The Bass Angler’s Sportsman’s Society founder, Ray Scott, came up with a plan to spread the positive message about the benefits and enjoyments of bass fishing with the help of local bass clubs. Many years ago a core part of Scott’s dream was to establish a bass club system that would provide anglers the opportunity to learn more about fishing while participating with other anglers in the outdoors and on the water.
While there would be some friendly competition in club tournaments, new anglers would get the chance to learn new techniques first hand from real time experiences with fellow anglers. Watching videos and talking to anglers will only get you so far, but getting the chance to participate in club functions gave novices the chance to upgrade their fishing education very fast.
Because I was a lifelong angler, I joined the Collinsville Bass Club some 27 years ago and learned many things from accomplished anglers during that time. During my time with the bass club I learned new techniques such as how to properly fish a frog from Ray Joyner. Ray had been a member of the club for some time and I got to fish with the accomplished angler on many occasions.
Unselfish Move
Perhaps my most memorable outing occurred during our final tourney of the year at Demopolis Lake on the Tombigbee River. Our club points championship came down to the last tournament and two anglers, I and one other. Being the sportsman that he was, Ray gave me the front of the boat and every opportunity to succeed on that day. As it turned out I did beat the other angler and won angler of the year honors, partly through Ray’s generosity and help. And that’s what the Collinsville Bass Club was all about for me.
I’m proud to say that though I am no longer a member of the Collinsville Bass Club, they are still helping others and they recently made it possible for a few young 4-H kids to go fishing and experience the thrill of fishing with expert anglers.
On a recent outing the Lauderdale County 4-H, along with the Collinsville Bass Club, held their inaugural 4-H Fishing Tournament for youth ages 8-18. While a few of the youngsters had been out on the water before, most had not had the opportunity to fish with accomplished anglers. By all accounts the tournament was a resounding success.
According to Tracy Robertson, the Lauderdale County 4-H Youth/Livestock Agent, the idea of this tournament was to give youth an opportunity to fish with anglers that travel the state competing in tournaments almost every weekend. “With the help of the Collinsville Bass Club, the youth received the experience that these anglers had to offer and learned about the finesse of fishing,” said Robertson. “All of the kids had a great time and most caught fish during their three hours on the water.”
The Big One
Young Blake Douzar had the big catch of the day. Blake caught two lunker Striped Bass and took top honors for the tournament.
The Lauderdale County 4-H and Tracy Robertson would like to thank Collinsville Bass Club along with many members of the community including Captain D’s, Rock House Trading Post, Southern Sportsmen, Brainstorm Advertising and Bandit Fishing Lures, Wal-Mart, and Lee’s Bait & Tackle for their support in this worthwhile program.
If you would like to find out more information about this program or any of the other programs 4-H has to offer, please contact Tracy Robertson at the Lauderdale County Extension Office at 601-482-9764 or visit us on the web at www.msucares.com and click on county offices.
Outdoors
Related Photos
Discussion
June 25, 2009
4-H Fishing Tourney a Big Success
- Outdoors
-
-
Foy on Turkey hunting and S.H.A.R.E.
- The Leaf
- Squirrel hunting memories
- The big one at last
-
How to hunt and take Lauderdale County’s biggest buck
-
Final day monster bucks
- Unforgettable Jesse Burroughs
- Roberson scores on trophy buck
-
Successful Elk hunt?
We knew going in that the odds were against us. An elk every five years of hunting is the average. Even hunting for the more plentiful cows in the great herds of the mountains, our chances were not much better than the cow/bull average. Throw in the fact that our hunt followed the rut by a month when the November storms move the elk, slow our pace with deep snows and freezing winds, and we had a deck stacked against us that included the handicap of hunting an area completely unfamiliar, except for maps. My nephew, Rob and I were in for a challenge.
-
Photos of The Week
- More Outdoors Headlines
-
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
