Northern Divisional Tournament

Minneapolis – September 5, 2006 – Upper Midwest's best amateur bass anglers set to tackle the Alexandria Chain

96 anglers will arrive in the Alexandria, MN area on September 10th to practice and prepare for the ESPN Federation Nation Northern Divisional Tournament. The actual competition occurs over a three day period of September 13-15.  Weigh-ins for the event will be hosted by Bug-A-Boo Bay Restaurant on Lake Le Homme Dieu starting at 3:00PM on each day. 12 angler teams will represent Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, South Dakota, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois and Ohio. Anglers qualified in competition within their respective state federations. At stake in this tournament is a chance to fish in the Bass Federation Nation National Championship and one step closer to a coveted Bassmasters Classic berth.  The top angler from each state will qualify for the ESPN Bass Federation Nation Championships to be held in January on Neely Henry Lake in Alabama.

"The Alexandria Chain is a diverse body of water with a very high population of fish," says MN Federation Nation president Paul Becka, "The competitors should catch plenty of limits. Finding the quality fish is what will separate the top finishers from the rest of the field."

In addition to individual efforts, there is a team competition as well.  Each 12 man team's total fish catch is tallied and matched against the other states.  The top state team is awarded trophies and prizes.  

"I think the Minnesota team is poised to have a very good finish this year. All 12 of our guys qualified on the Alexandria Chain last September," says MN Team Member Rich Lindgren. "There would be nothing better then winning this event as a team on our home waters."  If you are interested in seeing Minnesota's best anglers compete against other states, Bug-A-Boo Bay is the place to be September 13-15th.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release, visit www.mnbf.org.
Lodging and Tournament Headquarter is the Holiday Inn in Alexandria, MN

About Minnesota Bass Federation:
The Minnesota BASS Federation is committed to promoting fishing for all ages and skill levels. We offer our assistance to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to improve fishing opportunities, habitat, water quality & preservation of public access to Minnesota's waterways. We work with state and local government, lake associations and other outdoor organizations to protect our fishing heritage. Through our youth initiatives, we provide education and on the water experiences to foster youth involvement and sustained interest in our sport.