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Youth Program
Quentin Vercher and Zeke Gossett Win the 2011 Jr. State Championship
(L-R) 1st Place ages 15-18: Quentin Vercher; 1st Place ages 11-14: Zeke Gossett; 2nd Place ages 15-18: Will Brown; 2nd Place ages 11-14: Jacob Holland; 3rd Place ages 15-18: Seth Butts; 3rd Place ages 11-14: Dylan McKee; 4th Place ages 15-18: Joshua Street; 4th Place ages 11-14: Ryan Shields; 5th Place ages 11-14: David Gaston; 5th Place ages 15-18: Bronson Jones. Photo by Ronnie McDonald, Southern Fishing News
The morning air was full of anticipation and excitement as 75 young anglers prepared to meet their Boat Captains. The Captains, some forty experienced anglers, would chauffeur the Jr. anglers to their honey holes on Lake Wheeler. The contenders were also excited about the productive on-water practices many had experienced. They eagerly showed off their practice catches on their cell phones. However, I did caution these young anglers that fishing changes daily, even hourly.
Change it did! It changed with the cooler weather and brighter skies. Temperatures that had been in the mid-nineties didn’t get above the mid-eighties. It got tougher for some, but someone, as always, catches fish. All came across the stage excited to show their catch to emcee and Elite Pro fisherman, Tim Horton.
One familiar name from the past came in at the top of the list. Zeke Gossett of Dixie Jr. Bassmasters, not only won the younger age division (11-14), he had the most weight of any angler in both age groups! Captained by Jamie Smith, Zeke brought in a limit of three fish that weighed 6.24 pounds. The former Jr. State Champion of both Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation Nation and TBF said “I caught fish all day using a Net Bait Dirt Dog in the Bama Bug color and a chartreuse Strike King spinner bait. Two of the fish that were weighed in came from around an active discharge pipe were caught on the spinner bait. The other one came from a bridge with the Net Bait Dirt Dog.”
Central Alabama Jr. Bassmaster, Quentin Vercher, took 1st Place in the 15-18 age group with 5.86 pounds. Quentin, captained by Matt Pickette, didn’t travel far from Ingalls Harbor. He fished a drop shot rig in about 3 feet of water. His main bait was a Zoom Watermelon trick worm.
Quentin was followed by Will Brown, also of Central Alabama, with 5.5 lbs. In 3rd Place was Seth Butts of Proline Jr. Bass Club with 4.76. 4th Place was Joshua Street, 4.72 and 5th Place was Bronson Jones, 4.22, both from North Alabama Jr. Bassmasters.
In the 11-14 age group, Jacob Holland, North Alabama Jr. Bassmasters, came in 2nd with 5.65 lbs. Third was Dylan McKee of Birmingham Jr. Bass Club with 4.97. Ryan Shields from North Alabama Jr. Bassmasters came in 4th Place with 4.74 and David Gaston with Proline Jr. Bass Club rounded out the top five with 4.48 lbs.
Zeke and Quentin will join the adult members of the 2012 ABFN State Team to compete at the Southern Divisional in Florida next spring. They participate in the team competition, as well as competing for the right to move on to the Jr. World Championship in the fall of 2012.
Although only two Jr. Anglers move on, I believe everyone who participated in the ABFN Jr. State Championship is a winner! That includes all the young anglers, the Boat Captains, the parents and sponsors of the event. ABFN does many tournaments throughout the year, but this one will be hard to top!!
Congratulations to Dixie Jr. Bassmasters who once again won the Jr. Club of the Year award!! They were given a check for $200 for their accomplishment.
Special thanks to Tami Reist and Kayla Riggs with the Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau for help in planning this great event!
Special thanks to Mayor Don Stanford and the City of Decatur for the wonderful welcome and hospitality!
Special thanks to Brian Johnson with Academy Sports + Outdoors in Decatur for gift cards, promotions, food and so much more!
Special thanks to Elite Pro Fisherman Tim Horton!
Special thanks to Southeastern Pond Management for furnishing the tanker truck and manpower to transport the fish back to the water.
Special thanks to Ronnie McDonald with Southern Fishing News for taking great photos of our event. His email address is southernfishing@bellsouth.net or on Facebook.com/Southern Fishing.
Special thanks to William Wood with Alabama Power-Gaston Steam Plant for donating two lifetime fishing licenses to the top two winners!
Special thanks to Jackall, Net Bait, Mann’s Bait Company, Davis Baits and Vicious Baits for providing gifts for the contestants!
Special thanks to Club Sponsors and Boat Captains.
And finally…special thanks to Bobby McDonald, ABFN Youth Director. Great job, Bobby!
an official sponsor of the Jr. Championship by providing food, gift cards and much more! THANKS to Brian Johnson with Academy Sports in Decatur for helping to make this a great event for our young anglers and their families! State Junior Championship Entry Form: MS WORD PDF Waiver and Release must be read, signed and turned in with entry form Jr. State Championship Waiver and Release: MS WORD PDF Thanks, Bobby McDonald, Youth Director (205) 854-6246 H (205) 903-0919 C We would also like to thank our official sponsors for the Youth Program.
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