In the bass fishing world the pinnacle of achievement has always been and continues to be a berth in the Bassmaster Classic. For most of us as serious as we may be about our beloved sport, participation in the Classic has always been an unrealizable dream. Though qualification routes exist through the Bass Nation and their regional chapters in Canada, an angler must succeed at 5 different levels of competition to earn a spot at “The Show”. Furthermore, the Canadian culture of competitive bass fishing has been entrenched in the team tournament format and qualification through the ‘Nation would require you to participate at each level alone. This is about to change.
With the introduction of the Toyota Bassmaster Team Championship, North America’s most successful fishing teams will soon be able to prove their skills against competition from throughout the Continent.
“Not only will we crown the national championship team, but we will also provide an opportunity for one outstanding grass-roots fisherman to qualify for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin.
The B.A.S.S. National Championship for Team Tournament Anglers has created a new path to the 2015 Bassmaster Classic and has invited both The CSFL and Renegade Bass to participate. “…based on your highly respected degree of professionalism, the caliber of competition and your dedication to fish management, B.A.S.S. is proud to exclusively invite Renegade Bass and Bassmania to participate in the National Championship “ –Jon Stewart Director B.A.S.S. Nation. Stewart went on to say that every series was highly scrutinized to ensure that the core values of each association were in keeping with the B.A.S.S. mandate. The selection process also included recommendations and references from top sponsors. Bob Mahoney (Shimano Marketing Manager) was contacted and specifically communicated that Bassmania and Renegade should participate from Canada. “Their conviction to ensure the highest degree of fish management which comes at a huge cost of profit is perhaps one of the most important criteria which distinguishes Renegade Bass and the CSFL from all of the others”.
The championship will be held in late fall of 2014 at a date and location to be announced later. Teams from across the country will compete for the Team Championship crown. Following the team portion of the event, the Top 3 pairs of fishermen will be split up and will compete individually, from separate sponsor provided boats, for a berth in the 2015 Classic, Akin explained.
As many as 200 fishing teams will compete in the championship. To qualify, they will have to finish as the top teams in a participating team tournament trail. Sanctioned Bassmaster Team Championship tournament trails will enroll their anglers as B.A.S.S. Team Members. Collectively, the charter trails which have already signed on span the country from coast to coast, and they represent more than 7,500 participants.
Andrew Pallotta (CSFL) and Paul Shibata (Renegade Bass) were contacted “We are both so excited to be sanctioned by the B.A.S.S. as the only associations in Canada invited to the National Team Tournament Championships” They both echoed that a realistic opportunity for their anglers to earn a spot at the Bassmaster Classic has never existed and that this new challenge will undoubtedly fulfill the dreams of a couple of highly skilled Canadian teams.
More exciting details to follow.
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