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Juniors Promote Awareness
By John Neporadny Jr.
From BASS Times, April 2010
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL — A conservation project of the Minnesota
Junior Bassmasters program is helping promote awareness of new
smallmouth regulations on the Mississippi River. |
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My Fishing
Tournament
By Keenan Reed, age 12
One day during summer break I was packing all my fishing gear for
the 2008 Minnesota State Bass fishing tournament. I was almost
finished when I looked out the window and saw my step-dad pull up in
front of my house with his big boat attached to his truck waiting
for me. I quickly got all my stuff together and ran out the door.
When we were in the truck I had a feeling that I might win this
tournament. When we arrived we had to go to the pre-tournament
meeting, after that we would meet our boaters and drive over to
Serpent Lake for a big barbecue at the park along side the lake.
Once the barbeque was over we had to stay because we were going to
hook up all of our fishing rods for the tournament the next day. My
step-dad’s friend, Ray, was there and he said that I would do well
because it was my first time to fish in a big State tournament. Then
that feeling came up again about winning, it was stronger this time
than the other time, so it had to mean something. We headed back to
our hotel because it was already dark. Once we got to our rooms I
got all my stuff ready for the morning and went to bed right away
because we had to wake up super early.
The next morning, I was the last one to get up because nobody woke
me up which was odd because somebody usually wakes me up, but it
didn’t really matter because I was ready. Once we got all our gear
packed into the truck we zipped off to the lake. When we got there,
we backed the boat down the launch into the water. I found my boater
and everyone was ready to start. The first boat left then the
second, and so forth. Once it was our turn we sped off. I was in a
Crestliner which was a walleye boat and it really isn’t that good
for bass fishing but I enjoyed fishing in it anyway. By nine o’clock
in the morning I had all of my five bass in the live well. For the
rest of the day, I tried but I didn’t catch anymore bass.
There was one hour left in the tournament, we went to a point not
far from where we had fished earlier in the day. The entire point
was filled with reeds, so I was sure that it was a good spot. Right
when we got to the spot I cast my lure then waited. WHACK!!!! A fish
takes it, I reel it in. This bass was eighteen inches long, the
biggest bass in my live well! The smallest was only fifteen and half
inches and even that is pretty big for a bass.
The tournament was over and we came back for the weight in. I
watched the other kids weigh their fish for awhile. Finally it was
my turn; I went to get my fish. Everybody was looking at my five
fish, bouncing and flapping all over the place inside the closed
bucket while I carried them towards the measuring scale. I nervously
watched them weigh my fish; I didn’t think the fish would weigh a
lot. I was pretty sure somebody else in the fifty kids was going to
beat me in my age group.
“Good job, Keenan,” said Jeff Gilmer, my step-dad, really cheering
me up.
“Thanks!” I replied.
When my weigh-in was finished we then stepped aside for the other
kids to weigh their fish. It took awhile before they actually
figured out the winning weights because the people had to do a lot
of calculations. I ended up being the winner of my age group. My
total winning weight was twelve pounds and three ounces. I was so
excited and all these people started taking pictures and flashing
their cameras at me. I called my mom to tell her the exciting news.
The tournament directors gave me a brand new fishing pole and hat
signed by Derik Remitz, who is an elite bass professional angler who
was rookie the year. I also got a wooden plaque that was the shape
of Minnesota and it said Jr. Bassmaster State Champion of 2008. Now,
I get to compete in the Northern Regional ESPN-BASS tournament in
OshKosh, Wisconsin as a state of Minnesota Jr. Champion.
Once everybody started to leave, my fishing opponent and I went back
to the boat to unload our equipment. The boat owner was in a hurry
and had to leave to start his long drive home. Once we got
everything unloaded, my opponent left and the owner of the boat
drove off. We had to stay a little longer because my step-dad had to
talk to a couple of people before we could leave. When he was done,
we headed out for our two hour drive home. I slept the whole way
home until we stopped at a gas station. My step-dad asked if I
wanted something to drink, I asked for chocolate milk. I stayed
awake until he dropped me off at my house. I got out of the truck
and went inside the house. I told my family the good news; I was the
Minnesota Jr. Bassmaster State Champion of 2008.
I then went to bed and silently waited for tomorrow. |
Marlin Levison, Star Tribune |
Bassinator’s Alumni are Corey Vance and Eric Sanft who on the
Collegiate Team….
StarTribune.com -
A different school of fish
With no fish locator and a broken trolling motor, University Bass
Fishing Club president Jeff Batts, his brother Alex Batts and I
cruised across Bald Eagle Lake last Sunday...
More |
Bassinators Keenan
Reed and Jack Boyle finish in
Top 5 at TOC
Minnesota BASS Federation Crowns Two New
Junior State Champions Lindgren and Reed Dominate at the 2008 Junior
Tournament of Champions
June 27, 2008
Serpent Lake, Crosby, MN.
 Lucas
Lindgren of Gopher Jr. Bassmasters and Keenan Reed of the
Bassinators dominated this year’s class at the Minnesota Junior
Tournament of Champions. Lindgren brought in a mixed limit of
smallmouth and largemouth weighing 11.81 lbs to win the overall “Top
Hook Award” along with the senior division.
Keenan Reed worked a jig and a 4” black worm all day to win the
junior division with a very convincing 10.19 lbs. Reed also showed
he could keep up with the older class with a very impressive fifth
place in the overall completion.
Big Fish awards went to Lucas Lindgren of Gopher Jr. Bassmasters
with a 4.18 lbs smallmouth in the senior division and Matt Cook of
the Bassin Boys with a 3.51 lbs largemouth in the junior division.
The team completion, always provides fireworks and gives the winning
club bragging right until the next years Jr. TOC and this year was
no exception in a very close competition, the “Bassin Boys” with
Dave Saterbak, Ben Winge, Brent Relopez, and Austin Anderly finished
first with 34.83lbs, “Granite City”, with Jordan Keller, Neil
Moliter, Mark Shirley, and Aaron Teal, finished second with
30.78lbs, The “Red Lake BassBusters” took third place with April
Kingbird, Shaylynn Johnson, Joey McNeal, and Joseph Fairbanks
weighing in with 29.13 lbs
“We had a great tournament,” said the State Youth director Paul
Perovich “I could not be more proud of all of our competitors and
boat captains this year. Things were moving along as smooth as we
could ask for, then at 1:30, the skies opened and it rained 3.5” in
40 minutes. I have seen rain like that in Panama, but never, in
Minnesota. The kids hung in there and the boat captains did what
they do the best, hold everything together and make the right
decisions for the kids.
“ This year we had the largest junior tournament yet
with 54 competitors. With these kinds of numbers, boat captains were
at a premium and we all need to thank Todd Saterbak, Mark Gomez, and
Jeff Gilmer who worked many extra hours getting the captains we
needed. KFAN radio also pitched in and ran two segments on Billy
Hildebrand’s show asking for people to help out as boat captains. We
also had unbelievable support from sponsors from around the state. I
would like to personally thank Gopher Tackle, Northland Tackle,
Berkley, MG Lures, Sportsmen’s Warehouse of St. Cloud, Gander
Mountain of St. Cloud, Reed’s, Joe’s Sporting Goods in St. Paul,
Hardware Hank of Big Lake , and a special thanks to Cabela’s for all
of the donations to this year’s Junior TOC.
“The 2008 tournament was a great success for all involved. Commented
the State Tournament director Peter Perovich. “We knew Serpent would
provide some great tournament fishing. With bags averaging 3.62 fish
and the fish averaged just short of 2 lbs.”. “With the weather
moving the fish deeper overnight and the kids still finding them in
numbers and size, should reaffirm to everyone what kind of talent we
have coming up through the junior ranks and how effective and
important the junior program is to the future of the Minnesota
Federation. They all did a great job and I am very pleased and very
proud of all of our juniors that fished this year.”
The next challenge for the Minnesota juniors will be the Northern
Divisional in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on the 16th of August. Lucas
Lindgren will not compete due to a previous commitment, so Dave
Saterbak of the Bassin Boys, a former two time Junior State Champion
and who has been the senior division runner-up the last two years
will replace Lindgren and join Keenan Reed as Minnesota’s Junior
Champions to represent Minnesota along with the rest of the State
team. The next stop if our junior’s win at the Northern Divisional
is Junction City, Kansas, and Milford Lake, the first week in
November for the 2008 Junior World Championships
15-18 group 11-14 group
1. Lucas Lindgren 11.81 lbs Keenan Reed 10.19 lbs
2. David Saterbak 11.58 lbs Brent Relopez 8.99 lbs
3. Rick Brennhofer 10.88 lbs Jack Boyle 8.67 lbs
4. Eric Fabano 10.74 lbs Joey McNeil 8.56 lbs
5. Tyler Gromberg 10.00 lbs Neil Molitor 8.38 lbs
Bassinators is a youth fishing
club based in Minnesota. We focus on
teaching young anglers fishing techniques, knot tying, and
conservation
including fishing etiquette. Bassinators typically holds one
tournament
a month, with adults operating the boat, and one to three youth
anglers
fishing. These tournaments are typically bass tournaments, with a
live
weigh in at the conclusion of the daily tournament. The tournaments
are
open to all Anglers up to age 18. All anglers are members of the
BASS
Youth Federation through Bassinators, and receive a BASS Youth
magazine
and other assorted fishing gifts. After each tournament prizes are
awarded to all anglers.
Each year there is a Youth State
Tournament of Champions, and the
winners of each age group go on to fish in the Youth BassMaster
Classic
with the BASS Classic Pro's, held in conjunction with the BassMaster
Classic the following year. The age groups for the State Tournament
of
Champions are 11 to 14, and 15 to 18. The cost for membership and
tournament entries is $10.00 annually. We are always looking for new
youth members. If you are interested in joining Bassinators and
becoming
a better angler, please contact Jeff Gilmer at
JeffGilmer@Earthlink.net,
or 612 - 978 - 4493.
Bassinators
Highlighted on BassFederation.com
Spring clean up April 20, 2008 on the
shores of Coon Lake, Anoka county MN In an annual event, the
Bassinators filled a pickup truck full of junk from Coon Lake
Regional Park and Public access a local Minnesota County Park. Coon
Lake is the largest lake in Anoka County. Bassinators is a youth
fishing club located in the Twin Cities Metro area in Minnesota.
More ...
2010 Schedule
March:
BASS Meeting – Medina Ballroom, Medina, MN
Saturday March 6th ( 9:30 to 1:00)- BASS TOC meeting qualifier
Casting Kids Competition, Cabella’s Rogers, MN
Saturday March 6th and Sunday March 7th
April:
Lake Clean-up/ Picnic—Coon Lake Regional Park
Sunday April 10th (11-4 pm)
BASS Meeting – Medina Ballroom, Medina MN
Saturday April 17th (9:30 to 1:00) – BASS TOC meeting qualifier
NOTE: Jeff Gilmer will be presenting a seminar on “Sponsorships” how
to obtain and establish relationships with sponsors.
May:
Event I – Bass Lake
Saturday May 8 (7:30 to 1:00)
June:
Event II – Evening BASS Event - Big Marine Lake
June – Date TBD
Event III – BASS Youth Tournament of Champions
Meeting - Saturday 6/26 – 6:00 PM, Moonlight Bay Restaurant, Cross
Lake Tournament - 6/27 - Mission Lake, Cross Lake, MN
July:
Event IV – Ron Schara
July 8th
Event V – Evening Bass Event
July – Big Marine - Date TBD
Event VI – TBF Youth Tournament of Champions
Meeting -Thursday 7/29 – 6:00 PM, Stellas – Tentative, Forest Lake,
MN
Tournament 7/30 – Big Marine Lake, Chisago, MN
August:
Event VII – Evening Bass Event
August – Waconia - Date TBD
Event VIII - Urban Res Tournament
August 21st – Lake George
September:
Event IX– Year End Team Tournament
September - Adult and Youth – Lake and Date TBD
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