Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 19, 1994 TAG: 9501110010
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRUCE STANTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
If James Dudley and his son, Dave, qualify for the 1995 BASS Masters Classic, don't let their appearances fool you.
``I'll be the 53-year-old amateur, and Dave will be the 19-year-old pro,'' James Dudley said.
Although their ages and routes to the Classic are far apart, the Dudleys hope they will have a rare father-son reunion Aug. 3-5 in Greensboro, N.C., at the most prestigious bass tournament in the world.
Fathers and sons have qualified for Classics in the same year before - Dion and Guido Hibdon in 1988 and 1992-94 and Gregory and Bill Ward in 1975 - but they never have qualified with one going the pro route and one going the amateur route.
``We both sat there last year and talked about [both of us making it],'' said James Dudley, who competed in the Classic at Lake Montgomery in Alabama. ``I said, `Man, I'd like to do that one more time.' We're still on track.''
In April, both Lynchburg men will compete in B.A.S.S. tournaments with the intention of winning their way into the 1995 Classic.
Dave Dudley is in second place in the Eastern Invitational of the BASS Master tournament trail and needs only a good showing in the final tournament at Buggs Island Lake to finish in the top five and become the youngest qualifier in Classic history.
James Dudley has qualified for the Wranger/B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship at Lake Palestine near Tyler, Texas. He has to beat out 11 other anglers from the Eastern Division to earn his second trip to the BASS Masters Classic.
With a trip to the Classic at stake, James Dudley said many thoughts and scenarios have gone through his mind.
``If it boiled down between me and him in first and second on the last day, I'd go out and jig a Hopkins spoon in 50 feet of water and let him win,'' he said. ``My first thought would be to let him win. But you never know. I won't have many chances left, and he'll have his whole life.''
The Dudleys have been fishing as partners for the past 10 years.
``David's been in the boat with me since he was young,'' James Dudley said. ``In the first tournament we fished together, we didn't get a bite. But we won the second.''
Dave said he's learned a lot from his dad.
``My dad has been through it all,'' he said. ``He's lived my dream by fishing in the Classic. He's the most knowledgeable fisherman I know. I was lucky to have him as a dad.
``Having him as a dad put me ahead of someone who didn't have a great dad like that to learn from. Other people, things it would take 20 years to learn, dad taught me since I was 12. That puts me ahead of people who are just starting out.''
Besides the knowledge learned from his dad, Dave Dudley said his faith in God has carried him through his first year as a professional angler.
``[God] is my team partner,'' he said. ``Without Him, I would not be where I am now. He's the key to my success.''
There's one more key to the Dudleys' success, James Dudley said.
``My goal is always to win, and Dave's is , too,'' he said. ``When we first go in, we always go for the jugular - we go for the throat. I'm like old [Vince] Lombardi; I like to win.''
by CNB