This and That and Things to Do
by Dave Ochs
dave@vabass.com

We’re just catching up on some odds and ends this month:

The Virginia BASS Federation’s representative at the B.A.S.S Federation Championship, David Menard of Richmond (Richmond Bassmasters, Region 3), finished tied for 32nd place in the tournament’s 51-person field. Menard pulled 7 fish for 7 lbs. 9 oz. from the Mobile Delta on April 26 through April 28. You can see a profile of Menard in this Web site’s Angler Profile archives. The Eastern Division’s representative in the BASS Masters Classic will be Harry Charcalis of Gilmanton, New Hampshire. He caught 9 fish for 10 lbs. 3 oz. and finished 20th overall. Michael Holt of Lexington, Kentucky, won the tournament (13 fish, 24-04) to become the first two-time winner of the Federation Championship. He also won the tournament in 1993.

---- Virginia’s 6-Man Chapter team tournaments are this month. It takes a tremendous amount of volunteer work to stage these events. If you are attending or competing, you’ll see plenty of volunteers giving their time at the boat check-in, at registration, at the pairing meeting, and in the early morning hours at the launch ramps. You can make somebody’s day just by saying “thank you” to one of those volunteers for being there.

---- We are planning a major article on this Web site about tournament fishing ethics. As part of the research and preparation for that article, we would love to hear from Federation members about any ethical concerns you have or ethical problems you’ve run into on the water. Feel free to broach any topic you think fits under tournament ethics. The floor is open. Please drop your note to dave@vabass.com.

---- Got somebody you've wanted to take out on the water, but can't quite get it arranged? Here's some motivation. Every year as part of a national promotion of fishing, most states in the union allow people to fish for free on specified days, without a license. Virginia takes part in the program. Virginia's free state fishing days this year are June 1st through June 3rd. Doesn't matter if you're a resident or non-resident. Nobody needs a freshwater fishing license those three days to fish in Virginia.

----- Are you looking for a way to thank someone who has done a special favor for you, or to see that someone is recognized for an accomplishment or action above and beyond the call? Nominate them to carry the Olympic torch in the upcoming Olympic torch relay prior to February’s Salt Lake City Olympics. You can get details at www.saltlake2002.com. The deadline for entries is May 15. If you know of a Virginia BASS Federation member who takes part in the relay, please let one of us at the Federation Web site know about it.

----- The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation has established a new promotional and public awareness campaign. The foundation calls National Fishing and Boating Week an effort to promote the inherent family connections that are forged during fishing and boating activities. National Fishing and Boating Week is set for June 1-10, and if you want more details, the foundation's web site for the program is www.nationalfishingandboatingweek.org.

---- Applause for T-H Marine, a company that makes the hatch locks in some of our bass boats. Good service should be noted. Under unusual weather conditions one day this past March, four of my hatch locks broke within a 2-hour period. I dropped an email to the company’s customer service department. Two days later I received a reply that a set of locks was on the way, and two days after that 5 new locks arrived via UPS. That’s excellent service, and standing behind your product will keep customers coming back.

---- The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is holding its second annual Wild for Wildlife Days on June 23 and 24. It’s a family-oriented celebration of Virginia’s wildlife. Virginia Wildlife magazine describes the event as including classes on birds, backyard wildlife, woodcarving, plant identification, river life and more. The event will be held in Front Royal at the Northern Virginia 4-H Education and Conference Center. There’s more information at www.dgif.state.va.us.