A Super Idea
NEW ORLEANS – Jay Walton, Conservation Director for the Iowa BASS Foundation, can hardly wait to get back home to Iowa and share some good news he learned at the Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans.
Craig Alderman, Director of Sponsorship Sales for BASS, announced Sunday the organization will create the BASS Superfund to help BASS Federations around the country to promote awareness of fishing and to protect fish habitat. He made the announcement to meetings of BASS Federation presidents and conservation directors.
Alderman said a portion of the sponsorship money collected by BASS would be used to create the Superfund.
Money from the fund can be used by the BASS Federations for habitat enhancement, fishing education, children's fishing and conservation promotion projects in their state. Money also will be available to provide matching funds for state, federal and private grants that enhance fishing opportunities and habitat or promote conservation.
As an example of how the money can be used, Alderman said a local, state or federal government agency needing help building new boat docks or planting vegetation to improve fish habitat can work with its local BASS Foundation to apply for a grant from the BASS Superfund.
"I'm goose bumping. This is great," Walton said. "I've got to make some phone calls when I get back home. I've got two county (projects) and one local project that have been asking for some financial help from our Federation. I've got to tell them that we might be able to get them some money. I'm excited."
Another possible use for the money is a government agency that needs help buying a boat for fisheries management, Walton said.
Government agencies cannot use money from the BASS Superfund for administration.
"BASS needs to play a leadership role in conservation, and that's what we are going to be doing with the BASS Superfund," Alderman said.
Bruce Shupp, Director of Conservation for BASS, said creation of the Superfund shows a commitment to conservation by ESPN – the parent organization of BASS.
Partnership is voice of hunters and anglers
Finding places to hunt or fish is difficult in some communities. Urban sprawl and increased restrictions of public land leave many people with few places to enjoy the outdoors.
But the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership strives to keep publicly owned lands and waters remain open to the public.
"We work to guarantee every hunter and angler in America has a place to hunt and fish," Fred Myers, Managing Director for the Washington, D.C.- based organization told outdoors writers attending the Bassmaster Classic. The organization also works to muster support in Washington for habitat protection and conservation programs throughout the nation.
Myers said the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership provides a unified voice in Washington for outdoors enthusiasts. In addition to 80,000 members nationwide, the partnership also represents more than 1,200 outdoors recreation-related organizations and businesses including BASS.
"The TRCP is essentially an organization of organizations," Myers said. "Our function in Washington is to serve as an umbrella agency for the organizations and the conservation community."
Dean Kessel, Vice President and General Manager of BASS, said the alliance between the fishing organization and the conservation partnership is a perfect mix. He said BASS is committed to making sure everyone who wants to go bass fishing has a place to fish and being a partnered with the conservation group enhances that effort.
Some things never grow old
Harold Allen, who has competed in 14 Classics, said getting to fish in the world championship of bass fishing never loses its appeal.
"It really never grows old," said Allen of Shelbyville, Texas. "I've been to so many Classics that I don't get too caught up in all the hoopla. But the thrill of making it is as big as ever."
The Classic, which began Friday, ended Sunday.
Another Texas angler, Zell Rowland of Montgomery, has fished in 12 Classics. He, too, said making it to the big show is exciting, no matter how many times an angler qualifies.
"When you get to my age, qualifying for the Classic makes you feel good just knowing that you can still play the game against the young guys," said Roland, 46. "The Classic is the highlight of our sport. It is to fishing what the Super Bowl is to the NFL."
Tim Horton, of Muscle Shoals, Ala., has competed in only four Classics, but he never expects to get tired of going.
"Making it to the Classic is our goal every year," Horton said. "It what we think about all year and making into the Classic definitely doesn't get old."
Taking a ride
For many of the anglers competing in the Classic, getting to their fishing home meant a boat trip of two hours or longer and another long ride back to the weigh-in.
Clewiston, Fla., pro angler Roland Martin was making a 225-mile round-trip a day.
Although he spent almost as much time driving his boat as he did fishing each day, Martin said the long trip to Venice, La., was worth the ride because the bass fishing there is among the best in the country.
But getting to Venice means being bounced about by waves and baked by the sun during the run. In addition to the physical demands of making the long trip, the lengthy boat rides were mentally demanding to Paducah, Ky., pro Mark Menendez.
During the long runs, the anglers had to constantly monitor the GPS unit on their boats to prevent running aground. In some of the canals and lakes the anglers ran though, the water was only inches deep outside the navigation channel, and anyone who got off course ran a risk for striking a submerged stump or other obstacles in the water.
Menendez said even a moment's inattention could cause a wreck.
Instead of having to worry with the demands of an extended boat ride, Modesto, Calif., pro Mike Reynolds stayed close to home during the three-day tournament.
"I bet I didn't burn 10 gallons of gas during the tournament. I wanted to spend my time fishing instead of running," he said.