OBFN Tournament Blog

The 6 Man Team tournament is fast approaching. This year’s event is scheduled for Lake St. Clair on September 19th & 20th. We will be using the Harley Ensign launch ramp.
 

In this tournament we are waiving the off-limits and the use of cell phones during competition. Another rule change is that you will fish with a team member. The only requirement is that you must change partner on Sunday. All other OBFN tournament rules will be enforced.

Tournament hours will be (weather permitting) 7:00am to 3:00pm for the first flight and 7:00am to 3:15pm for the second flight. There will be a meeting and registration Friday at 6:00pm at the host hotel. Only one team member needs to attend. Boat numbers will be assigned at the meeting.

Host Hotel is the Microtel Inn & Suites. Normal rates are around $70+ per night. Rates will be $49.99 + tax if we fill 15 rooms for Fri & Sat nights.

They have an indoor pool & all the goodies along with an expanded continental breakfast from 6 to 10, however they will move the breakfast up for us knowing we are normally gone by then. There are plenty of other restaurants close to hotel. If we can get an accurate head count prior to arrival we can get free appetizer certificates for Logan’s (right down the street).

The direct link to the hotel is:http://www.microtelinn.com/MicrotelInn/control/Booking/check_avail?areaCode=37ZE&brandCode=MT,BU,SE,RA,HJ,TL,DI,KG,BH&searchWithinMiles=50&areaType=1&destination
=Roseville&state=MI&country=US&checkInDate=07/29&numberAdults=1&numberRooms=1&checkOutDate=07/30&
numberChildren=0&numberBigChildren=0&rate=000&useWRPoints=false&variant=&id=28317&propBrandId=MT&forc
e_nostay=false&tab=tab1

If you do not have 6 members that want to fish the 6 Man Team event we have started a list of members looking for a team. Contact Todd Thompson at 740-403-2140.

I will not be attending this tournament. If you have questions please call D.J. Plotner or Todd Thompson.

Thanks
Rod

The final stop on the Ohio Bass Federation Nation Tournament Trail is fast approaching. With the drop system that we have in place the Angler and Co/Angler race are very close.We will be using the Bonner Road ramp. Bonner Road can be reached from St. Rt. 224 just west of the bridge that crosses the lake. Off limits will begin Sunday August 23, 2009 at 11:00pm and will end Friday August 28, 2009 at 5:00am prior to the event. All OBFN tournament rules must be observed. One exception: The co/angler may practice from the front of the boat. All competitors may practice only with another competitor of this event or an immediate family member. No other exceptions.

Host motel is the Super 8 (330-821-5688) in Alliance. Rate is normally around $73 night but they will give them to us for $57.49 night plus tax. Please mention the OBFN. Thanks John Terry.

Tournament hours will be (weather permitting) 6:30am to 2:30pm for the first flight and 6:30am to 2:45pm for the second flight. This will be reviewed at the tournament meeting on Saturday immediately following registration. .

Saturday registration will be at the Bonner Road ramp from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. You are required to register or you may have another competitor register for you. Failure to register will result in a disqualification. NO PHONE CALLS! You must provide a cell, home or a phone number (motel) where your partner can contact you. You must contact your partner before arriving at the ramp on Sunday. All Anglers must have proof of insurance with you at all times. During the pairings meeting if you are drawn as boat number 1 or boat number 2 you will need to show your proof of insurance immediately to be able to use your boats.

The meeting will begin at 6:00pm. The pairings will be announced along with any off limits or special instructions. You should be able to make contact with your partner for Sunday at the meeting. Pairings are random and computerized.

Special Notice: Mail in entry will expire August 16. On-line entry will expire at midnight August 23. We have experienced some computer problems and it has accepted entries on-line after the expiration date. If I receive any entries after its expiration date I will not accept them as entries for the tournament.

Thanks
Rod

The ramp we are using is the Gallipolis, Ohio city ramp. Off limits will begin Sunday July 12, 2009 at 11:00pm and will end Friday July 17, 2009 at 5:00am prior to the event. All OBFN tournament rules must be observed. One exception: The co/angler may practice from the front of the boat. You may practice only with another competitor of this event or an immediate family member. No other exceptions.Tournament hours will be (weather permitting) 6:30am to 2:30pm for the first flight and 6:30am to 2:45pm for the second flight. There may be a third flight if boat numbers stay in the sixties. This will be reviewed at the tournament meeting on Saturday immediately following registration.

Tournament waters are the Ohio River at Gallipolis. You may lock up one pool and down one pool. Keep in mind that lock times vary. In the Kanawa River in West Virginia you can fish to the Lower Buffalo Bridge without a WV. fishing license. This bridge is about 22 miles from the mouth of the Ohio River. If you enter a tributary of the Kanawa River you must have a WV fishing license.

Saturday registration will be at the Gallipolis city ramp from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. You are required to register or you may have another competitor register for you. Failure to register will result in a disqualification. NO PHONE CALLS! You must provide a cell, home or a phone number (motel) where your partner can contact you. You must contact your partner before arriving at the ramp on Sunday. All Anglers must have proof of insurance with you at all times. During the pairings meeting if you are drawn as boat number 1 or boat number 2 you will need to show your proof of insurance immediately to be able to use your boats.

The meeting will begin at 6:00pm. The pairings will be announced along with any off limits or special instructions. You should be able to make contact with your partner for Sunday at the meeting. Pairings are random and computerized.

There are other activities being planned at this time. There will be a Newsletter email and information on the website as plans are finalized.

Special Notice: Mail in entry has expired. On-line entry will expire at midnight July 12. We have experienced some computer problems and it has accepted entries on-line after the expiration date. If I receive any entries after July 12, 2009 I will not accept them as entries for the tournament.

Thanks
Rod

The ramp we are using is the Sandusky, Ohio city ramp. Off limits will begin Sunday June 21, 2009 at 11:00pm and will end Friday June 26, 2009 at 5:00am prior to the event. All OBFN tournament rules must be observed. One exception: The co/angler may practice from the front of the boat. No other exceptions.

Tournament hours will be (weather permitting) 6:30am to 2:30pm for the first flight and 6:30am to 2:45pm for the second flight. This will be reviewed at the tournament meeting on Saturday immediately following registration. Only U.S. waters are open for competition. Canadian water will be off-limits.

Saturday registration will be at the Sandusky city ramp from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. If you are uncomfortable going out on Lake Erie alone let me know when you register. You are required to register or you may have another competitor register for you. Failure to register will result in a disqualification. NO PHONE CALLS! You must provide a cell, home or a phone number (motel) where your partner can contact you. You must contact your partner before arriving at the ramp on Sunday. All Anglers must have proof of insurance with you at all times. During the pairings meeting if you are drawn as boat number 1 or boat number 2 you will need to show your proof of insurance immediately to be able to use your boats.

The meeting will begin at 6:00pm. The pairings will be announced along with any off limits or special instructions. You should be able to make contact with your partner for Sunday at the meeting. Pairings are random and computerized.

Volunteers Needed: I am expecting a large number of fish to be brought to the scales. Many will be small mouth taken from deep water. I will need extra help to manage this large number of fish. I would like 6-8 members to help with “Fizzing” fish. If you have done this before than please help us out. Maybe you could help show others how to “Fizz” fish.

I also would like 4-6 boats left in the water to help shuttle fish away from the weigh in site. Please call me or let me know at the registration if you are willing to help with “Fizzing” or as a shuttle. We will have extra hospital tanks set up at the weigh-in to take care of any fish that needs Fizzed. Hopefully we will have a successful weigh-in and release.

Good luck.

Thanks

Rod

The ramp we will be using is located on the South West end of the lake. It is on Elklick Rd. Take St. Rt. 125 to Bantam Rd then turn on Elklick Road and follow it to the ramp. Off limits will begin Sunday May 31, 2009 at 11:00pm and will end Friday June 5, 2009 at 5:00am prior to the event.Tournament hours will be (weather permitting) 7:00am to 3:00pm for the first flight and 7:15 to 3:15pm for the second flight. This will be reviewed at the tournament meeting on Saturday immediately following registration.

Saturday registration will be at the Elklick Road ramp from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. You are required to register or you may have another competitor register for you. Failure to register will result in a disqualification. NO PHONE CALLS! You must provide a cell, home or a phone number where your partner can contact you. You must contact your partner before arriving at the ramp on Sunday. All Anglers must have proof of insurance with you at all times. During the pairings meeting if you are drawn as boat number 10 or boat number 12 you will need to show your proof of insurance immediately to be able to use your boats. These numbers will change for all events but I will check at least 2 boaters at each event.

The meeting will begin at 6:00pm. The pairings will be announced along with any off limits or special instructions. You may be able to make contact with your partner for Sunday. Pairings are random and computerized.

I will be on vacation (fishing at Lake Erie) May 16-23. I will have my cell phone with me if you have any questions that can’t wait. Leave a message if I don’t answer.

Good luck.

Thanks
Rod

Our first event of the season is finally in sight. I picked up the tournament trailer today and it looks AWESOME! I just wanted to go over some changes again and get some information online. I have been getting questions on what ramp we will be using, hours of the tournament and questions on the off limits.

We will be using the West Bank ramp. Off limits will begin Sunday April 19, 2009 at 11:00pm and will end Friday April 24, 2009 at 5:00am prior to the event.

Tournament hours will be (weather permitting) 7:00am to 3:00pm for the first flight and 7:15 to 3:15pm for the second flight. This will be reviewed at the tournament meeting on Saturday immediately following registration.

Saturday registration will be at the West Bank ramp from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. You are required to register or you may have another competitor register for you. Failure to register will result in a disqualification. NO PHONE CALLS! You must provide a cell, home or a phone number where your partner can contact you. You must contact your partner before arriving at the ramp on Sunday. All Anglers must also have proof of insurance with you at all times. During the pairings meeting if you are drawn as boat number 1 or boat number 2 you will need to show your proof of insurance immediately to be able to use your boats. These numbers will change for all events but I will check at least 2 boaters at each event.

The meeting will begin at 6:00pm. The pairings will be announced along with any off limits or special instructions. You may be able to make contact with your partner for Sunday. Be advised that changes in the pairings may be made to accommodate working Tournament Committee members. Any changes will be made prior to the announcement of the pairings. Pairings are random and computerized.

Hopefully this will answer most questions until Saturdays meeting. Good luck in this years tournament trail.

Thanks
Rod

The weather is finally beginning to warm up. The Ohio BASS Federation Nation Trail tournaments start in just 3 weeks.

If the weather holds I am going to get the boat out this weekend. I don’t know where I’ll go but I am going somewhere. C. J. Brown Res. is only 10 minutes away but Indian Lake is only 60 minutes and I am hearing they are biting.

The Board of Directors made the following changes to the tournament rules. Make sure that you have read the complete tournament rules and understand each rule.

1 Invitational Trail Tournaments
e. The Trail will consist of (5) events. Each event will consist of (2) official practice days and (1) tournament day.

 5 Practice and Competition
a. Off limits and or official practice days will be posted at www.ohiobassfederationnation.com. All OBFN tournament waters will be off-limits beginning Sunday at 11:00pm until Friday at 5:00am prior to the event. The tournament water will also be off limits beginning at 6:00pm Saturday immediately following the tournament registration.

13 Boat Operation and Expense
a. Events are Angler/Co-angler. Angler will have complete control of boat operations and fishing waters.
b. In any instance where the Co-Angler takes control of the boat the Co-Angler must cease all fishing activities. Exceptions are:

• A thirty (30) minute grace period per tournament day may be allowed to accommodate lunch, restroom brakes, etc.
• Should an Angler become unable to continue in the Angler position he must notify the Tournament Director immediately. If leaving the boat is not required the Angler may allow the Co-Angler to assume the Angler position for the remainder of the event or until the Angler is capable of assuming control. The Tournament Director can choose to replace the Angler and Boat with another Angler, as he deems necessary. (This is for emergency situations and not intended to give co-anglers an unfair advantage over the remaining field. Any abuse of this may result in Disqualification.)

14. Angler/Co-Angler Etiquette
a. Boat positioning will control casting issues. Anglers will have first opportunity at any target or structure, unless otherwise
stated by the Angler.
c. A Co-Angler may not fish from the front deck but can fish from either side of the boat they wish. Exceptions would be under rule #13 B.

As you can see we have been hard at work this winter trying to bring the best Bass competition trail to the state of Ohio. Your input is welcome. If you have any comments about the trail or rules please contact me by phone or email.

ATTENTION ANGLERS! I will be checking proof of insurance. If you draw boat #1 or boat #2 at Grand Lake St. Mary’s you will be required to show your proof of insurance before you are allowed to launch your boat. See rule #3 section b.

I just talked to Jim this morning and the tournament trailer is almost finished. I was there last weekend and one side of it was done. It looked great. You must come out to Grand Lake St. Mary’s to see the finished product. It will be on the website I am sure but you need to see it in person.

Good luck and see you on the water.
Rod Pullins

It’s February 3, 2009 as I write this. Cabin fever has set in, ice covers our lakes and snow covers our driveways and roads. I hate cold weather. I would like winter if it did not get below 60′F. I am looking forward to the boat shows and Open House at our sponsor boat dealers. Look for the dates on our web page.

Last years fishing season was very enjoyable for me. Although I did not do very well. As a Co-Angler I had the privilege of fishing with some of our best anglers. I shared the boat with Anglers such as Rob Werner, Brad Wall, Todd Thompson, Tim Clark, Tim Bunnell and Rich Campitelli. What a line-up. Most of these guys have been on the state team.

As a Co-Angler I did not make much of a showing. I don’t blame any of my Angler partners. But it was my own inability to adapt to the back of the boat. Totally my fault. That is why I am fishing this season as an Angler. But then we had a problem of who would tow the tournament trailer to the events. At the last event last season on Rocky Fork OBFN member Brad Fielder came forward in typical BASS CLASS fashion. Brad stepped up to the plate and has volunteered to tow the tournament trailer for the 2009 season. Thanks Brad.

The Board of Directors has been busy revising the tournament rules. Please look them over very carefully. YOU are responsible to know these rules. The largest rule change was to add an off-limits period. Check the revised rules to make sure you know what the off-limits will be. There is also a change on where the Co-Angler can fish. We are also going to a one-day event for the entire trail of 5 events. There will be a meeting on Saturday evening before the event. Again check the tournament rules.

We are also changing the entry form, which will be available soon. The deadline for entering will remain at 2 weeks prior to the event, IF you mail your entry to me. If you pay online there is a 1-week deadline prior to the event. There will be no late entries accepted.

Watch for a new look on the Tournament Trailer. It is being completely stripped. It will be sporting a custom wrap from Jim Bartholomew’s graphic company. I can’t wait to see the finished product.

Be careful driving on the snow and ice. I look forward to seeing you on the OBFN Tournament Trail.

Thanks
Rod Pullins, tournament director
Ohio BASS Federation Nation

This will be a “6 MAN TEAM” event. BASS is looking closely at the amount of participation in the Regional events leading into the BCWC. If the participation level does not increase, there may be the possibility of the BCWC being cancelled in the future. The opportunity for advancement from the state event is still open, so make sure and have your team prepared if they so choose to move on to the next level. You will be allowed to fish with one of your team members. But you must change partners on Sunday. You will be fishing for cash and prizes. The winning “Team” will be awarded individual plaques. The winning Team will also be awarded a “Traveling” plaque that will be presented each year. The club name will be engraved on the plaque and they will give it to the next years winning “Team”.

Entry forms are available on our website. Or you can use the online option on our website. If you cannot get 6 members from your club than you can use members of another club. They must be OBFN members. You may send more than one Team or fill a second Team from another club. I must know what members are fishing on what Team.

The entry form gives a deadline to enter date of September 6. I will extend that until September 13th. But I must have it postmarked by September 13th.

We will be using the New Galena ramp on the southeast end of the lake. There will be a mandatory registration on Friday September 19th at 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the ramp.

A meeting will follow registration. You may register for your team. It is required that at least one member of your team attend the meeting on Friday. Phone registration will not be accepted.

The tournament hours for Saturday September 20th and Sunday September 21st will be 7:00am to 3:000pm. We will have 2 flights each day of the tournament. The first flight will be due in at 3:00pm and the second flight will be due in at 3:15pm.

Reminder: DON’T KILL YOUR CATCH! DON’T LOOSE VALUABLE POINTS.

It is summer. That means that the water temperature is going to be hot. The water temperature in your livewells could easily reach 100 degrees. Run your aerators on manual and add ice to keep the temperature down. Add Catch & Release to help keep your catch alive. You can purchase Catch & Release from Bob Townsend. If Bob is available and attends the tournament he can give you some good pointers on keeping your catch alive.

We will be using the Marina ramp on the south-east end of the lake. There will be a mandatory registration on Friday August 22 at 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the ramp.

A pairings meeting will follow registration. You may register for yourself or have another competitor of the event register for you. During registration we must have a phone number where your partner can contact you prior to arriving at the tournament Saturday and Sunday morning. Phone registration will not be accepted. You do not need to be present at the pairings meeting. You will be able to find the pairings and a contact information sheet on the tournament trailer, at the host motel or on the web site. The pairings are a random computerized drawing.

The tournament hours for Saturday August 23 and Sunday August 24th will be 6:30am to 2:30pm. We will have 2 flights each day of the tournament. The first flight will be due in at 2:30pm and the second flight will be due in at 2:45pm.

Reminder: DON’T KILL YOUR CATCH! DON’T LOOSE VALUABLE POINTS. 

It is summer. That means that the water temperature is going to be hot. The water temperature in your livewells could easily reach 100 degrees. Run your aerators on manual and add ice to keep the temperature down. Add Catch & Release to help keep your catch alive. You can purchase Catch & Release from Bob Townsend. If Bob is available and attends the tournament he can give you some good pointers on keeping your catch alive.

Good Luck!

Rod Pullins

Housing Info:
Days Inn
103 Harry Sauner Rd.
Hillsboro, OH 45133
937-393-0299