Don Barone’s 2016 season in photos

During 2016, me and America got real acquainted, real…
During 2016, me and America got real acquainted, real…
…this is how it began around the end of February…
…this is how it began around the end of February…
…this is how it looked when the tour ended, minus a couple flights here and there.
…this is how it looked when the tour ended, minus a couple flights here and there.
For the past nine years it always begins like this, our dog Riley watching me pack up…
For the past nine years it always begins like this, our dog Riley watching me pack up…
…the Tundra for several weeks in a row on the road…
…the Tundra for several weeks in a row on the road…
…my first launch into America was six straight weeks on the road, this is what a Toyota Tundra ClosetMax looks fully loaded…
…my first launch into America was six straight weeks on the road, this is what a Toyota Tundra ClosetMax looks fully loaded…
…hey if you gotta go, go well, these always make the trip with me, an espresso maker, a frozen margarita maker, a snow cone machine, a smoothie maker (just in case I try to get healthy) and a printer…
…hey if you gotta go, go well, these always make the trip with me, an espresso maker, a frozen margarita maker, a snow cone machine, a smoothie maker (just in case I try to get healthy) and a printer…
…oh, yeah my Bigfoot cast from…
…oh, yeah my Bigfoot cast from…
…Washington State, always a great prop to freak the kids of the Elites out.
…Washington State, always a great prop to freak the kids of the Elites out.
Hate the goodbyes, this year it turned out to be one day shy of 26 weeks on the road…
Hate the goodbyes, this year it turned out to be one day shy of 26 weeks on the road…
…bye guys, to be honest I cry all the way down the street.
…bye guys, to be honest I cry all the way down the street.
I racked up almost 30,000 miles on the road this year, drove through a set of tires, to make all that driving bearable at home I take all the vinyl LPs I have (300-plus) and convert them to CDs to listen to while driving, the scratches and pops on the CDs give me a little sense of being home.
I racked up almost 30,000 miles on the road this year, drove through a set of tires, to make all that driving bearable at home I take all the vinyl LPs I have (300-plus) and convert them to CDs to listen to while driving, the scratches and pops on the CDs give me a little sense of being home.
First comes New York…
First comes New York…
…then Pennsylvania (I’ve lived in both of these states)…
…then Pennsylvania (I’ve lived in both of these states)…
…then under some state…
…then under some state…
…oh, another necessity if you are a full-time reporter you are going to need a pillbox or two. I buy a new one every year mainly so nothing from the last year sticks.
…oh, another necessity if you are a full-time reporter you are going to need a pillbox or two. I buy a new one every year mainly so nothing from the last year sticks.
First stop was in Spirit Lake, Iowa, to see my friends at Berkley Fishing, by the way just as an education lesson, Iowa is not right on the other side of Pennsylvania as I thought it was, oh, this is a photo of a reel sent in by someone asking about the warranty particulars…
First stop was in Spirit Lake, Iowa, to see my friends at Berkley Fishing, by the way just as an education lesson, Iowa is not right on the other side of Pennsylvania as I thought it was, oh, this is a photo of a reel sent in by someone asking about the warranty particulars…
…this here is the most important bass fish in America, everything they make bait wise gets fed to him, if it stays in his mouth it is basically good to go, if it pops right back out, not so much. Case in point the Gulp smelly bait I picked that smelled remarkably like the Olive Garden Restaurant…it popped right back out of his mouth as a non-Italian bass. Frankly, the bait made me hungry…
…this here is the most important bass fish in America, everything they make bait wise gets fed to him, if it stays in his mouth it is basically good to go, if it pops right back out, not so much. Case in point the Gulp smelly bait I picked that smelled remarkably like the Olive Garden Restaurant…it popped right back out of his mouth as a non-Italian bass. Frankly, the bait made me hungry…
From Iowa I turned south to head to the Bassmaster Classic…
From Iowa I turned south to head to the Bassmaster Classic…
…this is what that drive looked like…
…this is what that drive looked like…
…quick bite to eat…
…quick bite to eat…
…then more of this. Dudes, there is a big flat spot on America and I think I drove all the way through it to get…
…then more of this. Dudes, there is a big flat spot on America and I think I drove all the way through it to get…
Tulsa, Okla., love this town and what it has done to stay cool…
Tulsa, Okla., love this town and what it has done to stay cool…
…got to the Classic shindig a little bit early so…
…got to the Classic shindig a little bit early so…
…I got to have dinner with good buddy Skeet, by the way that was a marvelous chicken pot pie, oh, and thanks Skeet for picking up the tab.
…I got to have dinner with good buddy Skeet, by the way that was a marvelous chicken pot pie, oh, and thanks Skeet for picking up the tab.
So after only 2.5 chicken pot pies the Classic began and I got to wander around the Expo and meet the Expo-ites, sometimes I met them while manning a booth…
So after only 2.5 chicken pot pies the Classic began and I got to wander around the Expo and meet the Expo-ites, sometimes I met them while manning a booth…
…other times they said hello as I just walked around, meeting all the people is by far one of my favorite things to do even though to be honest that little kid down there on my right freaked me out, had dreams of that look for days, the image never gave up if you know what I mean.
…other times they said hello as I just walked around, meeting all the people is by far one of my favorite things to do even though to be honest that little kid down there on my right freaked me out, had dreams of that look for days, the image never gave up if you know what I mean.
Oh, found these hung up back in the bowels of the arena, the set lists for all the bands that played there, pretty cool, took a lot for me to walk away without “borrowing”one.
Oh, found these hung up back in the bowels of the arena, the set lists for all the bands that played there, pretty cool, took a lot for me to walk away without “borrowing”one.
One of my great friends, a hall of fame strawberry shortcake, oh and Boyd Duckett.
One of my great friends, a hall of fame strawberry shortcake, oh and Boyd Duckett.
I took this photo of this banner while I was alone behind a curtain so no one would see the tears in my eyes, my great buddy Ken Cook passed away about a month or two before the Classic, it felt good to see his banner, it felt bad to see his banner…love and miss you Ken.
I took this photo of this banner while I was alone behind a curtain so no one would see the tears in my eyes, my great buddy Ken Cook passed away about a month or two before the Classic, it felt good to see his banner, it felt bad to see his banner…love and miss you Ken.
I’m down in the pit with another great friend, Randy Howell. I’m trying to do a selfie, it ain’t working, in a minute or two after this photo Randy, who cries pretty much any time I’m around him, started to cry because…
I’m down in the pit with another great friend, Randy Howell. I’m trying to do a selfie, it ain’t working, in a minute or two after this photo Randy, who cries pretty much any time I’m around him, started to cry because…
…our other good friend, Edwin Evers, look close he’s in there amidst all the confetti, just won the Bassmaster Classic. Randy was behind me crying in case you are wondering.
…our other good friend, Edwin Evers, look close he’s in there amidst all the confetti, just won the Bassmaster Classic. Randy was behind me crying in case you are wondering.
Back on the road heading to the first Elite event in Florida but made a quick stop in Alabama…
Back on the road heading to the first Elite event in Florida but made a quick stop in Alabama…
…to crash at Boyd Duckett’s house who had since forgiven me over the strawberry shortcake remark, spent a bunch of time with George Duckett…his dog while…
…to crash at Boyd Duckett’s house who had since forgiven me over the strawberry shortcake remark, spent a bunch of time with George Duckett…his dog while…
…watching the sunset on Alabama from the Duckett back
…watching the sunset on Alabama from the Duckett back
In Florida got to have dinner with buddy Kelly Jordon in what will be one of the most interesting conversations of all time, the dude is scary smart, I’m just scary but time for a break…
In Florida got to have dinner with buddy Kelly Jordon in what will be one of the most interesting conversations of all time, the dude is scary smart, I’m just scary but time for a break…
…a food break, okay so other than fishing, or writing, on the road there is only preparing to fish or write, sleeping some and eating, this was an amazing blackened tuna…
…a food break, okay so other than fishing, or writing, on the road there is only preparing to fish or write, sleeping some and eating, this was an amazing blackened tuna…
…okay so just be straight up about these food shots…
…okay so just be straight up about these food shots…
…last year there were an estimated 1 trillion camera photos taken…
…last year there were an estimated 1 trillion camera photos taken…
…someone reported that Facebook alone…
…someone reported that Facebook alone…
…had 6 billion photos upload a month (by the way that rib-eye was to die for)…
…had 6 billion photos upload a month (by the way that rib-eye was to die for)…
…a study found that right now every two minutes…
…a study found that right now every two minutes…
…there are more photos taken with phones…
…there are more photos taken with phones…
…then all the photos taken during the entire 19th century (dudes, you haven’t eaten until you’ve had a hamburger with a fried egg on it)…
…then all the photos taken during the entire 19th century (dudes, you haven’t eaten until you’ve had a hamburger with a fried egg on it)…
…and it turns out that in an average month…
…and it turns out that in an average month…
…over 30 million photos of…
…over 30 million photos of…
…food are taken, just saying in case you think I have some sort of weird thing going on with food.
…food are taken, just saying in case you think I have some sort of weird thing going on with food.
By the way, this is normal dinner while writing food, Walmart fried chicken and two containers of mystery salad.
By the way, this is normal dinner while writing food, Walmart fried chicken and two containers of mystery salad.
So after the Florida gig I get to drive home, yeah it’s a long drive…
So after the Florida gig I get to drive home, yeah it’s a long drive…
…especially on the Jersey Turnpike…
…especially on the Jersey Turnpike…
…but I get to come home to Barbie who is always happy to have me around…
…but I get to come home to Barbie who is always happy to have me around…
…if not so much Riley.
…if not so much Riley.
After a 10-day break it’s back in the truck and driving back down south…driving…sort of…mainly stopping and going and crawling because this is what…
After a 10-day break it’s back in the truck and driving back down south…driving…sort of…mainly stopping and going and crawling because this is what…
…lies between me and the South, the most populated slow driving mostly stopped route in America. At 20,000 feet it looks calm, trust me, it ain’t.
…lies between me and the South, the most populated slow driving mostly stopped route in America. At 20,000 feet it looks calm, trust me, it ain’t.
Finally with Manhattan/Brooklyn/Bronx and New Jersey in the rearview mirror, I’m back down south and crossing the Chesapeake for the next Elite gig…
Finally with Manhattan/Brooklyn/Bronx and New Jersey in the rearview mirror, I’m back down south and crossing the Chesapeake for the next Elite gig…
…in time to see Chris Lane zoom by, to be honest my favorite part of this photo is not the sunrise, but the tiny American flag Chris flies on his boat. Shout out to Chris for honoring the country that allows us to do this.
…in time to see Chris Lane zoom by, to be honest my favorite part of this photo is not the sunrise, but the tiny American flag Chris flies on his boat. Shout out to Chris for honoring the country that allows us to do this.
One of my favorite shots of this, or any year, the Britt Myer family pretty much at the moment they knew dad had won the tournament, print this, frame it, title it: The Thrill of Victory.
One of my favorite shots of this, or any year, the Britt Myer family pretty much at the moment they knew dad had won the tournament, print this, frame it, title it: The Thrill of Victory.
Reality shot you ain’t seen before, by Thursday of an event this is what my hotel room looks like, when I’m writing I only focus on the stories, not so much anything else like, you know, order…
Reality shot you ain’t seen before, by Thursday of an event this is what my hotel room looks like, when I’m writing I only focus on the stories, not so much anything else like, you know, order…
…a travel tip, many of us out here always get a room with double beds so we can use the other bed for easy-to-find extra storage, me, I also use the TV to hang my pants on so they don’t get real wrinkly and because most times on the road I never turn the tube on, distracts from the job.
…a travel tip, many of us out here always get a room with double beds so we can use the other bed for easy-to-find extra storage, me, I also use the TV to hang my pants on so they don’t get real wrinkly and because most times on the road I never turn the tube on, distracts from the job.
Since I’m allegedly an “outdoor writer” here’s some shots of stuff I see inside the out-of-doors…hungry fish…
Since I’m allegedly an “outdoor writer” here’s some shots of stuff I see inside the out-of-doors…hungry fish…
…some bird on the ground…
…some bird on the ground…
…some bird not happy I’m standing near it…
…some bird not happy I’m standing near it…
…some other bird even unhappier…
…some other bird even unhappier…
…oh, and yeah, some of the wildlife in my backyard and crossing the street in front of my house. Trust me folks I don’t live in the wilderness or any where near it, we barely get the Animal Channel here. I live almost exactly mid-way between NYC and Boston and I have bears, coyotes and bobcats in my backyard.
…oh, and yeah, some of the wildlife in my backyard and crossing the street in front of my house. Trust me folks I don’t live in the wilderness or any where near it, we barely get the Animal Channel here. I live almost exactly mid-way between NYC and Boston and I have bears, coyotes and bobcats in my backyard.
Next stop Arkansas, get time to visit at the Bass Cat Owners Tournament in Mountain Home, prayers to the Pierce family who just lost their dad, and Bass Cat guru, Ron Pierce…
Next stop Arkansas, get time to visit at the Bass Cat Owners Tournament in Mountain Home, prayers to the Pierce family who just lost their dad, and Bass Cat guru, Ron Pierce…
…time out for dinner with buddy, Steve Kennedy who is part fish, can’t stop himself from focusing on water even at dinner…
…time out for dinner with buddy, Steve Kennedy who is part fish, can’t stop himself from focusing on water even at dinner…
…then up the mountain top to spend an afternoon with B.A.S.S. boss Jerry McKinnis, dudes we were so high up the Eagles were flying below us, I was freaked but he is a boss so, you know the drill…
…then up the mountain top to spend an afternoon with B.A.S.S. boss Jerry McKinnis, dudes we were so high up the Eagles were flying below us, I was freaked but he is a boss so, you know the drill…
…oh my Arkansas fishing license…I didn’t actually put a line in the water there but I buy a year long fishing license in every state we go to just to do what I can to help out the states that help us out. If you can afford to do it you might think of doing that as well if you visit other states, just a thank you to help local anglers.
…oh my Arkansas fishing license…I didn’t actually put a line in the water there but I buy a year long fishing license in every state we go to just to do what I can to help out the states that help us out. If you can afford to do it you might think of doing that as well if you visit other states, just a thank you to help local anglers.
Some of the stuff that goes on at events, this is a shot of a tech from Shimano cleaning a reel that someone brought to an event to have it looked at…
Some of the stuff that goes on at events, this is a shot of a tech from Shimano cleaning a reel that someone brought to an event to have it looked at…
…the power lines for…
…the power lines for…
…a very cool band…
…a very cool band…
…who gave a free concert to the crowd at weigh-in.
…who gave a free concert to the crowd at weigh-in.
My two on-the-road-roommates, Paul Elias and Shaw Grigsby and fellow sort of out there kind of guy, Rick Clunn, who I’ve had some of the most amazing conversations with about fish and other things.
My two on-the-road-roommates, Paul Elias and Shaw Grigsby and fellow sort of out there kind of guy, Rick Clunn, who I’ve had some of the most amazing conversations with about fish and other things.
Oh, if you wonder why I bring a snow cone machine on the road…this here would be the reason…
Oh, if you wonder why I bring a snow cone machine on the road…this here would be the reason…
…and somewhere out there this year Shaw hit the big 6-0, between the three of us we have 190 years of life experience most of which we still don’t rightly understand.
…and somewhere out there this year Shaw hit the big 6-0, between the three of us we have 190 years of life experience most of which we still don’t rightly understand.
Another great friend that I miss, a few weeks after taking this photo, Matt Reed hung up his tackle and retired from the Elites. Trust me when I say this but when Matt left the sport took a hit losing a kind and decent player who brought nothing but class to the game.
Another great friend that I miss, a few weeks after taking this photo, Matt Reed hung up his tackle and retired from the Elites. Trust me when I say this but when Matt left the sport took a hit losing a kind and decent player who brought nothing but class to the game.
By now I’m massively homesick and sent this photo home to Barb, I’ve been out now a total of three months and face another three months gone…it’s tough on both of us.
By now I’m massively homesick and sent this photo home to Barb, I’ve been out now a total of three months and face another three months gone…it’s tough on both of us.
Now into the Lone Star state, Toledo Bend where we always stay with…
Now into the Lone Star state, Toledo Bend where we always stay with…
…Tommy Martin…bass fishing legend and Bassmaster Classic winner and…
…Tommy Martin…bass fishing legend and Bassmaster Classic winner and…
…somewhat of a fishing fanatic. By the way Tommy recently suffered a heart attack, if you can please say a prayer for him and his family that he gets up and about soon and back to chasing me around in his backyard with an armadillo on a dinner platter.
…somewhat of a fishing fanatic. By the way Tommy recently suffered a heart attack, if you can please say a prayer for him and his family that he gets up and about soon and back to chasing me around in his backyard with an armadillo on a dinner platter.
Every time we show up in Toledo Bend there is a feast on those mud-bug things which I never, never eat. I can’t imagine how hungry the first guy who ever ate one must have been to look at those things crawling around and think…yum.
Every time we show up in Toledo Bend there is a feast on those mud-bug things which I never, never eat. I can’t imagine how hungry the first guy who ever ate one must have been to look at those things crawling around and think…yum.
It is a well-known fact out here that I’m really on the “Red Blob Tour,” in that everywhere I go…
It is a well-known fact out here that I’m really on the “Red Blob Tour,” in that everywhere I go…
…bad weather parks itself right above me, case in point last year when we went to have an event at Lake Havasu in the Arizona desert…it rained on me.
…bad weather parks itself right above me, case in point last year when we went to have an event at Lake Havasu in the Arizona desert…it rained on me.
Quick stop on the way back home in Dandridge, Tenn., for an Open, love the little town there, not so much the barber shop as you can imagine.
Quick stop on the way back home in Dandridge, Tenn., for an Open, love the little town there, not so much the barber shop as you can imagine.
Back out to BASSfest in Oklahoma, and yes the weather followed me…I’m a 50-70 degree kind of loving guy…this was almost baking cookies in the out-of-doors type heat but…
Back out to BASSfest in Oklahoma, and yes the weather followed me…I’m a 50-70 degree kind of loving guy…this was almost baking cookies in the out-of-doors type heat but…
…as always it’s the friends out here on the road who…
…as always it’s the friends out here on the road who…
…like James Niggemeyer have become family and give the unfamiliar surroundings a touch of home.
…like James Niggemeyer have become family and give the unfamiliar surroundings a touch of home.
For the record I managed to get through 64 years of life on earth here without consuming a corn dog on a stick…
For the record I managed to get through 64 years of life on earth here without consuming a corn dog on a stick…
…that record ended at BASSfest.  It was, you know, interesting but I will probably go another 64 years without taking another bite of a corn dog on a stick.
…that record ended at BASSfest. It was, you know, interesting but I will probably go another 64 years without taking another bite of a corn dog on a stick.
In Oklahoma I have two of my very best friends, Ken Cook and Uncle Buff, both natives of the state, buried there, both died within a month or so of each other this year. At BASSfest I took a morning off and went out to Uncle Buff’s grave to say goodbye and to leave this hat as he was a huge fan of B.A.S.S. and JTodd Tucker, a family member. To me Oklahoma is and will always be sacred ground, I miss them both every day but know that in my travels they are protecting my back.
In Oklahoma I have two of my very best friends, Ken Cook and Uncle Buff, both natives of the state, buried there, both died within a month or so of each other this year. At BASSfest I took a morning off and went out to Uncle Buff’s grave to say goodbye and to leave this hat as he was a huge fan of B.A.S.S. and JTodd Tucker, a family member. To me Oklahoma is and will always be sacred ground, I miss them both every day but know that in my travels they are protecting my back.
Up north, the Finger Lakes, now Barb and Riley and my children come up and hang out at the event…
Up north, the Finger Lakes, now Barb and Riley and my children come up and hang out at the event…
…as do my closest friends, Kevin Short (K-Pink) and his wife Kerry (K-2) who is now pretty much my adopted older younger sister. Down there at the end of the table is my son, Jimmy, and Barb next to him.
…as do my closest friends, Kevin Short (K-Pink) and his wife Kerry (K-2) who is now pretty much my adopted older younger sister. Down there at the end of the table is my son, Jimmy, and Barb next to him.
Um, hmmmm…
Um, hmmmm…
Quick trip to my hometown of Buffalo, N.Y., and the Niagara River to do a photo essay of the area for an upcoming Elite event on the water there…
Quick trip to my hometown of Buffalo, N.Y., and the Niagara River to do a photo essay of the area for an upcoming Elite event on the water there…
…and the must stop for Buffalo’s other famous food, Beef-on-Weck…dudes if you ever get to Buffalo make sure you order one of these, it ain’t just a “wing” town.
…and the must stop for Buffalo’s other famous food, Beef-on-Weck…dudes if you ever get to Buffalo make sure you order one of these, it ain’t just a “wing” town.
Back down south to the Potomac event, that tree Tournament Director Trip Weldon is leaning against was just a little sapling the first time Trip was here at an event…
Back down south to the Potomac event, that tree Tournament Director Trip Weldon is leaning against was just a little sapling the first time Trip was here at an event…
…buddy “Boom-Boom” Roumbanis stops by to say hey and offer me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich…
…buddy “Boom-Boom” Roumbanis stops by to say hey and offer me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich…
…quick story with Robin and Randy…and yes sometime during the interview he started crying again.
…quick story with Robin and Randy…and yes sometime during the interview he started crying again.
Downright dangerous out here…Potomac turned out to be a five stitches event for me…
Downright dangerous out here…Potomac turned out to be a five stitches event for me…
…which for a week every script I sent in had a bunch of extra letters in the words since I’m a two finger typer and the bandage sort of covered at least two keys at once.
…which for a week every script I sent in had a bunch of extra letters in the words since I’m a two finger typer and the bandage sort of covered at least two keys at once.
Dear folks who make docks that “float,” stop that, make docks that don’t float because “float” really means “bobbing” up and down and this is what happens when you “bob” up while the dock “bobs” down.
Dear folks who make docks that “float,” stop that, make docks that don’t float because “float” really means “bobbing” up and down and this is what happens when you “bob” up while the dock “bobs” down.
Captain db…
Captain db…
…some kind folks actually, actually let Shaw, Paul and I stay on a yacht at the La Crosse event…a yacht!  Dear B.A.S.S. bosses, as you know this led to some very good stories so…
…some kind folks actually, actually let Shaw, Paul and I stay on a yacht at the La Crosse event…a yacht! Dear B.A.S.S. bosses, as you know this led to some very good stories so…
I’ve been around a lot of athletes in my 25 years of writing about sports and I can tell you for a fact that none, not a one begins practice before sunrise and practices until sunset as these guys do.  That’s Shaw heading out, Paul was right behind him as were 100 or so other anglers on this and every day of practice.
I’ve been around a lot of athletes in my 25 years of writing about sports and I can tell you for a fact that none, not a one begins practice before sunrise and practices until sunset as these guys do. That’s Shaw heading out, Paul was right behind him as were 100 or so other anglers on this and every day of practice.
The AOY tournament, the last Elite gig of the year, look close, that’s an Elite angler riding into the sunrise.
The AOY tournament, the last Elite gig of the year, look close, that’s an Elite angler riding into the sunrise.
Back in Texas for my last gig of the year, the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship where…
Back in Texas for my last gig of the year, the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship where…
…its time to kick back some and have some fun with the Nation folks and…
…its time to kick back some and have some fun with the Nation folks and…
…the backstage workers who are also family…and many times act like it.
…the backstage workers who are also family…and many times act like it.
I’m back home now and have unpacked the Tundra…
I’m back home now and have unpacked the Tundra…
…and tossed this years hotel room cards in the pile with the ones from the last nine years of doing this but know this…
…and tossed this years hotel room cards in the pile with the ones from the last nine years of doing this but know this…
…B.A.S.S. and the sport and my friends who play it and you who follow it are never far from my mind so…
…B.A.S.S. and the sport and my friends who play it and you who follow it are never far from my mind so…
…thank you so much for being a part of my life and the lives of all of us out here on the road, I look forward to 2017, my 10th year doing this gig, look forward to the stories that will come and you the people I will meet out there but until then, may you have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and may all your dreams come true…db
…thank you so much for being a part of my life and the lives of all of us out here on the road, I look forward to 2017, my 10th year doing this gig, look forward to the stories that will come and you the people I will meet out there but until then, may you have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and may all your dreams come true…db