ALABAMA’S LAKE NEELY HENRY TO HOST BASS FEDERATION NATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The BASS Federation Nation National Championship is the place where dreams are realized for amateur anglers.
The 2007 version will feature 54 talented anglers competing on Lake Neely Henry, Jan. 17-19, out of Gadsden, Ala.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry’s widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
Inside BASS: Major League Baseball Player Figgins New BASS Member
The newest high-profile member of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society might be its fastest ever.
Chone (pronounced “Shawn”) Figgins used that speed to steal 52 bases last year for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It also enabled him to play a variety of positions including second base, centerfield and third base. That same speed and versatility is being applied to bass fishing these days during baseball’s off-season.
“I’m a new BASS member, absolutely,” Figgins said. “I’ve fished all my life. I just started really getting into bass fishing about six or seven years ago.
“I fished all through high school when I had a chance. There were a lot of ponds around and a buddy and I would ride our bikes to them. That’s how I really got started.”
After obtaining his membership, Figgins was most excited that he would receive the 11 annual issues of Bassmaster Magazine- an important convenience for someone as busy as Figgins.
“I read every edition cover-to-cover,” Figgins said. “I really anticipate every issue coming in the mail. I feel like I have learned a ton every time I read it.”
After an All-American season at Brandon High School in Florida, Figgins was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 1997 and made his major league debut for the Angels in 2002. In 2005, he stole a major league high 62 bases, which also set an Angels team record.
The 5-foot-7 speedster was rewarded with a three-year, $10.5-million deal in 2006. He responded this past year by stealing 52 bases and hitting .267 while mostly batting lead-off and patrolling centerfield.
Lately, during some rare downtime, Figgins has been fishing numerous bass waters around his home in Brandon.
“I do a lot of fishing during the off-season,” he said. “I bought a place that has a lake and I fish on it a lot. I bought a bass boat two years ago and I fish as much as possible.
“I don’t get to fish during the season because in California the lakes are too far to drive to. It takes three hours to get there.”
Figgins is definitely bass-crazy. Consider:
Sports Illustrated once asked him to complete this sentence: “If I weren't playing baseball, I’d...”
His reply: “be a bass fisherman. I'm from Florida, and I love to fish. In the off-season the fish aren't spawning — so it's harder. If I were out there all summer, I'd be really good.”
MLB.com asked: “What is your earliest Christmas memory?”
His reply: “My dad bought me my first fishing pole. It was a bass-fishing pole, and we went outside and we set up a bucket. We spent a long time just casting into that bucket. I was about five or six. I don't have that pole anymore, but that memory stands out. I love to fish, and I really wanted that fishing pole.
MLB.com: “Was there any toy/gift that you always wanted but didn't get?”
Figgins: “You know, I can honestly say there wasn't a present that I wanted and didn't get. That fishing pole was something that I really wanted, and I got it. It was an expensive fishing pole, too. That was the only thing I cared about. I wanted one of those so bad. I used to watch fishing shows on television, and I wanted to be one of those guys. My dad got it, though, and hid it behind the TV until Christmas.”
TIM HORTON UPDATE. It seems that Tim Hortons, a chain of 2,800 coffee and doughnut shops in Canada and the U.S., has had a change of heart since Inside BASS first reported that they were threatening legal action against Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series pro Tim Horton over the use of his name on fishing-related products.
Rachel Douglas, director of public affairs for the restaurant chain, told the North Alabama Times Daily recently that the angler can attach his name to any type of products except foods that are sold by the company.
“He's free to continue selling his lures, DVDs and other products,” Douglas said. “We're not in competition with him on those items. But we will continue to oppose any effort by him to trademark his No. 1 Tim Horton logo, because we already own the Tim Hortons trademark. But he can certainly continue to use his name on his products."
It appears Horton won’t have to change his name to “The Angler Formerly Known as Tim Horton” after all.
BASS BONUS. Local anglers fishing the 2007 Bassmaster Weekend Series operated by American Bass Anglers stand to win some nice bonuses, thanks to the new contingency programs sponsored by Mercury Marine and MotorGuide. More than $375,000 in extra cash will be available in 2007.
Mercury will award a $1,000 bonus to the winning angler in each regular-season and division-championship tournament, provided the winner's boat is equipped with a 2005-2007 Mercury outboard. MotorGuide will award a $500 bonus to the winning angler if his or her boat is equipped with a 2004-2007 MotorGuide trolling motor.
“Mercury would like to recognize and acknowledge the grass-roots anglers,” said Michelle Kilburn, manager of freshwater tournaments and events. “This is the first time we have offered such a program. We hope this helps provide evidence of Mercury's continued support for competitive angling, our loyal customers and help attract new customers.”
WRAP RAP. Look for Preston Clark to again promote the Beef O’ Brady’s restaurant chain with his wrapped boat during the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series. Clark said he will run the same wrap for the next three years.
The personable Florida pro, who burst onto the BASS scene with two record-setting performances in 2006, received a substantial raise from his biggest sponsor.
“I’m very happy,” Clark said. “They really stepped up to the plate. In addition, Triton and Mercury really stepped up big. Everybody’s happy.”
DID YOU KNOW? The 2007 Bassmaster Classic Feb. 23-25 in Birmingham, Ala., will offer a total prize purse of $1.2 million and a winner’s prize of $500,000.
IF I HADN’T BECOME A BASS PRO… Before building a career as one of the top active female anglers, Pam Martin-Wells held a variety of jobs. “I have done it all,” said the Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats pro from Georgia said. “I worked for a newspaper in the darkroom. I was a paint contractor for a while. Actually, Steven [her husband] and I are residential contractors to this day. We build houses and docks. And, of course, I’ve guided for years.”
THEY SAID IT. “Right now we are at the beginning of a new era of bass fishing and more people are making a living at it. The Elite Series was a huge step. Having our own identity with wrapped trucks, boats and things like that was a huge breakthrough. There are a lot of guys that were really struggling a year ago that are so much better off today. They were the ones that complained and moaned about this new format until they went out there and actually tried to sell themselves.” Three-time Bassmaster Anger of the Year Kevin VanDam.
ALABAMA’S LAKE NEELY HENRY TO HOST BASS FEDERATION NATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2007 version will feature 54 talented anglers competing on Lake Neely Henry, Jan. 17-19, out of Gadsden, Ala., and throughout its illustrious history, the championship has served as the amateur angler’s crowning event.
The full field will have a chance to earn one of six qualifying spots into bass fishing’s most major event, the 2007 Bassmaster Classic, and a shot at the $500,000 Classic grand prize. The Classic spots are awarded to the top performer in each of six geographic divisions.
“The Federation Nation Championship continues to be the premier tournament for amateur anglers from around the world,” said Gary Jones, director of the BASS Federation Nation. “We are excited about all of the perks associated for anglers who do well in this marquee event.”
Television coverage from the championship will air on ESPN2 Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. ET. The winner will take home $15,000 plus a Triton/Mercury package valued at $50,000. But this championship is about so much more.
“It’s not so much the money,” said Justin Nichols, the lone Alabama representative in the field. “It’s more about earning the reputation of beating everyone because these are all good anglers.”
Nichols, a 32-year-old field service technician in Tuscaloosa, is typical of the competitive nature that dominates the entire national championship field.
A longtime member of the West Alabama BASS Federation Nation club, Nichols qualified through the BASS Federation Nation Southern Division.
Joining Nichols are anglers from across the country and globe representing 47 states and Canada (Ontario), Italy, Mexico, Japan, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Also competing is 2006 champion Anre De Villiers and Rhode Island’s Joel St. Germain, who qualified for the 2006 Bassmaster Classic through last year’s Federation Nation Championship.
This year’s winner will receive an added bonus - qualifying for the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series. Also, the six divisional winners will receive paid entry fees into the Bassmaster Open division of their choice.
Lake Neely Henry is 11,235 acres and is home to quality populations of largemouth and spotted bass — as past BASS tournaments have demonstrated.
Although Nichols is from Alabama, he has little experience on Neely Henry. He believes that his experience on other lakes in the Coosa River chain (Lay, Mitchell and Alabama River) through past club tournaments might give him an advantage in this tournament.
“I’ve only fished Neely Henry one time before it went off-limits,” he said. “The fishing could be good. That river is narrow, so there should be a lot of current. And we’ve had a mild winter. So the fish ought to bite.
“I think the spots will be caught in numbers, but there will be some big largemouth, too. A jig, crankbait and just about any bait will probably work.”
The no-entry-fee tournament will feature a five-bass daily limit and the full field will fish all three days. Daily launches will take place at the Gadsden Boat Dock at 7 a.m. Daily weigh-ins will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Gadsden Mall.
2007 Federation Nation Contenders
1. Mark Adams New Mexico
2. Hoyt Akins Arkansas
3. Greg Alexander Delaware
4. Sean Alvarez Vermont
5. Jeffrey Brown South Dakota
6. Pete Cherkas Iowa
7. Martin Alexander De Kock South Africa
8. Anre De Villiers South Africa
9. Royce Dennington Oklahoma
10. Michael Edrington Kansas
11. Eric Femiak Massachusetts
12. Alan Fluharty West Virginia
13. John Gardner Colorado
14. Carl Hunter Georgia
15. Jimmy Johnson Texas
16. David Junk Illinois
17. Pat Klausen Nebraska
18. Dave Kromm Washington
19. Scott Lakey Michigan
20. Jim Lambert Pennsylvania
21. Ken Larrabee Arizona
22. Robert Laufaenberg New Jersey
23. Brent Long South Carolina
24. Mike MacDonald Zimbabwe
25. Joseph Matt New York
26. Mike Mattis Wisconsin
27. Bryan McNeal Ohio
28. Terry McWilliams Indiana
29. Brian Morin New Hampshire
30. Dean Morris Florida
31. Ivan Morris Virginia
32. Scott Nadeau Maine
33. Justin Nichols Alabama
34. Chris Novack Connecticut
35. Luke Payne Missouri
36. Ed Peterson California
37. Greg Pink Utah
38. David Porter Florida
39. Marco Rodriguez Idaho
40. Edgar Romero Mexico
41. Roberto Rondinini Italy
42. Mark Rorke Ontario
43. Tim Runions Tennessee
44. Jim Severson Minnesota
45. Bruce Shockley Louisiana
46. Stephen Siddoway Wyoming
47. Curtis Spindler Montana
48. Joel St. Germain Rhode Island
49. Bryan Thrift North Carolina
50. Shigeru Tsukiyama Japan
51. Les Underwood Kentucky
52. Kevin Waterman Maryland
53. Marks Wilkinson Mississippi
54. Gary Yexley Oregon