday near Seven Oaks Creek on a spot that he had not fished in two years. He estimates
that he had three fish in the boat, including his biggest, by 9:30 a.m. He used an array of lures, including 4-inch
green-pumpkin lizards, Yum crawfish and Shooter jigs, while sight-fishing and covering a lot of water.
"This is the best executed tournament that I have ever fished," he said. "I had a good feeling that
this was my time to win."
In addition to incredibly lucrative championship berths, Travis also received $10,000 and a "prize package
that includes use of a "Living the Dream" wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered by Evinrude or
Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and entry fees into the 2009 Wal-Mart FLW Tour or Wal-Mart FLW Series to compete against
the world's top bass anglers.
Anglers from six nationwide TBF divisions competed during 2007 and qualified through a series of TBF club, TBF
state and TBF divisional tournaments to compete in the no-entry-fee TBF National Championship.
"I think everyone should join the TBF," Travis said. "It has so much to offer, and look where it
got me."
Travis started the tournament Thursday in first place with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces. He retained
his lead Friday with a five-bass catch weighing 16-06 that bumped his two-day total to 31-04 going into the final
day of competition.
Rounding out the boater field were Ronald Hobbs Jr. of Graham, Wash. (Western Division, 15 bass, 38-11, $5,000);
Tom Belinda of Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Mid-Atlantic Division, 15 bass, 36-07, $2,500); Robert Crino of South Royalton,
Vt. (Eastern Division, 14 bass, 33-12, $2,500); Terry McWilliams of Greenfield, Ind. (Northern Division, 15 bass,
30-01, $2,500); and Don Owens of Ponca City, Okla. (Central Division, 11 bass, 25-11, $2,500). Each of these boaters
will also advance to the All-American.
Overall there were 25 bass weighing 56 pounds, 4 ounces caught by six boaters. The catch included four five-bass
limits.
Hobbs also won a 519VX Ranger Comanche powered by Yamaha as the highest finishing Ranger Cup participant.
Bill Roberts of Fairfax, Va., entered the final round of co-angler competition with a 3-ounce lead but fell to
third after catching just one bass weighing 1-pound, 10 ounces. The Mid-Atlantic Division angler earned $1,000
for the finish with a total of 11 bass weighing 23-05. His stumble opened the door for Craig Fredrychowski of Lexington,
S.C., representing the Southern Division.
 Fredrychowski
overcame a 2-pound, 7-ounce deficit on the final day thanks to a five-bass limit weighing 7-07 that boosted his
three-day total to 14 bass weighing 26-11, good for a $10,000 prize package that includes co-angler entry into
the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup for a chance to fish for as much as $50,000. He also earned a berth into the All-American
along with the top co-angler from each TBF division for a chance to fish for as much as $70,000.
"I can't believe that I am qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup," Fredrychowski said. "This is a dream
come true for me. It absolutely means the world to me. This is just the start of something good.
"This week I had great partners, and I owe everything to them. They taught me a lot this week and allowed
me to catch some good fish."
Fredrychowski caught his fish throwing a shaky head and covering a lot of water on Lake Wylie.
Rounding out the co-angler field were Ben Gross of Kingman, Ariz. (Western Division, 11 bass, 23-11, $2,500); Hoyt
Akins of Mayflower, Ark. (Central Division, 11 bass, 22-8, $1,000); Brian Belke of New Lenox, Ill. (Northern Division,
10 bass, 22-05, $1,000) and Tim Austin of Williston, Vt. (Eastern Division, nine bass, 20-05, $1,000).
Overall there were 12 bass weighing 21 pounds, 10 ounces caught by six co-anglers. The catch included one five-bass
limit.
The entire field of 40 TBF boaters and 40 co-anglers fished Thursday and Friday for an accumulated two-day weight.
The top boater and co-angler from each of the TBF's six divisions advanced to Saturday's final round, where the
winners were determined by the heaviest three-day accumulated weight.
Coverage of the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox
Sports Net) subscribers in the United States on June 8 as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television program.
"FLW Outdoors" is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million
households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution
agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program
airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.
Tournament anglers aren't the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing,
FLW Outdoors® offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with
the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for
Player's Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory
at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour® stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player's Advantage will give them an edge over the
competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing
cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player's Advantage and FLW Outdoors
will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament
organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win
over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped
bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports,
$7.3 million.
The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated
state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the
local level each year and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 30 years.
For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call (580) 765-9031.
Charlie Evans interviews Bob Harkness during the second day weigh-in at
the 2008 Federation National Championship |
Bob Harkness weighs-in on the second day of the Federation National Championship |
Charlie Hanshaw weighs-in on the second day of the 2008 Federation National
Championship |
Charlie Evans interviews Charlie Hanshaw during the second day weigh-in
of the 2008 Federation National Championship. |
Charlie Hanshaw driving the #5 Castrol boat starts out for day1 of the 2008
Federation National Championship. |
Charlie Hanshaw during morning take-off on Lake Wylie during the 2008 Federation
National Championship. |
Co-Angler Bob Harkness starts day one at the 2008 Federation National Championship
in the Lowrance Boat #25. |
Bob Harkness gives thumbs up at start of day one of the 2008 Federation
National Championship. |
Bob Harkness receives 14th place trophy and check from legend Forrest L
Wood during the Living the Dream Banquet at the 2008 Federation National Championship. |
Charlie Hanshaw is presented the 11th place plaque and check from Forrest
L Wood during the Living the Dream Banquet at the 2008 Federation National Championship. |
Bob and Brenda Harkness during the Living the Dream Banquet at the 2008
Federation National Championship in Charlotte, NC. |
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