Future Fishers - pt. 2
07/29/08
*click here for part 1 of this article, previously run in the Nov/Dec '08 issue of the Inside Line magazine.
When last I wrote that my local Jr. Bassmasters club had some future stars, I was under-stating the total potential of the Jr. Anglers. What I mean is there are many more than the ones I wrote about in part one. Cole Bingham and E.J. King were mentioned specifically, but this group of young anglers is much deeper in talent than just the noted two. Jr. Anglers such as Seth Garrison, Chance Torrez, Austin Hill, and Jordan McMorris have the potential to make it to the top level. Both Seth and Jordan will be going to the Jr. Bassmasters Championship for the second time later this summer.
In part one, I encouraged anglers to get involved in any fashion to promote fishing and its lifetime benefits to the fishing and non-fishing public. Just because I chose to mentor a Jr. Bassmaster doesn’t mean you have to. How about the kid in your neighborhood who lives in a single parent family? Often, that parent has all they can do just meeting the essentials of raising a family. You could help by taking an active role in a youth’s life and have fun doing it.
You could get involved in the local Boys/Girls Club in your area and hold fishing clinics. You could do it for selfish reasons and do it to get something out of it for you when you need a fishing partner for the day. Remember Dee Thomas’s saying: “You just might get more out of it than they do.” Then it becomes a win-win for all. Whatever you do, you are passing along some part of you that means a great deal to them.
When last reporting on the Jr. Anglers, I mentioned Cole was sitting in 16th place in the AOY race for the New Mexico BASS Federation Nation. That was after two events with two more to go. I had to grant E.J. King a leave of absence due to a developing commitment. More on this later but I was fortunate to find another traveling partner so late in the year. His name was Jordan McMorris - the one and only reigning Jr. Champion.
Catching just one fish, Jordan had a tough time at Ute Lake, but was ready for the next event even before arriving back home. Cole also had a reality check at Ute Lake, not recording any fish weight. This dropped him 10-12 places in the AOY race but he knew his time would come. Both these young anglers don’t like losing but they also knew they were learning valuable lessons for future reference.
At the end of the year event, both had good finishes and are looking forward to the New Year. Jordan will be fishing with his step-father Monte (way to go Monte!) this year in the Federation and I have been chosen to be Cole’s traveling partner. I can’t wait to get started.
Maybe someone out there is wondering how I fared since going into the last event sitting sixth in the AOY race. Well, to sum it up in as few words as possible, I finished sixteenth. The boys and I had to share in that humble pie eating. To say I don’t care how I ended up would be a lie but what isn’t a lie is that I had a great time traveling and fishing with my Jr. Bassmaster partners. They made last year special and I look forward to getting more out of it next year than they do.
There is an update on the ESPN/BASS Jr. Bassmasters program. Since the start, BASS has always included the Jrs. with the Pros at the Bassmasters Classic. With the changes that occurred with sponsorships and boat usage guidelines, BASS has moved the Jr. Classic to the Federation Nation National Championship site. They won’t be riding with the Elite Pros anymore but now with the Federation champions. Not all bad but it doesn’t have the same excitement level as fishing with the Pros.
This change would have been easier to take if ESPN/BASS had made it a smoother transition but they didn’t. It was a business decision made without input from the different parties affected. They took a lot of heat from parents, kids, and clubs over this and I hope it doesn’t have long-term consequences as some of their other decisions have had.
My biggest complaint with BASS over this is the effect it had on the kids already qualified and gearing up to go to the Classic only to be told that they weren’t going after the fact. I feel BASS missed the reasoning behind even having a Jr. Bassmasters program, which was to stimulate and grow fishing in a way that was self-sustaining. This was the thinking when the Jr. Program was developed. They made a short-term decision which could have long-term affects, time will only tell.
I hope BASS in the future makes changes driven by in-put from all affected parties not just short-term bottom line profitability. They won’t have to worry about profits if they don’t have a fresh crop of anglers every year. I am sure everyone has heard the saying, “Don’t eat your nest eggs.” Message to ESPN/BASS - “Please don’t eat your nest eggs”. If you don’t get the meaning, write me and I will explain it. All this being said and not forgetting this is still a great program; I will support it till the end.
Remember, I said I would explain why E.J. had to drop out last year. You also remember in my first article that I saw a bright future in our youth. Well, it seems while the rest of us where out working and struggling in our fishing endeavors, E.J. saw fit to join the US Air Force. Way to go E.J.! We are all so proud of you. You are carrying on a proud tradition of our young men and women going off to serve and protect our country which is what makes this country great.
I can’t say fishing was the reason he felt compelled to do this but I think the time he spent with family and the experiences he gained while enjoying his passion, contributed to his decision. Just before he left for basic training, I spoke with him, and he was already plotting ways to get a fishing team started in the USAF. If he does, you can be sure he will take up where he left off, champion angler.
What are you waiting on? Take someone fishing. Take anyone! You just never know how the trip will end.
Barry Stanley's Sponsors:
Yamamoto Pro Staff-Southwest- http://www.baits.com/
B&M Baits-home of the “Duce” spinnerbaits http://www.theduce.com/
Don’s Handcrafted Jigs- home of the “Snooty” http://www.dons-jigs.com/US Anglers Choice tournament director-New Mexico- http://www.usanglerschoice.net/