Several weeks ago some of us at B.A.S.S. were asked to list our favorite moment of 2016. As I reflected on this question over the holidays it came to me. There was not a “wow” moment that stood out. Tournament directors weighing fish experience that wow factor all the time as the fish settle and the scales register the score. So after 26 seasons those tend to run together for me personally. No tournament event came to mind right away.
Rather it occurred as I sat at my Birmingham desk, my desk at home, riding in the truck between Wetumpka and Birmingham or on my cellphone while fishing over the holidays. Encouraged by the Elite Advisory Board made up of 11 Elite anglers, B.A.S.S. decided to invite two Bassmaster Legends (Classic and AOY Champs) to the 2017 season. I won’t bore you with the qualifications, but active Elite is the first priority. Therefore the first Legend spot went to Paul Elias. The second spot took a little more work to secure with time on the phone running down B.A.S.S. Legends in priority order.
As I made these calls to anglers I have had the honor to meet and interact with over the years I was amazed, but not really surprised, what they were up to when called. In no certain order Bill Dance and Hank Parker were both busy filming, as you might expect. Tommy Martin was about to take off in a local bass tournament. Since he has had heart issues – and we hope he is doing well – along with Guido Hibdon who was dealing with his health issues as well. Woo Daves was as Patti stated “at the shore” assuming she meant he was on the Virginia seashore enjoying the outdoors. George Cochran was headed to a tree stand. Larry Nixon was home recouping and sounded great. Denny Brauer was out on Lake Amistad. Jay Yelas was involved with his youth fishing initiatives. Roland Martin, who came really close to accepting, was busy but the timing was just not quite right. And finally David Fritts, who did accept the final spot, was in a tree stand in Kansas. Yes these great anglers still and always will love God’s great outdoors.
So as I went through this process and as we approach the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series and the Houston GEICO Bassmaster Classic, it was a great time to reflect on the people that made B.A.S.S. what it is today. Certainly my mind wandered to Ray Scott, the late Harold Sharp and James Pooley Dawson, Helen Sevier, Bob Cobb and Dave Precht who is still going strong. My friends and longtime B.A.S.S. employees Dewey Kendrick, father of the pro-am format we all know, Don Corkran, Glenda Cobb, our current events team and tournament staff, and so many more too numerous to mention.
In closing it brought me back to my first year at B.A.S.S. when Dewey gave me the assignment to try and contact the anglers who fished the very first B.A.S.S. event on Beaver Lake Arkansas in June of 1967. We had the 25th Anniversary Tournament scheduled on Beaver Lake in the summer of 1992. Dewey wanted to invite any and all anglers from that first field of 100 plus to attend. Through many phone calls and letters 17 anglers from the first B.A.S.S. event made the trek to Arkansas to be a part of the celebration. That exercise of trying to run down those guys was a great pleasure.
Life is all about the experiences and relationships along the way.
Happy New Year to all!