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JOIN THE ALABAMA B.A.S.S. FEDERATION NATION New Forum provided by Scott Crump Toyota Boyd Wins at Lake Pickwick
Weather conditions ruled the day! It was not rain or the storms of the previous 2009 ABFN tournaments-it was the pure H-E-A-T that tested the anglers at this year's Lowrance tournament on Lake Pickwick.
Belgreen Bass Club angler, Robert "Bobby" Boyd "Did What It Took" to ace the test!
While most anglers concentrated on deeper structure and ledges, Bobby went to the grass for his win. "My first stop was below Wilson Dam. At 10:45, with no decent fish, I made a run to the Natchez Trace-Kroger Island area". Bobby flipped a special bait, a black and blue Sonny's jig. Sonny just happens to be Sonny Boyd, Bobby's own son! The Sonny's jig also had a special trailer-Net Bait Baby Paca Craw that was hand-painted by friend Daryl Mathis. "He takes an Okeechobee Paca Craw and paints the eyes red and the tentacles and claws orange with a special paint".
Bobby looked for stick, a stump or any type wood in the grass in pockets off river to pitch his jig. "No fish came from more than three feet of water. With the current on the Tennessee River, there are always some shallow fish". His total weight to take 1st Place was 19.22 lbs.
It was a special Father's Day for Bobby to win and bring home a $1,500 check earned with a jig made by his son!
Bruce Sargent of Birmingham Bass Club finished a strong second with 17.37 lbs. He said "I practiced Friday and lucked onto a ledge that had good fish. The ledge dropped from 5 feet to 20 feet. There was a lot of current, so I had to use a half-ounce weight on my Texas Rig Net Bait C-Mac worm to keep it in the strike zone. Most of my fish came off the 11 inch Plum Apple C-Mac worm".
Bruce collected $1,000 for 2nd Place and will be eligible to collect an additional $500 from Airport Marine for the Fishin 4 a Cure Bonus!
Former State Team member, Jonathan Edwards of ALA - TENN Bass Club, weighed in 16.79 lbs. for 3rd Place. He said "We stopped about 18 miles down-river and caught a limit of keeper fish on a Sammie. I was able to cull every one of those fish. I found a patch of milfoil in about 4-5 feet of water and fished a June Bug C-Mac worm with a 3/8 ounce tungsten weight to cull the top water fish. When things slowed down in the milfoil, I fished a black and blue L.B.'s jig tipped with a black and blue Paca Chunk around docks. I was able to cull one of the milfoil fish with a 6 pounder"!
Joseph Webster of Airport Marine Bassmasters finished his day early. He and partner Charles Rosato took advantage of the scales being open early. They decided to bring their limits in at 11:00 AM. Joseph was worried about losing the Big Fish of the tournament, a 6.15 lb. large mouth. Joseph caught the fish early that morning on a Carolina rigged green pumpkin brush hog. He finished the tournament in 7th Place and received $250. For Big Fish, he received $700!! Joseph was registered for the Airport Marine/Fishin 4 a Cure Big Fish Bonus and brought home an additional $350!
Jeffrey Atkinson of Shoals Fishers of Men Bassmasters finished in 6th Place and was the highest finishing Non-Boater. Jeffrey used a V & M June Bug worm to catch fish that his Boater partner, Ronnie Rogers of Tennessee Valley Bass Club, had located. "We went to my fish first, but somebody beat us there. All the fish I caught, Ronnie had found. He was a great partner!"
The Tennessee Valley Bass Club team members Ronnie Rogers, Rocky Rockhill, Marty Rogers, Chris Newell, Josh Benford and Michael Briggs won the team competition on Lake Pickwick with a total weight of 76.22 lbs. followed by the ALA - TENN Bass Club with 72.10 and Birmingham Bass Club with 71.70 lbs.
The Tennessee Valley Bass Club team will be only one of four teams allowed to compete in the ABFN State Championship. They will compete against the Monroe County BASS Anglers, Neely Henry Bassmasters and Central Alabama Bassmasters at Lake Martin in October.
2009 has been a good year for Alabama BASS Federation Nation. Our membership continues to grow. Our four qualifying tournaments were great!
The ABFN Board of Directors will meet in August. If you have matters or concerns to bring before the Board, please contact your Director (their contact info is listed under "Federation", then Contact). Other upcoming events include our Jr. Championship tournament at Lay Lake on October 10th and the State Championship on October 23-24 at Lake Martin.
I look forward to seeing you there!
ABFN Wins Southern Divisional on Lake Gaston
Congratulations to the ABFN State Team members, Kenny Pannell, Allan Glasgow, Kyle Colley, Joe Lay, George Crain, Sean Dassau, Doug Nichles, Wade Mitchell, Simon Morrow, Tony Lister, Eulon Lee, Joey Payne and Junior Anglers Zeke Gossett and Dillon Tucker!!
This team overcame a fifteen pound deficit going into the third day of competition to beat home team, North Carolina, by only five ounces, Alabama - 261 lb. 12 oz., North Carolina - 261 lbs. 07 ounces. This is the first B.A.S.S. Federation Nation tournament under the new format in which the weight of the Junior anglers competing on the final day counted in each State Team's totals.
Day One of the competition finished with the Alabama State Team leading 2nd Place North Carolina by more than thirteen pounds. On Day Two the Alabama team had a twenty-eight pound turn around. We were in third place and fifteen pounds behind North Carolina and five pounds behind the Georgia team.
On the final day, as B.A.S.S. usually does, the stage was set for drama weighing in the Juniors next to last and holding each state’s leader until the end. ABFN member Kenny Pannell led the team the first two days and was held back with the leaders on the final day. Junior anglers Zeke and Dillon each weighed in over four pounds, moving the ABFN team into 2nd Place! They also each finished 2nd Place in their respective age group in the Junior Championship. B.A.S.S. then weighed in each of the State Team leaders. Kenny Pannell weighed in next to last and North Carolina's Chuck Murray, was the last angler to be weighed in. It was evident that Chuck would be the individual winner, but the Southern Division is a TEAM COMPETITION. B.A.S.S. officials seemed to take longer than usual to determine the winning state team. After thirty minutes, Tournament Director Jon Stewart took the stage to announce the results. The Georgia team came in 4th Place, South Carolina in 3rd Place. Then there was a long hesitation as the Alabama and North Carolina teams waited on pins and needles. Jon starred at the crowd, hesitated briefly, and announce "In 2nd Place by only five ounces, North Carolina." The Alabama team members erupted with enthusiastic cheers and congratulated each other!! To their credit, the North Carolina team also congratulated the Alabama team members.
It was a great feeling-Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation Nation had gone to North Carolina's home lake and stolen a victory! First Place netted the Alabama team a new $30,000 Skeeter Z180 with a 150hp Yamaha, MotorGuide Trolling Motor and Lowrance electronics. This boat is now for sale. Anyone interested in purchasing this boat should contact Sean Dassau at (205) 966-7869 or USMBassman@yahoo.com or Simon Morrow at (256) 794-2195 or morrowsimon@russellcorp.com.
Alabama Team member, Kenny Pannell, finished in 3rd Place overall and will be going to the B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship in October. He will be competing against the six other Southern Divisional winners and a representative from South Africa on the Harris Chain of Lakes, Tavares, Florida. The highest finishing Southern Division anglers will then compete in the Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake in February, 2010. Good Luck, Kenny!
Member can watch live stream video of this event on the Bassmaster website, www.bassmaster.com. Then click on Community, Federation Nation, Federation Links and Federation Nation Weigh Ins.
Special Note: I have been a part of the Federation in one way or another since 1985. This was my first trip to a Southern Divisional tournament. It was very interesting to meet, get to know, and be a part of the ABFN Team. It was especially enjoyable to watch everyone, all quality anglers, grow together as a team and win this event. I want to thank you guys for letting me be a part of it!!
ABFN member, Ashley Morgan, who has been repairing and servicing reels for many years, has started a reel repair business. He has parts and will service Abu Garcia, Daiwa, Shimano, Penn, Zebco, Quantum, Lew's , Browning, Mitchell and Shakespeare. He promises a fast turnaround and to keep costs as low as possible. If he can be of service to you, please contact him at 850-508-0966. His email address is amorgan1265@hotmail.com.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Many of our members are participating in C.A.S.T. for Kids Alabama on May 2, 2009. Brian Atkins heads up this event which is a one day outdoor fishing event that provides disabled and special needs children an opportunity to learn to fish. For many of the children, this is the first opportunity to fish because of limitations caused by their disability. Please contact Brian at batkins@castforkidsalabama.org if you would like to volunteer.
Angler Recognition Program - Alabama Department of Conservation FREE BASS INSIDER for Federation Members Join the Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation Nation
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