Ed Cowan Wins 2005 Citgo Federation Championships
Photo by Wil Wegman
In 1994, Ed Cowan of the Eastern Division missed a Classic berth because he was beat out at the Federation Championships by his good friend Bryan Kerchall of New Jersey. Later that summer, fishing his second Bassmasters Classic, Bryan became the first ever Federation Angler beat out all the pros to win this world championship event. A few short months later, in a freak plane accident, young Bryan lost his life … long before his time. He has not been forgotten though as Federation members from around the world still honor his memory at every possible occasion. Today was such a day, as 46 year old Ed Cowan won the Bryan Kerchall Memorial trophy as the winner of the 2005 Federation Championship and dedicated that win to his good friend Bryan.
Cowan, weighed in a total of 14-10 pounds today which augmented by yesterday’s leading weight of 16 pounds gave him the 30-10 pounds needed for the win. He also bagged the biggest bass of the day at 5 pounds 8 ounces. His pattern involved fishing a ledge off shore with crankbaits … and the big one came at 11:55 am on an old Poes Crankbait that’s not even made anymore. Most of Ed’s fish came from Jackall Aragon crankbaits, including a jointed model –something that most other anglers just don’t throw.
As winner of the event, Cowan from the New Jersey Bassmasters naturally also tops in the Eastern Division – the same division that the Ontario BASS Federation will be in the next time these Championships are held in 2006. Cowan had over a four pound lead from 2nd place overall finisher Jamie Fralick of South Dakota. Fralick weighed in 11.01 pounds today for a total of 26-05. Although in most cases, finishing 2nd does not make you a winner – in the case of this tournament, it sure did as Fralick was tops in his Northern Division and will therefore go on to fish his first Bassmasters Classic this summer in Pittsburg. In 3rd place overall, was Dave Palmer from Oregon with 26 pounds which was tops in the Western Division. He too will fish his first Classic this summer. In 4th was Jeff Hager from North Carolina representing the Southern Division. His 23-05 weight earned him a berth to his first Classic.
Finally, the fifth angler to represent the Federation Program was not the angler who came in fifth overall but he was first in the Central Division. Gerry Jooste of Zimbabwe Africa weighed in 12.10 pounds of Disney bass for a two day total of 21.13 pounds. This earned the 46 year old veteran angler his 4th berth to the Bassmasters Classic. He placed 6th out of the 15 anglers who qualified to fish on the final two days of this four day event. Unfortunately for 5th place finisher Todd Shaaf of the Northern Division, his total weight of 22-09 was not enough to top Fralick’s and therefore will not be competing in his first Classic.
Shauni Voisin Wins Again!
Canadian Casting Kid Champs Shauni Voisin and her older sister Samantha did the Ontario BASS Federation and Canada proud by each casting in fine form. Sam did well enough for a third place finish while younger sister Shauni came first. This means Shauni is on her way once again to compete in the world Casting Kids Championships this summer at the Bassmasters Classic. Ontario Bassmasters will recall how in the summer of 2004, she became the first non-American to ever win the world title in her 7-10 age category.
Well, tonight is the Final Federation Awards Banquet which starts in a few minutes; so I gotta go. Tomorrow, stay tuned to www.bigfatbass.com for more details on this exciting week-long event, as this Canadian Outdoor writer was unable to get a flight out until Monday May 2nd. I will try and reflect back and recall some other points of interest while I'm still here.
So, from Kissimmee Florida … this is Wil Wegman signing off for now
Shauni and Samantha
Shauni won with 140 points. There was no shoot out.
Samantha came in with 130 points. To finish in third.
There was a cast off in her age bracket. Minnesota and Iowa both had 140 points. Minnesota won in the shoot out to take the Northern Division.
The big joke going now is the Northern Division is happy we've moved to the East and can have the Voisin Girls kick their butts for the next few years.
Ken
