Kentucky Bass Federation

Denali Rods wants to be the Kentucky TBF’s rod of choice and we would like to offer you the following sponsorship package for 2013.

TBF members would receive a 25% discount on all our rods.  For every 5 rods sold to your membership, Denali will kick in one free Jadewood  rod to be donated to the KBF for raffles, prizes, giveaway, state team  etc.

Members will be given a discount code exclusive to their organization to use when placing orders, which can be placed online at www.denalirods.com. Denali will be able to track the club’s sales with the given code. Regular shipping rates apply.

Members wishing to place a Order for new Rods, should contact President John Dixon or Sec/Treas Tom Whittington for the Discount Code before placing order.

Kentucky Bass Federation Members News

 The Kentucky Bass Federation and Zeko Shoes are partnering to offer a great opportunity to the federation members.  Zeko is offering to all Kentucky Bass Federation members a special discounted price on shoes.  When you are ready to place your order, contact Mike Cox at ike@zekoshoes.com   or  President@KYBassFed.com for the super super Discount.

Zeko shoes is also offering to the winners of the State Tournament $200 to the Angler and $100 to the Co-Angler if they are wearing Zeko Shoes and have a decal on their boat or truck during the tournament.

And for the Anglers of the Year, Zeko will give $100 of product to each the Angler and Co-Angler of the year if they are wearing Zeko Shoes and have a decal on their boat or truck during the tournament.

Each person who places an order will receive 2 stickers for their vehicle and/or boat along with the arrival of order of Zeko Shoes.

Watch Video at https://vimeo.com/schazamproductions/review/58493038/f721addfe0

Visit Zeko website at   www.zekoshoes.com

 For more info contact:

Mike Cox

ike@zekoshoes.com                                                                                           

Or

John Dixon

President@KYBassFed.com

Attention ALL Club Presidents,

Club Secretaries,

Club Roster Management Admins.

KBF Members.

Lately our phones have been ringing off the wall over FLW memberships.

ALL Federation Members are required to update their FLW memberships thru their respective Clubs in the Kentucky Bass Federation.

The Bass Federation, Inc.  (TBF) ‘s partnership with FLW Outdoors is based solely on Memberships. Therefore, all Federation members are required to update their FLW membership thru their Mother Club in the State of Kentucky.

KBF cannot submit roster updates to TBF with a partial payment.  Every Roster submitted to TBF MUST be accompanied with $50 for each member on this Invoice.  $15.00 for TBF National Dues & $35.00 FLW membersip Dues.

At this time each year, the KBF Office is flooded with phone calls from members that need to update their FLW memberships so they can get the early bird entries at BFL events.  Most of these persons are calling FLW and asking to purchase a membership, therefore they are sold a new membership, and shortly thereafter they see that they now have a 2^nd membership number.

Please Read Slowly:   IF YOU ARE A Kentucky Bass Federation member you must renew your FLW Outdoors subscription thru your Club and State Federation.

The bottom line is the same ole story every year.  Clubs and Club Members look at the State Federation Qualifying Schedule and when the 1^st events is not scheduled until mid March or early April, their thoughts are what the heck, I will just wait until a few days before the 1^st event before I pay up.

Now I decide in November that I want to compete in some of the early scheduled BFL events around my area, and I simply go buy the FLW membership there and by pass the club and State.  Now when your Club and State is updating membership to the National Federation, you begin to yell I am already a FLW member.  Yes you are, BUT why did you not follow procedure in becoming a FLW member.

KBF By Laws requires all Clubs/Members to provide a new Roster update to their State Federation and in turn the State is required to provide the same update to the National Federation on/before December 31.   DEAR MEMBER… No excuse … your State Federation and the TBF National Federation is excepting roster updates beginning November 1^st  of each year.

When you called FLW to buy or Renew your FLW membership, had you told them you were a Federation Member they would have told you the same thing you have just read in this Note.

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR)

Position Statement

Regarding Boat Restrictions at U.S. Corp of Engineers (USCOE) owned Dams

KDFWR is opposed to the USCOE decision to unnecessarily restrict boat access below the dams.

If you are as well, please contact your U.S. Senators and Representative now!

Background:
The US Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District, released its plans on December 13, 2012 torestrict boating access above and below their damsto maximize safety associated with hazardous waters. These new restricted zones are set to take effect in 2013.
The Corps will hold two public information meetings in KY:
Meeting 1 – January 10, 2013 in Grand Rivers, KY from 6-8 pm (CST) at Badgett Playhouse Theater, 1831 JH O’Bryan Avenue.

Meeting 2 – January 24, 2013 in Somerset, KY from 6-8 pm (EST) at Somerset Center for Rural Development, 2292 Hwy 27, Suite 300 (turn off 27 at Traffic Light #15).

Contact your U.S. Senators and Representative to voice your concerns.

The new restrictions are based on a 1996 policy established in ER 1130-2-520, Chapter 10, Project Operations-Navigation and Dredging Operations and Maintenance Policies. This policy allows restricted areas to be established based on hydraulic criteria and site-specific operational considerations. In this case, the recent decision by USCOE impacts four impoundments in Kentucky including Martins Fork, Laurel River, Barkley, and Cumberland lakes. Although the restricted areas above-dam will not have a notable impact to most boating activity,the below-dam restriction will significantly impact boaters and anglers, especially below Lake Cumberland and Barkley Lake.

KDFWR Concerns:

KDFWR agrees with the USCOE that there are significant safety considerations below any dam due to the periodic turbulent conditions and reverse currents that are created. Based on this, the department recognizes and enforces the current warning signal and requirement to wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) in the restricted zone already. However, KDFWR is strongly opposed to the proposed restrictive zones for the following reasons:

1. Both areas support major      recreational fisheries that will be negatively impacted.

• Areas below dams (known as tailwaters) provide a concentration of fish due to the physical barrier, flow and oxygen conditions, and the concentration of forage fish for major predators and these conditions attract boat anglers. Anglers have been accustomed to fishing these areas since 1953 at Lake Cumberland and 1966 at Barkley Lake. Site specific data is not available on Lake Cumberland tailwaters but anecdotally this is highest fishing pressure area and supports the highest catch rate and harvest for this entire 75 miles of trout stream.
• Data from Barkley Lake in 2000 reveal the importance of these tailwaters. Specifically, there were 562 fishing trips per acre immediately below the dam compared to four fishing trips per acre above the dam. Over 60% of these fishing trips were made by boat anglers.  Similarly, the fish harvest in tailwaters was recorded at 2,655 fish per      acre, compared to only nine fish per acre in the lake. Overall, the economic value for the Barkley Lake tailwater fishery is over $3M.

2. The proposed restricted zones below Barkley Lake and Lake Cumberland are unnecessarily restrictive, since they are based on bank full conditions with all major gates open. These conditions represent a true flood stage at either location, when it is definitely unsafe to be in the entire river below the dam. However, the proposed zones will now also restrict access to very calm and safe water for significant portions of the year including the major recreational season.  The USCOE’s own policy contains language that allows flexibility, in that any boundaries for restricted access above and below the dam are to be “ordinarily” established based on high flow conditions. The rule does not require the USCOE to take this approach.

3. The hydraulic line standard only applies at flood stage and is not applicable during other major times of the year. In particular, the Lake Cumberland hydraulic standard is definitely excessive since gates have only been opened during rare events since the dam was constructed except during the current dam repair era. Major dam repairs will be completed sometime in 2013 and a normal flow operation will follow.

4. The proposed buoy line to delineate the zone will be expensive and has not been budgeted as part of normal congressional appropriations.

5. The USCOE rule now being implemented has apparently been in effect since 1996. However, the Corp has chosen not to enforce this rule for over 17 years! Despite this, before KDFWR became involved, the USCOE had not announced any intentions to allow for public input to this change in restricted areas. It is important therefore that this input is heard at the public information meetings scheduled for January.

Call to Action and Compromise:

KDFWR has reached out to USCOE officials as well as our state and federal legislators to try and foster a compromise, which addresses the USCOE safety and liability concerns while continuing to promote the outstanding fishing and tourism opportunity in these areas. KDFWR has specifically proposed, as an alternative,warning lights to designate a restricted zone when gates have been opened. Both our Department and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) have agreed to dedicate law enforcement efforts if a less restrictive methodology is utilized. It is our belief that the Corps can maximize safety and minimize legal liability by using these and other alternatives.

Nashville District announces plans to tighten restrictions around Corps Dams

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 13, 2012) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is finalizing plans to implement 24/7 restricted waterborne access to hazardous waters immediately upstream and downstream of all Corps-owned locks and dams, flood control dams and multi-purpose dams on the Cumberland River and its adjoining tributaries. This action moves the Nashville District into full compliance with Corps regulations.

Public information meetings are planned for Paducah, Ky., Nashville, Tenn., Cookeville, Tenn. and Somerset, Ky. in January 2013. These meetings will allow the public to respond to the proposed implementation plans. Detailed information for each meeting’s time and location will be provided to the public as soon as they are finalized.
The restricted areas will be the minimum area allowed per Corps regulations upstream and downstream of locks, dams, and power plant facilities. All forms of water access within the restricted areas will be prohibited including boating, swimming and wading. The Corps continues to allow bank fishing in all areas that were previously approved, including areas adjacent to some restricted areas. The restricted areas will be small areas compared to the entire tailwater below the dams on federal property. Fishing and boating will still be allowed in these non-restricted areas.

“We understand the tightened restricted areas in the Nashville District may be unpopular, but it is necessary for the district to enforce a more restrictive policy that complies more effectively with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ ER 1130-2-520, Chapter 10,” said Freddie Bell, chief of the Natural Resource Management Branch. “The increased restriction will also provide the highest level of public safety and address physical security issues.”

Since 2009, three fatalities, one serious injury and 10 near misses/rescues have occurred in the hazardous waters immediately downstream of dams on the Cumberland River and its adjoining tributaries. Life jacket wear has been ineffective in these areas, since all of the victims who drowned were wearing a life jacket.

The immediate hazardous water areas above and below dams in the Nashville District are best described as industrial areas that pose a high level of risk for the public because of the hydroelectric, spilling, sluicing and lock operations that are often present or begin with little or no notice. Such water releases can change a dry riverbed or calm waters into a life-threatening situation within seconds that can swamp, capsize and trap boats and people in turbulent waters.

“We want the public to understand safety is the Agency’s highest priority,” said Bell. “The tailwater directly below a dam is a high risk area and fishing in this area is a high risk activity. As we comply with Corps regulations by restricting these areas, we are also keeping the public safe.”

For more information, on the Restricted Areas Around Dams please go to   http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil /xxxxxxx
For more information on the Nashville District please visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District website at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/ .

The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps  and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps .

As the time draws near (which is now) for clubs to begin sending in their new Rosters for 2013 the incoming Officers wanted to announce the new address for all materials to be mailed to KBF.

The new address is:

KY Bass Federation, Inc.

PO Box 1718

Glasgow, Kentucky 42142-1718

At this time the members of the KBF would like to extend a big and hearty Thank You to the outgoing President.  Donnie Cato, Thank you for your time and dedication while serving as President of KBF. 

Also we would like to extend the same big and hearty Thank You to our outgoing Secretary/Treasurer.  Gerald Smith, Thank you for your time served as Sec/Treas of KBF.

As KBF prepares to begin 2013, we would like to Welcome John Dixon to the Office of KBF President and Welcome to Tom Whittington as the new KBF Sec/Treas.    These two gentlemen have agreed to step forward as the year draws to a close and commence getting their feet wet and preparing themselves for the task of each respective Office.   Gentlemen, please keep in mind that a wealth of knowledge and guidance is only a phone call away from all the Past Officers and Board Members.       

“Welcome Aboard Gentlemen”

The Kentucky Bass Federation State Tournament will be held on Barkley/Kentucky Lakes on September 22nd & 23rd.  All information on Qualified Contestants and other information can be found on this website by clicking on Tournaments|Schedule/Results and scroll to the bottom for all information.

ATTENTION: ALL KBF Qualifiers, a letter has been prepared and is being mailed to each qualified contestant. The same letter is published below so that all can see.

August 15, 2012

Dear KBF Regional Qualifier,

Congratulations!  Finishing in the Top 2 in one of our Regional Qualifying Events is a real honor.  You have qualified for one of the  positions at the 2012 Kentucky Bass Federation, Inc. – State Championship Tournament. 

In addition to the above Qualified Contestants any KBF Member that competed/paid for 4 or more of the 16 scheduled Regional events has also Qualified to participate at this years State Tournament.

The tournament will be held September 21^st thru 23rd, 2012 at Kuttawa, Kentucky on Ky/Barkley Lakes. Launch will be out of the Kuttawa Ramp.   There will be a MANDATORY pre-tournament banquet and meeting on Friday, September 21,2012.  Meeting and Banquet will be at Jet A Marine, Calvert City, Ky. Registration will be open at 2:30 PM.

All contestants must be registered by 4:45PM.

The MEETING will start at 5:00 PM promptly and we will be ready to begin eating at approximately 6 PM.  During the evening everyone is asked to extend a hearty Thank You to Mr. Kerry Clark of Jet A Marine for his sponsorship of this event.

The purpose of this tournament is to compete for the opportunity to participate on the 2013 KBF State Team. This privilege will go to the Top 6 Anglers & the Top 6 Co Anglers in this tournament.  The 2013 State Team will be representing Kentucky in June of 2013 at the TBF, Inc. Southern Divisional Tournament in Tennessee.

(Tournament location & exact site will be announced at a later date)

The Top individual  (Angler or Co Angler) on the 2013 State Team will advance as a Angler to the TBF,Inc. National Championship Tournament.  From there, you may qualify to compete in the prestigious BFL All American and/or the FLW Cup Championship.  The 2^nd Place State Team Member (Angler or Co Angler) will advance to the same events as a Co Angler.

Again, I congratulate you on your accomplishment!

Sincerely,

Donnie Cato, President

Entry Fees:

Angler: $75.00         Co Angler: $50.00

Entry forms WILL NOT be mailed out, to make everything as simple as possible, all you need to do is mail your entry fee in.

Entry can be paid by check if mailed and received on/before September 10

ALL ENTRIES not received by KBF by the 10^th MUST be paid in CASH at the Registration Meeting

Mail your entry fee to :

KBF, Inc.

% Gerald Smith

8305 Red Stone Hill Rd

Louisville, KY 40214

When contacting Jerry with your entry fee also tell him how many persons will be attending with you.