The Gospel According to Gerald
Six-time Classic competitor Gerald Swindle was a little hard on himself coming off the water on Day 1 of the Classic.
"Some days you're a hero and some days you're a stupid guy," he professed. "Today, I was a stupid guy."
Alabama's Swindle sits in 15th place with 3 pounds, 8 ounces. But he remains optimistic. "I lost five or six keepers today. So I know I'm just one bite away."
Women's Bassmaster Tour: Women Anglers Get Fired Up
Cheers and excitement filled the air as BASS announced Thursday the five stops for the 2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour, which will visit lakes in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina and Missouri.
More than 20 female professional anglers joining a capacity crowd in the Steelhead Lounge at the Marriott City Center in Pittsburgh during BASS' media day.
"This whole experience has been very positive," said 18-year pro angler Judy Wong of Many, La. "The women are very excited and it's something we've all wanted and needed. ESPN and BASS have now provided us with a stage where we can pursue our dreams."
The WBT events will coincide with the dates and locations of two of next year's Bassmaster Tour stops and all three Major events. The two tours will fish separate, but nearby waters and weigh in on the same stage.
"We're all fearless and terrific anglers," said Penny Berryman, a veteran pro angler of 20 years from Hot Springs, Ark. "With the support of ESPN and BASS, we'll get a lot of new women who will get caught up in the excitement and will want to give it a try. This will be a growing year for us and I can't wait for it to begin."
A Family Fest Experience
This year's Bassmaster Family Fest reeled in a big crowd at Pittsburgh's Point State Park earlier this week. The fest hosted several thousand attendees that participated in the kid's fishing derby, BASS officials said.
A string of anxious kids lined the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, casting lines from their new pristine rods in hopes of catching a big one.
For 7-year-old Ben Doyle, the fishing was a little rough at times but he enjoyed the day. "I like fishing because it's an outdoor sport. It's kind of like exercising; you can get good at it."
Dan Porterfield, president of the Benton County Bass Anglers in Missouri, rarely misses Family Fest. He said he loves to observe the kids as they learn how to fish.
"It's an honor and privilege to come here and have an event like this scheduled between the Bassmaster Junior World Championship and Bassmaster Classic," he said. "This is what it's all about."
Family Fest is an annual event that takes place in conjunction with the Classic. It has been an annual event for 21 years, according to Stacy Twiggs, BASS youth manager. "The people in the city have been amazing. It was a first-class production."