Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 8, 1992 TAG: 9203090238
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The contemplative, Izaak Walton approach to angling doesn't hold much appeal for this Blue Ridge resident.
So you may be surprised at the next statement Shelor makes:
"I think there really are too many tournaments."
Shelor doesn't just fish tournaments, but he also is a prime mover in the Smith Mountain Bassmasters, an organization that sponsors one of the scores of contests held in this region each season.
Last April, the club had a Mega-Partners tournament on Smith Mountain Lake that offered a $4,000 first-place prize. Even with that kind of bait, it didn't attract as many competitors as Shelor and his peers had hoped.
That same weekend, fishermen could choose from other major tournaments on Kerr, Gaston and Philpott lakes.
"We were hurt by the competition," Shelor said.
So this year, the Smith Mountain Bassmasters has scheduled a tournament for May 2, at night.
"We wanted something different," Shelor said. "There is no competition at night until you get into the summer."
Well, almost none. The Optimist Club of Cave Spring holds its 24th annual tournament on Smith Mountain Lake May 1-3, and it is a day and night affair that can attract as many as 1,000 competitors.
But the Optimist event operates under a different format from most bass tournaments. Instead of recognizing the anglers catching the most pounds of bass, it is a big fish event. So the Bassmasters aren't viewing it as competition, but an opportunity for fishermen to participate in two tournaments at once.
That could be an advantage, considering the large number of tournaments that fishermen have for picking and choosing.
"Some tournament fishermen are having to cut back," said Melissa Boucher of Midlothian, one of Virginia's most active women competitors. "They are having to choose which tournament they want to run, because the cost of motels, gas and food has gotten so high."
Tournaments are having a tough time, too. Purses have been cut and some events have been eliminated.
The Golden Blend Diamond Invitational bass fishing circuit, which has attracted the nation's top fishermen since its origin in 1989, was suddenly canceled.
"We are discontinuing the Golden Blend program due to the lack of fisherman support for the product," said Make Whitaker, president of Operation Bass, the parent organization.
A market analysis is under way with the idea of initiating a new competitive fishing program next year, he said.
In the meanwhile, the Red Man circuit, also an Operation Bass program, is experiencing increasing participation with more than 20,000 anglers expected this year, said Whitaker.
At this point, the only national tournament scheduled for Virginia is the Virginia Bassmasters Invitational at Kerr Lake May 6-8. The B.A.S.S. event will attract many of the nation's top fishermen.
The Wrangler/B.A.S.S. Federation National championship, held on Smith Mountain Lake the past two years, has moved to Lake Neely in Alabama. It is scheduled April 6-11.
Yet to be announced is the site of the BASS Masters Classic. Following a three-year run on the James River at Richmond, it moved to Baltimore last August.
Baltimore and Maryland officials expressed confidence that the event would return to their area, but the delay in announcing the site has left many fishermen wondering. The areas now mentioned include Washington, D.C. (Potomac River) and Alabama, the home state of B.A.S.S.
\ '92 bass fishing tournament trail\ TARHEEL TEAM TOURNAMENTS: Virginia Division, Lake Gaston, March 14 and May 30; Kerr Lake, April 4 and Sept. 26; Chickahominy-James rivers, Aug. 9, $150 entry fee, $5,000 first place. Championship Oct. 24-25 at site to be named. Big Bucks Tournaments, Kerr, April 11 and Nov. 7, $225 entry, $7,500 first place. Super Big Bucks, Kerr, May 17, $500 entry, $15,000 first place. Information Tarheel Team Tournaments, 2506-A Wooten Blvd., Wilson, N.C. 27893, 919-243-4665.
\ PRO-AM TEAMS: Kerr, March 15 and April 12; Potomac, May 31 and Sept. 20; Chickahominy-James, June 27 and Aug. 15, $75 entry, Classic on Kerr, Oct. 17-18, Top 50 Tournament, Kerr, Oct. 24. Information Pro-Am Teams, 11647 Jefferson Davis Highway, Chester, 23831, 804-796-4992.
\ BASSING AMERICA: Mid-Atlantic Team Trail, Kerr, March 21; Gaston, April 11; Potomac, May 2; Chickahominy, May 23; James, June 13, entry $100. Grand National Mid-Atlantic, Kerr, March 22; Gaston, April 12; Potomac, May 3; James, Chickahominy, May 24 and July 11-12, James River, June 14; $75 entry, except $125 at Chickahominy, information from Bassing America Corp., P.O. Box 796908, Dallas, Texas 75379, 214-380-2656.
\ SPRING PARTNERS BASS TOURNAMENT: Smith Mountain, March 21, sponsored by Smith Mountain Ruritan Club, $60 entry, $2,000 first place, weigh-in at Smith Mountain State Park, information Elmer Mitchell, 703-297-6040.
\ ROANOKE VALLEY BASSMASTERS SPRING TOURNAMENT: Smith Mountain, Waterwheel, April 4, $100 team entry, $1,573 first place with 75 boats, more information Michael Woods, 344-7660.
\ AMERICAN BASS ASSOCIATION VIRGINIA TEAM: Gaston, April 5; Smith Mountain, May 3; Lake Moomaw, June 14. Pre-registration $75 for adult team,; $55 for adult-youth team. Top 10 teams advance to ABA National, Lake Winnepasuke, N.H. in September. More information Ray Conant, 804-979-1015 or 804-973-6985.
\ STONE MOUNTAIN BASSMASTERS SPRING PARTNERS BASS TOURNAMENT: Smith Mountain, Waterwheel Marina, April 18, $60 entry, 80-percent pay back, information Howie Davies, 703-297-7511.
\ OPTIMIST CLUB CAVE SPRINGS: Smith Mountain, May 1-3, $18 entry, awards for top four largemouth, smallmouth, crappie, muskie, walleye and catfish, information from Optimist Club Cave Springs, P.O. Box 1276, Salem 24153.
\ SMITH MOUNTAIN BASSMASTERS SPRING OPEN NIGHT TOURNAMENT: Smith Mountain, May 2, 7:30 p.m., $60 team, more information Barry Shelor, 703-977-0228.
\ VIRGINIA BASSMASTERS INVITATIONAL: Kerr, May 6-8, $188,000 in prizes, sponsored by B.A.S.S, local contact South Hill Chamber of Commerce, 804-447-4547.
\ BAY ROC FISHING TEAM BASS PARTNERS TOURNAMENT: Smith Mountain, June 6, $60 team, $1,500 first place, more information Bay Roc Marina and Yacht Club, 890-2194.
\ BASS BONANZA TOURNAMENT: Moomaw, June 7, $60 team, $1,000 first place, sponsored by the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce, information from chamber, 241 W. Main Street, Covington 24426, 703-962-2178.
\ RED MAN PIEDMONT DIVISION: (First tournament was Saturday on Kerr.) Smith Mountain, June 14; Kerr, July 12, Aug. 23 and Oct. 11; James River, Sept. 20. Top 30 fishermen advance to regional championships with chance for Red Man All-American and $100,000 first-place prize. Information from Operation Bass, Inc., Route 2, Box 74B, Gilbertsville, Ky. 42044.
\ TOYOTA-BLUE RIDGE MITSUBISHI: Smith Mountain, Sept. 18, top prize Skeeter boat or new pickup, $130 fee, more information 804-528-3202.
\ SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA BOAT DEALERS ASSOCIATION: Smith Mountain, Oct. 17, $50 per team, $1,500 first place, information from Bay Roc Marina and Yacht Club, 890-2194.
\ STONE MOUNTAIN BASSMASTERS FALL TOURNAMENT: Smith Mountain, October (date not set), $60 per team, 80 percent pay back, information Howie Davies, 703-297-7511.
by CNB