 |
| FishTails |
St. Albans Teen, Youngest Ever to Qualify For State Tournament
Brightwell Wins Central Qualifier
Central Qualifier
Results - Central Team Standings
By Chris Lawrence
Most of us try to fit our tournament fishing into our schedules at work. Few of us have escaped the wrath of a
neglected wife who was left with a pile of laundry, a wrecked house, and screaming children at 4am as we pulled
the Triton and Chevrolet out of the garage headed to some "God knows where" fishing hole. It never fails
that many of us have a hard time seeing the long list of "Honey-Do's" written in magic marker on a piece
of cardboard that formerly housed a new refrigerator blocking the front door of the house. Yet by some miracle
we're able to tie a Palomar knot on a 1/0 hook without a squint.
Such are the lives of normal weekend bass fishermen. However, one angler fishing in this year's West Virginia Bass
Federation State Tournament in Fairmont doesn't know the meaning of those problems. In fact, to pursue other pastimes
like hunting-he has to ask somebody to buy his shells. Sixteen year old Kevin White of Saint Albans earned his
spot in the state tournament finishing 11th in the Central Qualifier on the Kanawha River near his home.
"I like fishing, but we really don't fish here a whole lot." Admits the bashful White.
The St. Albans High School junior also enjoys playing tennis. However, his better backhands come from a casting
rod on the back seat of a bass boat rather than a racquet on the backside of the tennis court.
"I caught one fish each day." Says White about his qualifying weekend, "Both of those fish weighted
1lb. -12oz. I caught them both on white buzzbaits."
B.A.S.S. rules require anyone qualifying for the state team to be at least 16-years old. White will turn 17 before
the state championship arrives. It will be his first time there-but not the first time he could have been.
"He could have gone last year." Lamented his dad Herman White. "I had him signed up with B.A.S.S.,
but he wasn't a Federation member because I didn't know he was old enough."
White has been fishing, like many West Virginia youngsters, most of his life. However his experience with tournament
fishing goes all the way back to the dark ages of 1999. White not only secured a spot in the State Championship-he
secured a spot as a boater.
"I can't be a boater." White told Federation President John Burdette in accepting his award. It stands
to reason since he's barely old enough to drive.
Kevin and his dad are both members of Elk River BassMasters-one of the state's most competitive clubs.
"He's an Elk River boy!" notes fellow club member Bob Burgess. "But he's not the only one, we've
got a couple coming up that are as tough as him."
Friends at school don't pay much attention to White's accomplishments with a rod and reel.
"They don't say much."
However, those fishing against him are talking.
"These young guys are starting to put the squeeze on us gray-hairs!" laughed WVBF Conservation Director
Jim Summers.
One thing is for certain, with White heading for the state championship and two more "as tough as him"
coming on in a year or two there'll be more room in the tackle box for secret lures since a razor won't be required
gear on an overnight tournament trip. |
|
|
|
