KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Sheron Brown of Worcester, Mass., couldn't keep his emotions in check at the BASS Federation Nation Championship bass fishing tournament on Florida's Lake Tohopekaliga. Wrapped up in the excitement of the amateur championship, the 35-year-old cried three times on the opening day but still managed to boat 10 pounds, 12 ounces of bass on a stingy Thursday to lead his closest competition, Kurt Walters of Grand Junction, Colo., by more than 1 pound.
Brown typifies the grassroots appeal of the Federation Nation. The computer operator's dream is to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic, bass fishing's premier event, and he has a chance if he finishes as the top angler in the Eastern Division. The winner in each of six geographic divisions will receive a berth in the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, scheduled for Feb. 22-24 on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell.
"My emotions are all over the board right now," Brown said. "I'm living the dream right now and just hope that I can hold on. I'm getting such a positive vibe about everything and I don't want to let this go."
Despite not boating a keeper fish until after 11 a.m. ET, four hours into his competition day, Brown was able to capitalize on a late bite, throwing reaction baits to a variety of areas in his "money spot."
He boated his last bass at 2:52 p.m., minutes before he would have to check in. He's optimistic about his chances tomorrow. Considering his fruitless morning Thursday, Brown was planning to switch things up Friday and target deeper water early. He also plans to rely heavily on his other pattern, flipping.
Brown, who described himself as being of modest means, perhaps was most happy to have a working boat. The 21-year-old rig he owns has given him problems in past tournaments, but Brown has had no mechanical problems in this event as BASS supplies each competitor with a new Triton boat for use in the tournament.
A victory would put an end to Brown's boat problems. The winner of the event receives a Triton boat package valued at $50,000 and earns an invitation to the Bassmaster Elite Series.
"I want to fish with the big boys," Brown said of the Elite Series. "And I've got a shot. I just need to continue doing what I've been doing. Perseverance is the name of the game."
Walters, who qualified for the Classic in 1999, finished Thursday with 9 pounds, 3 ounces and leads the Western Division. Complete standings can be found below.
Leading the other divisions were Don Fowler of Cadillac, Mich., with 5 pounds, 4 ounces (Eastern); Leslie Kennedy of Fort Worth, Texas, with 7 pounds, 11 ounces (Central); South African Richard Watson with 7 pounds, 10 ounces (Southern); and Jeff Freeman of Max Meadows, Va., with 7 pounds, 10 ounces.
The event continues through Saturday at Kissimmee's Lakefront Park.
Event Information: Three day event runs Nov. 8-10. Daily launches at 7 a.m. ET at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. Weigh-ins at the same location starting at 3 p.m. ET. All events are free and open to the public.
2008 BASS Federation Nation Championship Standings
2007 2007-2008 FEDERATION NATION CHAMPIONSHIP 11/8-11/10
Lake Tohopekaliga, KISSIMMEE FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Sheron Brown Shirley, MA 5 10-12 0
2. Kurt Walters Grand Junction, CO 3 09-03 0
3. Chris Loftus Bloomfield, NY 5 08-06 0
4. Leslie Kennedy Fort Worth, TX 3 07-11 0
5. Jeff Freeman Max Meadows, VA 5 07-10 0
5. Richard Watson Plattekloof SOUTH AFRIC 5 07-10 0
7. Nobel Willits Altamonte Springs, FL 5 07-07 0
7. Darin Doll York, PA 5 07-07 0
9. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA 5 07-04 0
10. Michael Prindle Tallahassee, FL 4 06-11 0
11. Mike Keel Auburn, AL 5 06-10 0
11. Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR 5 06-10 0
13. Pat Klausen Lincoln, NE 5 06-09 0
14. Don Fowler Cadillac, MI 5 05-04 0
15. Mike Baskett Salem, OR 4 05-02 0
16. Brent Haimes Mazeppa, MN 4 04-15 0
16. David McKinney Cullooen, WV 3 04-15 0
18. Shane Long Sarcoxie, MO 1 04-14 0
19. Nicola Panareo Portogrvaro ITALY 4 04-13 0
20. Carl Alexander Clarendon, VT 3 04-08 0
21. James Sullivan Strunberry Point, IA 3 04-07 0
22. Fred O'Quinn Lugoff, SC 3 03-15 0
23. Katsunori Mitsuhashi Atsugishi Kanagawaken J 3 03-14 0
24. Brent Shores Boise, ID 2 03-12 0
25. Mike Wolfenden Warwick, RI 3 03-09 0
26. Mark Pierce Clarksville, TN 3 03-06 0
27. Jesse Milicevic Henderson, NV 3 03-05 0
28. John Mace Kennewick, WA 2 03-00 0
29. Shelton Walters Felton, DE 3 02-13 0
30. Royce Dennington Barnsdall, OK 2 02-12 0
31. Gary Clawson Portsmouth, NH 2 02-09 0
32. Ron Fabiszak S Bend, IN 2 02-08 0
32. Justin Rowse O'Neill, NE 2 02-08 0
34. Franco Vallejos Albuquerque, NM 2 02-07 0
35. Sidney Reeves Ogden, UT 2 02-04 0
36. Lee Sanders Stillwater, OK 2 02-03 0
37. Patrick Tierney Denver, NC 2 02-02 0
38. Larry Triplett Parker, CO 2 02-00 0
39. Larry Coleman St Anne, IL 2 01-15 0
39. Kyle Christopher Irvine, KY 2 01-15 0
41. Daniel Rodriguez Monkton, MD 1 01-06 0
42. Ben Schilling Post Falls, ID 1 01-01 0
43. Jason Stangel Two Rivers, WI 1 01-00 0
43. Jeff Guerrette Glendale, AZ 1 01-00 0
43. Dale Simmons N Waterboro, ME 1 01-00 0
46. Scott Hamel Stockton, KS 1 00-15 0
46. Frank Ramsay Hammond ONTARIO CANADA 1 00-15 0
48. Eric Woodward Hammonton, NJ 0 00-00 0
48. Mark Torrez Camarillo, CA 0 00-00 0
48. Hollis Polk Gulfort, MS 0 00-00 0
48. Steve Smith Johnstown, OH 0 00-00 0
48. Abe Kalechman Stafford, CT 0 00-00 0
48. Moosa Ismail Harare ZIMBABWE 0 00-00 0
48. Kurt Glass Grovetown, GA 0 00-00 0
48. Pablo Leo Monterrey MEXICO 0 00-00 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 11 138 198-14
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11 138 198-14
TEAM STANDINGS Day 1
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State Lbs-Oz
1 SOUTHERN 39-12
2 CENTRAL 38-14
3 WESTERN 37-00
4 EASTERN 31-11
5 NORTHERN 27-06
6 MID-ATLANTIC 24-03
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NORTHERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Don Fowler Cadillac, MI 5 05-04 0
2 Brent Haimes Mazeppa, MN 4 04-15 0
3 Nicola Panareo Portogrvaro ITALY 4 04-13 0
4 James Sullivan Strunberry Point, IA 3 04-07 0
5 Ron Fabiszak S Bend, IN 2 02-08 0
5 Justin Rowse O'Neill, NE 2 02-08 0
7 Larry Coleman St Anne, IL 2 01-15 0
8 Jason Stangel Two Rivers, WI 1 01-00 0
9 Steve Smith Johnstown, OH 0 00-00 0
CENTRAL
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Leslie Kennedy Fort Worth, TX 3 07-11 0
2 Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA 5 07-04 0
3 Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR 5 06-10 0
4 Pat Klausen Lincoln, NE 5 06-09 0
5 Shane Long Sarcoxie, MO 1 04-14 0
6 Royce Dennington Barnsdall, OK 2 02-12 0
7 Lee Sanders Stillwater, OK 2 02-03 0
8 Scott Hamel Stockton, KS 1 00-15 0
9 Hollis Polk Gulfort, MS 0 00-00 0
9 Pablo Leo Monterrey MEXICO 0 00-00 0
WESTERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Kurt Walters Grand Junction, CO 3 09-03 0
2 Mike Baskett Salem, OR 4 05-02 0
3 Katsunori Mitsuhashi Atsugishi Kanagawaken J 3 03-14 0
4 Brent Shores Boise, ID 2 03-12 0
5 Jesse Milicevic Henderson, NV 3 03-05 0
6 John Mace Kennewick, WA 2 03-00 0
7 Franco Vallejos Albuquerque, NM 2 02-07 0
8 Sidney Reeves Ogden, UT 2 02-04 0
9 Larry Triplett Parker, CO 2 02-00 0
10 Ben Schilling Post Falls, ID 1 01-01 0
11 Jeff Guerrette Glendale, AZ 1 01-00 0
12 Mark Torrez Camarillo, CA 0 00-00 0
EASTERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Sheron Brown Shirley, MA 5 10-12 0
2 Chris Loftus Bloomfield, NY 5 08-06 0
3 Carl Alexander Clarendon, VT 3 04-08 0
4 Mike Wolfenden Warwick, RI 3 03-09 0
5 Gary Clawson Portsmouth, NH 2 02-09 0
6 Dale Simmons N Waterboro, ME 1 01-00 0
7 Frank Ramsay Hammond ONTARIO CANADA 1 00-15 0
8 Abe Kalechman Stafford, CT 0 00-00 0
SOUTHERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Richard Watson Plattekloof SOUTH AFRIC 5 07-10 0
2 Nobel Willits Altamonte Springs, FL 5 07-07 0
3 Michael Prindle Tallahassee, FL 4 06-11 0
4 Mike Keel Auburn, AL 5 06-10 0
5 Fred O'Quinn Lugoff, SC 3 03-15 0
6 Mark Pierce Clarksville, TN 3 03-06 0
7 Patrick Tierney Denver, NC 2 02-02 0
8 Kyle Christopher Irvine, KY 2 01-15 0
9 Kurt Glass Grovetown, GA 0 00-00 0
MID-ATLANTIC
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jeff Freeman Max Meadows, VA 5 07-10 0
2 Darin Doll York, PA 5 07-07 0
3 David McKinney Cullooen, WV 3 04-15 0
4 Shelton Walters Felton, DE 3 02-13 0
5 Daniel Rodriguez Monkton, MD 1 01-06 0
6 Eric Woodward Hammonton, NJ 0 00-00 0
6 Moosa Ismail Harare ZIMBABWE 0 00-00 0