TBF No Entry Fee Division Championship Series Set for 2013

[djkimmel]

TBF News

TBF No Entry Fee Division Championship Series Set for 2013

Ponca City, Okla. - November 16, 2012 The Bass Federation (TBF), the national leader in NO cost or low cost tournament fees, announced today the dates and locations of the seven 2013 No Entry Fee Division Championships. This year's hosts are the state federations of Washington, Arizona, Tennessee, Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and New Jersey.

• September 1-6, TBF Northern Division Championship, Ohio River, Wheeling, West Virginia

Read complete article on GreatLakesBass.com Tournament News for details and full schedule.

[Waterfoul]

I will never understand how they can have the NORTHern division in West Virginia.  Come on now, how "north" is that really?  I'll tell you how north it is, it's so "north" that I could never afford to make the trip should I qualify.

Did West Virginia suddenly become a northern state?  And the Ohio River?  We always figured that's where the south began when heading to Florida and such.  There is so much good water in the NORTH that I simply don't understand choices like this for divisional championships.

[djkimmel]

It's not that big a deal. It is the Ohio federation's turn to host the Northern Divisional. Their choices are pretty limited. Lake Erie or the Ohio River pretty much. I don't know why they were not going to pick Sandusky or another part of Erie this year. I didn't ask anyone about it. I was just told it would not be out of Sandusky this time around.

Wheeling seems to be a  popular place to base Ohio River tournaments out of for a while now. It's the only major city on the East edge of Ohio along the Ohio River. Maybe the fishing is better on that part of the Ohio River or it is a good and popular location? Most of the Buckeye Division BFL events go out of either Maysville in the middle South part of the Ohio Border, or out of two locations actually in Indiana just West of their border.

It's only ~420 miles from GR, not too much farther than to Patoka in Indiana or Winnebago in Wisconsin, and closer than anything like La Crosse or a location in Minnesota.

Regardless, everyone is in the same boat wherever it is held. Fishing different types of waters in different places makes you a better angler. If you aren't already on the state team from last year's state championship, you don't have to worry about going to Wheeling. You can fish the 2013 TBF of Michigan state championship and fish the 2014 Northern Division IN MICHIGAN!!

[djkimmel]

One thing I will add is that I was always glad I went to every single divisional I ever had the chance to go to, even as an alternate or board rep. They're always fun and interesting. Lots of comradery and learning potential. Often made new friends, not always just from the 'home' state. Networking is just as important in fishing as anything else. Plus, there's that chance to make it to really big tournaments through qualifying.

[Team houston]

I agree. I always like seeing new water and its more fun than I think it will be.

[djkimmel]

That's how I feel. I don't think I was ever sorry that I went.

[bsimpson]

I was lucky enough to make it on the 2013 state team and call me crazy, but I'm looking forward to this tournament - I actually enjoy the travel.

[josh617]

It's not that big a deal. It is the Ohio federation's turn to host the Northern Divisional. Their choices are pretty limited. Lake Erie or the Ohio River pretty much. I don't know why they were not going to pick Sandusky or another part of Erie this year. I didn't ask anyone about it. I was just told it would not be out of Sandusky this time around.

funny thing is that every acts like the divisional is a huge tournament, number wise, while im reality its only a 36 boat tournament. There are more options than erie and the ohio river many of which fish far better than the ohio river, seems odd allowing the divisional to occur in another state other than the host state, maybe we do the divisional next year out of canada?
My opinion is only slightly bias though, since i live in ohio and its a 4 hour drive to fish a crappy body of water, and people wonder why i fish in michigan

[djkimmel]

Naw... we know why all of you come to Michigan to fish! We have tons of great water with great habitat and plenty of forage!

They aren't real big tournaments numbers-wise, but they do need a host city or group, and certain minimum facilities. I also think few anglers want to go to what they might consider undersized bodies of water for a three day event. They want some spreading out room. Maybe the psychological feeling that they can run somewhere and find the hot spot?

If you have some water suggestions that you think would work, you should share them with the Ohio TBF for their next turn. I look at a map of Ohio and I don't see a whole lot of 3-day tournament material. Grand Lake St. Mary's is not loved by many people for similar reasons for the Ohio River. Alum Creek I think was done in the far past I think. I don't hear much talk about that lake. Pymatuning was done in the way past. More in Pennsylvania than Michigan but I think there might be a special regs issue on that lake? I think there were some issues recently with Delaware and Mosquito too? I think there are tournaments on Indian Lake but I don't know if there are multi-day events there, or much about their results or angler popularity? I can't trust my memory for much without looking stuff up but I can remember it is often a challenge to find a body of water in some states that makes more than half the anglers happy.

I don't think Michigan has locked anything in for 2014 yet either but they could already be negotiating with someone for all I know.

I like fishing rivers, myself. The year I fished a divisional on the Ohio River somewhere else, it was pretty tough, but I had a great practice. That tournament taught me quite a few things - some the good way and some the hard way. That's bass tournament fishing at the higher levels - challenges you need to overcome. The kind of stuff that makes anglers better tournament anglers than just fishing the same lake all the time.

[motocross269]

Lake Charlevoix would be an excellent choice for a Michigan Divisional...Lots of water there....

I would like to see Michigan showcase something other than LSC...As much as I love that lake..

[Mojo]

Were just a few national articles away from those connected bodies in traverse city area being a regular regional or national host. The fish, hotels, waters, everything is there. I'm sure a few spots in Minnesota or Wisconsin feel the same way. It is unfortunate that Michigan isn't considered central, but one needs to just skip any thoughts of Ohio and go north to Michigan.

[djkimmel]

My goal is 1 or 2 national tournaments every year in Michigan. The hard part is building the local support. We have at least 1 next year.

As far as the TBF Northern Division Championship in 2014, it wouldn't hurt to get more members and have them get involved by sharing their opinions. It still comes down to some local involvement and support though for this type of event. Almost can't get a multi-day regional / national event somewhere if there is no local support.

Probably what we need to do is start getting more local government and business people into our clubs and at fishing events. Networking really works if you can get some people to help do it.