It's a Banner Year for HOOTERS Bass Fishing HOOTERS Magazine - Bass Report by Brad D. Wall Sept/October 2007 - Issue 67 Hello again to all HBF contributing sponsors, friends, family and fans. HBF concluded our BASS federation season with another great top-20 finish at the Ohio Classic. At the Classic last year, HBF had a great opportunity to fish with another Ohio Federation youth member... Congratulations to Sam, who landed the biggest bass of the youth competition from the HOOTERS Bass Boat...
Sam Angle, age 13, drew the HOOTERS boat to chaperone his day on the lake at Alum Creek in Columbus, OH. Congratulations to Sam, who landed the biggest bass of the youth competition from the HOOTERS Boat. Big thanks as well to the new HOOTERS of Westerville, OH. HOOTERS of Westerville opened the doors for a great showing of HBF friends, fans, fellow competitors and all of the BASS staff and folks involved in the Ohio Classic. A big thanks to Mark Trempler (father/owner) and Josh and Cody Trempler (sons) for the use of their beautiful 1 1-acre private lake in Clarksville, OH.  The Tremplers granted HBF the use of this beautiful property more than once in 2006 to benefit the Greg Fosters Camp for Kids program, as well as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In February, the BassMasters Classic Proved to be a record event for HBF fun and exposure. A huge thanks from HBF to the Pelham, Trussville, and Homewood HOOTERS stores around Birmingham, AL, the host city for the 2007 Classic. Managers Thad Ivy, Jennie Short, Nick Holman and Jason Roden absolutely rocked out in full HOOTERS style the whole week HBF was in town. These HOOTERS stores, with their managers’ huge support, coordination and party hospitality for the BASS and ESPN folks, led to a tremendous amount of publicity for HOOTERS Bass Fishing. In April, HBF also competed in the inaugural Toyota Texas Big Bass Classic on the famous Lake Fork, which is located just outside of Dallas, TX. The top 160 ranked professionals front the PAA (Professional Anglers Association) competed for a total purse of $1 million dollars; hats off to the PAA, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Toyota, and Enterprise rental cars.  Gene Ellison, Executive Director for the PAA and a close, personal friend of HBF says, “The future of the PAA is strong and bright. We are glad to have HBF as a weighted member of our organization. HOOTERS Bass Fishing’s presence at our events is a true asset to the over-all magnitude and publicity of our events. Thanks for bringing the gals. I’ve never seen a bass boat have so many photographs taken of it.”
You rock, Geno! Thanks to you, the elected board members and all the members of the PAA for all your tireless efforts. Big thanks to Jeff Recker of Nashville, TN. Jeff, Marketing Director for myoutdoorstv.com, in conjunction with HBF, auctioned off a day of fishing to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Well done; it’s a great cause. HBF would also like to thank the United Way for their invitation to compete in their very prestigious fundraising tournament in Youngstown, OH; great people, great cause, and a stellar event. Many thanks to lifelong fishing buddy Scott Baker. Scott and HBF teamed up to fish the national USA Bassin team circuit this year. Brad and Scott have already compiled three-for-three top- 10 finishes together and they’re looking forward to the USA Bassin Classic they have qualified for in September at Douglas Lake in Tennessee. Fish on Scott! 2007 has also been a banner year for HBF in the BASS Federation. In April, HBF drove through the night to make it to the BASS Federation Regional Qualifier from just fishing an event in North Carolina. Luckily, and with no practice, HBF finished in the top 20 to gain a boater’s position for the BASS Federation Invitational tournament trail. During this event, HBF had the pleasure of fishing with another BASS Federation youth member, Nathan Bartholomew, age 14, from Centerburg, OH. Nathan is an incredible fisherman already for his age and comes from an outstanding outdoor family and it shows.
HBF compiled two top-l0s, including a first-place finish with big bass honors, in three tournaments on the Invitational Trail this year. Congrats to Fred Tietz. He was the only angler standing in the way of HBF gaining the most prestigious Angler of the Year title for 2007. Fred nosed HBF out by one fish at the final tournament of the trail to gain Angler of the Year braggin’ rights. HBF would personally like to thank all of the incredible People at Ranger Boats and Dixie Marine, Mercury and Motorguide, Lowrance and Navionics, and all the folks that make what we love to do and share possible. Keep your eyes peeled and your cameras ready because chances are HBF will soon be at a lake near you! Come out and join in the fun! Fish on!  |
