Robison and Williams Capture Youth Tournament Titles
[By Dion Bright, WVBF Youth Director, May 25, 2004]

Scenes for the tournament.

Sunny skies and humid temperatures greeted the 57 youngsters and guides during the 2004 annual Jim Catherman Memorial Youth Tournament at Sutton Lake, May 15. This year's tournament was held earlier than normal to avoid the crowds that gather at the facilities beach as well as pleasure boat traffic on the main lake. Scattered afternoon thunderstorms were forecasted and arrived with a brief downpour after the youths weighed their fish awaiting the tournament totals.

The tournament is divided into two different age categories with the 13 to 17 year old youths competing against one another while the younger age group consists of youths 12 and under. The top six anglers in each age group earn prize money and trophies along with a Lunker award for each group. A cookout of hotdogs and hamburgers followed the 1:00 p.m. weigh-in. The minimum length for a "keeper" is set at 10 inches versus the norm of the Federation Trail with a length of 12 inches.

With the earlier set date, a big weigh-in was in the future as the youths weighed in a total of 226 bass for just over 160 pounds. Brandon Robison topped the younger age group with his adult partner Ford Gregory weighing in at 6lbs.-15oz. to win the top prize money of $300 along with Lunker for another $135. Second place honors went to Betheny Dillion and adult angler Rick Dillion weighing in at 5lbs-7oz for $200. Following up in third place was Alex Goff fishing with adult guide Kevin Goff winning $150 with 4lbs-14oz. Finishing just 2oz behind Goff/Goff was Daniel Sandy and WVBF Conservation Director Jim Summers with 4lbs-12oz and a $100 check. Fifth place honors went to Joshua Merical guided by notable angler Jim Merical with 4lbs-7oz and earning $85. Rounding out the 12 & under age group in 6th place and a $50 check went to Jimmy Davis teaming up with Jim Davis.

Shawn Williams with boating partner Mike Moore took top honors in the 13-17 age group with 5lbs-4oz. Second place honors with 5lbs-2oz went to this year's Junior Bassmaster World Championship contender Codie Nettles partnered with Lynn Nettles. Adult angler Sarge Travis guiding Preston Grose finished third with 5lbs-1oz and took Lunker honors. Fourth place went to the other WVBF's Junior Bassmaster World Championship contender J.C. Christopher partnered with adult angler Brent Bowsher with 5lbs even. Malcolm Marks guided Justin Marks to a fifth place finish with 4lbs-10oz. Finishing the top six in the 13-17 age group were Kenneth Jackson and adult angler Brewton Davis tying Brandon and Steve Marks with 4lbs-7oz.

The goal the Federation has by holding the annual youth tournament is to get the younger generation involved in bass fishing and in the Federation since these young anglers are the Federation's future. Whether an adult angler brings their own child to the tournament or someone else's child, they are exposed to an activity that they can carry on to their children.

A special thanks to all the adult boaters who made the time to enjoy the day on the water with a child and to Michelle Bright, Vicki Summers, and Gloria Sandy for preparing the food at the cookout. Mojo Lure Co., Mustad, Classic Fishing Products, All Terrain Tackle, Matzuo, and Ande line donated several door prizes that were given out following the weigh-in.

An adage that keeps coming to mind during this tournament is and is one to remember is " Feed a child a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a child to fish, you feed him for life".

West Virginia Bass Federation
2004 Youth Tournament - Sutton Lake
May 15, 2004

AGE GROUP - 12 AND UNDER
Place	Youth Angler	Adult Angler	Big Bass	Total Weight	Winnings
1	Brandon Robison	Ford Gregory	6/6	6-15	$435*
2	Betheny Dillon	Rick Dillon	6/6	5-07	$200
3	Alex Goff	Kevin Goff	6/6	4-14	$150
4	Daniel Sandy	Jim Summers	6/6	4-12	$100
5	Joshua Merical	Jim Merical	6/6	4-07	$85
6	Jimmy Davis	Jim Davis	6/6	4-05	$50
7	Logan Jarrett	Eric Jarrett	6/6	4-02
8	Nathan Lanham	Len Lanham	6/6	3-15
9	Cortney Bright	Harry Bright	6/6	3-15
10	Jordan Matuga	Jim Matuga	6/6	3-12
11	Brady Nolan	Bert Nolan	6/6	3-11
12	Joey Jones	Scott Doolittle	5/5	3-03
13	Emily Weiford	Jeff Weiford	5/4	3-02
14	Gabriel Griffith	Jeff Jones	5/4	2-10
15	Courtney Harris	Rick Harris	5/4	2-07
16	Kaitlin Slayton	Randy Slayton	2/2	2-05
17	Ethan King	James King	3/3	2-04
18	Tiffany Hickson	Glen Hickson	3/3	2-02
19	Erik Goff	Mike Goff	4/4	2-01
20	Chelsie Cottrell	Donald Cottrell	3/3	2-00
21	Sarah Kessler	Steve Kessler	3/3	1-14
22	Drue Johnsom	Dave Hall	3/3	1-12
23	Austin Young	H F Young	3/3	1-11
24	Ashley Bright	Dion Bright	2/2	1-07
25	Braden Lewis	Steve Lewis	2/2	1-05
26	Hank Slemp	Bill Kennedy	3/3	1-05
27	Zach Arrick	Dale Doty	2/2	1-03
28	Adam Nelson	Jackie Nelson	2/1	1-03
29	Mitchell Beckner	Gary Beckner	2/1	0-12
30	Marlee Hoffman	Vic Stover

*Includes $135 For Big Bass - 3-07 Largemouth

AGE GROUP - 13-17
Place	Youth Angler	Adult Angler	Big Bass	Total Weight	Winnings
1	Shawn Williams	Mike Moore	6/6	5-04	$300
2	Codie Nettles	Lynn Nettles	6/6	5-02	$200
3	Preston Grose	Sarge Travis	6/6	5-01	$285*
4	J. C. Christopher	Brent Bowsher	6/6	5-00	$100
5	Justin Marks	Malcolm Marks	6/6	4-10	$85
6	Kenneth Jackson	Brewton Davis	6/6	4-07	$25
6	Brandon Marks	Steve Marks	6/6	4-07	$25
8	Jonathan Jackson	Andy Calavanse	6/6	4-06
9	Derrick Wade	Paul Rush	6/6	4-04
10	Adam Brown	E. L. Brown	6/6	4-02
11	Travis Slemp	John Burdette	6/6	4-02
12	Chris Martin	John Tinnel	6-6	4-00
13	Brandon Hodges	Gary Hodges	6/6	3-14
14	Cory Simms	Jay Carper	6/6	3-13
15	Wil Deffenbauch	Pic Deffenbauch	5/4	3-09
16	Nathan Atkins	Lyle Atkins	6/6	3-09
17	Kasi Given	Jimmy Summers	6/6	3-07
18	Aaron Toler	Randy Toler	6/6	3-03
19	Andrew Fluharty	Alan Fluharty	4/4	2-10
20	John Smarr	John Smarr	4/4	2-08
21	Michael Squires	Rick Squires	3/3	2-07
22	Kelly Evanovich	Pete Evanovich	3/3	1-09
23	Mike Headley	Roy Headley	3/3	1-07
24	Chris Nottingham	Ricky Nottingha	1/1	0-07
25	Jerry Wells	Tim Lancaster
26	Cory Findley	Louie Gerard
27	Justin Bailey	Billy Bailey

 
 *Includes $135 For Big Bass - 1-07 Largemouth

Scenes for the tournament.

Scenes for the tournament.

Scenes for the tournament.

Scenes for the tournament.

Scenes for the tournament.

Scenes for the tournament.

Scenes for the tournament.

Scenes for the tournament.

Scenes for the tournament.

Scenes for the tournament.

Scenes for the tournament.