B.A.S.S. journeys across the Northwest

<p>In mid-May, four members of the B.A.S.S. staff plus two contractors embarked on a journey weâll never forget. The six of us drove 959 miles from Clear Lake, Calif., for the <a href=

In mid-May, four members of the B.A.S.S. staff plus two contractors embarked on a journey weâll never forget. The six of us drove 959 miles from Clear Lake, Calif., for the 2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Western Regional to Trout Creek, Mont., for the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Western Divisional. We were so fascinated by the Western beauty that we wanted to share it with our B.A.S.S. friends.

First up for Hank Weldon, left, and Jon Stewart, right, was a side trip to the California Delta. Andrew Sayles, former California B.A.S.S. Nation president, took the B.A.S.S. staffers out in his boat.

Unfortunately for Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation director, his bass was not impressive. However, he loved the fishery and wants another crack at the famed water.

Sayles one-upped Stewart with this fish.

Stewart caught a healthier bass on Californiaâs Clear Lake once the team arrived there for the College B.A.S.S. event.

Tony Quick, a longtime contractor for bass, caught this monster on Clear Lake. The fishing trip was a welcome diversion after driving the B.A.S.S. tournament trailer 2,500 miles from Birmingham, Ala., to northern California.

Russ Bradshaw won the dayâs outing with the biggest fish. He traveled with Quick to California to transport the Shimano Live Release Boat across the country.

This is just some of the amazing scenery on Clear Lake. Mountains, forests and vineyards surround the fishery.

When the college competitors arrived, they caught some nice bass, too â¦

â¦ and a few big carp.

Once the college event was over, the trailer and release boat and the staff that accompanied it hit the road, Montana-bound.

The crew stopped for dinner at the Western chain Black Bear Diner. From left are Bradshaw, Emily Hand, Quick, Stewart and Weldon. Not pictured (because she was taking the picture) is Tyler Reed.

Mount Shasta in northern California rose above the trees and was visible for what seemed like 100 miles.

Upon entering Oregon, we watched a rowing team head out for practice â¦

â¦ and enjoyed the view of Upper Klamath Lake â¦

â¦ and were fascinated by the plethora of wind turbine farms.

Many hours later, we arrived in Couer dâAlene, Idaho â¦

â¦ where Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Palaniuk cut his teeth.

Weldon took some time to explore Couer dâAleneâs famed waters. Chase Heaton, right, took him out on the lake. Heaton, who lives nearby in Spokane, Wash., has been competing in B.A.S.S. tournaments all his life and won several Junior Bassmaster titles. In fact, just last year, he won the Junior Bassmaster division of the Western Divisional when it was on Clear Lake.

While Weldon, Stewart, Quick and Bradshaw were fishing, Hand and Reed took a sign selfie to send to Palaniuk to let him know we were on the other side of the country in his hometown.

We then proceeded north through Idahoâs upper reaches â¦

â¦ across numerous train tracks â¦

â¦ through historic Bonnerâs Ferry â¦

â¦ until we reached Canada.

Nestled in the mountainsides were picturesque churches â¦

â¦ wineries and vineyards â¦

â¦ and old buildings â¦

â¦ in and around the cute town of Creston.

We randomly stumbled into an antique car show â¦

â¦ watched a storm roll in off the mountains â¦

â¦ and devoured an elk burger with some famous Canadian poutine (fries covered in gravy and cheese curds).

Back to America we go â¦

â¦ more mountains â¦

â¦ and, oh, look! Thereâs even more mountains! Northern Idaho is a treat for the eyes.

Montana welcomes us with fishing art over the Kootenai River.

In person, you wouldnât believe how big everything looks. For scale, look at the train at the far left meandering through the national forest.

Now for a quick walk to the Kootenai Falls â¦

â¦ and a pass by the train from the earlier photo â¦

â¦ to the rushing waters.

Donât fall in, Emily!

Down the road just a smidge, weâre at peaceful Thompson Falls, 20 miles south of the launch area for the Western Divisional.

The dam, which was built in 1915, was great for hydropower but not so great for bull trout, which need to swim upstream to spawn.

Since then, the trout had no way to get past that dam, and the species became threatened after nearly a century.

Indian tribes, Montana Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and PPL Montana worked together to build this fish ladder, which came with a $7.5 million price tag. It was just finished in 2010. Now, bull trout can pass through this complex structure to get to the other side so they can reproduce.

Between Thompson Falls and Trout Creek, we got to experience all types of wildlife, including â¦

â¦ bald eagles â¦

â¦ elk â¦

â¦ and moose.

In Trout Creek, home of Noxon Reservoir, we have a tournament to put on. And look at the backdrop our anglers fish against.

The bass are not the size of Florida bass, for sure, but theyâre healthy.

Amid mountains â¦

â¦ small islands â¦

â¦ and trees, the anglers in the Western Divisional take to the water, looking for a berth in the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.

Meanwhile, the photographer gets a pontoon ride through beautiful Noxon to deliver the scenery to you â¦

â¦ while Chase Heaton, who has driven from Spokane to volunteer at the tournament, naps in his truck before weigh-in.

Once the tournament is over, B.A.S.S. staffers run into snow while driving to the airport.

Leave it to the men to start a snowball fight.

After sitting in 80-degree temperatures only a couple of hours prior during the weigh-in, we are poorly dressed for such a stop.

With the nice camera all packed up, we could only rely on smartphones for photos of the Idaho sunset while we were Spokane-bound. But the sky looked like it was on fire.

Stewart canât get enough of Western bass fishing. He stayed behind a few extra hours so he could catch beauties like this one on Washingtonâs Newman Lake â¦

â¦ with his buddy Heaton.

We had to end our Western experience, but weâll carry with us the memories and photos of an amazing trip.