North Carolina’s Travis leads The Bass Federation National Championship on Lake Wylie

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Southern Division boater Brian Travis, 30, from Conover, N.C., is one step closer to “Living the Dream” after catching five bass weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces on opening day of The Bass Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard Thursday on Lake Wylie. The catch was the heaviest of the tournament, giving Travis a slim 6-ounce lead over Western Division rival Jeff Erickson of Phoenix, Ariz., in the race to win a $100,000 prize package that includes berths into two of the sport’s most coveted events – the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup and the $1 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American.

“Winning this would be a life changing experience,” said Travis, who recently finished second in the BFL North Carolina Division Lake Wylie event. “I have been fishing since I was 8 years old, and this is living my dream. It would mean the world to me to win the `Living the Dream’ prize package.”

Travis remained tight-lipped about the exact technique he used to catch his limit but did say that he was fishing between South Point and the dam around docks and brush piles. He was primarily sight fishing this area, covering as much water as possible.

“The sun is a key factor,” he said. “If it stays sunny tomorrow there is going to be some big bags weighed in. I believe we might see 18 to 19 pounds come tomorrow afternoon. I hope it works that way for me.”

In addition to incredibly lucrative championship berths, the TBF National Championship will also award $10,000 and a “Living the Dream” prize package to the first-place boater. The package includes use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered either by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and entry fees into the winner’s choice of either the 2009 Wal-Mart FLW Tour or Wal-Mart FLW Series to compete against the world’s top bass anglers.

Anglers from six nationwide TBF divisions competed during 2007 and qualified through a series of TBF club, TBF state and TBF divisional tournaments to compete in the no-entry-fee TBF National Championship.

Rounding out the division-leading boaters are Erickson (Western Division, 14-8); Brian Maloney of Osage Beach, Mo. (Central Division, 13-14); Robert Williams of Washington, DC (Mid-Atlantic Division, 13-3); Terry McWilliams of Greenfield, Ind. (Northern Division, 11-14); and Jim Gildea of Weston, Mass. (Eastern Division, 10-7).

Overall there were 186 bass weighing 405 pounds, 8 ounces caught by 40 boaters. The catch included 33 five-bass limits.

Jerry Shawver of St. Augustine, Fla., led the co-angler challengers Thursday with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 3 ounces. Representing the Southern Division, Shawver caught his limit while fishing with Central Division boater Dean Alexander of Florence, Texas. Alexander is currently third in his division with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces.

“I was very blessed today,” Shawver said. “With just five bites I was lucky to have three really good fish. I needed one more fish, and with 30 minutes to go my boater took me over to some bedding fish where I was able to catch one more. I really owe it all to him.”

If Shawver holds on for the win, he will earn a $10,000 prize package that includes a berth into the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup for a chance to fish for as much as $50,000. He will also earn a berth into the All-American along with the top co-angler from each TBF division for a chance to fish for as much as $70,000.

Rounding out the division-leading co-anglers are Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho (Western Division, 12-0); Bill Roberts of Fairfax, Va. (Mid-Atlantic Division, 11-4); Hoyt Akins of Mayflower, Ark. (Central Division, 10-13); Alan Denise of Haverhill, Mass. (Eastern Division, 8-7); and Jim Jones of Big Bend, Wis. (Northern Division, 8-7).

Overall there were 126 bass weighing 248 pounds, 5 ounces caught by 35 co-anglers. The catch included 13 five-bass limits.

Copperhead Island Park will host takeoff Friday at 6:30 a.m. and Saturday at 6:25 a.m. Anglers will weigh in Friday at 4 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center located at 501 S. College St. in Charlotte. Saturday’s weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center followed by the Wal-Mart FLW Tour National Guard Open weigh-in at 4 p.m. FLW Tour anglers will return to the convention center Sunday for their final weigh-in at 4 p.m.

Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, FLW Outdoors and the TBF will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the Charlotte Convention Center from noon to 6 p.m. each day. The Family Fun Zone offers fans a chance to meet their favorite TBF and FLW Tour anglers face-to-face and review the latest products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other sponsors while children are treated to giveaways, fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator. Saturday and Sunday children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone will also receive a free rod and reel combo while supplies last. On Sunday, during the final 4 p.m. weigh-in, one lucky member of the audience will win a new Ranger boat. Admission is free and you must be present to win.

The entire field of 40 TBF boaters and 40 co-anglers competes Thursday and Friday for an accumulated two-day weight. The top boater and co-angler from each of the TBF’s six divisions will advance to Saturday’s final round, where the winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day accumulated weight.

Coverage of the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States on June 8 as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.

Tournament anglers aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing, FLW Outdoors offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every FLW Tour stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.

The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 30 years. For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call (580) 765-9031.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.