By John Weiss
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
WABASHA -- About 200 of the state's best bass anglers will begin to converge on Wabasha Friday to prepare for the Sept. 4-5 Minnesota Bass Federation Nation Tournament of Champions on the Mississippi River.
They will fish Mississippi River pools 4 and 5, from the Red Wing Lock and Dam to the one at Minneiska. That is about 60 miles of the river, including the large Lake Pepin that is a natural reservoir of the river.
The anglers qualified by winning smaller tournaments and represent 41 bass-fishing clubs in the state.
In addition to the main event, one for alternates who did well but didn't qualify for the main tournament, will in Pool 5A (between Winona and Minneiska dams) Wednesday. Weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. at the Minnesota City Boat Harbor just north of Winona. The best finishers will fish in the main event Thursday and Friday when fish will be weighed in at Wabasha.
For the third year, bass will be weighed in when they are in water to avoid stress.
The 12 best anglers from the tournament will go to the 2009 Bass Federation Northern Divisional championship near Detroit. They will fish against anglers from Wisconsin, Indiana, South Dakota, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois and Ohio.
And the best from that group qualifies for the Bassmaster's Classic, the biggest fishing tournament in the country.
This year, Brent Haimes of Mazeppa fished in that tournament, making him the first from this region to go to that prestigious event.