Delaware B.A.S.S. Federation Nation: Welcome

Welcome to the Delaware B.A.S.S. Federation Nation website. The DBFN is an organization comitted to the continuance of the B.A.S.S. principles and the DBFN strives towards building comraderie and respect among fellow bass fisherman, as well as encourage growth of the sport and awareness through conservation efforts and youth activities. The DBFN plays a vital role in supporting our states natural resources and habitat so that fisherman of all kinds may enjoy this great sport for years to come. Please feel free to take a minute to look around the site and become familiar with our clubs and members. 

                                                    Classic Bound
                                       By Lew Boulden - President
                                                             
     While the majority of us here in the Delaware B.A.S.S. Federation Nation are busy making our plans for the upcoming 2012 season, cleaning our gear, taking inventory of our tackle, and maybe dreaming of the big bass to come, one of our own is making similar plans... only, his plans revolve around a little event called "The Bassmaster Classic".  Del Mar Bass Tracker Chris Price, from Church Hill Maryland, will be making his 2nd Classic appearance February 24th to the 26th on the Red River in Louisiana where he'll be representing both the Delaware B.A.S.S. Federation Nation and the Mid-Atlantic Divion.

     Chris qualified for the 2011 Delaware State Team last year (2010) on the Nanticoke River in Seaford Delaware.  He, along with the other 11 state team contenders, then tested their mettle this past September on the Delaware River at the Mid-Atlantic Divisional hosted by New Jersey.  Conditions were, to use an understatement, "not that great" on the Delaware that week, thanks to a hurricane followed by tropical storm conditions that hit just before the divisional.  With chocolate colored waters running at record levels, an obstacle course run through a flotilla of uprooted trees, urban debris, and even free floating sail boats, the divisional competitors faced some the worst conditions imaginable for a bass tournament.  A Delaware team member even discovered a body in one of the creeks off the main river.  Still, Chris managed to find enough fish to finish 1st on the Delaware Team, and 3rd over-all in the 3 day competition.  As a matter of fact, Chris' 11 pounds was just 1 ounce shy of the event's winning weight of 11 pounds 1 ounce.

      Fast forward to the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship on the Ouachita River out of Monroe Louisiana in November.  There, Chris put together a fish catching pattern of running shallow crankbaits around laydowns and stumps in about 3 feet of water, both in the backs of creeks and on the main Ouachita itself.  By fishing fast and running and gunning, Chris was able to put together 3 limits of bass for 23 pounds 11 ounces and an 11th place finish.  That finish was good enough to best the other Mid-Atlantic State's competitors and earn Chris his 2nd Classic berth in 10 years.

       Let's all wish Chris good luck and tight lines at the Classic

        To end, I'd like to note, for those that didn't know, that this is the 2nd year in a row that a Delaware angler is representing the Mid-Atlantic Division at the Bassmaster Classic.  Brian Laclair competed in the 2011 Classic earlier this year and showed that Delaware fishermen can cut the mustard.  Thanks Brian.

2012 Open Buddy Tournaments.

The 2012 SQT will be held on 10/6-7/12 on the Upper Bay out of Turners Creek

Pig Sticker Bait Co. would like to offer the Delaware B.A.S.S. Federation Nation state chapter a sponsorship! Here is what we are offering: 

1. All Federation Nation clubs and members will receive a 20% discount on all online purchases placed at www.pigstickerbait.com. 

Make your purchases online. At the time of checkout, in the coupon area enter your specific code and you will receive your discount. (coupon code will be delivered to club reps via Lew Boulden, DBFN President)

 2. At your State Tournament we will provide $500 worth of free product for your state president to distribute (1time per year). 

3. Each club with their first purchase will be automatically entered into “our competition!”  Be sure to enter your clubs name in the comment section of your order because on 08/01/11. The club that has purchased the most products online (based on dollar value) PER STATE!!  Will receive a Gift certificate for 25% of their purchased dollars to be used at www.pigstickerbait.com .

IMPORTANT FEDERATION NEWS!

The Delaware B.A.S.S. Federation Nation is considering options to increase participation in the current open team tourneys. The latest option discussed at the last meeting is modifying the open trail into a State Team Qualifying trail. This means that the regularly scheduled Open team tourneys would then become 4 or 5 State Team qualifying tournaments. Sending the top 12 finishing anglers (cumulative points over the tournament trail) on to state team competition.

No decisons have been made, the DBFN is just in the exploratory phase at this point. The club reps should be making contact with their clubs to discuss this, and bring all considerations to the March federation meeting.

The currently scheduled DBFN open team tournaments for 2011 will not be affected. The modification would only be effective for the 2012 season.

 All clubs are encourgaed to discuss this option, as well as other options to increase participation at the open tournaments.

President - Lew Boulden

Vice President - Tony Kibler

Secretary - Todd Case

Treasurer - Mike Morris

Youth Director - Bob Moody

Conservation Director - Bob Wallace

Tournament Director - Ryan Abey