Many of the BASSMASTER pros donate their time for charitable causes, as well as taking youngsters fishing. Usually, their efforts don't get much publicity. But then, that is not their goal.
Alabama's Tim Horton, the 2000 B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, is among the most dedicated pros who advocate such causes. For four years, Horton has organized and participated in a kid's fishing day that he established in Florence for physically and mentally challenged children. The event is sponsored by one of his sponsors, Long-Lewis Ford of the Shoals
Each year, more than 50 kids show up to fish with volunteers on Pickwick Lake. Horton always takes two youngsters in his boat.
"I don't know who gets the most excited, them or me," he said. "They have a good time catching fish, and I have a good time watching them catch fish. We all have a blast."
Three years ago, Horton's good deed was rewarded a week later with a $100,000 victory in the BASSMASTER Top 150.
YELAS' NEW RIDE
Reigning BASSMASTERS Classic champion Jay Yelas recently joined the elite Chevy Trucks Pro Staff and is now towing his Skeeter boat behind a Chevy Suburban.
"Jay is our newest team member and we are happy to have him join us," Chevy team manager Ron Shannon said. "We had a lot of candidates that we considered for this pro staff opportunity. We felt that Jay would be a very positive addition to the family. He's a good family person who has always carried himself in the highest professional manner. We know that he will be a productive member of our team and a real credit to the Chevy image."
Yelas said he was "thrilled" to be joining one of professional fishing's most elite pro staffs (that includes Larry Nixon, Kevin VanDam, Jimmy Houston, Tommy Biffle, David Fritts, Tom Mann, Jr. and Kim Stricker).
"I'm excited to be part of the Chevy Truck Pro Staff, which I have always considered one of the most prestigious groups in our sport," Yelas said. "I feel honored to have been chosen for this opportunity. I'm looking forward to driving a new Suburban for my tow vehicle and meeting fishing fans as part of the Chevy Pro Nights that are held at the local Chevy dealerships at tournaments along the BASSMASTER Tour."
BRAUER'S BACK
Former Classic champion Denny Brauer underwent a high-tech surgical procedure late last week, which he deemed a success.
"I came out of surgery with my leg pain all gone," Brauer said in a prepared statement. "My back is in very good shape so this should put all my back and leg pain problems behind me.
"I felt writing this was necessary because of all the wonderful concerns of people have about my back situation. I am back 100 percent and really pumped about the future. I still feel my best success as a tournament angler is yet to come. I have no intention of retiring from a sport I love so much. Hopefully I can participate at a very high level for another 15 to 20 years. As you can tell, I am excited and thankful. I thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers through this ordeal."
The surgery was performed by Dr. Paul Detwiler in Tyler, Texas (home of Jay Yelas).
CYBER SPACE PRO
Veteran Florida pro Walt Reynolds is just as handy with a keyboard as he is with a flipping stick. In addition to his own Bass'N Edge and BassProfessional.com websites, Reynolds has built sites for numerous BASSMASTER pros and several fishing and boating industry manufacturers.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 1991, a 21-year-old dishwasher named Takahiro Omori cashed in his life savings, packed a few clothes and left home in Japan to chase his childhood dream. Living out of his van, he quickly made a name for himself as a bass angler - both in the United States and in his homeland.
PRO BIRTHDAYS
California's Mike Tyler will be 30 on Nov. 1. Missouri pro Tim Sainato turns 42 on Nov. 10. North Carolina's Guy Eaker becomes 63 on Nov. 23, while Randy Blaukat turns 41 a day later.
IF I HADN'T BECOME A BASS PRO...
Past BASSMASTER winner Chad Brauer graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in fisheries and wildlife biology, and a clear career plan. "I was going to fish for three years," he said. "And if I didn't make it, I planned to go back to school and get my doctorate in veterinary science. I was going to be taking care of dogs, horses and cows. But the thing that would have stopped me was the chemistry requirements. I was terrible at chemistry."
THEY SAID IT
"These guys now, they're just good. They're tough. Now that there's so much money in it, they can concentrate just on fishing. That is their living, and they're making a good living doing that. This sport has changed quite a bit as far as that goes." 1985 BASSMASTERS Classic champion Jack Chancellor compares the sport that he knew to today's version.