BASS announced today that the Florida fishery will be the site for the 2008 Federation Nation Championship. The amateur championship event, which will feature television coverage on ESPN2, will be held Nov. 8-10 out of Kissimmee, Fla.
A total of 55 contenders will vie for six coveted spots in the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 22-24 on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell. The top anglers in each of six divisions will move on to the Classic to compete for a $500,000 top prize.
"BASS is delighted to return to the Kissimmee area," said Don Corkran, director of the Federation Nation. "Kissimmee is a fantastic venue for championship tournaments, as evidenced by the success of the 2006 Bassmaster Classic."
In addition to one of the Classic berths, the overall Federation Nation champion will receive a Triton/Mercury boat package as well as a berth in the Bassmaster Elite Series.
The tournament will feature 47 qualifiers who have advanced via their performance in the Federation Nation Divisionals. Each will represent one of the 47 states that have chapters in the Federation Nation.
The rest of the contenders include six international anglers from Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and Zimbabwe; Royce Dennington of Barnsdall, Okla., who will defend his Federation Nation Championship title and the top angler from the Paralyzed Veterans of America circuit.
Practice days will be Nov. 6 and 7. The last qualifying tournament for the championship event, the Mid-Atlantic division, will end this week in Pittsburgh, Pa., and determine the final six competitors.