By the time of this update you may realize that by clicking on the picture above we have an entire gallery of photos from the final team championship to complete the 2009 team.  We have to thank Brian Carter for the photo gallery.  This event was one of the closest weights that we have ever had in any event and the disappointment on the faces of those who didn’t make the team this year is obvious.  Although the weather changed from hot, sunny and 82 degrees to wet, cool and overcast.  This was the end for 2009 but 2010 promises to be even better. 

Steve Roberts won the team championship on Buggs Island Lake and the Mr. BASS tournament on Lake Gaston.  Needless to say he will be a boater this year.  Roberts will have his work cut out for him when he goes to Wheeling WV to compete in the Mid-Atlantic which is the last stop before the Federation Championship in Florida. At the Mid-Atlantic Anglers have to fish against their team members and at the same time work as a team to win the event.  Then one lucky angler will move on to the Classic from each region. 

The team as it stands right now consists of the following boaters and non-boaters.  Fall Classic, Bryant Copley boater; Roger Farris, non-boater.  Mr. BASS, Steve Roberts ,Boater; Jeff Salmon, non-boater and Jeff Lugar first alternate and team captain.  Lugar is also the boater for the junior anglers and will take his boat for this purpose and for practice.  From the team championship, Mark Cooper, boater;    Eddie Fore, boater; Mike Metz, boater; Mark Winn, Boater;   Jeff Freeman, non-boater and alternate boater; Rodney Rice, non-boater; Ken Lackey, non-boater;  and Terry Jones, non-boater    The state president usually travels with the team but this year budget constraints may make it necessary to cut this  expense.            

Because Roberts had already qualified therefore this allowed the ninth place finisher Terry Jones to qualify for the team as well.  Team members had until the end of May to decide whether they go to the Mid Atlantic or not this year.  Any additions to the team will come from the Mr. BASS tournament. 
The winning club was Big Lick from region 10 this year.  Team effort really paid off for them as they get a free entry next year.  Finishing second were Lakeland Bassmasters from region 7 and in third were Lake Gaston Bassmasters.

Our state sponsors

Dennis Smith, winner of the $1000 from the town of Clarksville




As everyone knows by now the town of Clarksville showed their appreciation to our anglers with a check for $1000 that was awarded by random draw to one lucky angler.  As luck would have it, Dennis Smith was in the upper parking lot when his name was drawn and the crowd was pushing to have us draw a second name.  When someone shouted that he had won, you could hear him all the way across the lake.  He stated that he had only caught 4 fish during the two day event.  Smith is from Northern Virginia and will not forget this championship for some time. 

 Most of you know that hours of travel, time and expense go into preparation and planning for our qualifying events.  Everything from permits to lodging to volunteers to help put on these events takes time and money.  This year some of our junior anglers and their advisors went the extra mile and drove 5 hours each way to help.  The day was hot and some anglers forgot that they do this at their own expense in exchange for boat captains for their 4 qualifiers each year.  Appreciate them as we did not have them the next day and some very tired anglers had to run their own fish back to the lake.  While we still have a few bumps in our process, we all need to say thanks to those who stepped up from the audience to help. 

Our national sponsors




This year I wanted to stress the importance of our sponsors.  Toyota is a national sponsor and while their bonus bucks program does not help the state federation, it does help the individual angler who drives a Toyota.  That is why I decided to give the highest finishing Toyota owner who was present “the shirt right off my back”.  It was a resounding success.  Those who left before I did it, called Toyota to find out more about it and the winner went home with my favorite Toyota shirt.  This was not a Toyota idea but mine and I only can hope that the promoters will send me another shirt for the fall classic (hint). 

Most Toyota dealers do not know that they can get rewards from this program as well.  Let’s go into the 2010 season educating our Toyota dealers and letting our other sponsors know that we use their product and appreciate them as well.  We want all of our sponsors to know that we appreciate them as well so if you have an idea as to how we can spotlight a special sponsor please share the idea. 

Our junior anglers




This year our junior anglers only have two opportunities to make it to the Mid Atlantic.  The second event was held on the Potomac River. Again we have to thank the many boaters who volunteered to take the anglers fishing and allow them to move on to the state championship at Leesville Lake in August.  Many of these junior anglers have their eyes set on becoming professional anglers but not before they maintain good grades and participate in conservation projects.
Being a junior angler is more than just being able to catch fish.  It involves demonstrating good sportsmanship, leadership, being a mentor for others and a responsibility to be a good citizen.

Paul Thomson, our youth director, has one of the most difficult volunteer jobs in the federation.  He has to coordinate boat captains, youth, keep parents happy and give up family time.  When you see Paul tell him how much you appreciate him. 
One final note to give all members something to think about before we start the 2010 year.  We have managed to move from our fourth into our fifth year while I continued to work, go to school  and still find time to attend numerous conservation meetings throughout the state that include the conservation network, work on tourism initiatives that include “Fish Virginia First”, planning for the Elite tournaments and numerous other activities.   We are a volunteer organization!  We need others to volunteer to help with at least one activity per year.  Steve Woodroof cannot do it all like he did at the Team Championship.  To Steve Woodroof, Mike Bryant, Pam Bryant, Susan Franklin, Paul Thomson, Becky Gore, Lisa Williamson, Joann and Chip Holland and others who volunteered willingly and some by coercion, I say thank you.