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(Editor's note: Membership in the BASS Federation Nation can improve your fishing skills through sharing and learning from fellow anglers. To find a club near your area, contact a president in your state. Or for more information call us at 877-BASS USA, option #4.)

Ask Terry McWilliams about his Bassmaster Classic experience and he'll provide you with a succinct explanation, if one word qualifies as an explanation.

"Awesome," said the former state trooper from Greenfield, Ind., who qualified for the Classic through the BASS Federation Nation.

McWilliams patiently used a jighead and tube to finish fourth in the Classic with a three-day weight of 45 pounds, 3 ounces. He joins a handful of other Federation Nation qualifiers to finish in the top five, including 1994 Classic champ Bryan Kerchal of Connecticut and runners-up Danny Correia (1986) of Massachusetts and Dalton Bobo of Alabama (1997).

"It was awesome, that's all I could say," McWilliams said. "The experience of being with all the pros is hard to express. Until you do it, you only can think about how it would be. It's indescribable.

When you're sitting there in your boat between (Gerald) Swindle and (Rick) Clunn and your name's on the windshield, it's hard to believe. I looked on my windshield and saw my name, and that was okay. But then I look over and there's Swindle on one side and Clunn on the other and that's when it hit. I hate saying that being a 57-year old man, but all those guys are the best in the world."

When it was over, they knew McWilliams was pretty darn good, too. During the press conference for the top 5 anglers after the Classic ended, McWilliams described his winning pattern and technique of sticking with the tube at a warm-water discharge area. That prompted runner-up Skeet Reese and third-place finisher Kevin VanDam to raise their eyebrows and congratulate him for a solid game plan. Between three practice days, the Bassmaster Junior World Championship and then the hubbub of Classic week, McWilliams said "aside from catching my fish" the best part was working with the junior anglers.

"I had a great time doing that," he said. "I have five grandkids of my own. Teaching those kids, trying to show them things was an awesome time. They were fishermen, too, or they wouldn't have been there to start with. They had to qualify out of their state just like I did. They had the same desire I did at one time, and it was fun just trying to let them know they could be where I was at when they get older."

McWilliams said during the 3-day practice period, he might recognize a boat or two but really didn't grasp who might be fishing on Lay Lake. But when he got in the boatyard the day before the Junior World Championship and then walked into the Classic angler registration meeting the next week, that's when it all hit.

And that solidified his 18-year quest to make the Classic through the Federation Nation ranks, which he said is a good learning ground for anyone with a dream. His finish, along with Kerchal's win and other Federation Nation anglers who have done well, are examples of what could happen with desire and dedication.

"Hopefully it helps the Federation Nation grow because the guys should be able to look and see that for (the cost of) memberships, entry fees and the whole works it can give you a shot at the Bassmaster Classic," he said. "It's doable. We can compete."

"Hopefully, some of the people at the Federation Nation level can see that and join a club or get a club started. You don't have to have 1,000 guys to start a club. Everybody knows eight or 10 guys who love to fish."

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