BASS moves Federation Nation Championship to Louisiana's Red River

Amateur anglers will gather on Louisiana's Red River Oct. 27-29 for the BASS Federation Nation Championship, from which six will earn coveted slots in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic.

Officials said the event, previously announced for the Harris Chain of Lakes, was moved provides a more centralized venue for the 55 competitors, whom travel from across the country and internationally.
 
At stake during the event are six slots for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic, which will be held out of New Orleans next.
 
Competition waters will be the Red River. The prolific fishery has hosted multiple BASS events through the years and was the site of the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, which set attendance records registering more than 130,000 fans.  That event was won by Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif. with his three-day total of 54 pounds, 13 ounces.
 
The Red River has been host of three previous Bassmaster Federation Nation Championships including the 1999 event won by 2006 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Mike Iaconelli. It also was the site of the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, which was won by Skeet Reese. 
 
To qualify for their annual championship, BASS Federation Nation anglers must work their way up a ladder of local, regional, state and divisional qualifying tournaments. Then, at the Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship, the top finishers within each of six divisions earn a berth in the next Bassmaster Classic.
 
This year’s six divisional events, which will determine the 55 Championship qualifiers, will begin with the March 29-April 2 Southern Divisional out of West Point Lake and Lagrange, Ga.