Lambert wins The Bass Federation Western Divisional Championship

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – Washington team captain Chris Lambert of Olympia, Wash., won The Bass Federation 2008 Western Divisional Championship presented by the National Guard on Lake Havasu Friday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 41 pounds, 15 ounces. For his victory, Lambert earned a $500 Wal-Mart gift card as the Castrol Maximum Performer.

“My wife was the one who really sacrificed to make this whole thing happen,” Lambert said. “We came down as a family and rented a house for six days, so I was able to get out there and do the prefishing that I needed to do. I’d also like to thank Jeff Priester at Nixon’s Marine for setting me up with a new boat, since mine hadn’t come in yet.”

Lambert caught most of the bigger fish drop-shotting a 4-inch Roboworm in a staging area and caught a few key fish on the new Berkley Hollow Belly swimbaits, but had to change his plan for the final day of competition.

“I was mainly fishing prespawn fish, and there was a new wave of fish that had just moved up,” Lambert said. “They were going really close to one of the off-limits bays, so I wouldn’t have been able to follow them in if they moved. I think the weather was a factory and, finally, on day three, they made the move back to spawn, so I ended up having to go up river and threw swimbaits and drop-shots to catch smallmouth.”

Lambert had a dead fish, but still opened the tournament in second place Wednesday with five bass weighing 15-4. He added another five bass weighing 16-6 Thursday to capture his lead. He then caught five bass weighing 10-5 Friday to seal the win.

Lambert opened the tournament Wednesday with five bass weighing 15-4. He added another five bass weighing 16-6 Thursday before catching five bass weighing 10-5 Friday to seal the win.

The top-finishing angler from each 12-person state team will advance to the 2009 TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard as a boater. Those advancing as boaters are Josh Bertrand of Mesa, Ariz. (15 bass, 37-3); Troy Lindner of Los Angeles, Calif. (15 bass, 36-15); Samuel Heckman of Fountain, Colo. (15 bass, 33-3); Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho (15 bass, 35-8); Sean Andrachick of Marion, Mont. (13 bass, 28-7); Joe Debrucque of Grand Junction, Colo. (15 bass, 35-10); Chris Lambert of Olympia, Wash. (15 bass, 41-15) and Mike Bozner of Rock Springs, Wyo. (14 bass, 31-1).

The No. 2 competitor from each state team will advance to the National Championship as a co-angler. Those advancing as co-anglers are David Martinez of Tucson, Ariz. (15 bass, 36-00); John Albidrez of Fresno, Calif. (13 bass, 33-8); Matt Massey of Lakewood, Colo. (15 bass, 32-8); Brandon Craner of Filer, Idaho (15 bass, 31-12); Don Collins of Kalispell, Mont. (10 bass, 23-14); Robert Knight of Salt Lake City, Utah (14 bass, 28-11); David Kromm of Kennewick, Wash. (15 bass, 39-10) and Eric Lippincott of Daniel, Wyo. (14 bass, 29-10).

Washington was the top-finishing team in this week’s divisional, taking home the traveling cup and $3,600 cash award for bringing in 156 bass, weighing 353 pounds, 5 ounces over the three-day competition. Taking home $2,400 for second place in team competition was California, with 149 bass, weighing 313 pounds, 2 ounces. Colorado brought in 130 bass weighing 265 pounds, 4 ounces to claim the No. 3 spot and $1,212.

TBF National Championship anglers will compete for a share of more than $200,000 in cash and merchandise, including a $100,000 “Living the Dream” prize package that includes use of a wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and entry fees into the Wal-Mart FLW Tour or Wal-Mart FLW Series. The top boater and co-angler from each of the TBF’s six divisions at the National Championship will receive a berth into the $1 million BFL All-American presented by Chevy, where boaters compete for a top award of $140,000 and co-anglers cast for a top award of $70,000. The winning boater and co-angler at the TBF National Championship will also advance to the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by Castrol, where pros compete for a top award of $1 million and co-anglers fish for a top award of $50,000.

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 Wal-Mart 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.

Coverage of the TBF National Championship will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television series. “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.

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.

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.

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