Now celebrating his 24th year with B.A.S.S., Tournament Director Trip Weldon has long been a fixture in the sport of bass fishing.
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Photo: B.A.S.S. - Trip Weldon recently announced that he will retire from his full-time role at B.A.S.S. on Feb. 1, 2021. Weldon was an important part of B.A.S.S. competition for 30 years, and he served as Tournament Director for 19 years.Photo: Don Barone - Weldon was a long-time fixture on the Bassmaster Elite Series where he weighed the fish ...
Photo: Don Barone - ... addressed different groups attending the events ...Photo: Seigo Saito - ... and led angler meetings.Photo: Gary Tramontina - He could also be found at the daily takeoffs to make sure the order was correct and the event started on time.
Photo: Don Barone - Though most Bassmaster Elite Series fans will recognize him from the stage ...Photo: Don Barone - ... he spent a lot of time behind the scenes answering questions and addressing tournament issues.Photo: Don Barone - His smartphone was always in his hand ...
Photo: Don Barone - ... even when it was inconvenient.Photo: Don Barone - Weldon poses with Bassmaster.com writer Don Barone.Photo: Gerald Crawford - A picture from early in Weldon's B.A.S.S. career shows him helping Rick Clunn with his fish during the 1993 Kentucky Bassmaster Invitational on Kentucky Lake.
Photo: B.A.S.S. - From his early duties to the Bassmaster Classic ... through the years Weldon has kept order onstage during tournaments.Photo: Gary Tramontina - Whether Weldon worked with emcee Dave Mercer ...Photo: B.A.S.S. - ... or Keith Alan ...
Photo: Darren Jacobsen - ... Weldon handled the fish while the emcee spoke with the anglers and pumped up the crowd.Photo: Kathy Barker - Here, Weldon boxes up Edwin Evers' Day 1 catch during the 2011 Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans.Photo: B.A.S.S. - Weldon's signature clear box has been around for more than a decade as this picture from the 2006 Bassmaster Classic in Kissimmee, Fla., shows.
Photo: James Overstreet - In addition to his weigh-in duties, Weldon has also handled a camera ...Photo: B.A.S.S. - ... dodged fish ...Photo: Seigo Saito - ... worn a championship belt ...
Photo: B.A.S.S. - ... dressed up like Elvis ...Photo: B.A.S.S. - ... and had an angler put a towel on his head.Photo: B.A.S.S. - There is no doubt that Weldon has enabled some of the most exciting moments in the sport of bass fishing.
Photo: Seigo Saito - âYou really only hear about Trip when the wheels come off, but I know him, and I know him so well I know how he fears bad weather days, big storms, struggles with should we launch, should we not launch, and then when we do launch I know he paces and paces all day, always checking his watch, checking the weather, looking at the radar just like a dad waiting and worrying about all his children coming home safely.â - Kevin Van Dam