California pro Skeet Reese was asked to name the strangest thing he'd ever caught while bass fishing. "An otter," he replied. "It was February in Clear Lake and I was throwing a jerkbait. I saw a little bubble trail underneath the water, and I thought it was a carp or something stirring up the bottom. I threw over there, jerked it a couple of times and paused the bait. All of a sudden my line took off, and I thought I had a good one. Then this thing came jumping out of the water, and it scared the ever-loving daylights out of me. I had no idea. I just saw big eyes and teeth and a tail. It freaked me out."
Fortunately, the otter dislodged the hooks. "Thank goodness because there was no way I was touching that thing," Reese said.
BASS Joins ESPN The Weekend
Smiling children are nothing new to Walt Disney World. The park and facilities were built to make families happy, so seeing the beaming face of 13-year-old Christian Mignano was hardly out of the ordinary.
What was different was that Christian was one of hundreds of children who competed in a Bassmaster CastingKids competition at Disney on Friday and Saturday of last week. In fact, he won Saturday's competition.
It was all part of ESPN The Weekend and the prominent role that BASS and ESPN Outdoors had there. In addition to the CastingKids competition, there was also a live airing and taping of BassCenter with anchor John Kernan and analyst Byron Velvick and fishing seminars.
The seminars, dubbed a "mini Bassmaster University," were held at the entrance to Disney's MGM Studios, right on the water, on both Friday and Saturday.
The winners of the daily CastingKids competitions took home more than $800 of fishing-related prizes, including a nine-foot Bass Pro Shops' Pond Prowler boat, a MotorGuide electric trolling motor, a Zebco rod and reel, a Bassmaster tackle bag filled with bass gear and a CastingKids medallion. Every child who participated got a CastingKids certificate of completion.
Mignano was thrilled by his victory over more than 120 young anglers on Saturday. He posted a score of 110 points during regulation, and then won the event in a castoff.
"I've been fishing since I was two years old," Mignano said. "I love it all - bass fishing, saltwater, everything - but after today I'm really looking forward to doing more bass fishing."
Friday's CastingKids competition was won by 11-year-old Dylan Irish of Stafford Springs, Conn., who bested a field of more than 110 other young anglers with a score of 120.
MENENDEZ ILL
Kentucky pro Mark Menendez is hospitalized in Guntersville, Ala., after becoming ill with meningitis during practice for last week's Tour event. He will also miss this week's tournament on J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir.
Meningitis is a bacterial or viral inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. Menendez is expected to make a full recovery.
DID YOU KNOW?
Arkansas is the only state to send a representative to every Bassmaster Classic since its inception in 1971.
PRO BIRTHDAYS
Todd Auten of South Carolina turns 39 on March 2nd. Florida's Chuck Economou will celebrate his 49th birthday on March 27th, while Curt Lytle of Virginia is 35 on March 28th.
IF I HADN'T BECOME A BASS PRO
Veteran Florida pro Bernie Schultz would likely be working as a graphic artist. He graduated with a degree in art from the University of Florida.
THEY SAID IT
"Yesterday I just rode around wondering what's going on. Today I put my hands on the wheel of that Triton and fished the same areas, but the fish grew up." Reigning Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle on Day Two at Lake Guntersville when he rebounded from a dismal day with nearly 28 pounds to rocket from 104th to 10th. Those heroics also enabled him to jump from 17th to third in the Angler of the Year race. "Yesterday I just rode around wondering what's going on. Today I put my hands on the wheel of that Triton and fished the same areas, but the fish grew up." Reigning Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle on Day Two at Lake Guntersville when he rebounded from a dismal day with nearly 28 pounds to rocket from 104th to 10th. Those heroics also enabled him to jump from 17th to third in the Angler of the Year race.