Weldon looks back at a great season
By Tim Tucker
The longtime BASS tournament director says the innovative, groundbreaking, 11-event Bassmaster Elite Series, coupled with the three Bassmaster Majors went way beyond his imagination.
"This is my 16th season, and you go into it thinking it's just another year. But it was not just another year," he said. "I think it was a milestone in the sport.
"We did so many good things, and there were things we certainly could do better. But all in all, I think it's been a phenomenal year. And the respect we got from the anglers, especially wanting to come back (in 2007), speaks for itself."
Weldon discussed some of the highlights of the season:
"Big bass: "Obviously the big fish catches. Lake Amistad in Texas kicked off the season with a great event. The Bassmaster Legends presented by Goodyear in Little Rock was super. In Oklahoma at The Sooner Run, we had fantastic crowds. There was a fantastic turnout in Syracuse."
"Highly competitive: "Close races. Once again, Angler of the Year came down to the last tournament and the next-to-last day. And hats off to (Mike) Iaconelli. Kudos to him for him to do what he's done- a phenomenal job. He's a fierce competitor and emotional guy."
"A true Bassmaster Angler of the Year: "It was a great success. We found out truly who the best angler of the year is, and Iaconelli is that guy. They had to adapt to the different seasons. That's what I love about it: It's not a springtime Series any more; we faced all kinds of conditions."
"Difficult decisions: "I had tough calls (especially some high-profile disqualifications), but that's my job. As tournament officials, our jobs are to try to keep the playing field as level as possible, so you make decisions in the best interests of the anglers that are obeying the rules and move on."
"Angler branding: "Some of them certainly learned how to brand themselves and market themselves. I think when they came to the first event and saw the marketing behind the wrapped boats and all, it was an eye-opener for a lot of people."
Weldon says not to expect many changes to the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2007.
"I think we'll only make it bigger and better," he said. "I don't see a whole lot of tweaking — nothing real significant."
True believer
You might not be familiar with the name Dr. Stanley Applegate, but BASS founder Ray Scott would tell you he was as integral to the birth of BASS as anyone. Applegate died last week at a Springdale, Ark., hospital after heart surgery. He was 86.
"He was a great guy," Scott said. "He trusted in me and believed in what I was trying to do with my first tournament at Beaver Lake without even knowing me.
"Dr. Applegate owned Hickory Creek Marina and gave me $2,500. He said, 'If you make it, you can pay me back. If you don't make it, all I ask is that you never, ever tell my wife my wife I gave you this $2,500.' He was one of those angels that helped me out along the way."
Applegate was a beloved member of his community. He practiced in Springdale for more than 50 years and helped establish Springdale Memorial Hospital.
Sporty women
Mercury Marine Women's Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats angler Robin Babb and her upcoming sponsor Vicious Bait Co. have donated a fishing trip to an ongoing Women's Sports Foundation auction. The item - a day of fishing on the private Ponderosa Pond near Pell City, Ala., and accommodations at a luxury, five-room cabin — will remain up for bid until Oct. 16 and can be found at www.wsfauction.com.
The Women's Sports Foundation was established by Billie Jean King in 1974 and seeks to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity.
Babb recently became involved with the foundation and on Oct. 16, will travel to New York City to attend the 27th Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Gala and Auction at the Waldorf-Astoria. "Billie Jean King is on the forefront of promoting women's sports and even though women have fished for years, we have the promotional engine of the WBT now," said Babb, who lives in Texas and qualified to compete in the Women's Bassmaster Tour championship in February on Lake Mitchell in Alabama. "With BASS and ESPN's backing, we can let women know there's a circuit for them to compete in."
Where in the world
Each year, members of the National Hockey League team that wins the Stanley Cup get to spend 24 hours with it, taking the prize wherever they choose. This summer — after the Carolina Hurricanes won the championship — one team member took the Cup bass fishing with two BASS members. On Aug. 28, Chris Huffine, the Hurricane's video coordinator, went to Falls Lake in North Carolina with BASS fans Steve Jones and local guide Kennon Brown for a few hours on the water. Once they caught a bass, they placed it with a few cups of water into the Stanley Cup. "Mission accomplished," Huffine, who fished an ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series tournament in July, said at the time.
Jones, who works in the auto parts department for a car dealership in Sanford, N.C., said it was a memorable experience. Always careful to care for the cup, the trio kept a life preserver on it while it was on the boat. "Just to have the Cup on my boat was pretty neat," said Jones.
The complete travels of the Cup and an online journal can be found at the Hockey Hall of Fame's Web site, www.hhof.com.
Each member of the Carolina Hurricanes assumes possession of the Stanley Cup for 24 hours, and you'll get an insider's view through exclusive stories and photographs as the Stanley Cup visits locations around the globe.
Wrap rap
It's not often that you want the word "slow" associated with your bass boat, but Randy Yarnall's Bassmaster Elite Series Triton is wrapped with the logo of Cavitron Lures and features the slogan "The Slowest Buzzbait."
The 50-year-old Pennsylvania pro competed in the Bassmaster Elite Series and the CITGO Bassmaster Northern Tour in 2006.
Weirdest catch
It is amazing the number of Bassmaster pros who have hooked a rod-and-reel outfit while angling for bass.
Add Bill Lowen to the list.
The Cincinnati, Ohio, pro, who this season qualified for the 2007 CITGO Bassmaster Classic as a Bassmaster Elite Series rookie, was fishing a jigging spoon in an Indiana lake when he reeled in a long-forgotten baitcasting outfit.
Did you know?
These guys are good. Of the 40 pros who have qualified so far for the 2007 Bassmaster Classic, none have missed it much in recent years. Tom Hamlin, who qualified through the Bassmaster Southern Tour, has been away the longest; his last Classic appearance was in 2003.
If I hadn't become a BASS pro …
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Randy Yarnall would be able to devote his full attention to running his business, Yarnall Plumbing & Water Conditioning.
They said it
"I think I can fish professionally now, but I'm really happy to have an arm now. I'm just happy to tie my shoes."
— Dustin Wilks, who missed most of the Bassmaster Elite Series season after undergoing extensive elbow surgery, discussed his recovery with The Raleigh News and Observer.
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