KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Frank Jones intended to fish as a boater at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #1. After waiting too late to register he landed on the waiting list.
About two dozen armed forces veterans are thankful that he missed the cut.
Jones is a readjustment counseling technician for the Veterans Administration. In civilian terms that puts him on the front lines of helping veterans in need. Some seek help filing benefits paperwork. Others get mental health counseling. Many more are unaware the service exists until chance encounters with Jones.
The VA maintains permanent Vet Centers across the country. Jones mans one of the 80 mobile units. Those serve veterans in remote areas and provide front-line care elsewhere. The community-based service rolls out instant access to veterans without requiring long distances to VA facilities.
That’s what Jones did instead of going through the weigh-in line.
“I thought why not help out veterans in need at the weigh in?” said Jones, a former Army flight medic. “If I can’t fish then I can do my job and make a difference.”
B.A.S.S. granted special access for the mobile Vet Center to park inside the sponsor areas at Kissimmee Lakefront Park and Outdoor World in Orlando. The retrofitted RV has counseling rooms, a full bathroom, office equipment and sometimes most of all, a safe place for veterans in need.
An unlikely location for directly connecting veterans in need is a tournament weigh-in site.
“That’s why I’m here and it’s been well worth the time,” said Jones.
Jones is ideally qualified for the job. He’s a former down-and-out veteran who now owns his own home and a bass boat. From New Port Richey, Fla., he’s fished the Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain since 2007, until this year.
Cody’s blue boat
The 2006 Bassmaster Classic, held on the Kissimmeee Chain, holds a special memory for tournament runner-up Cody Detweiler. He was 13 years old when his family’s Big Toho Marina served as host marina for bass fishing’s world champion.
“Back then he was a star struck teenager willing to do anything to meet the pros,” recalled Mark Detweiler, his father and owner of the family business.
Young Cody made the best of it by staging his blue jon boat in the background of a live show produced during the Classic. Hooked Up was the program and with it came a full production crew, elaborate set and all of the bells and whistles of an ESPN production.
Coincidentally, but planned, the boat blended well into the set background. With each live cut-in he intentionally trolled back and forth within range of the cameras.
“It was pretty cool because I had tackle companies wanting me to put decals of their brands on my boat,” he said.
The experience was all part of a plan by Mark to involve his two sons in the business, although unusual and spontaneous.
“We bought the marina 15 years ago to give the boys something good to do,” he said. “It’s been a great place for them to spend the summers working, be around good people, and learn to be responsible adults.”
Today, Cody does it all. Netting minnows, taking food orders, guiding fishing clients and stocking the shelves with lures are all part of the job.
According to Mark his favorite job of all is choosing tackle inventory. That is no surprise considering where the passion all began
Good show for former college angler
Kazuki Kitajima came a step closer in pursuing a dream he’s followed since 2008. That year he was a member of the University of Arkansas bass fishing team that won the College B.A.S.S. championship.
Following graduation Kitajima took on a full time job with the goal of funding his tournament dream. He’s fished the Southern Opens each year and plans to continue doing so this season.
“After graduation I took a job in Florida just so I can improve my fishing skills,” said Kitajima, 31, whose family relocated from Japan when he was 18.
Kitajima finished 8th place with 40 pounds, 9 ounces, in his first Top 12 appearance.
This time next week
Ninth-place finisher Ish Monroe put what’s to likely come next week on the Kissimmee into perspective with the following comment.
“These fish are in a pre-spawn funk,” he said. “Next week this place will break wide open.”
In the coming days the daytime highs in central Florida are expected to climb into the low 80s. That means the bass are on the cusp of making a final, massive migration into shallow water.
The scenario would be reminiscent of Dean Rojas’ record setting 2001 win at the Florida Bassmaster Top 150. Rojas caught a remarkable one-day catch of 45-2 and ran away with the tournament title with a weight of 108-12.
“Definitely next week I’d like to be here,” added Terry Scroggins. “There will be waves of 10, 12 pounders everywhere.”