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We will start the 2009 season this week.  The boat that the team won has been ordered and is up for bid now.  This is open to parents of junior anglers and all federation nation members.  This is a one time only opportunity to purchase this boat at significant savings.  For minimum bid and other information please contact Joan Blankenship, President at 276-252-2133 or mail your bid to 3461 Lee Ford Camp Road, Ridgeway, VA 24148.  Deadline for bids is November 30, 2008.  You will not have an opportunity this good again this year. 

The boat is a Triton 18X3 SC boat with a Triton Single Axle Trailer, Mercury 150 OPTIMAX, MotorGuide TR82 45” Trolling Motor and Lowrance LMS480 GPS and a 23 Pitch Tempest Plus propeller.  The colors are Platinum Red, and Black Ice with complimentary colors for seats and interior.   Taxes, rigging and other accessories are the responsibility of the purchaser. 


You can see one like it at Angler’s Choice Marine, Martinsville, Pop’s Marine, Toano  or  Watson’s Marine, Bluff City, TN.  The actual boat should be in Virginia in early November.  All of these dealers supported us in 2008 so if you are in the neighborhood please stop by and look at the new 2009 Triton Boats in stock.  There may be a few good 2008 models left.  Let them know that you are a Federation Nation member. 

Reynolds and Reynolds Win Children’s Miracle Network Fundraising Event



It only took a few good men and women to raise a thousand dollars for the Children’s Miracle Network this year.  Angler’s gathered at Parkway Marina to raise money Virginia Children's Care Net and Childrens Miracle Network.. Kenny and  Ryan Reynolds were the overall winners of this event.    A check for $1,000 was presented to  Jack Whisler, Director of Virginia Children’s Care Net at Centra hospital in Lynchburg. Thanks to all of the anglers and Steve Woodroof, who was the facilitator for this event and others who assisted us with fund raising for this worthy charity that benefits many in our area including Lynchburg and Roanoke. They accept patients from South Boston, Danville, Farmville, Bedford and Roanoke covers SW VA including Martinsville, Blacksburg  Radford and the surrounding area.. 100 percent of the  proceeds from this event went to the Childrens Miracle Network.  Mark your calendars for next year as we plan to do it again. 

It’s Time to Drive the Nation

We are running out of time.  We need a few more good members for 2008 now!

•    Numbers – they’re more than just figures on a page.

Numbers are what drives us, what makes us valuable to sponsors and powerful before state and Federal conservation agencies. It’s no secret that dollars are tight everywhere right now, so we have to scratch and claw not only to keep our existing members, but also for every new member we get to join Federation Nation. 
With every new face, our strength grows exponentially, so I’m asking you to ask a friend to join us and to increase our numbers.  BASS has given us a deadline of October 30, to effectuate our “Drive the Nation” membership surge.
Of all the state federations that split, we in Virginia are the second largest Federation Nation Chapter right behind Alabama.   Along with Texas and New York, two states that didn’t split, we form the four biggest state federations in the country.
So why do we want to grow bigger? This is a unique opportunity not only to boost our power as a nationwide organization, but also as a cog within that larger umbrella group. We are proud of the members we have and feel that by growing we can offer more individuals the opportunity to get involved in tournament fishing, youth efforts and conservation programs. Each additional voice protects and empowers us. 
So think of people you know who might benefit from the Federation Nation experience and encourage them to join. Try to think outside the box – it could be a family member, a neighbor you rarely talk to or the guy at work who asks you every Monday about your trip to the lake.
But do it quickly. We here in Virginia don’t just want to drive the nation, we want to lead the nation, and we have the potential to do so. There is strength in numbers.
This concept was the combined efforts of Pete Robbins and Joan Blankenship.  It takes a team to build a nation. 




     The B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of Virginia Team increased their lead each day to win the Triton, Lowrance, Mercury, Motorguide Alliance package valued at $30,000 this week.  Leading the team was Eddie For, a member of Appomattox Bassmasters, with Ivan Morris swapping positions to finish a close second. 



   Fore, along with defending champion Jeff Freeman will now advance to the national Federation-Nation championship on Milford Lake near Junction City, Kansas in November and hopefully one of them will win the coveted Federation slot at the BASS MASTER Classic.  There is only one BASS MASTER Classic and to achieve the goal of fishing this super tournament is every angler’s dream.  The final day standings and total weights for the event are listed below. 
VIRGINIA
    Angler                   Hometown                       No./lbs-oz Total $$$
  1 Edward Fore              Concord, Va.                   14  27-02
  2 Ivan Morris              Virginia Beach, Va.            14  26-14
  3 Jeff Salmon              Chester, Va.                   10  22-03
  4 Jimmy Hale               Martinsville, Va.              10  17-12
  5 Steve Roberts            Lynchburg, Va.                  6  17-05
  6 Wayne Burchett           Pulaski, Va.                    5  15-12
  7 Greg Hylton              Martinsville, Va.               8  15-01
  8 Ken Lackey               Ridgeway, Va.                   8  14-04
  9 Les Ore                  Chesapeake, Va.                 7  14-02
 10 Kedrick Sumner           Galax, Va.                      7  12-15
 11 Erling Bruun             Virginia Beach, Va.             4   9-10
 12 Chris Napier             Virginia Beach, Va.             3   5-04

   Mitch Willis, our 14 year old angler who has now qualified twice to advance to a major championship almost made it to the Federation-Nation National Championship.  He was leading the senior division until the last contender weighed in and then he lost to Andrew Sams of Maryland who is 18 and will not be able to compete next year. This year junior anglers compete for only two spots from each division which makes the regional events extremely important to them.   Mitch will be back next year.  Mitch is pictured with Kevin Beasley who was the Virginia junior angler.  Kevin will be back next year as well. 



   The Mid-Atlantic is now a memory and as Randy Beasley helps tournament director Jon Stewart close the door on the trailer for the Mid-Atlantic event  we will all have a lot of great memories.  It was the goal of the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of Virginia members to see that we had enough volunteers to assist the ESPN-BASS staff in both set up and taking down of the equipment.  We accomplished the goal and then some. 



A special thanks to the Clarksville-Lake Country Chamber of Commerce; Best Western and Mary Willis; Scott Shanklin and the staff at Occoneechee State Park that included Billy Whitlow; Andy Gall;  Lena Bowen; Patricia Arway and George Lutz who started every day with a smile for us.  Without their help this event would not have been possible.

Drive the Nation
   If you wonder why we are pushing the Drive the Nation Toyota promotion it is because a Toyota Tundra  would look great  with the boat.  At this time we are the fourth largest Federation in the nation.  We can be number one with support of all of our members.  It takes a great state team to win the divisional and an even bigger team to drive the nation.  Be part of the team and recruit one new member for your club.  With total team support we can be number one over all.