BASS Divisionals come to CdA

The second of six BASS Federation Nation Divisionals starts Wednesday on Coeur d’Alene Lake.

The competitors, derived from the best performers on the Federation Nation club level, are battling Wednesday through Friday for coveted berths in the BASS Federation Nation Championship, set for Kansas’ Lake Milford in November.

Junior Bassmasters, including Liberty Lake’s Joey Nania, will also take to the water on Saturday to compete for one of six spots in the Junior Bassmaster World Championships also scheduled for Kansas.

Top amateur anglers from Washington, California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico will compete in a team and individual competition. Roughly 12 anglers from each state will compete against each other to qualify for the championship event while the 12-member state teams will also compete for a state title. The state who comes out on top will receive a Triton/Mercury boat rig valued at $30,000.

Once advancing to the Federation Nation Championship, the top six amateur anglers will claim berths to the prestigious Bassmaster Classic. The Classic awards the winner $500,000 and receives more than 11 hours of coverage on ESPN2.

In the junior division, champions in the 11-14 and 15-18 year old groups from each state will be competing in a one-day shoot out. This competition is between the best junior anglers that each state has qualified for the divisional competition. Top finishers in Kansas will be awarded over $10,000 in scholarships, Disney package trips and boats provided by Triton, Mercury Marine and Motorguide.

Daily launches are at 6 a.m. and weigh-ins will be held at Higgins Point starting at 2 p.m.