More eyes on the Classic prize

[djkimmel]

BASS News

More eyes on the Classic prize

Almost 18 months ago, Ed Riley of Woodbine, Md., set out on the qualifying road for the 2010 BASS Federation Nation Championship.

Last Friday, he arrived. He outfished others from Maryland at the Mid-Atlantic Divisional to be among the latest qualifiers for the Oct. 27-29 Federation Nation Championship on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City in northwestern Louisiana.

Riley also qualified to be Maryland's entry in the 2003 and 2004 championships.

"It's just as exciting the third time," he said.

The championship, in turn, will determine which six Federation Nation anglers will advance to the 2011 Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 18-20 on the Louisiana Delta. Riley hasn't made it yet to the Classic, but he is ready for a third try.

"If it happens I catch large enough bags to win the whole thing, then that would be great too, but my eye is on the Classic," Riley said.

Last week's other Mid-Atlantic qualifiers for the Red River final were Cavin Young of Prince George, Va., who was the overall winner at the Mid-Atlantic Divisional; Brian LaClair of Denton, Md. (representing Delaware); Michael Moore of Philippi, W.Va.; Mike McDonald of Zimbabwe, South Africa; Daniel Gray of Butler, Pa.; and Jeff Stetler of Leesburg, N.J.

To win a Classic berth, Federation Nation anglers have to beat the anglers within their division. In Riley's case, that's the Mid-Atlantic, which had seven qualifiers.

"Hey, I've got a one-in-seven chance," Riley laughed. "The winner, Cavin Young, is going to be tough, and all of them have paid their dues and fish well, or they wouldn't be where they are."

The BASS Federation's Southern, Central, Western and Northern divisional events completed their respective qualifying rounds earlier this year. The final divisional of 2010, the Eastern, is set for Sept. 22-24 on Candlewood Lake out of Danbury, Conn. After that tournament, the full championship field will be set.

More information is available on the Federation Nation pages of Bassmaster.com.