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| FishTails |
BASS Federation volunteers aid in Citgo Bassmaster Classic
fish care
[By Jim Matuga, WVBF Communications Director]
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| (Left to right) Lonnie Schoonover - Ohio BASS Federation
Conservation Director, Jim Summers - West Virginia BASS Federation Conservation Director and Mike Burton - Pennsylvania
BASS Federation Assistant Conservation Director. |
2005 Citgo Bassmaster Classic July 29-30
Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, Pittsburgh, Pa.
To the casual spectator of the 2005 Citgo Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania July 29-31, the weigh-ins
were smooth and seamless. But behind the scenes, volunteers from three area BASS Federations were busy doing what
they do best: ensuring the health and wellness of the day's BASS catch.
Lonnie Schoonover - Ohio BASS Federation Conservation Director, Jim Summers - West Virginia BASS Federation Conservation
Director and Mike Burton - Pennsylvania BASS Federation Assistant Conservation Director worked tirelessly as part
of the BASS team for bass preservation.
Starting each morning, each competitor's boat was loaded with 4 - 2 pound bags of ice for use in their livewell.
Following the final check-in, BASS pros trailered their boats to Mellon Arena for the weigh-in event. Livewell
temperatures were monitored with a laser thermometer for instant water temperatures. The ideal temp was 75 degrees.
If the water surpassed 82, ice was to be added to the livewell system. Most every boat ranged from 70-75 degrees.
Of course, one of the most interesting aspects of the operation occurred under the massive stage inside the arena.
There, BASS Tournament Director Trip Weldon would ceremoniously weigh the fish and dump them into a "magic"
trap door in the stage. Then, even more BASS volunteers would grab the bass and transport them back into a holding
area for release back into the three rivers.
A new advancement in post-tournament fish management also was implemented during this Classic. GPS units onboard
every competitor's rig monitored and tracked the locations of the fish catches. Following every day's weigh-in,
the bass were returned on a ratio-basis back to the bodies of water where they were caught that day.
In Classic XXXV, smallmouth dominated the catch from the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers, and the downtown
Pittsburgh area proved to be the most productive.
Another dominating feature of the event was the large and enthusiastic crowds that flocked to Mellon Arena. Nearly
30,000 fans packed the arena over the three days to see the weigh-ins.
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| West Virginia BASS Federation Conservation Director
Jim Summers checks the livewell water temperature of Classic competitor Gerald Swindle's boat with a laser thermometer. |
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