The Bass Fishing Bachelor (and his best girl)

So I admit it. I watch The Bachelor. Sometimes. I never watched any reality shows until Byron made his debut in the genre back in...when was that? Three years ago? Wow, hard to believe.

But since then the lovely woman that Byron chose (pictured above with her man and bass angler Chuck Economou) has become one of my best chicas. Mary Delgado is a gem.

I remember the first time I ever saw Mary (in person). We were at the competitor meeting for the first BASS event of the 2005 season and she was there with Byron. I was looking forward to meeting her, but I have to admit that I was a little incredulous that this glamourpuss would really want to hang in the bass fishing world. Since then I've gotten to know MaryDiva (as I call her) and she is the real deal. She only LOOKS like a glamourpuss. In reality (and I mean the real reality, not the "reality" you see on primetime) she can hang with the best of the bass fishing crowd and is as genuine as the day is long.

So tonight I'm watching the After the Final Rose episode of this season's Bachelor and was so pleasantly surprised to see Byron and Mary make a guest appearance. And my girl was representing. I was so proud to hear her say "I've fallen in love with the sport of fishing." In fact, both of them talked about fishing for most of thier time on air.

After they left the stage and the high drama of the show continued, I was amused when I saw another familiar face in a crowd reaction shot.

First, you gotta know that the ratio of men to women in that audience was about 1 to 10,000. And most of the women there looked gorgeous.

So who is in the audience but Ish Monroe! I have to wonder if he was there auditioning for the next cycle of the show, or to check out all the pretty girls. Nah, not Ishama...I'm sure he was just there to support Byron and Mary. (right)

Bass, money, Clunn, et al

Speaking of Bass Times, this month they ran an article called “Green concentrated at the top.” It’s all about how the top anglers in the Elite Series brought home some serious cake this year. For instance, Skeet headed west with $429,250 in his change jar and Kevin VanDam deposited $404,050 in Sherry’s account. Steady Freddie Roumbanis gathered a nest egg of $381,650 and get this – Peter T has made $735,000 in the past two years.

Now remember these numbers are Bassmaster Elite Series winnings only…no sponsor ching factored in.

There were a few eyebrow raising facts in the article as well. Like “Longest In-The-Money Streaks.” Of course, KVD leads that gang with 10 consecutive money finishes, but lurking back in the 6th position is Cliff Pace with a streak of 6. You have to watch out for those guys that tend to stay below the radar. Pace had a good year and that can position an angler for a great season next year.

But the thing about all those facts, figures and dollar signs that stayed with me for the rest of the day after I read the story was this. On the BASS All Time Money List Rick Clunn is still holding his third place spot behind KVD and Denny.

BASS ALL TIME MONEY LIST
1. Kevin VanDam   $2,604,000
2. Denny Brauer    $2,218,000
3. Rick Clunn        $1,856,000

Now think about that. Both KVD and Denny have won major events in the era of the sport of Bass fishing where purses are popping. Clunn on the other hand made most of his mark over a period of the sport when a win might get you a $28K and the Classic (which he won 4 times) paid $40,000.

Note that the Boyd Duckett took home over $500,000 in the 2007 Bassmaster Classic and his career earnings are just $30,000 short of a cool million. After one year of fishing at the Elite level!

So I think Rick’s accomplishments stand in a league of their own. I mean a "Whew! How'd He DO That?" league. Of course, most fans of the sport would agree with me. What would he have earned if the purses he won back in the day had been of the gigantic proportions they are today?

BASS Times musings

Got my BASS Times for the month. I love the day when BASS Times comes in. I’m excited to pour over it and see the stories that the gang down in Celebration have been working on.

I have a method for going through the pub. I scan through first for the big photographs. BASS Times usually comes to me at work, so I rarely ever have the time to read it right away. Still I love to flip through and see the pictures, before I put it away to read later.

When I get the time (eating a sandwich at my desk, etc) to read it I am almost always delighted to read of some regular, All-American angler out there going about his life, doing his best to provide three squares for his kids but at the same time doing something good for this sport. I love the stories about the Federation Nation and what they do for their communities and fisheries. And I also like to look through the Federation and Weekend Series results in the back of the mag….I’m just interested in how many fish people are catching in different parts of the country.

I tell you all of this because I consume most of my news media on the internet. I love the speed at which I can find an answer to a question about fishing online. I enjoy the vibrant online communities where anglers from all over the country discuss what’s going on in their neck of the woods.

Yet, I still love fishing magazines. There’s something about holding the paper in your hand and being able to bring an incredible photograph closer to your face to examine some detail. It’s just different when you’re not looking at an image filtered through electronics.

I even like to look at the ads. Let’s face it – when you see an ad on the internet your mind might register what you are seeing and then, if you’re really interested, you might click through to find more information. Which is a great and wonderful thing about the internet. But when you see an ad in a print publication that really grabs your attention you tend to study it. Again, maybe you bring the magazine closer to get a better look.

I really did that with an ad in BASS Times for the Plano Flipsider tacklet box ad that KVD in which KVD is featured. Then the magazine sat on my desk, open to that page, and I glanced over at it once in while. It made me wish I was spending that gorgeous fall day out on the water instead of sitting behingf a desk.

So I tell you all this because even though I am in internet fiend, I still think magazines and newspapers are important.

Do you? I would be really interested to hear your (honest and candid) thoughts.

Angler of the Year celebration

LATER THAT SAME NIGHT....

Kim Reese threw a party for her husband to celebrate his angler of the year win. It was a great gathering of Skeet's friends honoring him. Skeet spoke to the crowd about how much this season meant to him, and there was a lot of love in the room.

The highlight of the evening was when Bassmaster Elite Series pro Casey Ashley gave a concert for Skeet and the crowd. Casey definitely has skills. Look for him to go far...in fishing and in music.
Casey sang a Kid Rock song called "Only God Knows Why." If you've never heard this song, you should check it out. The lyrics say a lot. Especially about people who spend the majority of their time on the road. There were many wet eyes in the crowd. This blogger among them.

Skeet Reese Angler of the Year

Skeet finally did it. He clinched the Angler of the Year title today at Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Florida. I spoke to Skeet not long ago and he was ready to bring the trophy home. Today he did it.

I promised pictures of the ladies in Skeet's life. I think you can see how proud Kim is of her husband.


And the photo here says everything about how Skeet feels about his daughters.

Congratulations, Skeeter. You did it.

Steve Kennedy's Heavyweight titles

Steve Kennedy took home two BASS Heavyweight belts last night at the year end banquet for the Bassmaster Elite Series. Heavyweight belts are given to all anglers who caught over 100 lbs of fish in a tournament during the season. Steve also got a belt in the '06 season, so he holds the most titles on tour.

His wife, Julia couldn't be prouder.

Angler of the Year production

We interviewed Jared Lintner for the Angler of the Year show (which will air after this weekend's event on Toho. We also interviewed Skeet Reese and Kevin VanDam....it was interesting to say the least.

Here are three guys at very different places in their careers. KVD talked about how winning a title in no way diminishes his desire to win again. He won the AOY title in his first year on tour - 1992. Then again in 1996 and 1999. But I can tell you from firsthand experience, the guy wants to win it again. He's got quite a task in front of him to take home the trophy this year. Skeet would have to stub a major toe. I have spoken before about what a positive attitude KVD has and that attitude was in evidence today. He absolutely beleives he can win AOY. It inspires me to listen his tenacity. And it makes me want to work harder at what I do.

Skeet, on the hand, is Manwich hungry to win this title. I talked to him a week or so ago while he was still at home in Cali, and I knew his resolce was firm. After interviewing him today, I can tell you nothing has changed. He put it all on the line when he said, "This isn't about sponsors, or fans, or even my family. This is about me achieving a dream I have had since I first became aware of professional fishing. I have always wanted to win Angler of the Year."

Then there's Jared Lintner, who sits in third going into this event. It's his second year on the Elite Series and he's a California boy who has never set foot on a Florida lake. In fact, he's never seen most of the lakes on the Elite Series. Yet here he sits. The former milkman. Humble, a little uncomfortable with where he's at, a lot nervous about doing a television interview....but confident that his versatity as an angler has been proven.

It's going to be a great event.

Bass fishing vacation

Skeet, Kim, and Leah Reese at the '06 Classic (Courtney's in there too!)

I'm a big fan of the Reese family. The picture above was taken at the '06 Classic when Skeet and Kim were expecting baby Courtney. She's toddling around right now in northern California and probably has no idea that her Daddy is in contention to win Angler of the Year.

With almost a two week break between the Bassmaster Legends event and next week's final Bassmaster Elite Series event at lake Toho, I wondered what Skeet had been doing to occupy his time. So I gave him a jingle.

"I've been in the gym and in the office taking care of a little business," he said. "But mostly I've been spending time with my girls."

Skeet's quite the ladies man.....his three ladies of course.

He flies out tomorrow for Florida and he's chomping at the bit to get down there and get started.

If the statisticians are correct, Skeet has to finish 35th or higher to feel safe about winning Angler of the Year. I have no idea how these guys figure this out with the point system the way it is, but they are usually right. He told me that he was anticipating a roller coaster of emotions.

"If I win I'll probably cry like a baby and scream like a mad man."

But he's spent his off time relaxing and I think he's mentally ready. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard him so resolved.

Bassmaster Legends side trip

I had the privilege of accompanying some Elite Series anglers to the Arkansas Children's Hospital today. What a great experience to see these guys spend a few hours making some kids smile. The Angel Anglers rock.


Alton Jones pulled little two year old Christopher around in his wagon.


Skeet had Miss Whitney charmed.


Chris Lane was the piano man.

I wrote a story about the visit for ESPNoutdoors.com. These guys are my heroes.

Bassmaster Dardanelle Course History

In 2004 Dardanelle was host to the first Bassmaster Elite 50 event. It was held in May, so the conditions were very different, but I kept my notes from the last two days when the anglers fished on the course in Illinois Bayou.

Here's how each section of the course broke down in terms of how many fish were caught, when they were caught and in which section they were caught.

HOLE 1
10:00 -11:20 - 4
11:20 - 12:40 -0
12:40 - 2:00 - 3
2:00 - 3:20 - 0
3:20 - 4:40 - 3
4:40 - 6:00 - 1
TOTAL - 11 FISH

HOLE 2
10:00 -11:20 - 4
11:20 - 12:40 -0
12:40 - 2:00 - 4
2:00 - 3:20 - 3
3:20 - 4:40 - 1
4:40 - 6:00 - 0
TOTAL - 12 FISH

HOLE 3
10:00 -11:20 - 3
11:20 - 12:40 -0
12:40 - 2:00 - 0
2:00 - 3:20 - 0
3:20 - 4:40 - 3
4:40 - 6:00 - 1
TOTAL - 7 FISH

HOLE 4
10:00 -11:20 - 3
11:20 - 12:40 - 1
12:40 - 2:00 - 1
2:00 - 3:20 - 1
3:20 - 4:40 - 3
4:40 - 6:00 - 4
TOTAL - 13 FISH

HOLE 5
10:00 -11:20 - 0
11:20 - 12:40 -0
12:40 - 2:00 - 2
2:00 - 3:20 - 0
3:20 - 4:40 - 0
4:40 - 6:00 - 1
TOTAL - 3 FISH

HOLE 6
10:00 -11:20 - 2
11:20 - 12:40 -6
12:40 - 2:00 - 3
2:00 - 3:20 - 1
3:20 - 4:40 - 1
4:40 - 6:00 - 1
TOTAL - 14 FISH

So looking at the map and with these stats in hand, what does that tell us about this lake? Why were Holes 6, 4 and 2 the strongest? (Scroll down or click for a zoomable map of the Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Dardanelle.)

I welcome your comments. I'd really like to know what can be determined by looking at the map alone. (PS - I thnk the railroad bridge in Hole 6 was a key?)

Bassmaster Elite Series at Dardanelle

The Bassmaster Elite Series will be at Lake Dardanelle next week. I went through some notes from the 2004 Elite 50 event at Dardanelle and found some interesting information that I want to put out there. But first, here's the lake.

Bottom Line Bass

I had a conversation with someone recently in which they bemoaned the fact that ESPN did not run the Bassmaster Elite Series results on the Bottom Line (you know the sports ticker that runs at the bottom of the screen). The thing is - that is not a fact.

I am not the type of sports fan that rushes to ESPN after being out all day to catch the ball scores or any other sports news on the Bottom Line, although I am surrounded by people who do just that. So when I mentioned this person's observation in idle conversation, those self-same, co-worker-sports-fanatics were quick to tell me it was mistaken. Then Sunday morning, I paid attention to the Bottom Line and sure enough there it was....."Skeet Reese leads the Capitol Clash on the Potomac River...." It even gave the Angler of the Year standings.

I don't know when it typically runs, but I'm told it's a regular when a tournament is going on.

By the way, apparently you can get the Bottom Line delivered straight to your PC. If you're an over-the-top sports fan of the stick and ball OR hook and bullet variety - this seems like the ticket.