“We are delighted to be hosting the 2012 AFT National Championship,” said Tad Jones, executive director of the hosting Grand Lake Association. “We are extremely excited they are coming to Grand Lake. The families of the anglers will be staying all over the region. As we prepare for this event, as well as the Bassmaster Classic coming up in February of 2013, our community is busy making sure every need of every angler and their families are met. For us, this is an opportunity of a lifetime to host such a prestigious event.”
Home of the largest multiple arch dam in the world, Grand Lake contains great largemouth and spotted bass populations plus a few smallmouth bass. It produced largemouth bass approaching 11 pounds and smallmouth bass topping 5 pounds in the past. The lake record spotted bass weighed 3.2 pounds.
Presented by American Bass Anglers, the first AFT National Championship tournament held at Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees pits the top 500 points holders from 80 AFT divisions across the country. Besides annual bragging rights, the national champion will win a new fully rigged Triton bass boat powered by a Mercury outboard and a MotorGuide trolling motor, a package that retails for more than $60,000.
“We are excited to be going to Grand Lake O’ The Cherokee,” said Morris Sheehan, ABA president. “We have never held an AFT National Championship in Oklahoma, so I know our anglers are in for a real treat to be in a new area and fish on such a well-known lake. It is such a beautiful region and I know all our members will enjoy everything it has to offer. Several of our members have already traveled there this past year and spent vacation days in anticipation of what will be a memorable tournament.”
The weeklong event actually combines two major contests. Besides the national championship event, the top points earners from each AFT division across the country will compete in the AFT Divisional “Angler of the Year” fish-off prior to the championship tournament. The AOY anglers will get one day to practice on the lake. The Angler of the Year champion will also receive a new fully rigged Triton bass boat powered by a Mercury outboard and a MotorGuide trolling motor.
The 2012 National Championship is sponsored by the Grand Lake Association, Tera Miranda Resort, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Royal Purple, Early Times Kentucky Whisky, Busch Beer, Carlisle Tire & Wheel, Odyssey Batteries, Anglers’ Advantage Insurance, Keep Alive, ProBass Networks, Rejuvenade, US Reel, and Simms Outdoors.
The American Fishing Tour offers low cost, close to home bass tournaments that are designed for the weekend angler. All ABA anglers fish for money and points.
For more information about the Grand Lake area, call 866-LUV-GRAND or visit www.grandlakefun.com. People can order a free visitors guide or a map of the lake. For information on the Tera Miranda, call 918-257-4274. For more information on this tournament, call ABA at (888) 203-6222 or see www.americanbassanglers.com.
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About American Bass Anglers
American Bass Anglers is the largest tournament organization for the weekend angler. American Bass Anglers operates the American Fishing Tour, The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series and the American Couples Series. Each tour is designed specifically for the weekend angler offering low cost and close to home events so the anglers can qualify for larger championships. For more information on American Bass Anglers visit www.americanbassanglers.com. |
