James Graves III, on left, represented, the OCHS Anglers, the Virginia Junior Bass Federation Nation and the Mid Atlantic states - Junior Bass Federation Nation, at the Junior World classic in Monroe, La. and wins big. Graves blew away the field on Bayou DeSiard in Monroe, La., with 5 pounds, 12 ounces, which was 3 pounds, 10 ounces better than his closest opponent in the 11- to 14-year-olds age division. Graves was the only angler in the field to bring in more than two fish, and he credits the cypress trees in the shade against the bank for his good fortune. He was fishing a shaky head slowly around the cypress trees, and the bass would just pick it up.
     "I was catching them on almost every cast this morning," said Graves, a member of the Orange County High School Anglers in Virginia. "I caught about 10 today, but only four were keepers."
James has participated with the OCHS Anglers team as an associate member, since his home town of Madison, Va. has had no Junior Bass Federation Nation Program. Becky Gore, the OCHS youth advisor knew young Graves of Wetsel Middle School and now a freshman at Madison County High School. She taught both James' Mom, Missy and his Dad, Lucky during her tenure at Madison County High prior to teaching at Orange County High School. "I had watched young James fish the trout streams on his Granddad's (James Sr.) farm resort,and recognized quickly his natural talent." say Gore, "Also some of the locals, she says, call him "The Fish Whisper"'.
     Last year at the OC Fishing and Sportsman Show, Gore spoke with Lucky and James about fishing with the OCHS Angler's Program. Gore says " I wanted James to have the chance to fish competitively and also to encourage Lucky to start a similar program in Madison County." James' parents would bring him to meet Gore at her home in Madison, and travel with her to the tournaments. "Having the opportunity to talk with him on the way to tournaments, I could see that James was outgoing, not a bit shy and could be quite the competitor." says Gore. She linked him up with the OCHS Angler, President Devon Bowling, who helped James feel comfortable with this new group of peers. James won his first tournament at Lake Orange, and went on to do well in all of the following chapter tournaments. James then fished his first Junior State Qualifier at Lake Anna in June 2011 and in this tournament James won a spot in the July 2011, Junior State Classic- held on Buggs Island. At the JSC, Graves won his age division and was eligible to advance with the adult Bass Federation Nation- Va. state team to fish the Delaware River in the Mid Atlantic Regional tournament. Again his strong performance in this tournament allowed him to advance to the World Classic. James had only one day of practice on the Bayou DeSiard. Volunteer anglers from University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) team were the boat captains for the young competitors. "I would have fished the same stuff James did," said Nick LaDart, Graves' driver. "He really adapted today from the cloudy conditions in practice yesterday. He did great." James will receive a 16 foot, Triton bass boat.

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The B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of Virginia 2011 Youth season started on October 24 2010 with JSQ #1 North and South being held simultaneously on Aquia Creek and Leesville Lake.  The 33 anglers on Aquia Creek weighed in 44 fish for a combined weight of 65.60 lbs. averaging 1.49 lbs. per fish while the 19 anglers on Leesville Lake weighed in 20 fish for a combined weight of 43.50 lbs. averaging 2.18 lbs. per fish.  Congratulations to the 10 qualifiers who will move on to the Junior State Championship on Buggs Island 25-26 June 2011.


 
JSQ #1 North, Aquia Creek Qualifiers from left:
Franklin Marrs, Senior, Orange County High School(OCHS), 2nd Place with 7.21 lbs; Tyler Covington, Senior, Central Virginia Bass Masters(CVBM), 1st Place with 9.12 lbs and Big Fish with 3.14 lbs; Dawson McGovern, Junior, Warren County Junior Anglers(WCJA), 1st Place with 2.73 lbs and big fish with 1.44 lbs; Mitch Willis, Senior, Frederick County Junior Bass Wranglers(FCJBW), 3rd Place with 4.65lbs.


 
JSQ #1 South, Leesville Lake Qualifiers from left front row:
Joshua McCourt, Junior, New River Valley Junior Anglers(NRVJA), 2nd Place with 1.03 lbs; Devin Joyce, Junior, Henry County Junior Anglers(HCJA), 3rd Place with .58 lbs; Hunter Phillips, Junior, HCJA, 1st Place and Big Fish with 2.74 lbs.  Back Row:
Tyler Maschal, Senior, Lynchburg Junior Angler(LJA), 3rd Place with 5.91 lbs; Jacob Cooper, Senior, HCJA, 1st Place with 10.39 lbs. and Big Fish with 5.48 lbs; Skye Riggleman, Senior, LJA, 2nd Place with 7.32 lbs. 

After taking a break for the winter, we started off the Spring with 2 JSQ’s in April.  First up was JSQ #2 South at Claytor Lake State Park.  Two cold fronts moving through on consecutive nights really made for a tough tournament. 26 anglers weighed in 12 fish for a combined weight of 14.51 lbs. averaging 1.21 lbs. per fish.



JSQ #2 South, Claytor Lake Qualifiers from left front row:
Jacob Bush, Junior, Wise County Junior Bass Anglers(WCJBA), 3rd Place with .94 lbs; Hunter Axt, Junior, LJA, 2nd Place, with 1.89 lbs; Landon Lawson, Junior, New River Valley Junior Anglers(NRVJA), 1st Place with 2.58 lbs. and Big Fish with 1.64 lbs. Back Row: Kalin Farmer, Senior, HCJA, 1st Place and Big Fish with 2.43 lbs; Jonathan East, Senior, NRVJA, 2nd Place with 1.34 lbs; Tyler Simone, Senior, NRVJA, 3rd Place with 1.22 lbs.

Next we moved back to the Northern Division for JSQ #2 North at Sturgeon Creek Marina on Lake Anna.  The same scenario with two powerful fronts moving through and a practice day marred by steady rain hampered the anglers but tournament day dawned clear, bright and warm with a moderate wind.  The 35 participants weighed in 34 fish for a combined weight of 53.49 lbs for an average weight of 1.57 per fish.



JSQ #2 North, Lake Anna Qualifiers from left:
Zach Mastin, Junior, OCHS, 1st Place with 2.27 lbs; James Graves, Junior, OCHS, 2nd Place with 1.82 lbs. and Big Fish with 1.82 lbs; Nick Covington, Senior, CVBM, 2nd Place 5.43; Tyler Pritt, Senior, OCHS, Big Fish with 4.09 lbs(did not qualify); Kevin Beasley, Senior, OCHS, 1st Place with 8.38 lbs; Devon Bowling, Senior, OCHS, 3rd Place with 4.92 lbs.

Congratulations to the 21 Junior Anglers who have qualified so far for the State Championship.

The next round will be JSQ #3 South at Smith Mountain Lake, May 14th and 15th out of the Midway Marina and JSQ 3# North on the Chickahominy River, June 11th and 12th out of Rivers Rest Marina.  These will be the last opportunity for the Junior Anglers to try to qualify for the Championship.

The State Championship will be held at Buggs Island Lake, June 25th and 26th out of Occaneechee State Park and the two State Champions will join the State Team in New Jersey for the Mid Atlantic Regionals September 6th through 10th.

I would like to thank the parents who put in a lot of work and provide support behind the scenes, my group of Youth Advisors who are a very dedicated group that provide direction and mentorship to the Junior Anglers as well as providing the opportunity to fish.  Lastly, I want to thank the Boat Captains who provide their own time and resources to take our Junior Anglers fishing and act as role models for the youth.

Look for more changes and new emphasis on the Junior Bass Master Program from the new leadership of B.A.S.S.  They have expressed a desire to bring the focus of the organization back to the grassroots and collectively place the Youth Program as one of the areas that demand high priority.  One such change already in place is the new rule that 16 year old anglers are allowed to compete on the adult level in tournaments such Mr. B.A.S.S., The Top Six Team and The Fall Classic.  We hope to see more favorable changes and continue to strive to grow the Youth Program into one of the largest and most successful in the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation.

Ralph Millsaps
State Youth Director