JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Battling increased wind gusts and all-around unfavorable conditions, only 18 of the 55 amateur anglers in the BASS Federation Nation Championship brought legal fish to the scales. It was a hometown favorite, Kansas’ Matt King, who was able to persevere, catching two largemouth bass weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces overall to lead the event.
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Battling increased wind gusts and all-around unfavorable conditions, only 18 of the 55 amateur anglers in the BASS Federation Nation Championship brought legal fish to the scales. It was a hometown favorite, Kansas’ Matt King, who was able to persevere, catching two largemouth bass weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces overall to lead the event.
Anglers are competing for the title and top prize of a Skeeter/Yamaha boat package valued at more than $64,000. Additionally, six amateurs from this event will advance to the Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 20-22 on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. Anglers are separated into six divisions and the top finisher in each division will secure a Classic berth.
King, of Olathe, said he knew how much the wind would affect the 16,000-acre fishery during competition, so he made several trips to the lake during the past year to key in on preferred locations. Competing in his first BASS Federation Nation Championship, the direct marketing professional is looking forward to better weather conditions Friday, the final day of the competition.
“Definitely being this close helped allowing me to come down to the lake more often to scout it,” King said. “I was just trying to learn the layout of the lake as best as I possibly could. I knew it was going to be tough and with this wind you can’t just really rely on a few areas. I probably fished 20 spots today and there was one I could not get to as it had at least 5-foot swells. I didn’t want to jeopardize getting back.”
King, also the Central Division leader, has long dreamt of competing at the Bassmaster Classic, professional fishing’s premier event.
“The Classic is a dream of any Federation Nation member,” said King, a five-time BASS Federation Division qualifier.
Scott Parker of Londonderry, N.H., brought one fish to the scales, but his 4-pound, 1-ounce smallmouth was good enough to put him in second place heading into the critical Day Two. Parker, who leads the Eastern Division, used a mushroom head jig with a 3-inch senko and fished slowly and diligently throughout the day.
“That big fish drilled it about 8:30 this morning,” said Parker, competing in his third Federation Nation Championship. “I’m really trying to slow down and make multiple casts in very small areas, making about 25 casts.
“I tried to make some long runs to other spots today but the weather was so bad that I turned around. The water was so dirty and muddy that I felt it was necessary to slow down.”
Jay Evans of Corvallis, Mont., who is a research scientist, was the only other angler to bring in two fish, weighing in a total of 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Evans, who leads the Western Division, is third in the overall standings after Day One.
“It was a really tough day with high winds and big swells,” he said. “I tried to get in to fish places out of the wind. I planned on hitting about 15 spots today, but ended up fishing in about six spots.”
Leading the other divisions were David Halcomb of Elkview, W.Va., with 2 pounds, 2 ounces (Mid-Atlantic); Terry Fitzpatrick of Waukon, Iowa, with 2 pounds, 2 ounces (Northern); and Waine Pittman of Villa Rica, Ga., with 1 pound, 15 ounces (Southern).
The Championship was shortened from a three-day event because of unsafe weather conditions Wednesday. Tuesday’s official practice was also canceled.
Anglers will launch their boats at 7 a.m. CT Friday from Milford State Park South Ramp, 3612 State Park Road, Milford, Kan. The weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. CT in Heritage Park in historic downtown Junction City. All events are free and open to the public.
Also, the 2008 Junior Bassmaster World Championship and Bassmaster CastingKids National Championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, in Junction City.
Bassmaster.com will present live, streaming video and real-time leaderboards throughout the competition beginning daily at 3:45 p.m. ET. Daily results and photo galleries will also be available at Bassmaster.com.
For more information on which states line up with each division, visit bassmaster.com.
Sponsors of the Federation Nation include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Skeeter, Yamaha, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, MotorGuide, Lowrance Electronics, Advance Auto Parts, Evan Williams Bourbon, Longhorn and Ramada Worldwide.
Local sponsors of the Federation Nation Championship include Junction City and Geary County, Kan.
2008 Fed Nation Championship – Junction City, KS 11/6-11/7
Milford Lake, Junction City KS.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Matt King Olathe, KS 2 05-04 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 05-04
2. Scott Parker Londonderry, NH 1 04-01 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 1 04-01
3. Jay Evans Corvallis, MT 2 03-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-04
4. Jeff Guerrette Glendale, AZ 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12
5. Dave Gerhardt Durango, CO 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07
6. Terry Fitzpatrick Waukon, IA 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
6. David Halcomb Elkview, WV 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
6. Joe Matt Syracuse, NY 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
9. Tim Myers Las Vegas, NV 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
10. Simone Bruccoleri Montelupo ITALY 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
11. Waine Pittman Villa Rica, GA 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15
12. Rick Culver Taylor, UT 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
12. Bryan Schmidt Olney, TX 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
14. Shane Oltjenbruns Neligh, NE 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13
15. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
16. Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, PA 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
17. Bubba O’Neill Evanston, WY 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
18. Franco Vallejos Albuquerque, NM 1 00-00 0
Day 1: 1 00-00
18. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Chris Barnett Harrogate, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Mike Baskett Salem, OR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Leo Bevelaqua Wyoming, RI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Rick Billings Rochester, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Glen Bruce Saco, ME 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Larry Cahan East Palatka, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Victor Calvillo Lagos De Moreno MEXICO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Robert Degraffenreid Oklahoma Cty, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Mike Desforges Burlington CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Matthew Desimone E Berlin, CT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Brady Farrell Fort Atkinson, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Eric Femiak Taunton, MA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Edward M Fore Concord, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Jeff Freeman Max Meadows, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Roy Galbraith Winfield, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Jeff Hager Alexis, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Mark Hensiek England, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Gerry Jooste Harare ZIMBABWE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Jim Kelly Lincoln, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Brian Maloney Osage Beach, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Kent Miller Byron, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Katsunori Mitsuhashi Atsugishi Kanagawaken J 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Dean Morris Tavares, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Jim O’Malley Elmhurst, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Jerry SERSEN Joppa, MD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Skip Sjobeck Randolph Ctr, VT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Chris Smith Absecon, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. William Smith Moncks Corner, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Justy Varkevisser Johannesburg SAMOA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Brad D Wall Clarksville, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Les Whitley Kennewick, WA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
18. Pat Wilson Penngrove, CA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
PUROLATOR BIG BASS
Day
1 Scott Parker Londonderry, NH 04-01 $0.00
BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT
Day
1 Matt King Olathe, KS 05-04 $0.00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 0 20 40-12
———————————-
0 20 40-12
INDIVIDUAL DIVISION STANDINGS
Name Hometown Fish Lbs Oz
Central Division
1 Matt King Olathe, KS 2 5 4
2 Bryan Schmidt Olney, TX 1 1 14
3 Victor Calvillo MEXICO 0 0 0
3 Robert Degraffenreid Oklahoma Cty, OK 0 0 0
3 Mark Hensiek England, AR 0 0 0
3 Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 0 0 0
3 Jim Kelly Lincoln, NE 0 0 0
3 Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA 0 0 0
3 Brian Maloney Osage Beach, MO 0 0 0
Eastern Division
1 Scott Parker Londonderry, NH 1 4 1
2 Joe Matt Syracuse, NY 1 2 2
3 Leo Bevelaqua Wyoming, RI 0 0 0
3 Glen Bruce Saco, ME 0 0 0
3 Mike Desforges CANADA 0 0 0
3 Matthew Desimone E Berlin, CT 0 0 0
3 Eric Femiak Taunton, MA 0 0 0
3 Skip Sjobeck Randolph Ctr, VT 0 0 0
Mid-Atlantic Division
1 David Halcomb Elkview, WV 1 2 2
2 Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, PA 1 1 11
3 Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 0 0 0
3 Edward M Fore Concord, VA 0 0 0
3 Jeff Freeman Max Meadows, VA 0 0 0
3 Gerry Jooste ZIMBAWE 0 0 0
3 Jerry SERSEN Joppa, MD 0 0 0
3 Chris Smith Absecon, NJ 0 0 0
Northern Division
1 Terry Fitzpatrick Waukon, IA 1 2 2
2 Simone Bruccoleri ITALY 1 2 0
3 Shane Oltjenbruns Neligh, NE 1 1 13
4 Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 1 1 12
5 Rick Billings Rochester, MN 0 0 0
5 Brady Farrell Fort Atkinson, WI 0 0 0
5 Kent Miller Byron, MI 0 0 0
5 Jim O’Malley Elmhurst, IL 0 0 0
5 Brad D Wall Clarksville, OH 0 0 0
Southern Division
1 Waine Pittman Villa Rica, GA 1 1 15
2 Chris Barnett Harrogate, TN 0 0 0
2 Larry Cahan East Palatka, FL 0 0 0
2 Roy Galbraith Winfield, AL 0 0 0
2 Jeff Hager Alexis, NC 0 0 0
2 Dean Morris Tavares, FL 0 0 0
2 Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 0 0 0
2 William Smith Moncks Corner, SC 0 0 0
2 Justy Varkevisser South Africa 0 0 0
Western Division
1 Jay Evans Corvallis, MT 2 3 4
2 Jeff Guerrette Glendale, AZ 1 2 12
3 Dave Gerhardt Durango, CO 1 2 7
4 Tim Myers Las Vegas, NV 1 2 1
5 Rick Culver Taylor, UT 1 1 14
6 Bubba O’Neill Evanston, WY 1 1 10
7 Franco Vallejos Albuquerque, NM 1 0 0
7 Mike Baskett Salem, OR 0 0 0
7 Katsunori Mitsuhashi JAPAN 0 0 0
7 Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 0 0 0
7 Les Whitley Kennewick, WA 0 0 0
7 Pat Wilson Penngrove, CA 0 0 0
