Nation: 2015 BNC registration

Competitors from around the globe met for the first time Monday night during the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship registration in Monroe, La.

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Welcome to Warehouse No. 1, the host for the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship registration. The façade is rustic, but this old warehouse is actually a very nice restaurant on the Ouachita River, the fishery that will have all 59 anglers on it when the competition starts on Thursday.
Welcome to Warehouse No. 1, the host for the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship registration. The façade is rustic, but this old warehouse is actually a very nice restaurant on the Ouachita River, the fishery that will have all 59 anglers on it when the competition starts on Thursday.
Just inside, anglers are greeted with the confirmation that they are indeed in the right place. The banner begins the start of the line competitors go through for registration.
Just inside, anglers are greeted with the confirmation that they are indeed in the right place. The banner begins the start of the line competitors go through for registration.
The first anglers in line are the youngest of the bunch. Matt Roberts and Lance Freeman are both former competitors in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship, and now here they are on the adult side.
The first anglers in line are the youngest of the bunch. Matt Roberts and Lance Freeman are both former competitors in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship, and now here they are on the adult side.
Mark and Jennifer Pierce are here for the fifth time. Mark, who is representing Tennessee, has already qualified for one Classic and is looking to make another one.
Mark and Jennifer Pierce are here for the fifth time. Mark, who is representing Tennessee, has already qualified for one Classic and is looking to make another one.
Hats are among the swag the competitors get to pick up.
Hats are among the swag the competitors get to pick up.
Jack Barber of Texas shows off another of the gifts, which is the plaque every competitor receives for qualifying. Barber qualified through the Paralyzed Veterans of America Tour, and he's proud to be sporting a jersey that displays the colors of Vietnam veterans.
Jack Barber of Texas shows off another of the gifts, which is the plaque every competitor receives for qualifying. Barber qualified through the Paralyzed Veterans of America Tour, and he’s proud to be sporting a jersey that displays the colors of Vietnam veterans.
Paul Mueller is here to defend his championship title from last year. Notice anything about his wife, Kimber? The Muellers are happy to announce they're starting a family! The due date is the same week as the 2016 Bassmaster Classic, so depending on how this week goes for Paul, that first week of March could be a super stressful (and exciting) one for the Muellers!
Paul Mueller is here to defend his championship title from last year. Notice anything about his wife, Kimber? The Muellers are happy to announce they’re starting a family! The due date is the same week as the 2016 Bassmaster Classic, so depending on how this week goes for Paul, that first week of March could be a super stressful (and exciting) one for the Muellers!
Brad Weese, who's representing Maryland, brought a big cheering section!
Brad Weese, who’s representing Maryland, brought a big cheering section!
Joaquim Moio and Jose Moreira of Portugal pull out their cell phones to take photos of the championship trophy.
Joaquim Moio and Jose Moreira of Portugal pull out their cell phones to take photos of the championship trophy.
Kentaro Yamada, left, is representing Japan for the third time in the championship. He brought along Japan B.A.S.S. Nation president Kazuo Tamakoshi and interpreter Nobuyuki Terajima.
Kentaro Yamada, left, is representing Japan for the third time in the championship. He brought along Japan B.A.S.S. Nation president Kazuo Tamakoshi and interpreter Nobuyuki Terajima.
Samuele Ferroni, left, came from Italy to represent his country for the first time. Stefano Corsi accompanies him.
Samuele Ferroni, left, came from Italy to represent his country for the first time. Stefano Corsi accompanies him.
This is many anglers' first time in Louisiana, and these competitors from all over the country are meeting new friends while here. From left are Steven Pike, Nevada; Dave Watson, Indiana; and Pat Hanning, Arizona.
This is many anglers’ first time in Louisiana, and these competitors from all over the country are meeting new friends while here. From left are Steven Pike, Nevada; Dave Watson, Indiana; and Pat Hanning, Arizona.
Team Australia is at the championship for the second time. Lauren Kelly, left, and Drew McGrath, right, are part of the new chapter's leadership, and Steve Kanowski, center, won Australia's championship and is the country's representative.
Team Australia is at the championship for the second time. Lauren Kelly, left, and Drew McGrath, right, are part of the new chapter’s leadership, and Steve Kanowski, center, won Australia’s championship and is the country’s representative.
Mexico and Japan meet before the briefing begins ...
Mexico and Japan meet before the briefing begins …
... and Marcelo Lozano and Nobuyuki Terajima pose for a photo.
… and Marcelo Lozano and Nobuyuki Terajima pose for a photo.
Yamada and Lozano are two of the 10 international competitors in Monroe for the championship.
Yamada and Lozano are two of the 10 international competitors in Monroe for the championship.
This is Lozano's daughter ...
This is Lozano’s daughter …
... and his whole family who traveled from Mexico to be here with him.
… and his whole family who traveled from Mexico to be here with him.
East meets West at this table with a view of the river. Hanning and Pike represent the West, and the Muellers hail from the Eastern Division.
East meets West at this table with a view of the river. Hanning and Pike represent the West, and the Muellers hail from the Eastern Division.
Nick Leonard and Greg Vance sit with their families. The Ohio and Iowa anglers qualified from the Northern Division.
Nick Leonard and Greg Vance sit with their families. The Ohio and Iowa anglers qualified from the Northern Division.
Dave Andrews, Janice and George Barnes and Skip Sjobeck came from the Eastern Division.
Dave Andrews, Janice and George Barnes and Skip Sjobeck came from the Eastern Division.
Albert Collins made it to the Classic a couple of years ago, but not through the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. He made it through the Weekend Series instead. Last year, he almost made it to the Classic through the BNC, but he missed it by a smidge. He's hoping to make it this year through the BNC for the first time.
Albert Collins made it to the Classic a couple of years ago, but not through the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. He made it through the Weekend Series instead. Last year, he almost made it to the Classic through the BNC, but he missed it by a smidge. He’s hoping to make it this year through the BNC for the first time.
Samuel Bounds and his wife, Jovanna, have barely slept. Samuel is a pastor and couldn't leave their home in West Virginia until all his church business was done. They didn't get on the road until 5 p.m., drove all night and arrived at 9:30 this morning. They actually look this good with only a 2-hour nap before registration started.
Samuel Bounds and his wife, Jovanna, have barely slept. Samuel is a pastor and couldn’t leave their home in West Virginia until all his church business was done. They didn’t get on the road until 5 p.m., drove all night and arrived at 9:30 this morning. They actually look this good with only a 2-hour nap before registration started.
B.A.S.S. staff gets paperwork filed after the registration was complete and while the briefing was about to get underway.
B.A.S.S. staff gets paperwork filed after the registration was complete and while the briefing was about to get underway.
Jerry and Julie Pape came all the way from Iowa. This is Jerry's first championship.
Jerry and Julie Pape came all the way from Iowa. This is Jerry’s first championship.
Janet Holloway and Fabian Rodriguez are here for Rodriguez's first championship. He's representing Delaware.
Janet Holloway and Fabian Rodriguez are here for Rodriguez’s first championship. He’s representing Delaware.
Pierce said he had some motor trouble during practice but is all fixed up now.
Pierce said he had some motor trouble during practice but is all fixed up now.
Audrey McKenney is president of the Colorado B.A.S.S. Nation, and Larry Triplett is representing Colorado in the championship for the third time.
Audrey McKenney is president of the Colorado B.A.S.S. Nation, and Larry Triplett is representing Colorado in the championship for the third time.
John Proctor and Roger Thomas make up Team Carolina. Proctor is here for the southern state and Thomas for the northern Carolina.
John Proctor and Roger Thomas make up Team Carolina. Proctor is here for the southern state and Thomas for the northern Carolina.
Brad Durden of Georgia and Wayne Black of Florida have a good laugh.
Brad Durden of Georgia and Wayne Black of Florida have a good laugh.
The Italians look over the rules as Jon Stewart begins the briefing.
The Italians look over the rules as Jon Stewart begins the briefing.