Wednesday July 28:

Well here I am again – covering another Bassmasters Classic in the US. This year we are back in North Carolina – but this time it will be a new lake (Wylie) and a new city ( Charlotte). Although the tournament doesn’t begin until Friday July 30, the excitement of Classic week is well under way. In fact, one of the Canadian components to this year’s Classic has already occurred and the news has made its way north to Canada’s avid Bassmasters.

Earlier this week the World Junior Bassmasters Championship saw 66 young anglers from 42 states and Canada in two age divisions, 11-14 and 15-18 compete here for their share of $25,000 in scholarship money. Scott Barnim, 15 from Ennismore Ontario and 14 year old Kyle Heels from Barrie represented Canada very well and impressed their American competition. In fact Kyle ended up impressing everyone down here with a big third place finish – enough to take home $1,500 US in scholarship money. And, home is where they are headed now – as Kyle and his dad Gerry and Brad and his dad Dave just left Charlotte to fly back to Toronto. I was lucky to meet them here and we shot the breeze for a couple of hours before they left.

BASS Vice President and General Manager Dean Kessel, left,
calls the Junior Bassmaster Championship
"one of the best ideas BASS has had in years." 

Kyle explained that he caught one of his two bass on a black buzzbait – something he is not used to throwing back home, but under the shallow murky water conditions here it was just the ticket. The other fish he caught came on one of his confidence baits back in Ontario – a green and white colored Senko. Both boys had great encounters meeting the pro’s who qualified for the Bassmasters Classic. During the practice day they each got to fish with one pro but on the tournament day the adult pro’s couldn’t fish or offer any assistance at all to the Juniors. Yes, their role was to just drive the young Bassmasters around to where they wanted to fish. Listening to Kyle and Brad talk about hanging out with guys like Kevin Van Dam, Denny Brauer and Mark Davis after the tournament was a great thrill. These keen anglers remarked that the pros were so friendly and easy to talk to that you wouldn’t even think they were millionaires who made their fortunes fishing for a living.

2004 Junior Bassmaster World Championship
July 25-26, Lake Norman, Charlotte, N.C.
Final standings

(11-14 Division)


	Name			City, State		# Fish	Lbs - Oz
1	Bradley  Roy		ANCASTER, KY		3	3-15	
2	Ben  Cayer		BETHEL, VT		1	3- 4	
3	Kyle  Heels		BARRIE, ON		2	3- 1	
4	J.C. Christopher II	CLARKSBURG, WV		2	2-14	
5	Derek  Kuntz		INVER GROVE 		1	1-14	
6	Jacob  Wheeler		INDIANAPOLIS, IN	1	1- 5
7	Benjamin  Galbreath	BRADFORD, PA		1	1- 4
7	Kyle  Jackson		MILFORD, DE		1	1- 4
7	Maddie  Smith		VIDOR, TX		1	1- 4
10	Katherine  Touzinsky	WESTERVILLE, OH		1	1- 3
10	Logan  Pearson		GAYLESVILLE, AL		1	1- 3
12	Wells  Kaiser		CUBA CITY, WI		1	1- 2
13	Sean  Banzhof		MILLERSVILLE, PA	0	0- 0
13	Wayne "Butters" C. 	CHESAPEAKE, VA		0	0- 0
13	Ross W. Burns		COLUMBIA, SC		0	0- 0
13	Dylan W. Sharpton	OKLAHOMA CITY, 		0	0- 0
13	Dannie  De Armon	LEE'S SUMMIT, MO	0	0- 0
13	Curtis  Enz		OGDEN, UT		0	0- 0
13	Ronnie  Sanders III	THORNTON, CO		0	0- 0
13	Kevin  White		IRON CITY, TN		0	0- 0
13	Kiefer  Waltman		WICHITA, KS		0	0- 0
13	Phillip  Michels	NAMPA, ID		0	0- 0
13	Michael  Richardson	PULASKI, VA		0	0- 0
13	Christopher  Baksay	MONROE, CT		0	0- 0
13	Kyle  Pollay		WICKENBURG, AZ		0	0- 0
13	Skyler W. Strope	ORCHARD, NE		0	0- 0
13	Laura F. Johnson	SHARPSBURG, MD		0	0- 0
13	Tyler A. Lock		CONYERS, GA		0	0- 0
13	Monika M. Mc Carrick	CAMERON, NC		0	0- 0
13	Cody W. Harris		GRAND BLANC, MI		0	0- 0

BIG BASS
1	Ben  Cayer		BETHEL, VT		1	3-4

(15-18 Division)

Name				City, State	# Fish		Lbs - Oz	
1	Sean  Alarid		OAKLEY, CA		2	6- 3	
2	Jeremy  Lins		MADISON, WI		2	5-14	
3	Robert  Arasmith	ROME, GA		2	3-11	
3	Mike  Roselle		LA PLATA, MD		2	3-11	
3	Blake  Stewart		DERBY, KS		2	3-11	
3	Jonathan  Puhalski II	WINSTED, CT		1	3-11	
7	Shea W. Lindale		MILFORD, DE		2	3- 6	
8	Eddie C. Marcellino Jr.	LOUISVILLE, KY		1	3- 5	
9	Curtis W. Hoag		FOREST, OH		1	2-12	
10	Nick  Kelly		BROWNSVILLE, TN		1	2-11	
11	Scott J. Gettings	WEST WARWICK, RI	2	2- 8	
12	Matthew  Blue		PORTVILLE, NY		1	2- 4	
13	Wayne R. Morris, Jr.	KANSAS CITY, MO		1	2- 3	
14	Anthony  Stence		WEST VALLEY, UT		1	2- 2	
15	Randy  Helms		STILLWATER, MN		1	1-13	
16	Shelby A. Bowling	CHARLOTTE HALL, 	1	1-12	
17	Drew  Forster		KALISPELL, MT		1	1-10	
17	Josh  Teply		MIDWEST CITY, OK	1	1-10	
19	Scott  Barnim		ENNISMORE, ON		1	1- 8	
20	Joseph  Moore		MILFORD, PA		1	1- 7	
20	Matthew  Henry		CONYERS, GA		1	1- 7	
22	Kevin L. Shroyer	PAXINOS, PA		1	1- 6	
23	Garett B. Rhodes	SANFORD, NC		0	0- 0	
23	Codie A. Nettles	SHADY SPRING, WV	0	0- 0	
23	Shane  Stiehl		WINNER, SD		0	0- 0	
23	Webb  Engemann		WICKENBURG, AZ		0	0- 0	
23	Jason  Davis		HARTSVILLE, SC		0	0- 0	
23	Jason  Conser		PITTSBURG, CA		0	0- 0	
23	Michael  Broggi,jr.	W. GREENWICH, RI	0	0- 0	
23	Shawn  Britton		MARSHALL, VA		0	0- 0	
23	Mark  Gibbs		AVON, IN		0	0- 0	
23	Kevin  Gray		MEDFORD, NJ		0	0- 0	
23	Neil 'Tripper'  Johnson	JACKSON, MI		0	0- 0	
23	Riley  Anthony		MERIDIAN, ID		0	0- 0	
23	William  Shue		ELIZABETH, CO		0	0- 0	
23	Daniel  Merchant	COLCHESTER, VT		0	0- 0	

BIG BASS 	 TOTALS
	Name			City, State		# Fish	Lbs-Ozs	
1	Sean  Alarid		OAKLEY, CA		1	3-15 
      

This evening I attended the BASS Night of Champions banquet that honored this past season’s top anglers. Special tribute of course went to Gerald Swindle the 2004 Angler of the Year (AOY) – who was awarded a $100,000 cheque and AOY ring from Citgo. Also of interest was a new media campaign BASS/ESPN will be hosting this coming season entitled “The Greatest Angler Debate”. The print/TV and video campaign will strive to determine who is the best bass angler of all time. BASS brought in such notable anglers as the first person ever to win the Bassmasters Classic – Bobby Murray who won back in 1971. I recall meeting and working with Bobby and his brother Billy back in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s when I used to volunteer with the “American Bass Fishing Institutes”. These educational bass fishing workshops where the pre-cursor for today’s modern Bass Fishing University run by BASS.

Other anglers who were in the running include legends like Roland Martin – who is just back from spending about two weeks in the North Bay Ontario area. Roland was there making some shows with Angelo and Reno Viola of the Fish n Canada Show and for the filming of the Last Cull – the Fishing/Reality TV series that myself and 49 other competitors were in recently. Roland was our “coach” and also played the role of judge during the filming of the last episode of the 13 week series. (It will air on the CHUM series of TV stations like the New VR in late September on Saturday nights at 10pm.)

Thursday, July 29:

This morning all the presidents and conservation directors were up at 5 am to have an early breakfast before we helped out at the annual Family Fishing day they have during Classic week. Unfortunately, shortly after we arrived at the beautiful urban fishery here in Charlotte it began to pour rain and it didn’t let up until it was too late. The 1,000 kids who registered however did get their free fishing rods, T shirts and some tackle … and perhaps even more thrilling for them a chance to meet the pro’s who qualified for this year’s Classic. Despite the weather, autograph lines were enormous … and so were the kids smiles when they got to meet their angling heroes.

We just got back from an afternoon of Conservation Director Meetings. Topics included key fisheries management issues from various guest speakers and a round table session with all the Federation Conservation directors and Noreen Clough – the National BASS Conservation Director and Chris Horton the Conservation Manager. Tonight I will check out the opening of the Outdoor Show that will feature many of the newest fishing tackle items.

Tomorrow will be the first day of competition when the anglers compete for the biggest title in professional bass fishing. The Classic champ will take home a cool $200,000 cheque – but with incentives, bonuses from sponsors and additional seminars and appearances – that figure could reach the $1 million mark.

Friday July 30,2004 Charlotte North Carolina:

Today was the first day of the Classic and Lake Wylie proved a stubborn foe for several of the competitors who weighed in just one or two small bass. Five came in with the dreaded goose egg. As always happens though, some anglers always 'get on’ em and today was no exception. Here are the top five anglers leading this tournament so far:

1. Takahiro Omori, Texas … 16-02 lbs
2. Mike Iaconelli, New Jersey …15-15 lbs
3. Dean Rojas, Texas …15-08 lbs
4. Denny Brauer , Missouri …15-02 lbs
5. Tom Biffle, Oklahoma …15-02 lbs

Last year’s Classic winner Michael Iaconelli weighed in the BIG Fish of the day a beautiful 7-04 pounder. With the technology now available to weigh-in crowds we were able to watch the big bass being caught on the jumbo screens at the Charlotte Coliseum. As is now customary with the wild young angler, he let out a terrific (horrific?) scream after catching the big bass and yelled “Classic number two” after catching it. Just prior to Iaconelli weighing in we watched a segment showing his strict exercise regiment enabling him to compete with confidence at the high level he is accustomed to.

One of the local favorites here – Jason Quinn of nearby South Carolina, had as many as 50 boats following him around during the day. For the most part the avid anglers in their bass boats remained far enough back so as to not interfere with Jason’s fishing. None the less, for Jason and many other young anglers here the flotilla of spectators takes some getting used to.

Well it’s getting late here in Charlotte – with a full day of Conservation Director meetings it’s been a long day and 3:45 am comes early tomorrow. As a press observer I will be paired with Californian Skeet Reese, currently in 22 nd spot with 8-12 pounds. Hopefully the press room is still open so I can file this article for y’all.

DAY TWO, July 31:

As a press observer it was slow out there for the first couple of hours with Skeet Reese on the waters of Lake Wylie. But, by the time the sun came out at around 11:30, Skeet Reese and his plastic creature type bait (called a Sweet Beaver) were hot. So too, was the weather – which was about 95 F and the water temp was 90 F. Skeet did manage to get some keeper (14 inch minimum here) bass on his topwater bait – called a Gun Fish which is sort of like a Zara Spook, but with a concave mouth like the Skitter Pop.

For the first time since I have covered these Bassmaster Classic’s I did my traditional on-air radio report for the Fan 590’s Outdoor Journal with Angelo and Reno Viola, while on the water via cell phone. It was kind of doubtful we could get a clear cell – but somehow we did and for those that heard the report in the Toronto area, I hope it came in loud and clear.

As I sat there in the boat that morning I thought of our Canadian Casting Kid champ – Shauny Voisin who would be competing today in the world championship Casting kids event back in the city of Charlotte. Hopefully our president Ken Hamilton would get some good pictures.

I was amazed not so much that Skeet threw this almost non-stop all morning and throughout the day, but where he actually threw it. I have seen many anglers over the years be able to pitch a jig or a worm to areas that were chalk-full of brush and timber so accurately that I would often just sit there in awe. But, Skeet, with this topwater that had two sets of nasty trebles, threw it to some of the meanest brush, timber and dock areas that you ever saw. The pinpoint accuracy was amazing and of course like all great highly skilled achievements – he made it look easy.

The Sweet Beaver rigged Texas style was flipped under docks and around boathouses for the most part and Skeet caught about 13 or 14 bass and culled once. He ended up weighing 9.07 pounds for a two day total of 18.03. The top 25 anglers after day two will move on to the final round tomorrow … So it was a happy Skeet who knew he would be fishing on Sunday the final round of the Classic – instead of working it inside the Outdoor Show. It was a real pleasure spending a day in the boat with this well-liked California pro today.

The big news of Day Two was when Mike Iaconelli was DQ’d for fishing in a no-fish zone. Skeet and I actually saw him fishing there when we were waiting in line at the launch to have the boat taken out. “Hey, isn’t Mike fishing in a no-fish zone over there at that marina?” Skeet asked a fellow competitor. The response by one and then two competitors confirmed that indeed Iaconelli was out of bounds. With a camera man onboard his boat there was no denying Mike was where he shouldn’t be – so his weight from today was disqualified. Mike had one very tough day – breaking his rod on a fish early in the morning and only catching one keeper bass all day. Luckily for him his weight of 15-15 of yesterday was enough to keep him in the top 25 for tomorrow.

The top five anglers leading after day two are:

1. Dean Rojas from Texas with 10/12 pounds for a two day total of 26/04
2. Takahiro Omori from Texas with 9/08 pounds for a two day total of 25/10
3. Jason Quinn of south Carolina with 9/08 pounds for a two day total of 25/01
4. Aaron Martins of California with 10/09 pounds for a two day total of 23/12
5. Marty Stone of North Carolina with 10/12 for a two day total of 23/02

So tomorrow is the final day of the 2004 Bassmasters Classic. We will do our best to give you a report before we leave here on Monday August 2 nd. Before I hit the hay though –news just in that Shauni won in her age category … Ya hoo!

Final Day 3 Results, Sunday August 1 st 2004

34th Classic sees non-American born angler win World Championships

Charlotte North Carolina : Canadian Hank Gibson was the first non-American to ever qualify for and fish the Bassmasters Classic. That was back in 1990 and since then I have covered these amazing events and have seen a couple of Japanese anglers, and one from South Africa fish this tournament. Up until today no one who was born outside of the United States has ever won the greatest crown in professional bass fishing. However, today in front of a capacity crowd at the Charlotte Coliseum, Takahiro Omori did it with a 13 pound 8 ounce bag of fish, for a three-day total of 39 pounds two ounces.

For the first time since covering these Bassmasters Classics, I elected to sit amongst the spectators instead of with the special seating reserved for the press core. I wanted to feel the excitement of the crowd and ended up getting more than I bargained for. These fans were fanatic …and they showed their fanaticism before even one of the tournament anglers weighed in a single fish.

“And now … we’d like to introduce you all to our master of ceremonies and host – Mr. Fish Fishburn. The crowd claps loudly - but no Fish! The announcer calls out his name again – he’s a no-show. But then the Jumbo-screens come on showing the former Fishing Show host once known by his birth name as “Claude”, standing on the side of the highway looking for his ride to the Coliseum. He sticks out his thumb and the longest stretch “Hummer” (Hum V here in the US ) limousine you ever saw, pulls up alongside, says hi, but doesn’t offer him a ride. So he continues hitch hiking until three tough looking bikers on equally tough looking, sooped up bikes stop to talk to Fish. The second the camera focuses on the first biker, the crowd here goes absolutely insane. The uproar continues as I sit there dumbfounded. “What is it – who are these guys?” I don’t have a clue so I ask the guy next to me … he just laughs – thinking I’m either kidding him or that I’m from another planet.

Fish hops on one of the bikes – sans helmet, like the three drivers. The screens go dead and simultaneously the far end of the Coliseum fills with smoke. The crowd senses what is next and the uproar is so deafening that even the sound of the revving motorbikes are drowned out as they prepare to make their grand entrance. They do, crowd screams, Wil sits there like a bump on a log, and off the bike comes Fish to interview the three bikers. Seems like Paul Teutul JR and SR have some TV show where they put together motorcycles – they go by the name of OCC, which stands for Orange County Choppers … for all you silly Canucks who don’t know about them. Found out we can even watch the show in Canada … go figure!

Finally the 25 anglers who made today’s cut begin to weigh in their fish. The 2 nd angler to weigh-in is Kevin Van Dam from Kalamazoo Michigan . He rocks the crowd with a 13 pound six ounce bag to take over the lead with a three-day total of 35/11. The lead holds as angler after angler weighs in. Up comes Skeet Reese – the guy I was paired with yesterday, I’m curious to see if he gets a bigger bag today because he figured out the pattern later in our day on the water. He does and brings in 13/6 – his biggest bag of the tournament, but it’s too little too late as he would end the tournament in 11 th spot with 31 pounds 9 ounces.

Under great fan fare, it comes down to the “Final Six” who were leading yesterday – with Kevin Van Dam on the hot seat in front of his six peers. One by one they would have their fish weighed in and if they topped Kevin’s weight – Kevin would have to go to the showers. First it was Stacey King – an awesome, oftentimes underrated angler that I was paired with in New Orleans a few years ago. This would not be his day though. Next was Marty Stone who also came up short. The Aaron Martens steps up to the plate with his fish. “12 pounds 10 ounces” yells Fish. With a three-day total of 36/6 – he unseats Van Dam – who shakes hands with the remaining anglers – Aaron and Takahiro Omori before walking off stage. It’s down to Aaron and ‘Tak’ … ironically both are fishing their third Classic. Tak’s fish are put on the scales, he needs to beat 36/6 and does! His 13 pound 8 ounce Day 3 weight is yelled out – he has 39 pounds two ounces and becomes Classic champ.

33 year old Takahiro Omori was born in Japan and caught his first bass at 9 years of age and fished his first tournament at 15. After high school he worked as a waiter and washed dishes until he earned $2,000. Although his dad thought he was crazy, he then moved to the United States in 1992 at the age of 22. He was here for one reason … “I just wanted to fish”, he said. There were tough times though and Tak actually lived in his van so that he could spend what little money he had on important things – like tournament entry fees! He had little money, no friends and couldn’t speak English but his intense desire to make a living as a bass pro in the US was too strong to weaken his desire to succeed. In 1996 he won his first big tournament and then again in 1998 another. There was a win in 2001 and by the 2000/20001 season he had jumped to the top 5 ranked anglers in the US . That same summer though his dad died. He went back to Japan three times to console and be with his family. When he returned though he struggled tremendously and went 5 months without a paycheck before he finally found things were beginning to click again.

It was when Tak was able to take the victory round inside the Charlotte Coliseum hoisting the Classic trophy that he grinned and simply told reporters “ I’ve been waiting 18 years”. Professional bass fishing will never be the same.

From Charlotte North Carolina … this is Wil Wegman signing off.