CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (April 16, 2011) –Sgt. Jimmy Frank and Spc. William Frank, both of Madisonville, Tenn., won the FLW Soldier Appreciation Bass Fishing Tournament held on Lake Chickamauga Saturday. The team, fishing with angler Doc McGhee of Blackstone, Va., caught three bass for a total of 12 pounds, 14 ounces to take the title and bragging rights amongst their peers.
“We got out on the lake this morning and it started out tough, but our pro angler put us where the fish were, everything went real good and we caught some really nice fish today,” said William Frank.
Jimmy said the soldier brothers heeded McGhee’s bait advice and caught their fish on a crankbait.
“I really enjoyed the day,” said Jimmy. “It was awesome. I never thought the opportunity to do something like this would come along.
“The weather wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but other than that, it was awesome,” Jimmy added.
Each of the participants in the FLW Soldier Appreciation Tournament are members of the Tennessee National Guard and most have had at least one tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.In this tournament, Walmart FLW Tour anglers took teams of two, which consist of members of the National Guard, fishing to compete amongst their peers. Each team was allowed to bring in three bass. FLW Outdoors is operating the tournaments in conjunction with the National Guard to show appreciation to our service members of the National Guard.
“This is the highlight of the tournament for me every single time – to fish with these guys, interact with them and find out their stories and to know that when I retire from the National Guard I’m leaving it in really good hands,” said McGhee.
A total of 10 service men and women, five teams, participated in the tournament. Rounding out the teams was:
2nd: Sgt. Joseph Craig, Pikeville, Tenn., and Spc. Timothy Tate, Athens, Tenn., with pro Mark Rose, 11-8
3rd: Pfc. Corey Holloway, Chattanooga, Tenn., and Pfc. Katie Marshall, Athens, Ga., with pro Justin Lucas, 6-5
4th: Pfc. Wesley Fairbanks, Athens, Tenn., and Pvt. Nicholas Moses, Athens, Tenn., with pro John Voyles, 5-13
5th: Spc. Joshua Cantrell, Athens, Tenn., and Sgt. William Eichenberger, Athens, Tenn., with Indiana pro Wes Tomas, 4-13
The Soldier Appreciation Tournament was held in conjunction with the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Chickamauga.