What dreams are made of!
Victor Leake

Coming in April 2004 to Keystone Lake; the BASS Federation Championship. Anglers from 46 states-The district of Columbia, Mexico,Canada,Japan,Italy, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, will be casting both lures and dreams into the waters of Oklahoma in hopes of going on the the BASS Masters Classic and the million dollar rainbow. Anglers working their way up from the 50,000 federation members have a chance at the top prize in bass fishing. So far only one angler has ever won a seat at the classic through federation and then won the classic the same year. Bryan Kerchal, a fry cook from Connecticut, won the BASS MASTERS Classic in 1994, the same year he won the Federation championship. Several have came very close. Dalton Bobo and Danny Correia came within mere ounces of making fishing history. Michael Icconelli qualified for the 1999 classic by winning the federation championship. Then went on to win the classic in 2003. "for me, the Federation Championship was the pinnacle of going from amateur to pro angler". says Mike.

Five out of the field of 53 anglers will go on to the 2004 BASS Master Classic.

The steps to make it are simple, but the completion is stiff. First step is to join a Federation club; like Cimarron Valley Bass Masters. Part of your yearly dues in the club go to a membership in the Federation. Next you sign up for the qualifiers, a modest cost of $125.00. You will fish three different tournaments; March 13-14, on Texoma-April 3-4, on Eufaula and April 17-18 on Grand. The Top Six will be held on Lake Keystone=September 25-26, 2004. Out of the three, two day events your lowest points for two days will be thrown out, those with the highest points or weights will go on to fish a top 12 regional Tournament to decide who will advance to the Championship for 2005. Each State can have a representative who will go on to fish the Championship. At the Championship there will be 5 regions-North -South-East- West and Central. Those fishing one region will compete only against those others from that region at the championship.

At each Tournament you will fish with a different partner each day, and you can go as a boater or non boater for each event. As a non boater you will get control of the boat to fish your water for half the day, you will also be expected to pay at least half the gas, usually around $20 a day. As a non boater I would not try to bring all my tackle onto someone elses boat. but rather pick the lures and rods that I feel I will most likely need. This is a guessing game but no need to carry too much tackle that you will never use.

As I said the steps are simple, but to make the Championship, you must be at the top of your game, only the best of the best make it. If you decide to fish the Federation Qualifiers look for me there, as I plan to fish them this year and I am looking forward to trying my hand against some of the best anglers in Oklahoma.

For more information on Cimarron Valley Bass Masters go to www.Oklahomabassfishing.com and click on clubs. For information on the federation go to www.Bassmasters.com and then go to Federation. Or go to www.okbass.org the Oklahoma Federation web site.

Fish often, catch all you want; keep just what you need, and release the rest for the future.