Will never attempt to put myself into even so much as a Kindergarten level within the same school as a Don Barone, or a Robert Montgomery...but would like to take some time to reflect on my recent experiences at the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship out of Lakeview Marina on Lake Conroe:

Having the opportunity to work backstage at this event gave me witness to many of the facets associated with a national event. This included competitor reactions as they walked down the steps, the duties of the B.A.S.S. staff as the event rolled along, and the massive volunteer effort that it takes to make the event successful.

By the time that I arrived around noon on Day 1 to work fish care, many of our volunteers had already put in a full day of work...with some clocking more than that. Most of the volunteers were on a much needed break when I pulled up the driveway, with only B.A.S.S. staffers there to greet me. Hank Weldon immediately found me the help that I needed to get our state's live release trailer ready to support the weigh in, and after Ned Westmoreland showed up, we got to work. The initial goal of the release trailer was to be used as a back up, if/when the B.A.S.S. release boat reached full capacity, and needed to launch to release the fish. Fortunately, and unfortunately for the integrity of Lake Conroe, we ended up not needing the state's trailer on the first two days. This did give me the chance to assist with fizzing on the release boat, which in turn gave me more opportunities to get to know some of the regular travelling staff in the process...all good people. I was also able to do some bag running between the stage and release boat along with Ned and Terry Reich. Low weights by Conroe standards, until the fella from KY brought in the only 20 pound sack of the day.

After Day 1 was over, I was able to talk a bit with Dave Mercer. Being a hockey fan myself, Dave and I had visited in the past about his good friend Brian Bickell, and the show that they did together in 2013 with the Stanley Cup in the boat. Brian was recently diagnosed with MS, and I asked Dave to send along my best regards for his recovery. In response, Dave pulled out his phone and asked me to do a video send instead. After we finished, Dave gave me a warm handshake, and told me that he was sending it to Brian that evening. Through Dave, Brian thanked me for my well wishes the next day.

The Day 2 weigh in was the day of reckoning for most of the field. The non-boater champion was to be declared, and the boater field was looking at a cull down to the Top 10. The first to weigh in was a non-boater from Louisiana who brought in 22 pounds, and he was immediately placed into the Hot Seat. His boater was the champion from Japan, who everyone liked, and who unfortunately just pulled his second zero for the event. Dave Mercer visited with him at length (through the Japanese interpreter), and everyone gave him a loud ovation as he walked backstage. Once behind the scenes, and down the steps, my heart felt for this man, as he broke down in tears. My immediate thought was how he spent, possibly his life savings, to get to this event...only to end up with such an outcome for himself. My last vision of him was his walking to the boat yard, with his head down, and his interpreter's arm around his shoulder in condolence. As the weigh in progressed, I witnessed many more scenes...with some anglers drudgingly taking their last walk down the steps, and yet, other anglers practically jumping down in excitement if they thought that they had enough to make it to the final day. Some walked away quietly, while others waited backstage for their boat partners to shake hands in gratitude for time spent on the water. As the weigh in concluded, the Louisiana non-boater was not only still in the hot seat...he was also leading the entire finalist field by more than 7 pounds. As the non-boater champion, he was placed in the boater field, and was the frontrunner. I was totally taken by this outcome as I never gave any non-boater a chance under this new format to be sitting so strongly into the final day.

With the gusting winds associated with the Day 2 front, Day 3 became a wash, and was postponed until the next day. This presented problems, as B.A.S.S. had prior commitments that led to some changes. Their main stage had to be disassembled and shipped back to Alabama...and their live release boat had to go as well. This left our State's release trailer as the main station for fish care on the final day. I arrived 3 hours early on the final day, to make sure that everything was in order, and ready to go. This left me with some time to get to know another B.A.S.S. affiliated member, who was a cameraman with JM Associates out of Little Rock. JM is the organization who sent us the DVD that we played at our celebration for Josh Bensema and Matt McArdell after their Collegiate National Title run in Wisconsin last year. I thanked him for sharing the DVD with us, and talked with him at length about filming the elite events...learning a little about the process along the way.

Fortunately, our state trailer ran like a new car during the final weigh in. The non-boater champion brought in another heavy sack that went 24 pounds, earning him the overall victory for the tournament, and he took the win with as much grace as I've seen. He was very calm and reserved during all of the post-T interviewing and picture taking, with folks pulling him in different directions.

Was a great experience overall, and one that I am glad that I was a part of. I saw many of our own people work very hard to help make sure that this event reflected our Region and State organization in a positive light. David Glezman was there before, during, and after the event to make sure that B.A.S.S. had everything that they needed. As David being the incoming State President, I believe that we are in good hands going into 2017. Daniel Davis did an awesome job coordinating our volunteer "pit crew" to get all of the competitors off/on the trailers, and through the weigh in line at the stage. Those guys were there before sunrise, and were still there after sundown. From my standpoint, I would like to thank Ned Westmoreland for helping me to set up and tear down our fish care trailer. Ned was one of Daniel's crew members...but made himself available to help elsewhere when needed. Thanks also to Terry Reich for showing up to help with some bag running, and for the Sunday observers for being there when needed on short notice.

I am very blessed to be a part of such an amazing bass club. Thank you SCBC.