In 2005, three Desert Storm veterans, Hal Abshire, Bob Cunningham, and Greg Lahr, thought of a way of honoring military personnel who had served their country.
They invited soldiers to participate in a bass tournament in recognition of their military service. Military men and women were paired with volunteer boaters for a day of fun and fishing at a local lake.
The first Warriors on the Water (WOW) tournament took place in May 2006, and it immediately gained support and sponsorship from businesses and individuals. Today, the event attracts servicemen and volunteer anglers from across the country.
The 2010 WOW event is set for April 21-23 at Jordan Lake out of the New Hope Landing. Kevin VanDam, the No. 1 pro bass fisherman in the world, is the special guest for the event.
On Wednesday evening, April 21, at Sports USA near Fort Bragg, volunteer fishermen and military personnel will be paired for the tournament and listen to guest speakers from the fishing industry. On Thursday, April 22, sponsors, fishermen, and volunteers will tour Pope Air Force Base and Fort Bragg. On Friday, April 23, the competitors will take-off from the launch site at 7: 30 a.m. with the first of three flights weighing in at 2 p.m.
To volunteer or get more information, visit www.warriorsonthewater.com.
Van Dam wins Classic again
Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., won the 2010 Bassmaster Classic at Lay Lake, Ala., in mid-February, overtaking Jeff Kreit of Ardmore, Okla., and withstanding a last-day charge by Russ Lane of Prattsville, Ala.
It was the third Classic title for Van Dam, who was the 2009 Bass Angler of the Year.
VanDam won the “Battle of Beeswax Creek” — where most of the top contenders fished — by weighing in more than 19 pounds on the first and last days of the event in the backwaters of the creek using a lipless crankbait.
VanDam finished with a three-day total of 51-06 to take the $500,000 first-place prize. Kreit had 46-06 for second place and $45,000; Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, had 44-03 for third and $40,000; local favorite Lane had 43-12 for fourth place and $30,000; and Brent Chapman of Lake Quivera, Kan., had 37-14 for fifth place and $25,000.
Brent Long of Cornelius, the only competitor from North Carolina, placed 39th, weighing in five fish totaling 6-08 on Day 1 and one fish weighing 1-01 on Day 2 for a total of 7-09.
Pam-Martin Wells, the second woman to qualify for the Classic, became the first woman to make the cut for the final round by placing 21st after Day 2 with 16-12. Only the top 25 anglers advance to the final round. She finished in 22nd place with 25 pounds and won $12,300.
Weather woes
February is usually the “kick-off month” for many tournament trails across North Carolina, but February 2010 was a month of postponements and cancellations because of snow, ice, freezing rain, high winds, and flooded boat ramps.
In February, the ramps at Jordan Lake were closed because of high water; ironically, Jordan is a flood-control lake. Several ramps at Kerr Lake were closed for the same reason, and high water covered roads near the impoundment.
Phil McCarson, director of the Piedmont Bass Classic tournament trail, had to reschedule his Feb. 6 tournament at Shearon Harris.
The Feb. 13 FLW Bass Fishing League N.C. Division event at Lake Norman was postponed because of the weather. The make-up date is March 6. The Tarheel Striper Club canceled its Feb. 13 tournament at Norman, and the Shamrock Bass Club Winter Trail canceled its Feb. 13 tournament at Tuckertown Lake after only two boats showed up.
BASS TOURNAMENTS
Southern Championship Winter Fishing Trail
Tuckertown Lake, Jan. 24
1. Mike Kinard (Mt. Pleasant)-Travis Williams (Salisbury), 3.93, plus big fish, 2.32 pounds, $340; 2. Brandon Younginer (Greenville, S.C.)-John Merritt (Raleigh), 1.74, $100.
Lake Tillery, Feb. 7
1. Brandon Younginer (Greenville, S.C.)-John Merritt (Raleigh), 4.12, plus big fish, 4.12 pounds, $360.
Norman Winter Team Bass Championship Trail
Saturday Trail
Lake Norman, Feb. 6
1. Chad Midkiff (Catawba)-Todd Phillips (Pinehurst), 17.20, plus big fish, 6.65 pounds, $945; 2. Scott Hamrick (Denver)-Roger Hoover (Mooresville), 16.40, $330; 3. Rodney Lambert-Kevin Toler (Statesville), 15.90, $150; 4. Hank Cherry (Maiden)-Craig Chambers (Charlotte), 12.60, $125.
Sunday Trail
Lake Norman, Jan. 24
1. Darren Gay-Jeff Livengood, 12.15 plus big fish, 3.75 pounds, $925; 2. Brandon Williams (Fort Mill, S.C.)-Reid McGinn, 11.60, $320; 3. Shane Lineberger (Lincolnton)-Hank Cherry (Maiden), 10.40, $140; 4. Shannon Matheson-Thomas Anderson, 9.85, $115.
Sunday Trail
Lake Norman, Feb. 7
1. Anthony Lutz-Brian Morgan, 13.45, $655; 2. Jarrett-Terry Freeze, 13.40, $350; 3. Rodney Lambert-Kevin Toler (Statesville), 12.90, $170; 4. Wayne Hauser (Lincolnton)-Darren Gay, 11.80, $145. Big fish: Jason Wilson-Bucky Helms, 5.90 pounds, $330.
Championship
Lake Norman, Feb. 20- 21
1. Scott Hamrick (Denver)-Roger Hoover (Mooresville), 16.55, $2,000; 2. Chad Midkiff (Catawba)-Todd Phillips (Pinehurst), 15.40, $1,000 3. Mark Brown (Charlotte)-Wade Smith (Huntersville), 14.15, $600; 4. Shane Lineberry (Lincolnton)-Hank Cherry (Maiden), 13.55, $400; 5. Scott-Dwight Beattie (Lincolnton), 12.50, $300; 6. Steve Addington-Eddie Kirby (Dallas), 12.20, $200; 7. Matt Haywood (Lincolnton)- Matt Wingate (Sherrills Ford), 12.10, $150; 8. Craig Chambers (Charlotte)-Keith Ogden (Concord), 11.95, $125; 9. Chuck Poovey-Jeff Johnson (Denver), 11.95, $100. 10. Kevin Toler-Rodney Lambert (Statesville), 11.85, $100. Big fish: Chambers-Ogden, 4.50 pounds, $540. Second big fish: Lineberger-Cherry, 4.35 pounds, $180. Saturday points champions: Hamrick-Hoover. Sunday Trail points champions: Bart-Brandon Williams (S.C.).
CRAPPIE TOURNAMENTS
Piedmont Team Crappie Trail
Jordan Lake, Feb. 20
1. Aaron-Chester Edwards (Lillington), 8.97, and big fish, 1.56 pounds, $90.
SCHEDULES
Carolina Yakfish (kayak) Tournament Series
Entry fee: $25 per event + $5 big-fish potContact: www.carolinayakfish.com
March 27 at Falls Lake out of Beaverdam; May 8 at Cape Fear River out of Hwy. 42; June 26 at Lake Mackintosh; Sept. 11 at High Rock Lake out of Tamarac Marina; Oct. 30 at Jordan Lake out of Ebenezer Landing.
2010 Norman
Spring Team Bass Trail
Contact: www.fishwithdj.com All events at Lake Norman
Saturday Trail: March 20, 27, April 10, May 1, 15, 29, June 5, 19.
Sunday Trail: March 7, 28, April 11, 25, May 9, 23, June 13, 20.
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