Kaiser advances to national fish tourney

Chad Kaiser was stoked when he learned that The Bass Federation regional tournament was going to be held on Pot Holes Reservoir near Moses Lake, Wash.

The Hayden man grew up fishing there. And that knowledge helped him win the tournament last week, advancing him to 2014 Federation National Championship that will be held at a site and on a date to be determined.

"I was excited that it was there," said Kaiser, who works in boat sales at Tobler Marina in Hayden.

Kaiser has competed in the event for the past five years and this is the first time he's advanced to nationals. The trip to the national event will be paid for.

Kaiser won $500 at the regional contest with a total weight of 65 pounds, 7 ounces and will compete for $200,000 and a fully rigged truck and boat at the national event. He also won the Big Bag category with 26 pounds, 1 ounce during the first day of the tourney and he caught the biggest single fish, a largemouth weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces.

Other local anglers who competed in the regional contest and as part of a 12-member Idaho team included Rathdrum's Josh Ragan and Coeur d'Alene's Don Defloff. The Idaho squad placed second out of five states with a total of 444 pounds.

Warm weather helped fishermen, Kaiser said.

"All the bass were pulling up and starting to spawn," he said.

Sixty anglers from five states competed. Ten total participants - the top two from each state - will advance to the national contest.