Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation Nation

After all 131 fishermen weigh-in at the 2009 State Championship on Lake Martin, there was one standing at the top - Lee Byrd of the Birmingham Bass Club. Lee vaulted into the lead on Day 1 with an outstanding 5-fish limit weighing 20.42 lbs. On Saturday, he secured the number one position in the ABFN State Championship at Lake Martin with a two-day weight of 27.56, 2.78 lbs beyond the second place. Lee has logged many hours on Lake Martin over the years. He patterned the fish by fishing a series of areas with various baits and from the results he was able to tell where the fish would be each day and focused on that pattern. On Day 2 his "patterning" yielded different results so he changed from Day 1's pattern. He used the same baits each day with the most productive being a jig trailed with a Net Bait Paca Chunk and two different shallow running crankbaits. Day 2 found the bite much softer and less aggressive than the previous day.

His best time was between 1-2:00 p.m. after the rain on Day 1 when he put several quality fish in the live well. Lee had prefished since Monday and his best water was where the boat was in 6ft. and he would cast in 1-3 feet of water. Lee complimented his partners he had each day as being "excellent". His bests efforts could not put him past Angler of the Year, Scap Cicero, but solidified second place and a position on the 2009 State Team.

Consistency is good, but a big fish really helps. Simon Morrow's 5- fish limit was typical for Lake Martin, with one exception, a 6.41 Largemouth. The Big Bass of the Day 1 was taken on a peacock colored homemade spinnerbait trailed with a Net Bait. "I felt him yesterday while prefishing. He picked up my jig in the brush pile and I shook him off with the hopes of catching him during the tournament" That he did. On Friday, he flipped the spinnerbait in the same brush pile and horsed in the big boy. The spinnerbait was his primary bait for each day and yielded him weights of 15.30 for Day 1 and 9.48 for Day 2 for a total of 24.78 lbs. and second place for the Out of Place Bassmasters.

To most, not being in the driver's seat is a disadvantage. New Line Bass Club Member Tony Lister is not a member of that train of thought. Tony fished his way to Third Place, and the 2009 State Team as the top No Boater. Tony prefished in his own boat two days before the tournament, discovering what and where the fish might be so he could help his draw partner each day. His "luck of the draw" was two good partners who also had patterned some fish. The majority of his fish bit a burning spinnerbait in shallow water keeping the bait high in the water column. Two of his fish came on a Shakey Head with a Net Bait T-Bug. Did Tony sweat a little? His Day 1 Partner's trolling motor batteries gave out and they came in an hour early. Tony's sack included a 6.03 largemouth which appeared to be the big fish of the day but was beat out by flight 3 contestant, Simon Morrow's 6.42 largemouth. Tony's finish as top No Boater and a place on the 14-man

After the first flight had weighed-in on Day 2 it was beginning to look as if a 3-4lb. fish would take the big fish honors. Then Kyle Colley of the Shoal Creek Bass Chasers stepped up to the scales and put a 5.22 largemouth in the basket. Kyle hooked up with the Big Fish of Day 2 near 8:15 in Blue Creek while flipping structure in 3-3.5 feet with a jig trailed with a Net Bait Paca Chunk. The weight gave Kyle a 6-th place finish and secured him as a member of the 14-Man State Team.

The 2010 ABFN State Team members are: Clay Morris, Bill Spicer, Jamie Horton, Bobby Boyd, Scap Cicero, Lee Byrd, Simon Morrow, Tony Lister, Steven Ingram, Scott Luster, Kyle Colley, George Crain, Curtis Coleman and Don Hogue. Congratulations to all!!

In June of 2008, Lee Byrd purchased a new vehicle from Scott Crump Toyota in Jasper. He had been searching for a vehicle for a while then decided to contact Scott Crump Toyota due to its affiliation with the ABFN. After a series of emails Lee purchased the car saying "it was the simplest car purchase I have ever made." Lee will receive a $1000 bonus from the ABFN for supporting Scott Crump Toyota and winning an ABFN sanctioned event. If you purchase a vehicle from Scott Crump Toyota, be sure to tell them you are a member of the ABFN.

Each of the Big Fish on Day 1 and Day 2 were caught with baits using Net Bait Products. Having made the claims, Simon Morrow and Kyle Colley each received an additional cash bonus of $150 from Net Bait.

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 2^nd 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 2^nd Place! They also each finished 2^nd 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 4^th Place, South Carolina in 3^rd 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 2^nd 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 3^rd 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.