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Minnesota’s Best Amateur Bass Anglers Set to Tackle Mississippi River
August 28, 2008
Minneapolis, MN
On Saturday, August 30th, approximately 200 anglers will arrive in the Wabasha, MN area to practice and prepare for the Minnesota Bass Federation Nation Tournament of Champions on the Mississippi River Pools 4 & 5.
These 200 anglers have qualified from their local clubs from all over the state. 41 clubs will send teams and individual representatives to the Tournament of Champions (TOC). In addition to the TOC, an alternate’s tournament will be held on Pool 5a on September 3rd. The weigh-in will be 3:00PM held out of Minnesota City Boat Harbor on the banks of the river. High finishers will advance to the TOC.
Wednesday night is the banquet and pairings meeting that concludes with a raffle; With all proceeds supporting a local charity: the Food Shelf of Wabasha.
Events culminate with a two-day tournament on September 4th and 5th. Ike’s Park in downtown Wabasha will host weigh-ins for the event starting at 3:00 PM on Thursday and Friday.
Anglers come from all over the state for many reasons; foremost is the camaraderie of fellow anglers and secondly to qualify for the 2009 Bass Federation Northern Divisional. The top 12 anglers from the TOC will advance next year to fish against 7 other State Teams from Wisconsin, Indiana, South Dakota, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio on Lake St. Claire near Detroit, MN in late summer 2008. At stake there is a chance to fish in the Bass Federation Nation National Championship and take one step closer to a Bassmasters’ Classic berth.
Fish care is an important part of protecting the resource, so for the third consecutive year, the TOC will be utilizing an in-water weigh-in system that reduces stress on the fish. The Mississippi is a renowned largemouth and smallmouth bass fishery, which emphasizes the importance to return all the fish back to the river in good condition to be caught again for everyone.
”The great thing about the Minnesota Federation Nation State Championship is that we get a chance to give back to the community. Our sponsors have really stepped up big for our raffle and the local Food Shelf,” says Tournament Director Peter Perovich. “We really appreciate the support we get from Skeeter Boats, MinnKota, Vicious Fishing Line, and Lowrance.” If you are interested in seeing Minnesota’s best anglers, Ike’s Park is the place to be September 4th and 5th.
$1 Million Grand Prize Goes to Stay-at-Home Minnesota Dad
August 21, 2008
Michael Thompson of St. Michael, MN wins first $1 million payout in the history of fantasy sports. Also Jeff Nelson of New Brighton, MN wins a$10,000 Walmart Gift Card
View
FLW Outdoors article
View
FLW Outdoors video
Minnesota Finishes 2nd at Northern Divisional
With 3 of the top 7 anglers from Minnesota, Minnesota finished second behind Wisconsin in team standings. Rick Billings, Zumbro Valley Bassmasters finished first on the Minnesota team and will advance to theFederation Nation National Championship scheduled for Kansas' Milford Lake in November.
Standing: Ryan Brant, Nick Gross, Bob Sanquist, Joe Barnett, Bill Ludenia, Rick Billings, Chris Jung, Rick Hemaseth
Kneeling: Chuck Steinbauer, Jeremy Crawford, Rich Lindgren, Chad Kastenbauer
View
Bassmaster story and
results
Minnesota BASS Federation Crowns Two New Junior State Champions Lindgren and Reed Dominate at the 2008 Junior Tournament of Champions
June 27, 2008
Serpent Lake, Crosby, MN
Lucas Lindgren of Gopher Jr. Bassmasters and Keenan Reed of the Bassinators dominated this year’s class at the Minnesota Junior Tournament of Champions. Lindgren brought in a mixed limit of smallmouth and jargemouth weighing 11.81 lbs to win the overall “Top Hook Award” along with the senior division.
Keenan Reed worked a jig and a 4” black worm all day to win the junior division with a very convincing 10.19 lbs. Reed also showed he could keep up with the older class with a very impressive fifth place in the overall completion.
View full story and standings
Update: Congress Spares Bassers from EPA Permits
July 24, 2008
Celebration, Florida
On Wednesday, both the U.S. House and Senate passed S. 2766, "The Clean Boating Act of 2008," which will permanently restore a long-standing exemption for recreational boats from permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act. The next stop for this piece of legislation is the White House where it is expected to receive the President's signature and go into law.
The bill became necessary after a U.S. District Court decision in September 2006 which potentially subjected approximately 17 million recreational boats to permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act. These permits would have been expensive and subjected recreational boaters to maintenance and operation procedures that were designed for industrial polluters.
"Congress stepped up in the last seconds of the fourth-quarter and gave anglers and boaters a much needed victory," said BASS Conservation Director Chris Horton. "The impending permit requirements for anyone operating a recreational vessel were not the result of any real problem, but rather a court's assumption that there was no difference between large, trans-oceanic shipping vessels and an 18-foot bass boat. Fortunately, the angling and boating communities came together like never before, and successfully convinced Congress that this regulation placed an undue burden on the millions of recreational boaters around the country.
"My thanks to the BASS Federation Nations for their quick response to the many calls to action that went out at various times throughout this legislative course. With their help and the leadership of BASS, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and others, we demonstrated the collective power of the outdoor community."
Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks
Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks - a special program to benefit BASS Federation Nation members and their states programs. Bonus Bucks is bass fishing’s only tow-vehicle contingency program, and it provides the opportunity for anglers to earn extra cash for pulling their boat with the best tow-vehicles on the road, the Toyota Tundra & Sequoia.
Benefits for Federation Nation Anglers:
- Free Toyota Trucks clothing package to each angler registered for the program.
- $500 to each registered state team member. (Current state team members, who qualified in 2007, and are registered for program are also eligible for this bonus.)
- $1,000 to each registered State Qualifier to fish the National Championship.
- $5,000 to the highest placing registered angler at the National Championship - November 3-8, Milford Lake, Junction City, KS.
- $2,500 to the second highest placing registered angler at the National Championship - November 3-8, Milford Lake, Junction City, KS.
Matching Funds for Federation Nation State Programs:
These funds are paid direct to state programs, based on above mentioned individual angler performances.
- $250 to each state for each registered state seam member.
- $500 to each state for registered state qualifier to fish the National Championship.
- $2,500 to the state whose angler is the highest placing registered angler at the National Championship - November 3-8, Milford Lake, Junction City, KS.
- $1,250 to the state whose angler is the second highest placing registered angler at the National Championship - November 3-8, Milford Lake, Junction City, KS.
To learn more about this exciting contingency program contact us:
Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks Program
bonusbucks@dynamicsponsorships.com
Kendell Callaway or Lance Peck
(918) 742-6424
Federation Nation Members
Make sure you are on our email mailing list to receive Federation Nation news and updates.
Classic Update
Listen to Brent after the final practice day:
http://www.catch-n.com/audio/bh2.mp3
Read BassFan's interview of
Brent Haimes and other Classic Federation Nation qualifiers
Brent's day 1 weight:
5 bass 8-7 38th place
Brent's day 2 weight:
2 bass 3-3 45th place
View
real
time leaderboard
OPTIMA Batteries Joins BASS as Sponsor
February 7, 2008
Celebration, Florida
OPTIMA Batteries, The Ultimate Power Source, and BASS, the worldwide authority
on bass fishing, announced Tuesday that Milwaukee, Wis.,-based OPTIMA has joined
BASS as a supporting sponsor of the organization and its prestigious tournament
structure. View
Bassmaster
Press Release
Skeeter Products, Inc., Signs with BASS
January 22, 2008
Celebration, Florida
Skeeter Products, Inc., manufacturer of Skeeter brand high performance boats,
and BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, announced Tuesday that Kilgore,
Texas-based Skeeter has joined BASS as an Official Boat sponsor of the organization
and its prestigious tournament structure.
As part of the agreement, Skeeter becomes a premier sponsor of the Bassmaster
Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens and the Women's Bassmaster
Tour presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors.
Skeeter will also sponsor the six BASS Federation Nation Divisionals and Federation
Nation Championship, with additional commitment to BASS' youth initiatives:
the Bassmaster CastingKids Championship and the Junior Bassmaster World Championship.
"This is a great way for Skeeter to kick off its 60th anniversary as both Skeeter
and BASS share a rich heritage in the bass fishing industry," said Jeff Stone,
senior vice president and general manager of Skeeter. "It is only fitting that
we combine our passion for the sport to embrace and further enhance the success
and growth of tournament fishing."
Skeeter will have a presence at Bassmaster Elite Series events and the Bassmaster
Classic. Additionally, Skeeter will be the presenting sponsor of the BASS Federation
Nation Club World Championship.
The agreement also includes a large presence across BASS' considerable multi
media platforms, including ESPN2 Outdoors programming,
www.Bassmaster.com and
www.ESPNOutdoors.com.
Both organizations are celebrating significant milestones. In 2008, Skeeter
turns 60 while BASS is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
"We are delighted to celebrate the 40th anniversary of BASS with Skeeter Boats
as an official boat sponsor," said Tom Ricks, vice president and general manager
of BASS. "We know their reputation in the industry and applaud their devotion
to growing the sport of bass fishing."
Yamaha Motor Corporation Signs with BASS
January 22, 2008
Celebration, Florida
Yamaha Motor Corporation and BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing,
announced Tuesday that Kennesaw, Ga.-based Yamaha has joined BASS as an Official
Engine sponsor of the organization and its prestigious tournament structure.
As part of the agreement, Yamaha becomes a premier sponsor of the Bassmaster
Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens and the Women's Bassmaster
Tour presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors.
Yamaha will also sponsor the six BASS Federation Nation Divisionals and Federation
Nation Championship, with additional commitment to BASS' youth initiatives:
the Bassmaster CastingKids Championship and the Junior Bassmaster World Championship.
"By becoming a sponsor of BASS, Yamaha promotes its brand and supports boating
and fishing, which are activities we truly believe in," said Ben Speciale,
vice president, operations and planning for Yamaha Marine Group. "Reliability
and innovation are at the core of the Yamaha brand and the demands of competition
have taught us how to make our outboards even better."
Yamaha will have a presence at Bassmaster Elite Series events and the Bassmaster
Classic. Additionally, Yamaha will be the title sponsor of the BASS Federation
Nation Club World Championship events.
The agreement also includes a large presence across BASS' considerable multi
media platforms including ESPN2 Outdoors programming,
www.Bassmaster.com and
www.ESPNOutdoors.com.
"We applaud Yamaha's loyalty to its anglers and devotion to growing the sport," said
Tom Ricks, vice president and general manager of BASS.
Message From the New President
As your new President, I want to start by thanking the membership for your
vote. I will try my best to fill the large shoes of my predecessors, Jay and
Paul.
I also want to publicly thank Paul for his leadership through a very tumultuous
term as President, perhaps the most challenging time in Federation history. I
was at the Classic, representing Minnesota during those emotional meetings
with ESPN/B.A.S.S. Those of you not involved with the Board of Directors during
that time and the last two years, can’t imagine the time, effort, blood,
sweat, and tears that Paul and the Board unselfishly volunteered and donated
to our cause. I encourage each of you to take a moment and recognize Paul for
the outstanding contributions he made during his Presidency. He is truly one
of the reasons our organization is in existence today. Enjoy your retirement,
Paul. You deserve it.
Read more
2007-2008 Federation Nation Championship
November 9, 2007
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL
Zumbro Valley Bassmasters' Brent Haimes finishes 7th place overall and 1st
in the Northern division. Brent now qualifies to fish the 2008 Bassmasters
Classic at Lake Harwell (South Carolina)--Congratulations Brent!
Angler Hometown D No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1. Jeff Freeman Max Meadows, Va. (VA) M 15 27-11 $49,575.00
2. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, La. (LA) C 15 24-10 $10,000.00
3. Chris Loftus Bloomfield, N.Y. (NY) E 15 23-08 $5,000.00
4. Darin Doll York, Pa. (PA) M 15 23-01 $2,500.00
5. Mike Baskett Salem, Ore. (OR) W 14 20-12 $2,000.00
6. Sheron Brown Shirley, Mass. (MA) E 11 19-04 $1,500.00
7. Brent Haimes Mazeppa, Minn. (MN) N 12 19-01 $1,500.00
8. Shane Long Sarcoxie, Mo. (MO) C 8 18-12 $1,500.00
9. Doug Thompson Mabelvale, Ark. (AR) C 14 17-10 $1,000.00
10. Richard Watson Plattekloof, South Afr S 14 17-03 $1,000.00
11. Leslie Kennedy Fort Worth, Texas (TX) C 9 16-13 $1,000.00
12. Pat Klausen Lincoln, Neb. (NE) C 13 16-10 $900.00
13. Justin Rowse O'Neill, Neb. (SD) N 12 15-12 $750.00
13. Mark Pierce Clarksville, Tenn. (TN S 11 15-12 $750.00
15. Michael Prindle Tallahassee, Fla. (GA) S 9 14-13 $600.00
16. Nobel Willits Altamonte Springs, Fla S 12 14-10 $500.00
17. Brent Shores Boise, Idaho (ID) W 9 13-05 $500.00
18. Mike Keel Auburn, Ala. (AL) S 11 12-11 $500.00
19. Steve Smith Johnstown, Ohio (OH) N 6 12-07 $500.00
20. David McKinney Cullooen, W.Va. (WV) M 8 12-05 $500.00
NORTHERN DIVISION
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brent Haimes Mazeppa, Minn. (MN) 12 19-01 $1,500.00
2 Justin Rowse O'Neill, Neb. (SD) 12 15-12 $750.00
3 Steve Smith Johnstown, Ohio (OH) 6 12-07 $500.00
4 Nicola Panareo Portogrvaro, Italy (ITA) 9 10-13 $500.00
5 Ron Fabiszak S Bend, Ind. (IN) 7 9-01 $500.00
6 James Sullivan Strunberry Point, Iowa (I 7 9-00 $500.00
7 Don Fowler Cadillac, Mich. (MI) 6 6-06 $500.00
8 Jason Stangel Two Rivers, Wisc. (WI) 4 5-02 $500.00
9 Larry Coleman St Anne, Ill. (IL) 3 1-15 $500.00
View
ESPN
story and
final standings
Fishing Contest Fees
DNR
statement of need
About 6 years ago our Minnesota Department of Natural Resoures (DNR) instituted
a fishing contest (tournament) permit process to address complaints regarding
busy lakes and accesses. Within this process the DNR limits tournaments based
on the size of the body of water and a tournament organizer must request
a tournament permit that is free of charge.
Today, due to this process, previously reported complaints are virtually
non-existent. However, our DNR has changed this process by amending the statute
which stated
"Permits shall be issued without a fee" to "The commissioner
shall charge a fee for the permit that recovers the costs of issuing the
permit and monitoring the activities allowed by the permit.". The language
change was based on the recommendation of the Budget Oversight Committee
to recover the (FY 2006) $108,000 permit administrative costs.
Permit Overview
The permit process is manual and consists of several steps. First, a tournament
organizer downloads the application and mails the completed application to
a DNR regional office. If no scheduling conflict occurs, the permit is granted
and a copy of the application is mailed back to the tournament organizer.
If a conflict occurs, the DNR provides each tournament organizer with the
conflicting tournament organizer's contact information and asks them to resolve
the scheduling conflict. If no resoluation can be made, the DNR will conduct
a drawing to award the permit. Finally at the conclusion of the tournament,
the tournament organizer mails his tournament creel statistics (how many
were caught, how many were released, and the big fish) which is entered in
a database by a DNR employee.
2008 Fees
The DNR is moving forward with the following fee schedule:
Fee for open-water contests:
. Small contests (31-100 participants, 50 or fewer boats): $120
. Large contests (more than 100 participants or more than 50 boats): $400
Fee for contests with off-site weigh-ins:
. Small contests: $500
. Large contests: $1,000
Fee for ice contests (more than 150 participants) is $120.
Fee must be submitted with the application.
See http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/tournaments/regulations.html
Ron Payer, MN DNR Fisheries Chief, stated that these fees will be tracked
and go into the Game & Fish fund to support projects.
Uncommon Fees
Many states do not require tournament permits and even fewer charge a fee.
Other natural resource state agencies fund administrative costs through fishing/boat
licenses and sportfishing equipment (that is subject to a 10% Federal Excise
Tax that is funneled back to states).
| State |
Permit? |
Permit Fee? |
Notes |
| Alabama |
Varies |
No |
Corps of Engineers
require a permit;
State parks with launch and weigh-in facilities require a permit |
| Connecticut |
Yes |
No |
|
| Iowa |
Yes |
No |
Permit required for tournaments over 6 boats |
| Louisiana |
No |
No |
|
| Maine |
Varies |
Varies |
catch,
measure and release (CMR) permit for $15--used during the spawn
club weigh-in tourney permit for $25, allowing no more than 15 boats
to be involved
open tourney permit for $55, up to 100 boats and cash prizes up to $10,000
Multi-day permit $150 (allowing up to three consecutive days on one body
of water)
Maine limits the number of permits of any kind on any one body of water
to four opens and three club weigh-in tourneys, CMR’s do not count. |
| Mississippi |
No |
Varies |
Ross Barnett Reservoir
$5 fee per boat for tournaments over 50 boats
Pat Harrison Waterway district (8 or 9 lakes) charges a $25 tournament
fee |
| Montana |
Yes |
No |
|
| New Mexico |
|
$15-25 |
|
| Oklahoma |
No |
Varies |
Corps of Engineers:
free to $25 (based on size)
Grand River Dam Authority: $25-$55 (based on size)
Oklahoma State Parks facilities: free to $25 (non-profit vs. profit)
National Park Service: $30 ramp fee |
| Ontario Canada |
No |
No |
|
| Oregon |
Yes |
Varies |
Marine
Board charges a $25 fee when over 24 boats
Various county park and US Forest Service ramps charge $25 on average |
| Rhode Island |
Yes |
No |
Permit required for tournaments with 6 boats or more |
| South Carolina |
No |
Varies |
Typically around $25 |
| Texas |
Varies |
No |
Some lakes require permits but the TPWD does not |
| Washington |
Yes |
$24 |
Maximum of 7 tournaments per year per organization. |
| West Virginia |
Yes |
No |
|
| Wisconsin |
Yes |
None at this time |
|
|
|
|
|
Moving Forward
We have stated the desire to receive more information and sooner from the
DNR so we could have been better informed about these fees and provide
more feedback in a timely manner back to the DNR as a valued stakeholder.
In the future there is opportunity to reduce permit administrative costs
by automating the current "paper" process to allow tournament
organizers to go online to 1) submit an application 2) check application
status 3) and enter tournament creel survey data. We would also like to
investigate other fee recovery approaches. The DNR should poll to estimate
how many tournament anglers exist in Minnesota. The Wisconsin DNR estimates
they have 20,000 tournament anglers. The 2006 Brainerd ice fishing tournament
had over 10,000 anglers in itself. If each angler is required to purchase
a "tournament stamp"
for $10, the $108,000 dilemma would be fulfilled and it would be less a burdensome
fee than the current schedule (ranging from $125-$1000).
Mickey Goetting
Minnesota B.A.S.S. Federation Nation
Conservation Director & Webmaster
mgoetting@mnbfn.org
Borrow a Fishing Rod Program and Casting Kids
June 15, 2007
Minneapolis, MN
In a cooperative sponsorship between the Northwestern Bassmasters, Shakespeare
Fishing Rods, Ultimate Rent-All and RV, Cooper's Technology Group and Northland
Fishing Tackle, kids can check out a Shakespeare rod and reel combo and a Northland
tackle pack to use for free! Just like a library book, you can check out the
rod and reel combos and tackle to use for free!
View
flyer for
more information
Loss of a Member and Great Friend: Ed Bogan
June 05, 2007
Minneapolis, MN
Last Saturday, the Minnesota BASS Federation Nation lost a long-time member
and a great friend. Ed Bogan died shortly after being swept overboard by a
rogue wave while pre-fishing for our TOC on Leech Lake.
A member of Northern Black Bass, Ed served a term as Youth Director of the
Federation. He has always volunteered to help with Casting Kids events and
always stepped up to volunteer on committees when needed. He was an extremely
friendly, sincere, and outgoing person who always had a good word to say about
everyone. Everyone in the Fed will miss Ed Bogan.
Ed's funeral will be held on Saturday, June 9. Viewing is at 11:00 a.m., with
the service at 12 noon at the Emmanuel Tabernacle, 2501 E. 22nd St., Minneapolis,
MN 55406.
Memorial donations may be made to:
The Edward C. Bogan Memorial Fund
c/o US Bank
4100 West 50th St.
Edina, MN 55424
We typically don't think of our sport as particularly dangerous or risky. Let
Ed's death be a stark warning that every day on the water is a gift to be treated
with utmost care and concern. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Ed's wife Melody,
his children, family and friends.
Respectfully,
Paul Becka
President
Minnesota B.A.S.S. Federation Nation
Coon Lake Cleanup
April 01, 2007
East Bethel, MN
On the shores of Coon Lake (Anoka county), for the fourth year in a row, the
Bassinators fill a pickup truck full of garbage from a local county park.
Bassinators is a youth fishing club located in the Twin Cities Metro area.
Bassinators provides an education for those ranging from 8 to 18 years of age.
These young men and women learn angling skills, but also other intangibles
such as boating safety, conservation and preservation of the environment. "As
anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, we also like to pass on the tradition of responsible
stewardship of our natural resources" says Bassinators Adult Director
Jeff Gilmer.
"Our annual lake clean-up project is a great example. We select a lake
and spend a day cleaning the area. During the day, we have a picnic, and hand
out gifts from our sponsors. It is a fun way for everyone to spend a spring
afternoon."
Bassinators is sponsored by the Stellar Bass Club which is a Minnesota Federation
Nation club. Each year the kids get to fish with local pros on local lakes
five times, then participate in the Minnesota State Championship where they
can advance to the BASS Junior Bassmasters World Championship (JWBC). The JWBC
gives these youth anglers an opportunity to fish with BASS pros like Kevin
Van Dam and Skeet Reese.
To find out more about youth angling opportunities or adult volunteer openings
with the Bassinators of the Twin Cities visit
youroutdoordestination.com.
Minnesota Bass Anglers Crowned Top Federation for 2006
February 7, 2007
Minneapolis, MN
The Minnesota B.A.S.S. Federation Nation was named Federation of the Year at
the recent B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship held in Gadsden, Alabama.
The prestigious annual award goes to the state organization that best puts
together a well-rounded program involving conservation, youth and community
service.
"This is really a great award and we are honored to receive it",
said Federation President Paul Becka. "Our goal was always just to run
the group as professionally as possible in a politically difficult year, but
it is also nice to get recognition for our youth and conservation activities."
The Minnesota B.A.S.S. Federation Nation is compromised of 400+ amateur bass
anglers of all ages and genders from Minnesota and bordering states. Besides
fishing competitively, its members participate in a variety of activities that
benefit the outdoors.
Federation Regional Director John Murphy, "It was quite an honor to accept
this award on the behalf of all my fellow members." Murphy represented
Minnesota in Gadsden.
The Minnesota Federation hopes to leverage this award and publicity into augmenting
efforts that are already in place focused on growing membership. Membership
is the key to being able to do more and bigger projects.
View
ESPN/B.A.S.S.
article
Minnesota Federation Recognizes 30 year member: Roger Diesen
Minnesota Federation President, Paul Becka, recognized Roger Diesen for 30
years of membership. In his thirty years, Roger has enjoyed the people he has
met and the friendships he developed. Roger stressed the importance of volunteering
and contributing to youth projects.
On one occasion, Roger was one of several Federation members who helped take
two bus loads of kids for a Forest Lake fishing event. The kid fishing with
Roger won a bike in a raffle at the end of the day and gave Roger a tear filled
hug and said "I have never had a bike before. This is the best day of
my life.
