NC BASS Federation Nation Angler Finishes 6th Nationally
Tavares, FL — Press Release: Tavares Fla. BASS Federation Nation National Championship
ResultsNC BASS Federation Nation angler Chuck Murray of Louisburg NC falls 2.5 pounds short of “BASS MASTER CLASSIC” berth. Finishes 6th Nationally!
The journey began back in May 2008, when Chuck won the NC BASS Federation Nation Eastern Qualifier on Kerr Lake with a two day total of 31 pounds. Then in April 2009, Chuck won the 2009 BASS Southern Divisional on Gaston Lake with a three day total of 45 pounds, qualifying him for the 2009 BASS Federation Nation National Championship this past week October 28-30 in Tavares Florida. What was at stake, a chance to win the National Championship and an opportunity to clinch a berth in the most prestigious bass tourney of all times, “the Bass Master CLASSIC”!
Six fishermen would qualify for the prestigious CLASSIC, however the top six finishers would not automatically earn the berth. In order to make the CLASSIC, each contender would have to win their division. Chuck had a strong performance finishing 6th overall and earning a ranking on 6th nationally, however he was 2.5 pounds short to Brent Long of South Carolina who finished 4th in the tourney and was the Southern Divisional winner who will advance to the Classic for the second time!
“I had a good tourney only losing one fish in the three day competition”, Murray stated. “I just could not get the big bite I needed. I could catch my limit each day, but I needed that one kicker fish, and it never happened.” Chuck weighed in 15 bass totaling 25 pounds 7 ounces to Brent Long’s 12 bass totaling 28 pounds. Only 4 anglers out of 55 in the tourney were able to catch their limit each day. Chuck was one of those anglers. “I am very disappointed about not making the CLASSIC because I really felt like it was my time, Murray stated. I had caught some really nice fish in practice back in September, but I could not locate them in the tourney. I also think I made a bad decision on day one of the tourney, not concentrating hard enough to catch that one big fish I needed.”
The journey to the 2010 BASS MASTER CLASSIC ends for Chuck this year, however he has qualified for the 2010 Southern Divisional in Georgia in April 2010. In order to make it back to the BASS Federation Nation National Championship, he must finish first again from North Carolina to advance. “It is so hard to qualify, because only one can represent North Carolina, so you can imagine how good the competition really is you are competing with” Murray stated.