Indiana Bass Federation Youth – Conservation – Fishing
Lincoln Bowen and Patrick Brown are the 2012 Forrest L. Wood, Indiana Bass Federation Classic Champions.
Mike Quinlin and Tyler Mosier are Angler and Co-Angler of the year.
I could go on and on with story after story of the 2012 IBF Trail season.
This year was a wonderful success. It was my first year as your tournament director and I feel we accomplished some of our goals. First we put on a complete season with an average of 50 boats in each tournament. The season high was 58 boats at Patoka followed up by Brookville with 55 and Rocky Point with 57. The lowest tournament numbers were at the Tanner’s Creek tournament as we ended up fishing on the same weekend as the Federation Nation State Finals. We only had 40 boats there but the tournament was a success and plenty of fish were caught.
The 50 boat average was about 6 or 8 greater than last year. This is a move in the right direction. Another of my goals was to keep the payouts up. Eric Hardesty had done a great job in 2011 with paying out over 85% of the entry monies over the year. We again accomplished that with about 88% of the entry money being paid back either at the ramp or classic. I believe that we promoted our sponsors well and have started some programs that will benefit the organization as a whole. The first year of inviting the winners and runners up from each Top 8 worked but it needs some refinement. I feel that the guys from the Top 8’s that fished the Classic had a wonderful experience and will seriously consider fishing the Trail next year. It is yet to be determined how the guys that finished in the top 8 in points from the trail will like the invite to the 2013 State Finals, but I suspect it will be a great success.
Of course I as the Tournament Director could not have done any of this without the support of a great group of helpers. My wife Diane and her sister Joanie, nephew Scott, and friends Eric, Deneise and Pete pitched in at each tournament. Diane helps with the book keeping and financial records. Joanie with raffle and weigh-in, Deneise with computer statistics and results.
No tournament trail or group could put on a successful trail without sponsors and supporters. We must remember to support these businesses. These sponsors and supporters do not donate their monies, time or products without expecting a return on their investment. We as anglers are going to spend money on Boats, Motors, Electronics, Rods, Reels, Tackle, Fuel, Insurance, Cleaning and Servicing supplies, etc. Please give our sponsors a chance to be your product provider. That keeps them in business.
I have great hopes for the 2013 season. I suspect we will average at least 10 more boats. I have drawn the lakes and set the dates as listed below.
April 7, Patoka
May 12, Brookville
June1 and 2 Ohio River, Rocky Point Saturday and Sunday
Two completely separate tournaments.
August 4, Tanners Creek, Lawrenceburg
Sept. 8, Monroe
Oct. 5 & 6 Forrest L. Wood Classic. Location to be determined
The below listed businesses have donated products, cash or both to YOUR tournaments. Please stop by and thank them.
A2O Boating Supplies and Pro Shop, Jeffersonville
Honey Creek Tackle, Bargersville
Artesian Outdoors, Martinsville
Angler’s World, Greenfield
The Outdoorsman Sport Shop, Greenwood
Big Tales Fishing Tackle, Tell City
Hawgback Lures, Farmersburg IN
Ted’s Aqua Marine, Indianapolis
Ranger Boat Company, Mike McDonald, Indianapolis
Perry Marine, Rocky Point IN.
American Boat and Yacht, Jeffersonville
Evinrude, BRP
Gotscha Baits,
Solar Bat sunglasses, Brazil
Bass Boat Saver, Trafalgar
Delaware Propeller, Muncie
Denali Custom Fishing Rods, Mountain Home AR
Hoosier Reel, Lapel
Sutterfield’s Plaque and Trophy Co. Indianapolis
Michael F. Vertesch, Attorney at Law, Indianapolis
The Willsey Agency, Insurance, Indianapolis
Mutual Savings Bank, Franklin
Mound Haven Motel, Brookville
Dairy Cottage Restaurant, Brookville
Hampton Inn, Batesville
Days Inn, Tell City
Lanes Motel, French Lick
A Summerhouse Inn, Bloomington
Interstate Battery Center, Indianapolis
I am looking forward to seeing you at the IBF booth at the Indianapolis Boat Sport and Travel Show.