Notes of an Alternate Angler
Friday - March 28, 2008: The Durango was loaded to the gills with travel bags, tackle boxes, rods and reels, and snack foods. My travel time to Santee Cooper was a little over 500 miles from Decatur. After stopping at your home to pick up the team supplies, I drove into Augusta, Georgia for the night.
Saturday - March 29, 2008: I continued on up I-20 until I reached Hwy 178 which ran SE to Orangeburg, SC and on into Manning, SC on I-95 to meet Mr. Wimmer on Saturday for the night. Mr. Wimmer and I enjoyed our first evening meal at the Waffle Fulfillment Center.
Sunday - March 30, 2008: On Sunday, I was set up to fish a practice day with my good angling friend, Bassmaster Bill Forney from Gadsden who had been on the lake since 03-25-08. Since Bill had not fished the lower lake, after a fine breakfast in Summerton where Bill was staying at the Knights Inn (majority of our Alabama Team lodged here) we drove down to Rock Pond Landing, however, due to the wind conditions on the lake (3' - 5' waves), we decided not to fish that day and drove back to the motel through the rain and I drove back to Manning for a nap (ole men take them when they get a chance). We had received word that Kyle Colley was not going to be able to make the tournament and it looked like Bassmaster Gowen was going to have to live up to the Alternate Angler position on the team, however, we kept our fingers crossed. Sean Dassau's new Mercury on the new Bass Cat would not run - WOW, what a way to start a day with a new boat. We had our first meeting at the Knights Inn that night and took the group photos, changing shirts and caps with finesse. Since this was the first time for some of these anglers to meet, discussion of angling techniques, lures, and locations was a little sensitive, however, with Tournament Director Wimmer leading the discussion, things opened up a little bit. These meetings over the next three days would lead to the bonding of the individual anglers with each other, a respect for each others abilities and character, and many would leave with a new friendship to be enjoyed over the coming years.
Monday, March 31, 2008: On Monday, I had the privilege of a day on the lake with my good friend, Bassmaster Jonathan Edwards from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee - my home town and where I went to high school. Jonathan and I also went down the West side of the upper lake to Rock Pond Landing (Bill, I did not give away your intended fishing location), and after hitting a stump or two, Jonathan began to fish behind the island that Bill had indicated he wanted to explore. Jonathan found some fish hanging on a slight ditch that ran back into the cove beside some PCV & bush top attractors. I got one bite in the location but did not stick a fish. Not having been on Santee Cooper before, Jonathan is an EXPERT in running a GPS on a shallow water lake to stay out of trouble. After exploring a couple of more coves in the area, we returned to the Knights Inn where we had our second night's team meeting. I thoroughly enjoyed fishing with Jonathan even without a single bass in the boat. The end result it seemed from the discussion was that the bass were on bed or moving upon bed and the larger bass was responding to trick worms, lizards, one or two on a spinner bait, etc. Sean's boat still in the shop in Moncks Corner.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008: On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to team up with partner Chris Pope of Pensacola, our 2007 ABFN State Champion. Chris is a great guy and a credit to ABFN. We started with the last ramp area on the lower lake, put the boat into a cove at the launch but could not get to the lake for a sand bar. It was back up the lake through two more launch sites before we reached Black's Landing. We put in at Black's Landing, which has a channel running to the center of the diversion canal, and it was a ride to marker pole #25, a right turn and a high speed run to the bottom right corner of the lower lake. WOW, what a ride - but a good DRIVER and one who also runs a good GPS course. Without those Lowrance sonars and GPS units, you can not fish a lake like Santee Cooper without getting into BAD TROUBLE. The water was SHALLOW when we stopped and there was a lake area through a cut we could not get into which looked FULL OF BASS. We worked our way back up lake and found some excellent coves with bedding areas and then headed back in for the BFN tournament briefing at the Bozard Pond House, an excellent meal by B.A.S.S., and the guys working out arrangements with their partners for the next day. Tournament Director Wimmer picked up Sean's boat at the repair shop and delivered it to him at Black's Landing during the day. When put in the water, the motor started and quit running. The boat was pulled out, the hood removed and it was found that a line had been put back on during repairs without a clamp. Clamp added and motor ran fine. It was great to see that Kyle Colley had made it to the tournament even though he had not had the opportunity of being on the lake for practice. No Team Meeting this date.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - Day #1 - Competition: Rain, storms and wind. Just right for catching bass. For the next three days, it would be the same for Tournament Director Wimmer and I - be sure the guys got off safely at the blast off, return for a great breakfast at Dottie's place (some call it the Fire Station), back to the Best Western at Manning for a nap, lunch, back to the John C. Land Recreation Facility for the weigh-in, and back to the Knight's Inn for the team meeting. ALABAMA B.A.S.S. FEDERATION NATION IS NUMBER ONE! #1 #1 #1 #1
*Jonathan Edwards - NUMBER #1 ON THE STATE TEAM AND FIRST PLACE ANGLER IN THE BFN SOUTHERN DIVISIONAL on Day #1 - a full limit of 19 lb. and 07 oz.
*Kyle Colley - Remember the guy who did not show up until the tournament briefing, full of medication for the flu, and never seen the lake - he scored #2 on the ABFN Team and #12 in the tournament on Day #1 with (3) bass at 11 lb. 06 oz.
*Roy Galbraith - Slipping in the background was the angler from Winfield, Alabama - John Thompson country. Roy scored with (2) bass weighing in at 10 lb. 4 oz. - an indication of things to come.
*Sean Dassau - The man with the big fish in his holes - but smaller ones in the live well - (5) bass at 10 lb. 01 oz.
*Darrel High - A major player in ABFN and a strength of the team struggled with (3) bass at 9 lb. 05 oz.
*Chris Pope - He returned to the holes we found but the fish did not cooperate - (3) bass for 9 lb. - 00 oz.
*Clay Messer - AUBURN - (3) bass for 7 lb. 4 oz.
*Rick Sharp - another semi-ABFN pro from Florence (Tim Horton Country) - (3) bass at 7 lb. 4 oz. - a tie with Clay.
*Rickie Harp - Another angler with high hopes - Cottondale - (3) bass for 7 lb. even.
*Bill Forney - Gadsden - Bill had been on the lake too long this week. Tournament Director Wimmer took a ride with him on Sunday which he described as "wooley" and said that bill was running up river when he stopped for a large sign in the river and ask Mr. Wimmer to read it for him. Ray said the sign was the size of a billboard and it read: CAUTION - river full of stumps and shallow water - DANGEROUS. He said after that he watched more closely as his driver navigated the channel. I understand that the ladder (RANGER) hung up on a stick-up and all the boat would do was go around and around. Ray said after Bill got dizzy he decided to release the boat to keep Bill from falling in the water. Bill scores with (2) bass at 3 lb. 14 oz.
*Joe Wikoff - Now here is a guy that is hard to beat on any body of water, but it just goes to show how humbling a new lake can be - our Phenix City Pro had (2) bass for 3 lb. - 08 oz.
*Ashley Stanford from Smyrna, Tennessee carried a seine with him but could find no fish - (1) bass for 1 lb. 02 oz.
Day # 1
1st Place - Alabama - 99 lb. 07 oz.
2nd Place - South Carolina - 94 lb. 00 oz.
3rd Place - North Carolina - 90 lb. 09 oz.
4th Place - Kentucky - 76 lb. 03 oz.
5th Place - Florida - 65 lb. 09 oz.
6th Place - Georgia - 56 lb. 02 oz.
7th Place - Tennessee - 19 lb. - 04 oz
Thursday - April 3, 2008 - Day #2 of Competition: The temperature dropped 20 degrees - more rain and wind. While the ABFN total pounds increased from 99 lb. 07 oz. to 221 lb. 13 oz. - an increase of 22 lb. 6 oz., South Carolina and North Carolina found their spots and increased their bag weight. But this day was the day that Roy Galbraith heard a whisper from the wind, watched the birds and found his bass - with a spinner bait - and 27 lb. 5 oz. with (5) bass - and average of 5.5 lb. per bass. Roy moved from 15th to 3rd in the tournament and to first place on the ABFN team.
*Roy Galbraith - 27 lb. 05 oz. - Total for two days @ 37 lb. 09 oz. - 1st Place.
*Jonathan Edwards - with his fish running out, Jonathan bagged 10 lb. 05 oz. for a total of 29 lb. 12 oz. - 9th in the tournament and 2nd Place on the ABFN team.
*Sean Dassau - Sean still could not bag his BIG fish and was level with a bag of 10 lb. 00 oz. of bass for a 3rd Place total of 22 lb. 01 oz. on the ABFN team and 16th in the tournament.
*Rickie Harp - With his reputation on the line, Rickie came back with a bag of 14 lb. 10 oz. on Day #2 which moved him into 4th place on the ABFN team with 21. lb. 10 oz. and 18th Place in the tournament.
*Kyle Colley - Kyle's partner did not know the location of the fish and he slipped on Day #2 with a bag limit of 6 lb. 08 oz. He moved to 5th place on the ABFN Team and 25th Place in the tournament with a total of 17 lb. 14 oz.
*Chris Pope - Chris could not get his fish to hit and he fell back slightly with a bag limit of 8 lb. 09 oz on Day #2. He moved to #6 on the ABFN Team and 26th in the tournament with a total of 17 lb. 09 oz.
*Bill Forney - Bill moved from 51st place in the tournament to 33rd with a bag limit of 11 lb. 12 oz. on Day #2, and into 7th Place on the ABFN Team with a total (2) day weight of 15 lb. 10 oz.
*Rick Sharp - Rick dropped 5 places from 31st to 36th on Day #2 with a bag limit of 7 lb. 09 oz. - and 8th Place on the ABFN Team with a total (2) day weight of 14 lb. 13 oz.
*Clay Messer - Clay also dropped from 31st place tie with Rick Sharp to 38th place in the tournament with 7 lb. 4 oz. of bass on Day #2 - and to 9th Place on the ABFN Team with a total (2) day weight of 14 lb. 09 oz.
*Joe Wikoff - Joe did not like the 54th Place in the tournament he occupied on Day #1 and went fishing on Day #2 with a bag limit of 9 lb. 11 oz. which moved him into 41st Place in the tournament and 10th place on the ABFN Team with a two day total weight of 13 lb. 03 oz.
*Darrell High - Darrell suffered a lapse in bites on Day #2 sliding from 19th Place on Day #1 to 47th Place on Day #2 with (1) bass weighing 1 lb. 14 oz. - 11th Place on the ABFN Team with a total (2) day weight of 11 lb. 03 oz.
*Ashley Stanford - Ashley had difficult time shaking off the team 12th Place finish on Day #2, but he did boat a nice 4 lb. 14 oz. largemouth for a 65th Place in the tournament and a two day total weight of 6 lb. 00 oz.
Day # 2
1st Place - South Carolina - 138 lb. 08 oz for a (2) day total of: 232 lb. 08 oz.
2nd Place - North Carolina - 135 lb. 05 oz. for a (2) day total of: 225 lb. 14 oz.
3rd Place - Alabama - 122 lb. 06 oz. for a (2) day total of: 221 lb. 13 oz.
4th Place - Kentucky - 78 lb. 07 oz. for a (2) day total of: 154 lb. 10 oz.
5th Place - Georgia - 87 lb. - 15 oz. for a (2) day total of: 144 lb. 01 oz.
6th Place - Florida - 79 lb. 02 oz. for a (2) day total of: 134 lb. 11 oz.
7th Place - Tennessee - 43 lb. 00 oz. for a (2) day total of: 62 lb. 04 oz.
Back to the Knights Inn and a final strategy session - with the traditional PIZZA meal - 86 pieces.
Friday - April 4, 2008 - Day #3 of Competition: A slight delay with some fog but all boats safely away from the launch site. Mr. Wimmer, South Carolina President Harry Wallace, and South Carolina angler Jay Keith and I departed for Dottie's for breakfast. Now Dottie is the waitress and when she takes your order, you need to know what you want: You say "eggs" - she says "scrambled, sunny side up, over easy"; you say "ham" - she says "country or sugar cured"; you say "toast" - she says "white or wheat"; you say "coffee" - she says "decaf" or regular"; and just when you think you have it made, she says "big cup or little cup" - ALL IN RAPID FIRE! After breakfast, Mr. Wimmer returned to the Best Western and I made a deal with Jay Keith to pick up his boat at a friend's home in Manning, go by the Knights Inn for his things - and go down to the "hatchery" where there was a ramp and catch some bass. Before we departed the Knights Inn, Mr. Wimmer called and advised me that Sean Dassau and his partner Sam Moody of Georgia had been involved in a boat accident and he was at the emergency room at the hospital in Manning and they were just arriving. I made a couple of cell calls back to Tournament Director Wimmer, but he had his hands full with registering Sean into the hospital and was not inclined to conservation. I advised Jay that my trip was off to the lake and I would be returning to Manning to the hospital. Upon arriving, I determined that Sean was still with the doctor in the emergency room and about 20 minutes later Mr. Wimmer came out and advised that Sean had some broken ribs and shoulder injuries.
Sean's partner Sam Moody was O.K. other than for a second early morning bath. I questioned him if he had any injuries and he said no. I ask him if he was alarmed because of the accident and he advised not, that it was his 2nd or 3rd time and he was getting use to it. Here is the story as I remember receiving it from Sam and in conversation with Sean: The blast off was good and even with fog, the new Bass Cat would scat - and through the poles they went, down the diversion canal, and through the lower lake to the dam. They were following another boat and had turned right for a run to another canal when they were attempting to pass the other boat. Sean said it seemed as if the boat lifted and was snagged by a cable, stopping the forward motion of the boat dead ahead while the motor remained in a single position, the bow swung to the right 90 degrees and Mr. Sam Moody became airborne. As the boat swung another 90 degrees right - headed back the way they came - Sean departed the driver's seat, hit the left inside of the hull and flipped out airborne. Sam was wearing a 100 mph life jacket and Sean was wearing an inflatable (Mustang type) which inflated on impact with the water. The kill switch shut the big engine down. Sam said he was looking for Sean when he saw him attempting to try and crawl back in the boat.
With some help from anglers in the area, they got back in the boat, returned to the launch area, changed clothing, and proceed to the Manning hospital. Sean said he would not wear an inflatable again because when the life jacket inflated, he could not breathe. Still three things worked that should have worked: the 100 mph life jacket kept Sam afloat after hitting the water at a high speed; Sean's inflatable kept him afloat - even with cracked ribs and an injured shoulder; and the kill switch worked. Both are thankful to be here today. I offered to return to the water with Sam as the Alabama alternate (he still had about (5) hours left in the tournament) but he declined stating he had about all the fishing he could stand that day - and home bound he went.
And the rest of the story: There are always things we could do differently--should have done differently, that would have affected the outcome but we put our marbles in the ring and see who is left standing:
*Roy Galbraith - 8 lb. 00 oz. moved Roy to 1st Place on the ABFN Team with a (3) day total of 45 lb. 09 oz. and 7th place in the tournament. It came down to a photo finish between Roy and Jonathan Edwards - only 5 oz. was the difference between 1st and 2nd Place. As the First Place ABFN Team member, Roy became the Boat Captain for the Junior Bassmaster Tournament the next day, Saturday, April 5, 2008. On November 3 -8, 2008, Roy will represent ABFN at the Federation Nation Championship on Milford Lake, Junction City, KS. CONGRATULATIONS ROY!
*Jonathan Edwards - I know that Jonathan was as determined as he could be in winning this tournament and helping his team to a victory. When his fish played out on the 2nd day, with the permission of his co-partner, he returned to his area of the lake to finish up on the final day. His catch of 15 lb. 08 oz. was a strong showing - falling only 5 oz. short of the victory. Jonathan took 2nd Place on the ABFN Team and 8th place directly behind Roy in the tournament. His determination and angling skills will serve him well in coming ABFN events - we have not heard the last of Jonathan in the years to come.
*Rickie Harp - Ricky contributed a consistent bag of bass to the cause on the third and final day with a weight of 13 lb. 10 oz. to finish with a total of 35 lb. 04 oz. - placing him #3 on the ABFN Team and 12th in the tournament.
*Clay Messer - Ah, those young guys can teach us ole anglers a thing or two these days. Clay came back with a strong showing on Day #3 with 16 lb. 09 oz. to place 4th on the ABFN Team and 18th in the tournament with a (3) day total of 31 lb. 02 oz.
*Bill Forney - Even with Jon Stewart giving him a ribbing, and taking some flack from his fellow team members, an ole Bassmaster can still kick butt. Bill came in with a 10 lb. 02 oz. bag of bass for 5th Place on the ABFN Team and 25 lb. 12 oz. for 25th Place in the Tournament. Bill said he could have caught more fish, but for an interruption in his fishing activity. It seems he was paired with a South Carolina angler and they were close to the bridge that goes over the diversion canal. A funeral procession started across the bridge and his partner jumped up and stood at attention in the boat. After the procession had passed, Bill remarked to the angler that he did not know that he was that religious. His partner remarked, "Yep, I had a lot of respect for her, we been married 37 years."
*Kyle Colley - It is refreshing to see young anglers meet the test of competition, especially at the BFN Regional Level, and do really well against more experienced and skilled Bassmasters. At this same event, two anglers only (2) years removed from the Junior Bassmasters participated and one of them will represent his state in November in Kansas. These anglers are the future of our sport and deserve the support of every ABFN club in Alabama. Kyle came in cold on this lake and with the help of his fellow team members was sandwiched in between Bill Forney and Chris Pope for 6th Place on the ABFN Team and 26th in the BFN Southern Divisional with 7 lb. 11 oz. on the final day for a total of 25 lb. 09 oz. - quite an accomplishment - CONGRATULATIONS KYLE!
*Chris Pope - A TOP GRADE bass angler in every respect - I am PROUD to have him as an ABFN angler and glad we do not have to compete against him in the Florida Division. Chris finished off the tournament with 7 lb. 09 oz. on the final day for a 7th Place ABFN Team finish and 27th in the tournament.
*Darrell High - Darrell is like the Energizer Bunny - he just keeps going and going and going. That is the reason he makes the State Team each year - he never quits till the final bell is rung. On Day #3, he stuffed his bag with 12 lb. 05 oz of bass for an 8th Place ABFN Team finish and 31st out of 82 anglers in the BFN Southern Divisional Tournament with a total weight of 23 lb. 08 oz.
*Joe Wikoff - another ABFN pro that works hard for a bag of bass - and helps his teammates any way he can. He is a true representative for ABFN. His 10 lb 01 oz. bag of bass on Day #3 netted him a 9th Place finish on the ABFN Team and 32nd in the tournament with a total weight of 23 lb. 04 oz.
*Sean Dassau - Because of his accomplishments in prior tournaments and his knowledge of Santee Cooper, Sean came to the BFN Southern Regional with the pressure on. Buy a new bass boat that does not run the first time you put it in the water does not improve the situation. But his TWO day total of (8) bass with a weight of 22 lb. 01 oz. kept him in 10th place on the ABFN team and 36th out of 82 anglers in the BFN tournament - and he did not fish Day #3 due to the boat accident.
*Ashley Stanford - Ashley did not give up even when he was down in the barrel. He came back on Day #3 with his best string of the tournament - 8 lb. 15 oz. (ABFN 11th Team Place) and 53rd in the tournament with a total bag weight of 14 lb. 15 oz.
*Rick Sharp - Day #3 got him - he could not stick a fish - and he blanked for one of the few times in his life. Still his 14 lb. 13 oz. placed him in 55th placed in the tournament - ahead of 27 anglers.
When the Lady Quit Singing
1st Place - South Carolina - 348 lb 14 oz. +16 lb. ll oz.
2nd Place - North Carolina - 338 lb. 02 oz. + 05 lb. 15 oz.
3rd Place - Alabama - 332 lb. 03 oz.
4th Place - Kentucky - 235 lb. 02 oz.
5th Place - Florida - 214 lb. 15 oz.
6th Place - Georgia - 209 lb. 04 oz.
7th Place - Tennessee - 97 lb. 13 oz.
As you can see, we missed the mark by one good angler's catch on the final day of the competition, and a 2nd Place finish by ONE bass. Our guys competed well and I am PROUD to have been with them for this event - they can hold their head high - they are among the best of the best.
Also, on behalf of the entire team, I would like to express our gratitude to our ABFN President - Eddie Plemons and Mrs. Vickie for making it happen. This year, ABFN was able to provide more funding for travel expenses for the team members - and WE WERE THE BEST DRESSED ANGLERS AT THE TOURNAMENT with our new Alliance Shirts and caps, the Scott Crump Toyota shirt and cap, the Scott Crump Toyota 2008 Team Jacket, and the Team Tote Bag. It is always a tremendous task to put this together and both of you have expended hundreds of hours to make it happen for us. OUR SINCERE THANKS AND GRATITUDE.
CASTINGKIDS SOUTHERN DIVISIONAL CONTEST - FRIDAY/SATURDAY - APRIL 4/5, 2008
John C. Land Recreation Facility - Santee Cooper, SC
Rodney, Rhonda, Garrett, and Anna Kate Isbell (a little doll) arrived at the Best Western in Manning, SC on Friday afternoon - 04-05-08. They met us down at the BFN Southern Divisional Tournament site (John C. Land III Recreational Area) just before registration on Friday Afternoon at 5:00 PM. The day had been filled with storms and rain showers, was heavily overcast, and gloomy. The shirt for Garrett never reached the facility while we were there.
We also met the Hammers and Mike Stewart/William Brown at the landing for the Junior Bassmaster registration after the final weigh-in of the BFN tournament - 3rd day.
We invited the Hammers, Mike and William, the Isbells and the Galbraith's to have supper with Mr. Wimmer and I. As Stacy Twiggs was winding up the registration, Junior Bassmaster Tournament Briefing, and instruction for the CastingKids for the following day, I left the staging area and drove about 5 miles back toward Manning to a county restaurant and secured a reservation for (14) at 6:30 PM. We had a good time and some good food before heading back to Manning for the night.
Saturday, April 5, 2008, I met the Isbells in the parking lot of the Best Western and advised them that I had just checked the desk and Garrett's shirt had not come in. He had no shirt or cap that had any alliance or other sponsors thereon. We got one of my shirts from the car with a couple of patches on it and got it tucked into his pants and a BASS hat on his head.
I met the Isbells down at the CastingKids Contest site at 11:00 PM (at the John C. Land Recreation Building - it had been storming all morning and the contest was to be held under the picnic roofed area of the facility).
I worked with Garrett for about an hour in practice and then helped Stacy and Jon set up the contest equipment. Just before the contest started, it was noted that Garrett did not have as many "patches" on his shirt as the other kids. I had my shirt in the car on which I had the patches that Vickie sent to me for the 2008 Southern Divisional, a youth patch, an ABFN patch, and a B.A.S.S. patch. The only draw back was the name embroidered thereon - "Don Gowen." Rhonda and I got Garrett rigged out in the new shirt and I switched hats with him for my new 2008 40th B.A.S.S. Anniversary cap. While a little "large", he was decked out and looked the part of a pro. I questioned him how he felt about the upcoming contest and he stated "he was ready to get it on the road" (a lot of confidence) and wanted to get a 150 score. I advised him that regardless of the circumstances, he was already a winner and he was expected to act like a "PRO" which ever way the contest went. Both Stacy and Jon was advised not to mention my name being on the shirt and they agreed.
When it came time for the competition, I stood down by the target where he could see me and know that we were rooting for him. My count of the score indicated a 140 - he missed a perfect score by less than an inch. He is a MASTER at CASTINGKIDS (and owes a ton to his father how helped him practice every day before the event. I slipped behind the scorekeepers and confirmed the 140 score before Jon ran me off. I watched the remainder of the contestants with Garrett by my side and AnnaKate in my lap. I told Garrett he had a 140 score and that it would take a perfect score to beat him - but there may be a tie - I had not seen one, but it was possible. Rhonda and I tucked his shirt in again, straighten his had, and I advised him to breath slowly and cross his fingers - which he did on both hands. I had told him when his name was called to walk "slowly" and keep his head high and proud. He was a trooper and came off a "HIT" with the crowd. I don't know if I have ever seen as proud as parents as Rodney and Rhonda were the moment when Garrett was awarded the winner of age group 7-10, 2008. And little AnnaKate was jumping with joy.
I have promised the Garretts a fishing trip out of Decatur this summer, and invited Anna Kate and Garrett to spend a week with GiGi and I - we are looking forward to it. By the way, Garrett said that my shirt was a LUCKY SHIRT and helped him win the contest. I told him that I believed that he won because of his desire, practice, and determination - but if he wanted to keep the shirt, he was WECOME TO IT. HE DID! CONGRATULATIONS TO GARRETT - HE WILL BE ON HIS WAY TO THE CASTING KIDS NATIONAL CONTEST IN KANSAS IN NOVEMBER! BRING HOME THE BACON GARRETT!
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JUNIOR BASSMASTER TOURNAMENT - Friday and Saturday - April 4 7 5, 2008 - John C. Land Recreational Facility
William Brown and dad, Mike Stewart arrived at the tournament briefing site on Friday afternoon - 04-04-08. Mike is a super parent and supports William all the way. We were able to get a photo of him with Stacy Twiggs before the final weigh-in of the BFN tournament. Mike shot a lot of photos of the weigh-in. They accompanied us to dinner on Friday night and seemed to have a good time.
Kim, Carl, and Justin Hamner arrived for the briefing on time and accompanied us to dinner. They are great folks and enjoyable to work with.
On Saturday morning, we met Roy Galbraith, our Boat Captain down at the John C. Land launch facility (a top grade facility with tons of parking and dock areas). Mike and William were there and we loaded William's rods and tackle boxes into the boat (he was jumping with joy). The Hamners missed the turn on the road to Davis Junction (where many roads in SC cross) and did not arrive at the launch site at 6:30 AM. We went ahead and launched Roy's boat and I helped Kim on the road directions by cell phone to the tournament blast-off site. Justin arrived with no time to spare. We dropped him in the boat, he secured his life jacket, and off William, Roy, and Justin went for their day on the water. Fifteen minutes later the sky opened and the rain began for the entire day.
The weigh-in at the tournament site was under pressure from a storm front that was moving in. The weigh-in was rushed. I was able to get some good photos of Justin and his catch, but the photo that I took of William's single fish was blurred by rain drops and had to be discarded. Our other photos came out fairly well for the conditions.
Our contestants and Roy represented ABFN well and are to be commended. I appreciate the opportunity of being able to work with Will, Justin, and their families - THEY WERE SUPER!!!
Also, on behalf of the entire team, the CastingKids, and the Junior Bassmasters, I would like to express our gratitude to our ABFN President - Eddie Plemons and Mrs. Vickie for making it happen. This year, ABFN was able to provide more funding for travel expenses for the team members, the CastingKids Contest, and the Junior Bassmasters - and WE WERE THE BEST DRESSED ANGLERS AT THE TOURNAMENT with our new Alliance Shirts and caps, the Scott Crump Toyota shirt and cap, the Scott Crump Toyota 2008 Team Jacket, and the Team Tote Bag. It is always a tremendous task to put this together and both of you have expended hundreds of hours to make it happen for us. OUR SINCERE THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO YOU BOTH.
Thanks for letting me be a part of your lives and participating in this event with you.
Best Regards,
Don
Gowen
Treasurer and District 2 Director
Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, Inc.