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| FishTails |
Governor's Youth Program is W.V. Bass Federation's Finest
Hour
By Chris Lawrence
"It's time we get kids off their duffs, and into the great outdoors."
The words of West Virginia DNR Director Ed Hamrick echo the unofficial theme of the two-day Spring Turkey Challenge
held in Flatwoods May 11 and 12. The event was the first in what organizers hope will be a long-standing effort
in the Governor's Youth in the Outdoors Program. Six youngsters from throughout West Virginia earned the right
to be a part of the inaugural program by penning 300-word essays on the theme, "The Role of Hunting in Wildlife
Management."
The cooperative effort brought the six to Flatwoods for two days of turkey hunting in Braxton County and bass fishing
on Stonewall Jackson Lake. The youngsters also enjoyed a sprinkling of biology and outdoors education between those
events. The West Virginia Bass Federation and West Virginia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation played
host along with the DNR and Division of Tourism to make it a fun and educational weekend for the teens.
Turkey federation members took the boys on hunting trips, while six members of the Bass Federation volunteered
their time and boats to give each an afternoon of fishing at Stonewall. Most of the young men had hunted and fished
before, but some had never been on a turkey hunt and for others it was their first experience with true bass fishing.
"This is really cool!" noted one eager youngster as he climbed aboard the 21-foot Triton of Bass Federation
President John Burdette and admired the big outboard. "How fast will it go?"
Others, like Todd Lambert of Preston County, didn't want to be sidetracked with such details.
"All my friends kept saying, 'You're going hunting and fishing with the Governor!' I said, 'Big deal, the
governor's just a guy. The exciting part is I'm going hunting and fishing."
Lambert is a senior at Preston High and bound for West Virginia University next fall where he'll study nursing.
Lambert certainly had his priorities in line.
"There's a lot of girls in that field. There's plenty of demand, they make good money, and you work three
days and you're off four. That's a lot of time off to hunt and fish."
Despite his best efforts up the West Fork area of Stonewall, Lambert couldn't latch onto a bass while riding with
guide Dion Bright. However, he learned many lessons that were previously unfamiliar.
"At this time of year, with that wind blowing, those bass will nearly have their noses right up against the
bank." Noted Bright. "When you have a log laying against the bank with only a few inches of water between
them, try to drop that tube right between them and let it fall. They usually hit as it comes down."
"I had fun." Said Lambert after his day ended with a goose egg. "That's the important part."
Others in the event couldn't keep a line in the water. Logan Bailey of Flatwoods lost count of fish caught along
the shoreline across from the State Park Marina while fishing with guide Kevin Goff.
"He was slamming them right and left." Noted a reporter later in the evening. "It seemed like everytime
he threw in he had a fish on in just a minute."
To top off the evening, Governor Bob Wise arrived and spent an hour or two on the water with West Virginia Bass
Federation Conservation Director Jim Summers.
"This was my first time bass fishing on this lake, and my first casts of this year." Noted the Governor,
"But I'm proud to say-I was sharing a bass boat with one of West Virginia's premiere bass fishermen, and I
feel very proud of the fact I tied him. We both caught nothing!"
Security concerns may have played a bigger handicap for the governor, than Summers' guiding since law enforcement
officials would only allow the governor a short distance from the ramp. In fact the entourage largely resembled
the BassMasters Classic with spectators boats a short distance away watching every move of the star angler.
"It was good to get out of the office for a while and onto that bass boat and just drift and do some casting."
All kidding aside, Wise noted he was thoroughly impressed with the Bass Federation's enthusiasm.
"The people from the West Virginia Bass Federation, the West Virginia Turkey Federation, and a lot of volunteers
pitched in to help young people experience the outdoors. It's great."
Wise noted the important role hunting and fishing play in West Virginia.
"The youth are what our future is, particularly in West Virginia where we have so much going for us. The outdoors
is one of our great assets. I want young people to understand the importance of our natural resources. This is
our heritage."
The governor is enthusiastic about continuing and expanding the program.
"We might look at something in the fall, or setting up something over the summer, particularly with regard
to fishing. Anything that's based on getting children involved in the outdoors."
Federation President John Burdette said the event was truly the West Virginia Bass Federation's finest hour.
"I was just thrilled with it, to be able to do that with the Wild Turkey Federation! I was pleased that the
West Virginia Bass Federation could be a part of it. The magnitude of it was phenomenal." Said Burdette. "We've
gone from where the DNR would not even speak or work with us under our other administration and even told B.A.S.S.
that in Montgomery, Alabama to where we've got an excellent working relationship with them now. Most every one
of them from Bert Pierce and Bernie Dowler on down has gotten to know us and it's helping our stature. The magnitude
of this event with the Governor here has really pushed the West Virginia Federation to the top."
Burdette echoed the sentiments of the Governor in noting that getting children involved is the future of the sport.
"Look around. Everyone that comes to our meetings and tournaments is 40 or 50 years old and we don't have
a lot of young people coming out. They are going to be the ones to carry this in the coming years."
The six attendees of the challenge truly represented the finest West Virginia had to offer in politeness and courtesy.
However, Burdette says that pretty much stands to reason.
"Somebody once told me if you find a kid with a hunting or fishing license in his pocket, you can rest assured
that's a pretty good kid."
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| The six essay contest winners pose with West Virginia Governor Bob
Wise (Center), members of The West Virginia Chapter of The National Wild Turkey Federation, and members of the
West Virginia BASS Federation following the first Governor's Spring Turkey and Bass Challenge held May 10-12, 2001
at Flatwoods in Braxton County and Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park in Lewis County. |
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| Logan Bailey, Sutton, WV, Tim Hedrick, Shady Spring, WV, Zac Leasure,
Alma, WV, Eric H. Bishop, Oak Hill, WV, Todd Lambert, Independence, WV, and Blake A. Mattern, Star City, WV visit
West Virginia Governor Bob Wise following the first Governor's Spring Turkey and Bass Challenge held May 10-12,
2001 at Flatwoods in Braxton County and Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park in Lewis County. |
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| West Virginia Governor Bob Wise (left) and WVBF Conservation Director
Jim Summers enjoy a day on the Water at Stonewall Jackson Lake. |
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| West Virginia Governor Bob Wise (left) and WVBF Conservation Director
Jim Summers on the Water at Stonewall Jackson Lake. Wise said: "I spent the day on the water with on of West
Virginia's best fishermen...and I tied him!" |
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| (left to right) WVBF Web Site Administrator Jim Matuga of Morgantown,
West Virginia Governor Bob Wise and WVBF President John Burdette of Buckhannon, enjoy a few laughs following the
cookout at the end of a great day on Stonewall Jackson Lake. |
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| The young people worked with WV DNR wildlife biologists to learn about
fish and wildlife management programs, including taking part in a fish survey. |
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| A WV DNR wildlife biologist measures a nice largemouth bass as part
of the fish survey. |
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