BASS Reporter's Notebook: October 2, 2007
Elite Series and Classic hopeful Corey Waldrop determined to make it
Nineteen-year-old BASS pro Corey Waldrop of Fort Worth, Texas, has two goals: compete at the Bassmaster Elite Series level and secure an entry in the Bassmaster Classic.
"I'm not discouraged," he said. "I'm not giving up."
He still has a shot at the Classic. Waldrop has qualified for the Bassmaster Weekend Series Championship Operated by American Bass Anglers, Nov. 14-17 on Georgia's Clarks Hill Lake. The winner of the event is awarded a Classic berth.
"Hopefully, I'll make it," said Waldrop, who qualified for the championship through the Weekend Series' Southeastern Region Division 11. "But I feel like if I don't, then it's not meant to be this year, and I've gained a lot of experience."
Waldrop was a pre-med student at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth when he decided last January to put college on hold and focus on being a pro.
"Leaving school was a joint decision made with my parents," said Waldrop, who has competed in BASS events since 2005, when he turned 16, the minimum entry age. "My dad felt that for me to be successful, this needed to be out of my pocket so I'd respect my achievements more."
Waldrop has certainly learned accountability. He had to sell his truck to pay his entry fees and his boat motor's lower unit blew twice. The hull had to be replaced after he ran over what he later guessed was a tree. In March, he competed in an event in Florida, then drove nonstop 20 hours to Texas to get to his next tournament on time.
Despite overcoming all obstacles, it turned out the 2007 Opens weren't his avenue to the Classic or Elite Series. Last week, knowing that his position in the Southern Open points race wouldn't do it, he was hoping for the best at the Central Open season finale in Texas.
Although he held on to second place for two days, he did not bring a fish to the scales on the third day. He finished 22nd.
"That definitely was frustrating," Waldrop said. "I just had one of those days when you can't do anything right. I wasn't fishing to my ability."
Federation field set
With the conclusion Sept. 28 of the final 2007 BASS Federation Nation Divisional, the full field is set for the November championship that will send six BASS club members to the 2008 Bassmaster Classic next February on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell.
The BASS Federation Nation Championship will be Nov. 8-10 on Florida's Lake Tohopekaliga. ESPN2 will air coverage Feb. 16 at 9 a.m. ET.
The field for the Toho tournament includes 55 contenders. The divisional that wrapped up Friday, the Mid-Atlantic, qualified the final six. Those anglers are Darin Doll (Pennsylvania), Shelton Walters (Delaware), Daniel Rodriguez (Maryland), Eric Woodward (New Jersey), Jeff Freeman (Virginia) and David McKinney (West Virginia).
Online Hooked Up
ESPNOutdoors.com visitors now can quickly click through to the vast database of fishing and boating destinations at www.TakeMeFishing.org.
ESPN Outdoors and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, creator of the TakeMeFishing site, collaborated to establish the link so that more people would consider taking up fishing.
"This project is very important because ESPN is enabling us to reach their audience and opening channels to promote participation in the sport," RBFF president and CEO Frank Peterson said. "This link helps us reach more people with the how-to and where-to information needed to plan a day on the water."
The redesigned www.TakeMeFishing.org was launched in April. The site has an expanded "Where to Boat and Fish" locator for all 50 states. Included are launch ramps, marinas, fishing piers, charter operators, boat sales and rentals and bait and tackle retailers.
Jewel signs Short
Kevin Short, a 2008 Bassmaster Classic contender from Mayflower, Ark., has joined the Jewel Bait Company National Team.
As a member of the team, the Bassmaster Elite Series pro will promote the company's jigs, spinnerbaits, jigheads, line and accessories, as well as represent Jewel at promotional events.
Soldier salute
Five soldiers recovering from severe wounds were saluted on stage Sept. 29 at the Bassmaster Central Open in Del Rio, Texas.
The soldiers, all of whom represented Fort Bragg, N.C., Army Special Forces or Airborne Corps units, were on a Lake Amistad weekend fishing trip. Their appearance was arranged by businesses, foundations and many individuals who wanted to do something special for at least a few of America's soldiers recently released from hospitals after being wounded in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
"To be acknowledged by the part of society that we love most — outdoorsmen — validates our efforts to serve this country," said Sgt. Greg Stubbe, one of the soldiers. "Being on the water with American citizens who feel this way about us is making us feel like nothing's wrong," he added. "When you get wounded severely, you question what you're going to be able to do with your life with your physical limitations. (The five of us) all came through major battles. I've been in the hospital for a year and just got out last week, so I'm really excited to be out here at the start of my new life."
Classic relief
"Making it through this is a big sigh of relief. Now I can go through the whole winter without waking up at 2 o'clock in the morning and staring at the ceiling wondering what I did wrong and thinking about that one fish I missed."
— Bassmaster Elite Series pro Dave Wolak of Wake Forest, N.C., on qualifying 2008 Bassmaster Classic through the Central Open circuit
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