Competitions
"We talked about football, we
talked about fishing and we ate a little, it just shows how
well it can go when you just go fishing." Pro
Angler Peter Thliveros
Imagine waking up to find yourself fishing next to some of
the biggest names in professional angling... It is a dream
come true for many young people involved in the Law
Enforcement and Youth Partnerships for Crime Prevention Initiative.
Boys & Girls club youth from all across the country have
been learning angling and life skills through the Foundation’s
Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs program. Two youth from each
participating club are provided the opportunity to fish in
the Future Fisherman Foundation Youth Fishing Tournament
with a Bassmaster Elite Series professional angler at one
of the Elite Series events. Each youth is chosen based on
interest, behavior, skill development and attitude. It is
truly an experience that they will never forget!
The first annual Future Fisherman Youth Tournament was held
in conjunction with the 2007 Capital Clash Elite Series tournament
in La Plata, Maryland. Elite Series anglers Kurt Dove, Steve
Kennedy, James Kennedy, Jim Murray, Ben Matsubu, Peter Thliveros,
James Charlesworth, Dave Wolak, Rick Morris and Kevin VanDam
led pairs of boys and girls out onto the water in search
of Potomac River bass. The grand-prize-winning team led by
Steve Kennedy included Ingrid Camberos and Suzette Martinez
from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the South Bay (Calif.), with
a total catch of 13 pounds-9 ounces. Dave Wolak led Brooke
True and Josh Ogg from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Green
County (Okla.), to second place with third place going to Kisumu
Griffith and Demaria Bradley from the Boys & Girls Club
of Central Mississippi, led by Peter Thliveros. All participants
took home trophies and the once-in-a-lifetime experience of
learning angling skills from the best of the best. Timothy
McNeill from the Boys & Girls Club of Sanford/Lee County,
North Carolina, who fished with VanDam, summed it up the
best by saying, “It was the greatest experience of my life.”
This year’s tournament is being held in conjunction with the
Bassmaster Elite Series Empire
Chase tournament in Buffalo, NY July 31 through August
3rd. Twenty Boys & Girls club teams from 14
states will take to the waters of Lake Erie Saturday August
2nd. Each pair will head out in search of Lake Erie
bass. The official weigh ins will be Saturday August 2nd at
2:15pm.
For live coverage of the Empire Chase visit Bassmaster.com.
This year’s youth tournament is supported by the following companies
and non-profit organizations:
B.A.S.S.; BoatU.S. Angler; DriGrip; Erie County Bassmasters;
FISHHER; Gemini Sport Marketing; New York Sea Grant; Plano
Molding Company; Shakespeare; TTI Blakemore Fishing Group;
Xtreme Gloves; ZEBCO Brands.
Thank you for your support!
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
- Donate goods and services
Our goal is to have each participating angler
leave the tournament fully equipped with fishing gear to
enable them to continue fishing after the event.
- Share your love of the sport by volunteering
Start a youth fishing program in your local
Boys & Girls Club.
- Support the efforts of the Future Fisherman
Foundation.
Help support our efforts by donating your time or resources
or by making a contribution to help enable youth angling
programs all across the country!
Get Involved! Help to ensure the Future of
Fishing!
"Teaching
Children about the natural world should be treated as one
of the most important events in their lives."
Thomas
Berry, Dream of the Earth
