BASS MEMBERS WILL HELP ERADICATE WEEDS ON SAM RAYBURN RESERVOIR
The Texas BASS Federation Nation is going after one of the biggest threats to fisheries: a non-native, highly invasive weed commonly known as giant salvinia.
The state BASS organization is leading a July 16 weed eradication project on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, according to Tim Cook of McQueeney, Texas, who serves as conservation director for the Texas BFN.
"The goal of the project is severalfold," Cook said. "No. 1, obviously, is to remove infestations of giant salvinia. The second main goal is to raise public awareness of how it spreads."
Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) spreads by hitchhiking on boats and boat trailers. It can survive out of water long enough to take hold in a new environment. The weed, which grows quickly, forms free-floating mats that edge out native vegetation. Often up to two feet thick, the mats use oxygen needed by fish and native aquatic species. Fishing in infested areas is difficult if not impossible - and unpleasant.
The Texas BFN is campaigning to remind all anglers to take time after every outing to check their boats and remove any weeds, Cook said.
Cook said the daylong project was initiated by the Texas BFN Southeast Region project directors, Leslie and Eric McGaha of Katy, Texas. Among those helping is Ron Gunter of Conroe, Texas, assistant conservation director for the Texas BFN.
The group lined up 75 to 100 boats to show up July 16, hunt down the weed, bag it and bring it to dumpsters for safe disposal, according to Cook.
Texas Parks and Wildlife is supplying data on the areas of Rayburn that are most infested, said Cook, so that volunteers will know exactly what areas to target.
"Right now on Rayburn, there's limited infestation, so at this stage of the game we can slow the spread," Cook said.
Besides Texas Parks and Wildlife, supporters of the project include Jackson Hill Park and Marina, which will serve as the rally point on Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
DéJÀ VU SHOOTOUT?: The 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points competition is looking more and more like a repeat of the photo-finish race of 2007.
On top of this season's Bassmaster Elite Series standings are two of the sport's best: Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif.
VanDam and Reese went head-to-head in 2007, all the way into the final event, where Reese was crowned the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year. VanDam came back and took the title in the 2008 season - his fourth AOY win - but Reese wasn't his top challenger.
Before last week's SpongeTech Tennessee Triumph on Kentucky Lake, VanDam led Reese by five points. Both pros stayed strong: VanDam took second, a finish worth 10 points more than Reese's fourth place. That put VanDam 15 points in front.
"While I'm never satisfied with second place, the ultimate goal is the Angler of the Year, and I feel good about my chances there," VanDam told Bassmaster.com.
With two more regular-season events remaining and then two postseason tournaments, it is possible one of the top contenders in the AOY race could break up the KVD-Skeet fight. Closest to them is the 2008 Bassmaster Classic champion Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, now 101 points behind Reese.
Jones, though, is further behind the leaders than he was before the Tennessee tournament. Going in, he had been 53 points behind Reese.
CLOSER TO THE CLASSIC: Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., isn't counting any chickens before they hatch. She isn't even counting eggs, although she's still leading the race to the 2010 Bassmaster Classic through the Toyota Tundra Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year competition.
The WBT's 2009 Angler of the Year will win a berth in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala.
Going into the June 4-6 Academy Sports + Outdoors Women's Bassmaster Tour event on Arkansas' Lake Maumelle near Little Rock, Martin-Wells was 26 points in front of Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas. Martin-Wells came out of the tournament only nine points ahead of Robinson.
Martin-Wells, who finished in eighth place and more than 8 pounds out of first said the Maumelle event was tough on her.
"It was tough on almost everybody," she said. "I can't complain about what I did here - two limits, and four fish the final day."
Only eight of the 20 pros who qualified for the final day brought in limits.
"What happens now with AOY, happens," Martin-Wells said.
The follow-the-leader role is all too familiar to Robinson. Last season, she was the AOY runner-up, 60 points out. Kim Bain-Moore of Alabaster, Ala., won and became the first woman to compete in a Classic.
"I'm not letting myself hope for AOY and the Classic as much as I did last year," Robinson said.
The WBT pros have two more opportunities to boost their place in the standings: one regular-season event Sept. 10-12 on Old Hickory Lake out of Hendersonville,Tenn., and, for the top 20 who make the cut after Old Hickory, the Academy Sports + Outdoors WBT Championship, Oct. 16-18 on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
STAR-SPANGLED SEND-OFF: Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 2004 and aspiring country singer, performed the national anthem to kick off the final day of the June 3-6 Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Kentucky Lake, the SpongeTech Tennessee Triumph, out of Paris, Tenn.
Before she won the Miss America contest, Dunlap was the first African-American to be crowned Miss Florida. Coincidentally, a Florida pro won the Elite event. Bobby Lane of Lakeland took his first BASS victory in wire-to-wire fashion with a four-day haul of 97 pounds, 9 ounces.
INSIDER TIP: BASS Insider, the premium pages of Bassmaster.com, will be giving away 38 Abu Garcia Revo S reels during a June 11-July 18 sweepstakes.
Players can register for the 2009 BASS Insider Summer Giveaway at www.bassinsider.com/giveaway. Each day of the contest, one reel will be awarded to a player randomly selected from all players who correctly answered that day's trivia question.
Those who enter the contest will be given an opportunity to sign up for a free, 30-day trial of BASS Insider, but there's no obligation to do so.
ARKANSAS TRAVELER: Deb Wilkinson of BASS was honored Saturday by the state of Arkansas during the Academy Sports + Outdoors Women's Bassmaster Tour event in Little Rock.
She is now an Arkansas Traveler, an award bestowed on individuals by Gov. Mike Beebe and Secretary of State Charlie Daniels in appreciation of contributions to the state. The first recipient was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1941, when the Arkansas General Assembly created the Arkansas Traveler Certificate to honor out-of-state visitors.
"For my part, the award was for my work through BASS and the WBT, making people aware of the wonderful outdoor resources of Arkansas," said Wilkinson, WBT tournament manager. "Arkansas is my home state, so this award means a lot."
She received a framed reproduction of a famous Currier & Ives print, "The Turn of the Tune," which depicts the story of the Arkansas Traveler. WBT pro Jan Heavener of Sherwood, Ark., presented the award on behalf of the state.
About BASS
For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multimedia platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in ESPN360.com, ESPN's broadband sports network, Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content - from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage - to passionate audiences.
The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Academy Sports + Outdoors Women's Bassmaster Tour and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS annually sanctions more than 20,000 events.
BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
Media Contact
Doug Grassian (407) 566-2216 or dgrassian@espn.com
