Idaho's McFarland wins TBF Western Divisional

[sTony]

Idaho's McFarland wins TBF Western Divisional

Washington wins coveted state title and top cash award

MOSES LAKE, Wash. – Fourteen anglers from seven states earned a slot in the 2008 TBF National Championship today on the final day of the TBF Western Divisional presented by the National Guard. Held on Potholes Reservoir in Washington, the ultimate victor was Eric McFarland of Meridian, Idaho, with a three-day total weight of 49 pounds, 1 ounce. The weight also propelled McFarland to the top of the Idaho state team.

McFarland’s catch toppled Ronald Hobbs Jr. of Graham, Wash., who led the overall field the first two days of the tournament but ultimately finished second overall with 48 pounds over three days. Hobbs will represent the state of Washington as a boater at the TBF National Championship because he finished first on his state team.

Each of the seven states represented at this week’s Western Divisional will send the top two competitors from their state to the national championship, with the No. 1 competitor from each state advancing as a boater and the No. 2 competitor advancing as a co-angler. McFarland advanced from the Idaho state team and will be joined by Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, who will compete at the national championship as a co-angler.

Winning the coveted state title is the Washington team with 411 pounds, 13 ounces of bass over three days.Twelve competitors were sent from each state to this week’s divisional, and in the competition among the states, Washington came out on top, taking home the traveling cup as well as the $3,600 top cash award. (At TBF divisional events, money is awarded to the winning state, not the overall winning angler.) The 12 Washington competitors brought in 411 pounds, 13 ounces of bass over three days to top No. 2 California, the Western defending state champ, the members of which caught 398 pounds, 9 ounces of bass over three days. As the No. 2 state, California earned $2,400, and Idaho took home $1,200 as the third-place state.

As the winner, McFarland earned a $500 Wal-Mart gift card as the Castrol Maximum Performer.

McFarland fished consistent tournament to land on top

Western Divisional champ Eric McFarland shows his trophy to the crowd.McFarland was No. 2 in the overall standings the first two days and moved up to first on the final day thanks to a solid week that saw him consistently catch bass each day. He brought in 17 pounds, 15 ounces on day one and followed that up with 15 pounds, 15 ounces on day two, and he closed the deal today with a limit of five bass that weighed 15 pounds, 3 ounces that brought his three-day total to a winning 49 pounds, 1 ounce.

“The amount of time and effort that you have to put into it … it’s really emotional,â€

[hippie]

Sweet job ryan so tahts where josh got his skills

[RYAN KROST]

Thanks dude, I guess that secrets out now! That Lake was freaking awesome and The TBF and FLW always puts on a great show. It suck the first couple days of practice water temp was only 53 but by the first day it was in the low to mid 60's. the lake was split up in two differnt sections lower lake was rocky with a dam and river where all the smallmouth where. the upper lake was miles of sand dunes gagged with brush and willows. it was largemouth heaven. Everyday more and more largies where moving up. California had a great team again this year we almost took it down for the secound year in a row. The Bass Federation and FLW Rock! anyone who has never fished with them are truly missing out on a great circuit. The TBF national championship was the most exciting and impresive tournament I've ever fished and I'm truly honored to represent California next year at the National Championship.

Ryan Krost

[Rod Wynn]

Good Job and Big Congrats to ma' dude Ryan..

Way to REPRESENT!

[DB]

Bob Lindgren