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Roy Galbraith to Represent Alabama at the Federation Nation Championship

Congratulations to Roy Galbraith of Winfield Bassmasters for being ABFN's top angler at this year's Southern Divisional Tournament!  Roy will represent Alabama in the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship in Kansas in November. 

Although shorthanded due to Sean Dassau's accident, Roy and other team members finished 3^rd overall in the seven state competition.  To read Don Gowen's day-to-day account of the weeklong event click here. 

Thanks to all of the 2008 State Team members:  Roy Galbraith, Jonathan Edwards, Rickie Harp, Clay Messer, Bill Forney, Kyle Colley, Chris Pope, Darrel High, Joe Wikoff, Sean Dassau, Ashley Stanford and Rick Sharp.  Good job!

I want to thank Ray Wimmer and Don Gowen for accompanying and  coordinating the ABFN State Team!

ABFN is fortunate to have quality sponsors.  Our new premium sponsor is Scott Crump Toyota/Scion in Jasper.  Scott Crump will sponsor the "Did What it Took" 1^st Place award at each tournament.  We will pay one place per ten entries.  In addition, ABFN will pay back 70% of the money taken in at each tournament.  This is an example based on 150 anglers:

1^st Place        $2,000 Scott Crump "Did What it Took"       9^th Place       $300              Team       

2^nd Place        $1,200                                                 10^th Place       $300               $750

3^rd Place        $1,000                                                11^th Place       $250                     

4^th Place        $  800                                                 12^th Place       $250

5^th Place        $  700                                                 13^th Place       $200               Big Fish

6^th Place        $  600                                                 14^th Place       $200                $750

7^th Place        $  500                                                 15^th Place       $200

8^th Place        $  400

In addition to this payout, ABFN will pay a bonus of $250 each tournament to the highest finishing angler who registered and fished as a NON-BOATER!!

The Alabama BASS Federation Nation had its annual Board of Directors meeting in Wetumpka on February 2.  Several important changes are the result:

*       Tournament Rule Changes:  As announce and published in the 2007 ABFN Tournament Rules, we will be going to the progressive dead fish penalty similar to the one used by BASS.  The rule will read like this:  For each legal dead bass presented to weigh-in officials, the competitor will be penalized the following to be deducted from their daily score:

1 dead fish is minus .25 lb.

2 dead fish is minus .75 lb.

3 dead fish is minus 1.25 lbs.

4 dead fish is minus 2.5 lbs.

*        The ABFN Board of Directors also voted to adopt "No culling of dead fish" for the year 2009.  This will not change until next year.

New rules will be published on the website soon.

*       Tournament Format Changes:

Angler of the Year points will be awarded as in previous years for the four ABFN qualifiers:

1^st Place -      200 points

2^nd Place -     199 points

3^rd Place -      198 points, etc.

What has changed is more value will be placed on the ABFN State Championship.  The AOY points will be increased for the State Championship:

          1^st Place -      300 points

          2^nd Place -      299 points

          3^rd Place -      298 points, etc.

          Remember AOY will not be awarded until AFTER the ABFN State Championship is over.

*       Scott Crump Toyota Bonus:  A bonus of $500 will be paid to the winner of a tournament if he or she has purchased a Toyota from Scott Crump Toyota in 2007 or 2008 (purchase must be verified by Scott Crump Toyota).  If you are considering a new car or truck, please visit your ABFN premium sponsor, Scott Crump Toyota/Scion in Jasper, AL.

*         Conservation:  The Board voted to award $3,000 in grant money that will go to conservation projects in Alabama.  Members should contact Conservation Director Jim Howard (alcondir@aol.com) if they know of worthy projects that need financial aid.

*         Youth:  Many changes have taken place with Casting Kids and the BASS Jr. World Championship.  State winners that qualified in the Casting Kids State Championship and the State Jr. Championship will now go to the Southern Divisional and compete against other youth in the Southern Division for a chance to go to the BASS Federation National Championship (BFNC).  In this transitional year, our two Jr. Champions Will Brown and Justin Hamner will compete in New York at an Elite tournament in August.  They will also be going to the Southern Divisional in South Carolina in April.  Winners of our August 16^th Jr. State Championship and September Casting Kids Championship will advance to the 2009 Southern Divisional next April 2009 and hopefully to the BFNC in November 2009.  Contact Bobby McDonald (bobbymc1944@yahoo.com) for any questions about Youth.  Remember we will need Boat Captains for our August 16^th State Jr. Championship event.

*         Fishin 4 a Cure:  ABFN has adopted "Fishin 4 a Cure" as its sponsored charity.  F4AC is a non-profit organization backed by Children's Hospital seeking to find a cure for childhood cancer.  F4AC has several projects in the works that will involve members of ABFN.  More information will be made available as details are completed.  Check out their website www.fishin4acure.com.  For more information contact Bruce Sargent (bsargent@redmountainbank.com) or James Bright (brightjames6@aol.com).  Airport Marine is also offering a bonus program (details) for ABFN members that donate to "Fishin 4 a Cure".  Donation Form

"THE ROAD TO THE CLASSIC STARTS HERE!"

Eddie Plemons, President

Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, Inc.

Angler Recognition Program - Alabama Department of Conservation

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