Fans at the Expo

Meet Jason Swanson and his friend Buddy, from Plano, Texas. They are making a tenth consecutive visit to the Bassmaster Classic Expo.

Swanson is a member of the Texas B.A.S.S. Nation and just returned from a regional qualifier held on Lake Amistad. He wouldn’t miss the chance to visit the Classic, though.

Last year he flew on a commercial airliner to the Classic in Greenville, S.C., and Buddy missed the trip.

“More people asked me where Buddy was than how I was doing,” muses Swanson, a member of the Denton County Bass Club.

Just after this picture was taken a well wisher from the past stopped to say hello.

Buddy, 6 years old, is Swanson’s service dog. Swanson also fishes the Paralyzed Veterans of America tournaments. He’s not a military veteran and the organization welcomes any persons with similar disabilities.