2006 Fall Report HOOTERS Magazine - Bass Report by Brad D. Wall Sept/October 2006 - Issue 64 Since its last update in mid-May, the HOOTERS Bass Fishing team has been riding the whirlwind. In june, HBF traveled through the northern Great Lakes region, the Catskills and Adirondacks, with its final destination in Lake Champlain in northern New York... ...a big thanks to Dan from Reel Grip for their custom HOOTERS reel grips-ergonomic grips...
“What an incredible place to fish,” said HBF pro Brad Wall. “From all species of fish, as well as large and small mouth bass.” Lake Champlain was the final tournament for HBF’s rookie season on the FLW tour for 2006.  “What an incredible year! Never in my life have I caught so many fish and never in my life have I seen so many fish caught. The degree of competition is so great at this level; it is truly humbling to be included in such a marquis group of anglers. Without HOOTERS, especially, and all of HBF’s contributors, living this dream would never be possible. And I have to add a special “hello” to our friends at HOOTERS of Rochester, NY, what a great visit.” After the New York competition, HBF was headed back to Ohio for the B.AS.S. Federation Invitational at Buckeye Lake, where the team had the opportunity to fish with a 14 year-old named Bryce Gregory. Bryce was a delightful youth, according to Wall, a B.AS.S. Federation member who had volunteered as an observer for an unbalanced field of competitors at this senior event. .jpg "OBFN Youth") “When he found out he was going to get to fish on the HOOTERS boat at the pairings meetings, he ran and jumped through the crowd shouting “I drew the HOOTERS boat... I drew the HOOTERS boat!”
“What a great kid and a blast to fish with. I hope young Bryce enjoyed fishing with HBF as much as we did with him. Fish on, Bryce!”
In July, HBF headed to Lake Erie for the B.A.S.S. Federation Invitational. The HOOTERS boat had a dominating first and second place finish, with a clean sweep that included big bass. Brad Wall finished in first place, with an extraordinary 19.17 pounds of smallmouth that averaged four pounds per fish for a five fish limit. In second place was Jim Kellough with 16.78 pounds of smallmouth bass, including big bass honors with a smallmouth weighing 4 lbs., 7 oz.
“I’ve never got to fish with a touring pro, and to draw Brad Wall and get to fish out of the HOOTERS Boat in this tournament was a dream come true,” said Kellough, 62, from Chillicothe, OH. “You dream about a day like this and to have taken second place and big bass honors was the best tournament I’ve ever fished. Every small mouth I weighed in was the biggest smallmouth I’ve ever caught. I’ll never forget my day on the HOOTERS boat. Thanks HOOTERS and thanks Brad.”
HBF feels the same way about Jim. “It’s great to win a tournament now and then,” said Wall, “but to see Jim go from 62 years old to 1 3 years old in enthusiasm was priceless. We had so much fun fishing together. Truly sharing these positive outdoor experiences with people is what I thank HOOTERS the most for.”
HBF received many thanks from the Girl Scouts of America Association and all the inner city school kids that participated in the day of fishing a C.J. Brown Reservoir last month. Brad and HBF would like to thank Gary McNeal for his invitation and efforts to share the outdoors with these kids. Gary’s dedication to them is nothing short of outstanding and admirable. You truly rock, Gary.
.jpg "Walt-Luti Tire") The HOOTERS tow vehicle got a spiffing-up, courtesy of Walt Luti Tire in Lebanon, Ohio, who put on new wheels and tires. “We’re talking serious bling here,” said Wall “The HOOTERS tow vehicle looks really great and when you travel as much as we do, you rely on that kind of quality, too.”
Also a big thanks to Dan from Reel Grips for their custom HOOTERS reel grips- ergonomic grips for your reel handles that improve gripping and comfort of your reel handles, great in the rain. Upcoming events for the team include a radio interview in August with Joe Foley on the “Reeling in the Outdoors” radio program; Berlin Reservoir in Akron, Ohio for the B.A.S.S. Federation Invitational Aug 20; the annual Hospice charity tournament at Indian Lake, Ohio, Aug. 27; FLW Series, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, Oct. 1 1-14; FLW Series, Lewis Smith Lake, AL, Nov. 15-18. “In conclusion, my family and I would like to say thank you to all the wonderful contributed, family and friends, supporters, fans and media people that made HOOTERS Bass Fishing possible, fun, as well as goal achieving year after year.” Fish on!  |
