Our featured Angler for November is Virginia B.A.S.S. Region 1 Director Sam Robinson

Sam Robinson, One of the Best

Serving as one of the Virginia BASS Federation's nine region directors is an unpaid and often thankless job. A seemingly endless string of meetings, phone calls, events and tournaments, along with the fact that you simply can't please all anglers all of the time, makes the job a tough one. A good region director, though, can take a region that is nothing more than a group of unorganized and disgruntled fishermen, and turn them into a cohesive and successful organization.

Region One's Sam Robinson is not just a good region director, he is a great one.

Sam has been serving the Virginia Federation in various capacities for over 20 years, in two different regions and at the state level. After two decades of service, a lot of guys would just go on auto-pilot. If this were a simple job, that might be possible. It's not so simple, though; bass fishermen, an innovative bunch, seem to come up with new controversies and conflicts nearly every time they pitch a worm. In his typical soft-spoken style, Sam manages to handle these situations with relative ease, and after explaining his actions and decisions, all interested parties usually agree that he has made a wise choice.

Sam's Federation Credentials

A Louisiana native, young Sam Robinson was rarely without a cane pole in his hands, chasing brim, crappie, catfish, or just about anything that swam. In 1955, he entered the Army, and entered into the nomadic life of the United States military. At one point, a group of friends gave him an Ambassadeur 5000c as a departing gift, and it rekindled his interest in fishing. While stationed in Columbus, Mississippi, he joined the Columbus Bassmasters, and began tournament fishing.

Upon returning from a stint in Europe in 1976, Sam was stationed at Ft. Lee, just outside of Petersburg, and he soon thereafter joined the Virginia Federation. Sensing his leadership abilities, club members quickly named him their president. In 1981, he was elected Tournament Director for Region 6 (as well as alternate Region Director), a post which he held through 1982. The following year he was elected Region Director for Region 6, a job that he held through 1986.

Completing his stint in Region 6, Sam moved to Dumfries in Northern Virginia, and joined the Bull Run Bassmasters of Region 1. Once again, he was approached about becoming a region director, and he agreed to take on the job, serving for calendar year 1988. In 1989, he was plucked away by the state to serve as the Vice President of VA BASS Federation for 1989 and 1990.

Taking a few years off from serving the region (but not from fishing), Sam got the itch to serve as an officer again in 1984. Actually, that may not be the best way to characterize it. Many people have said that the region missed his leadership qualities and asked him to come back. Except for a gap caused by a brief, work-related stint in Albuquerque, Sam has served as the Region 1 Director almost continuously since 1994.

Accomplishments in Region 1

Sam's accomplishments as Region Director are numerous and varied, but asked which achievements make him proudest, he cites one from early in his tenure, and another that is more recent.

First, Sam notes that when he took over as Region Director preceding the 1988 fishing season, there were no written tournament rules and no bylaws. He quickly assembled a committee, and by the start of the fishing year a full set of rules and bylaws had been developed and made available to the fishermen. While he understands that these are subject to "review and modification," Sam makes clear that by establishing a framework within which to operate, his committee made Region 1 competition fairer and more professional.

More recently, Region 1 became nearly unmanageable. With over 400 members, tournaments became unwieldy and organization was a nightmare. In 1999,at the behest of the Federation officers, Sam spearheaded the task of dividing the region into two separate entities, Region 1 and Region 9. He did much of the legwork himself, and building upon his earlier experience with the drafting of rules laid the groundwork for what is now a freestanding and successful operation.

In both of these experiences, Sam recognized that "you can never please everybody," but still he states that his intent in undertaking these projects was to "try to make sure all affected clubs were included in the decision making process."

Sam's achievements are not limited merely to organizing the region, however. He is also typically found atop the list of Region 1's top fishermen, frequently taking home a good check. He regrets, however, missing out on one chance to make the state team in 1979. That year, the Chapter Teams tournament was held at Lake Anna. At the end of the first day, Sam was in 4th place, and his creel included the 6 lb. 3 oz. lunker. On the second day, it poured all day long, and Sam managed to capture five little fish (8 fish limit). Unsure of whether all of his fish would measure, Sam decided to re-measure them before heading in. With his hands shriveled from the day's driving rain, the last fish he measured squirted out of his hands and back into the lake, likely taking away his chance to travel with the state team to Lake of the Woods on the Canadian border.

Why is He Stepping Down?

Since December of last year, Sam has been working at Ft. Detrick in Frederick,MD. He returns to his home in Woodbridge Friday afternoons through Sunday, and doesn't go home at all during the week unless there is a region meeting.

"On top of the usual time commitments associated with the job," he says, the driving and coordination "take a tremendous amount of time." Many of us never think about the Region Director's obligations other than Region meetings. Sam is quick to make clear that he enjoys the meetings, the tournaments, the kids functions, the sports shows and other functions that are part of his job, but coupled with his work obligations the job has become "overwhelming."

Although he will continue to fishing Region 1, this will be Sam's last year as Region Director. In addition to giving someone else a chance to bring new ideas to the job, stepping down will give Sam a chance to spend more time with his family. He is especially anxious to introduce his two oldest grandchildren to fishing. "I want them to know what fishing's all about," he says.

Sam's Supporters

Anyone who has spent any time around Region 1 knows that Sam is part of a package deal. His fishing partner is his wife Susan, and she too contributes mightily to keeping the tournaments running smoothly, doing not only behind-the-scenes prep work, but also assisting at both Region 1 and state level weigh-ins. "She has been absolutely 100% supportive," Sam says.

Since 1996,Sam has been associated with Beaver's Marine and Champion Boats, as a member of their pro-staff. He notes that both the dealer and the larger company have "bent over backwards to make sure that all of my needs are met." Any time he has had a service issue, they have taken care of it in a timely fashion, and it is always done right the first time. "Both operations are class acts," he adds.

Issues to Ponder

As he departs his position of leadership, Sam notes that the Federation will face new challenges in the near future. He cites three in particular:

The terrorist attacks of September 11 will have a trickle down effect on our personal freedoms, extending down to bass fishermen. We have already seen parts of our navigable waterways shut off due to security concerns.
The Federation and, more generally, BASS, will have to set goals and encourage participation among a population that is increasingly disparate, hurried, and urbanized.
A possible nationwide recession may change our free spending fishing ways. Sam notes that tough economic times may hurt individual fishermen and the companies who provide them with products. As one example, he cites Champion's recent financial troubles as evidence that even a top-quality product does not ensure financial stability.

Conclusion

For all members of the Virginia BASS Federation, fishing is a passion and an integral part of our lives. Like all endeavors, however, none of our activities would function smoothly without the efforts of those who operate behind the scenes. It's not until those people leave that we wonder why things don't run as easily any more. Luckily for members of Region 1, Sam Robinson will still be around to quietly lend leadership and guidance as necessary. You can reach Sam by e-mailing him at suesambo@aol.com or calling him at (703) 590-1105