Albert Collins has been there before, but hadn’t done this.
In winning the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Saturday, Collins topped a tight Central Division to earn its berth in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
“I made the Classic through the Weekend Series and I wanted so bad to make in the Nation,” he said. “It’s awesome.”
The Texan will lead a contingent of six Nation anglers who topped their divisions after fishing three days on the Ouachita River out of Monroe, La.
Collins had about the most to say of the qualifiers, although all appeared low-key in light of securing spots in bass fishing’s grandest venue. The Texan showed empathy to runner-up Jamie Laiche, who missed making his second Classic by about the same margin that kept Collins out last year.
“I know what Jamie is going through,” said Collins, in his fourth BNC.
Charles Sim of Ontario, who won the Eastern Division over Paul Mueller by 13 ounces, seemed somewhat stunned when emcee Jon Stewart gave him the good news.
“I did it. I’m speechless. I did it,” said Sim, searching for words. “Second Canadian ever to make it. Hank Gibson made it back in the late ’80s. Man I’m pumped to be there and represent.”
While his words came out fine, his tone was not as excited as one would expect from a Classic qualifier. Maybe the week was that much of a grind. Or possibly there were extenuating circumstances.
“Last couple years of my life has been crazy,” Sims said. “For this to happen now is just phenomenal … By the way, boss, I’m going to need a couple weeks off work.”
Ok, that’s clear thinking.
Mueller was classy in defeat, adding that his wife is due with their first child around the March 4-6 Classic, and he won’t have the worry about trying to accommodate both.
“Congratulations to all who made the Classic,” Mueller said. “It’s a big deal. It’s awesome to come close.”
South Carolina’s John Proctor claimed the Southern title. He searched for words with pauses in between.
“I’m speechless, honestly,” he said. “I got to thank my wife, my family … It’s a dream come true, that’s all I can say.”
Levi McNeill of Wyoming, the Western winner, was similarly choked up, barely managing a few words when faced with the mike.
“Yep. It’s going to be awesome,” he said. “Yeah …You need to ask more questions.”
One who was prepared, maybe even overprepared, was Fabian Rodriguez of Delaware, who won the Mid-Atlantic title. Stewart had said earlier in the week he expected a guy who’s adorned covers of romance novels. Rodriguez played along as he came on stage the final day wearing a blonde wig and a six-pack abs costume. He then got more serious.
“Besides being a long-time dream — I’ve been in the federation 22 years — it’s been a long time getting here,” he said.
Greg Vance of Iowa, who is attending Loras College, won the Northern Division with the smallest limit of the six. He had plenty to say, just needs to work on his fish handling – he dropped one of his little guys on stage.
“It’s crazy. I don’t even know what to say … Today was a pretty tough day. I just went and put my head down,” said Vance, who went on to thank just about everyone who ever helped him.
Collins is the only one to have qualified for the Classic before. We’ll be hearing more from each closer to the big event. See the full story.
Let’s give Collins, the individual BNC champion, the nod for Photo of the Week. Thomas Allen captured him fishing a beautiful cypress area of the Ouachita River. Check out all the photos from the BNC.
The five-year plan
Five years ago, some predicted the demise of B.A.S.S. As Twain said, those reports were greatly exaggerated.
Especially after Don Logan, Jerry McKinnis and Jim Copeland finalized the purchase from ESPN. That was five years as of Oct. 3, and B.A.S.S. is going strong.
Some examples of then and now are proof:
- Bassmaster.com website climbed from 66 million page views in 2010 to 206 million and counting in 2015
- Monthly unique visitors have grown 166 percent to 800,000
- Facebook fans have grown from 16,000 to 636,000.
- Attendance at events has doubled
- And how about the introduction of Bassmaster LIVE, among others.
Drop a line on how you think we’re doing.
Hook in foot feedback
Got some real negative feedback on a story from a reader/angler Scott Hausman of Las Vegas. Negative in that Hausman was unfortunate enough to live out one of the warnings in “I’ll stick with my kicks,” which looked at the ideal footwear while fishing.
Hausman said he should have taken that article to heart. He was wearing flip flops and stuck a treble hook in the top of his foot. Under the handle @DullhooksScott, he Tweeted out his misadventure, asking “where is Gary Klein and his braided line when you need him?”
He added the hooks on this lure were indeed not dull, and that he solved the self-inflicted situation by himself. Asked if it was worse than anywhere in your hand, Hausman answered:
“Hooks in hand are easy. Just yank ’em out! Removing this wasn’t painful but was awkward! Article idea: carry split ring cutters!”
Boats should also always have a first-aid kit with antibiotic ointment and bandages on board.
And, I told ya so.
From walleye to smallie
In decline for years, walleye fishing on Minnesota’s Mille Lacs Lake was closed early this summer after anglers took their quota. That tourism hit might be what prompted wildlife officials to relax bass fishing catch-and-release rules there to lure a big-time bass event.
The call was answered as the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship will be held on Mille Lacs, which has never hosted a B.A.S.S. event. It’s a top smallmouth destination, but state no-culling laws have kept bass events away.
Another first-time Elite host is Lake Texoma. The 2016 BASSfest will take place there. See more on both, as well particulars on the unique Classic Bracket event to be held on the Niagara River, in this report.
Folds of Honor honors Stewart
At the BNC, Jon Stewart, the director of the B.A.S.S. Nation, was surprised that he was given this Freedom Warrior award by the Folds of Honor for his support of military families.
Folds of Honor works to help provide educational support to spouses and children of America’s fallen and wounded soldiers. The B.A.S.S. Nation is right in step with their mission, and several branches were recognized at the Folds of Honor dinner last week before Stewart received his hardware.
“To say that I am extremely honored, humbled and surprised to be presented with a Freedom Warrior award is a huge understatement,” Steward said. “FOH does so much for the family members of fallen or disabled veterans. I am glad I can play a small part.”
Culling
- Our gratuitous Big Bass of the Week comes from a youth who most likely had a pretty good teacher. Alexis Lane, daughter of “Big Fish” Bobby Lane, caught this 7 ½-pounder. “Like father, like daughter,” Lane posted, adding her new moniker, “Big Fish Alexis.”
- Word on the lake is Bass Pro Shops is looking into buying Cabela’s. Both companies are huge in the outdoors world. At 94 stores and counting, Bass Pro Shops has 30 more than Cabela’s and about a half billion more a year in revenue. Neither side is saying much on the record, but Cabela’s stock, which had declined some 30 percent this year, jumped up 14 percent on the potential news.
- Here’s to the happy bride and groom. Opens angler Trait Crist and Elite angler Chris Zaldain (above) tied the knot in Las Vegas last week. The Zaldains were blown away by two special wedding gifts. Trait, er, Mrs. Zaldain, received a replica mount of her 8-pounder she landed last year while Chris was given a mount of the 12-pounder he caught from the Delta.
- ICAST has been recognized by the Trade Show News Network (TSNN) – who knew there was such a thing – as one of the fastest growing shows in the U.S. by square footage. The next ICAST won’t be till next summer in Orlando, Fla., but if you have a serious tackle addiction, check out Bassmaster.com’s coverage of the last ICAST.