August
13, 2008, Alexandria, VA —
For
40 novice anglers from Boys & Girls Clubs around the
country, Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament professional
anglers was an experience of a lifetime. The young anglers
participated in the Future Fisherman Foundation’s Youth
Fishing competition held Saturday, August 2, in Buffalo,
N.Y, during the Elite Series Empire Chase.
The
Future Fisherman Foundation, the angling education arm
of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), is in its
second year of a partnership with the Department of Justice
Law Enforcement and Youth Partnerships for Crime Prevention
initiative to implement the Future Fisherman Foundation’s
Hooked on Fishing–Not on Drugs® program bringing fishing
and aquatic education to Boys & Girls Clubs across
the country. Each club selected its youth participants
based on solid leadership, good behavior and demonstrated
angling skills.The teams traveled to Buffalo to compete
alongside nineteen of the Bassmaster’s Elite Series professionals
known as the Angel Anglers. The Angel Anglers are committed
to making a positive impact on the lives of kids through
participation in fishing. The Angel Anglers program was
launched four years ago to introduce young people to bass
fishing who would not otherwise have an opportunity to
participate.
Junior Anglers Krysta Johnson and Aaron Patterson,
both 13, of the Sanford/Lee County, N.C. Boys & Girls
Club teamed up with the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie
of the Year Derek Remitz, Grant, Ala to win the youth fishing
competition.
Remitz, Johnson and Patterson weighed in five
fish with an overall weight of 14 pounds, 6 ounces to nudge
out the team from Santa Monica, Calif. The tournament weigh-
in was shared with the public through ESPN’s live feed
online at bassmaster.com.
The winning team members said they enjoyed their time on
the water with Remitz who also shared a few new angling
skills. “He taught me how to cast and fish with a baitcasting
reel,” said Patterson. “I had a great time. Johnson added,
“Derek showed me how to spot where fish are hiding and
how to cast to them so you don’t scare them and that makes
catching fish much more fun.” The 2007 youth competition
champions, Suzette Martinez and Ingrid Camberos of Boys & Girls
Clubs of South Bay (Calif.), returned both as junior instructors
and to defend their title. They teamed up again with their
2007 partner, Elite Series pro Steve Kennedy, but were
no match for the bag brought in by the Sanford/Lee County
Boys & Girls
club team.
“Last
year was fabulous and this year was even better since we
were able to bring more youth and pair them up with such
fantastic pros,” said Anne Danielski, Future Fisherman
Foundation executive director. “I cannot say enough positive
things about the Angel Anglers, BASS, ESPN and everyone
associated with this event. The kids were so excited they
had trouble sleeping and so did I!”
Danielski
further said, “Although Johnson and Patterson were the
official winners of the youth tournament, all of the young
anglers returned home with new skills, new equipment, and
guidance from a mentor and memories that will last a lifetime.”
The
event was a success thanks to the considerable support
and donations provided by ASA member companies and partner
organizations. Gear and program support was provided by
BASS/ESPN Outdoors, Gemini Sport Marketing, Shakespeare,
ZEBCO Brands, Plano Molding Company, FISHHER, TTI Blakemore
Fishing Group, BoatU.S.Angler, Erie County Bassmasters,
New York Sea Grant and Xtreme Glove. Danielski said, “The
foundation thanks these angels as well for their generous
contributions of equipment in support of this program.”For
more information about becoming involved in youth angling
programs, contact the Future Fisherman
Foundation at 703-519-9691, www.futurefisherman.org.
The Future
Fisherman Foundation is the angler recruitment
and education arm of the American Sportfishing Association,
the leading recreational fishing trade association.
The Future Fisherman Foundation unites the sportfishing
industry with a nationwide network of state outdoor
educators, national conservation groups and youth organizations,
offering a variety of fishing and boating programs,
equipment and services to community groups and schools
across the country. These efforts help people of all
ages have safe and enjoyable fishing experiences that
foster life-long conservation ethics.
