The elite field will feature 17 anglers (click here to see qualifier photos) that have qualified for the prestigious event by meeting a predetermined point accumulation throughout the 2004 National Boat Mart – TVA Tournament Series. Anglers will take off the first day the order they finished in the point standings this season. 2004 Angler of the Year, Don Deerwester will be pacing the field. This has been Deerwester’s year, to say the least. Will he do it again? He posted big weights on Freeman with the water being a little high in June, as he was the only angler to run upriver early and stay all day.
John Cullum is one of the anglers in the field again this year, as well as the defending champion. Nobody has ever won it back to back, but Cullum set new records last year will he break this one too?
The winner in this best of the best field of anglers in the National Boat Mart – TVA Series will have to do well on both lakes in order to win, day one is on Lake Freeman and the final day is on Lake Shafer. The winner will be the angler with the highest cumulative weight after two days of competition. September, not totally Summer (cool nights at times) but not even close to Fall either.
Conditions Are Set
The last two weeks prior to the event has both lakes swollen and muddy with a lot of water moving through the dams. Water was even reported over the tops of docks on Lake Freeman. That’s high! Being a resort and tourist, area both lakes have been or will be churned to froth with water skiers and pleasure cruisers over Labor Day weekend thus further nullifying any practice strategies, and leveling the playing field.
Anybody’s game, you bet! This one is going to be exciting.
The guys are all tough competitors as well as good friends. Someone will emerge as the winner. Many anglers are predicting a low weight leading the first day on Freeman and a heavy creel brought in on the final day on Shafer to boost their tournament total, and get the victory spoils.
Bring the family and come out and see the championship!!
Exciting Final Day
The tournament will once again feature a trailered weigh-in like on television. As the anglers display their fish one at a time in front of the weigh-in crowd, and get interviewed on stage until a champion emerges.
The National Boat Mart-TVA Bass Series is sponsored by: National Boat Mart, FishingWorld.com, Bass Maxx Charging Systems, Hendrickson Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Wrede & Son’s Excavating, Best Western Brandywine Inn & Suites, Land-O-Champs Trophy, and Lafayette Glass Company Lafayette, Indiana. Yoders Stitching Line Flora, Indiana, Wild Bills Outpost Flora, Indiana, Stephans IGA Food Store, Flora, Indiana. Five Orr’s Sport Fishing Charters East Chicago, Indiana, and Twin Lakes Fish & Game Monticello, Indiana.By: TVA Staff
