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| FishTails |
WEST VIRGINIA B.A.S.S. FEDERATION ANNUAL BANQUET
[March 13, 2004 - Day's Inn - Flatwoods, WV]
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| Michael Squires (right) and Adam Nelson (left) represented
the WVBF at the Junior National Championship, Smithville Lake, Kansas City, MO. 35 total Junior anglers from 18
states competed last year |
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| Limited Six Bassmasters was presented the WVBF Youth
Achievement Award by WVBF President John Burdette (Left) |
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| John Burdette (Left) presented Bernie Dowler with a
special recognition award for his years of service to the sportsmen of West Virginia. |
The Third Annual West Virginia Banquet was held at the Day's Inn in Flatwoods March 13th. The event was attended
by more than 120 members and guests from around the state. WVBF President John Burdette served as master of ceremonies
for the banquet which included a recap of the WVBF's accomplishments for the year 2003.
Burdette paid acknowledgment to several special dignitaries including Bernie Dowler, retired West Virginia Division
of Natural Resources Assistant Director - who was presented a commemorative plaque recognizing his long-standing
relationship as a friend to the Federation.
Burdette also recognized leaders in two categories : the Youth Club Award was presented to Limited Six Bassmasters
fro their outstanding efforts in volunteering for the many youth projects the Federation is involved with, and
the Conservation Award went to Rick Harris for his leadership in securing funding for various conservation projects,
most notably the aquatic vegetation project - a joint venture with the WVBF and the WVDNR to purchase an ATV/cultivator/seeder
used to plant grass at Sutton Lake last year.
A fine Italian/Prime Rib buffet was enjoyed by the attendees. And the event also featured a multi-media slide presentation
"The West Virginia BASS Federation: Looking Back at the Year 2003" produced by this writer. Look for
this on the WVBF web site soon www.wvbass.com. Here is a rundown of the banquet
highlights:
Special Guests in attendance:
WV DNR
Bernie Dowler - Assistant Director - Retired
Bret Preston - Chief of Warm Water Fisheries
Frank Jernejcic - District I Biologist
Jim Hedrick - District I
Jim Walker - District III Biologist
Chris O'Bara - District VI Biologist
US Army Corp of Engineers
Toby Wood - Sutton Lake
Keith Ann Knuckles - Sutton Lake
WVBF 2003 Highlights: Tournaments & Events
2nd Annual Outdoor Show Nathan Goff Armory Clarksburg
2nd Annual WVBF Banquet
Provided manpower for PR Plus Outdoor show in Morgantown
CastingKids State Finals in Flatwoods
Provided bass guides & boats Gov Youth Wild Turkey & Bass Challenge - $1,500
Conducted WV Bass Festival Tournament - St Marys (Roland Martin)
Robbie Fleshman, Dion Bright & Burdette attended National Championship - AL
Jim Summers and Burdette attended Bassmasters Classic - New Orleans, LA
State Team competed at Eastern Divisional - Lake Champlain, VT
Youth Tournament & Cookout - Sutton Lake - 59 boats
Jr Team to Virginia for Jr Invitational - 6 Anglers and families
Guided COE meeting participants on Stonewall
Conducted weigh-in for Forest Festival Bass Tournament in Elkins
Six Buddy Trail tournaments & Fun Tournament
Three State Qualifiers & State Championship
Participated in National Hunting & Fishing Celebration at Stonewall Jackson Lake
Attended meeting with ESPN/BASS and presidents in Atlanta
Presentations
Bernie Dowler - Assistant Director - Retired
Columbia Gas - Rick Harris, Capital City Bassmasters $1,600 check for Reservoir
Vegetation Project - Planting grass while lakes are at winter drawdown (see Sidebar story)
WVBF presentation of aquatic plants to DNR
Governor's Youth Wild Turkey & Bass Challenge or Hunters Helping the Hungry a
check for $1,500.
2003 Junior Team - Virginia, July 2003 - Competed against 10 other states WV Junior Team finished 3rd place.
Michael Squires - Central Jr B/M J.C. Christopher - Road House Jr B/M
Brittany Evanovich - Road House Jr B/M Codie Nettels - Hawks Nest Jr B/M
Adam Nelson - Central Jr B/M Cory Findley - Road House Jr B/M
Alt - Preston Gross - R.D. Bailey Jr B/M
Junior National Championship - Smithville Lake, Kansas City, MO
Michael Squires and Adam Nelson represented WV
35 total Junior anglers from 18 states
2003 Castingkids National Contenders - Tuscaloosa, AL
Brady Nolan - Jacksonburg
Wil Definbaugh - Hundred
Brady Nolan - Qualified for finals at the Bassmaster Classic - New Orleans
Present Awards:
Club Youth Award Limited Six Bassmasters
Conservation Award - Rick Harris
2003 Tournament Champions
2003 Buddy Trail Champions
Ronnie & Nelson White 544
Tony Crumbliss & Gary Ross 511
Steve Marks & Brandon Marks 502
Jim Dingess & Dave McKinney 488
Averaged 77 teams per tournament
2003 Northern Division Champion - Kevin Goff, Out Cast Bassmasters
Ohio River, Moundsville - 174 anglers
Out Casts B/M - Team Champions
2003 Central Division Champion - Eric Stewart, Mid State Bassmasters
Sutton Lake - 116 anglers
Mid-State B/M - Team Champions
2003 Southern Division Champion - Bill Pioch, Lake Stephens Bassmasters
Kanawha River, Winfield Pool - 130 anglers
Lake Stephens B/M - Team Champions
2003 State Champion - Eric Stewart, Mid State Bassmasters
Summersville Lake - 120 anglers
State Team - 2004 B.A.S.S. Eastern Divisional - Lake Winni, NH
September 22 - 24, 2004 State Championship held on Summersville Lake, Oct 03
Alt Lester Marsh Mon Valley Bassmasters
12th Bruce Green Capital City Bassmasters
11th Benji Barnette Last Chance Bassmasters
10th Jim Davis Crooked Run Bassmasters
9th Dave Corsaro Big Bend Bassmasters
8th Chase Bryant Mountaineer Bassmasters
7th Billy Gue Mountaineer Bassmasters
6th Mark Godwin Hook Em & Jerk Em Bassmasters
5th Keith Tyler Chem Valley Bassmasters
4th Joe Decker Out-Cast Bassmasters
3rd Larry Taylor Kicker Bass Bassmasters
2nd Tim Rhodes BCW Bassmasters
1st Eric Stewart Mid State Bassmasters
2004 National Federation Championship Contender:
Tim Isaacs - Qualified at Eastern Div September 2003 Lake Champlain
2004 Federation Championship, Keystone Lake, Tulsa, OK
May 12-18, 2004 - Top Eastern Contender qualifies for Bass Masters Classic
Editor's Note: I'd like to thank everyone who commented on the multi-media presentation I presented at the banquet
this year. It's a labor of love for me to work with the WVBF - hearing your appreciation makes it all worthwhile
for me. Thanks! ~Jim |
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