Open Challenge To All Fishermen And Women

[Brian Needham]

I had the pleasure to fish with both Glenn and Kerri at this year's roadtrip.

 

I have a pretty good pulse for who in the world are genuine good people, and these two fit the bill.

 

While fishing with Glenn, I was able to hear the story of BassResource and its beginnings. I also heard the beginnings, motives, and accomplishments of Tackle the Storm.

 

I was moved by the concept and thought behind it, to know what can be achieved in the heart of a child. Simply the smile it must bring knowing they have lost everything, but in some small way reach towards normalcy by fishing. A sport we all love and ourselves would hate to lose. 

 

As I told Glenn, the world is a cold, cruel, evil place and that's not going to change. 

 

But to know that I can somehow change that for a child for the price of a pack of plastics or crankbait......well I am all in.

 

so here is what I am going to do, I hope you may also follow suit.

 

For every "big un" I catch this year I will donate to Tackle the Storm,  enough to purchase a child a rod and reel.

 

Everyone's "big un" will be different, as everyone's water is different, so you decide. I have chosen 4#.

[FD.]

I'm in.

I think I heard Glenn say that with some "Big Companies" help, they can put a rod and reel in a child's hand for around 6 bucks.

5# is my number.

[Nitrofreak]

I love the Idea, I will go in also with a 4, but what about donations, where do we send the money too?

 

I do not get the opportunity to fish that often anymore, I would like to donate as well as participate.

[Hanover_Yakker]

Need more info please - would love to help out!!

[Glenn]

Wow Brian!  What a great idea!  I'm absolutely humbled by your generosity and initiative. When db (Don Barone, founder of Tackle The Storm) read this, he said,

Quote

Wow.  

 

When I read this from Brian:  As I told Glenn, the world is a cold, cruel, evil place and that's not going to change.  I thought, no it isn't a cold, cruel, evil place, it is in fact a caring loving place, with a few idiots running around.

 

It is absolutely a warm, caring, loving place, and I only have to point to Brian…and all those who have followed…as proof of that.

 

We have had hundred's of volunteers, hundred's of people making donations, several companies, songwriters, Elite Anglers, people in the crowd, show that the world is a caring place, once you turn off the news.

 

Love wins, it is the fuel of this planet, i is why we crawled out of the sea, or landed here from the stars.  Here's proof that the world believes in Love Wins:  Sitting in a warehouse in Alabama we have almost 1,000 rods and reels for children and their older siblings.

 

This past weekend we put 300 rods and reels into the hands of the surviving Elementary School children of the Sandy Hook School shootings.

 

To date, thanks to a loving world, we have put rods and reels into the hands of over 900-HUNDRED kids.

 

900 kids know that Love Wins,

 

and just maybe those 900 kids…will change the world, for everyone.

 

 

 

And just this weekend at the BassResource RoadTrip, we raised enough money to add 119 kids to that total.  This came from a combination of the raffle, Siebert Outdoors Storm series jigs sales, and a very generous $75 donation from Brian himself.  I know Brian isn't looking for recognition, as he pulled me aside to quietly gave me his donation, but I just wanted everyone to know what a wonderful and caring person Brian is.

 

In addition, Alpster (Ronnie) custom built a fantastic spiral-wrapped rod to donate to the raffle, and Dinky (MIke) added items including an autographed tournament jersey from Randy Howell. I also wanted to thank all our sponsors for donating prizes to raffle off.

 

Everyone can make a difference.  It doesn't take much to change a child's life.  Every $7.50 raised puts a magic wand into a kid's hand, and puts a smile on his face.

 

Again Brian, what a wonderful idea. And a big thank you to everyone stepping up to the challenge.

 

Thank you,

Glenn

[Hanover_Yakker]

Top notch guys!!  I've got an idea on how to raise some funds from the kayak community down here, so I'll keep you posted.

[roadwarrior]

I'm in and I will get everyone I fish with involved!

 

 

 

[K_Mac]

Way to go Brian. I will make my contribution through the above link. 

 

FWIW Don Barone is one of my heroes, although he would not be comfortable with that label. I have not met him, but having read his words and the words of others about him, he is an inspiration to me and countless others. Thanks for the post Brian.

[Nitrofreak]

Top notch guys!!  I've got an idea on how to raise some funds from the kayak community down here, so I'll keep you posted.

 

I think I may have an idea for the meet and greet this year too !!!

[Shane J]

I'm in. $10 for every 5 pounder or better I catch this year. It's a great cause, and a great idea!

[donbarone]

 

I'm sitting in a hotel room in Montgomery, AL for the Elite event here this week, about to go out and do a story, including a visit to the gravesite of Hank Williams Sr., when Glenn sends me a link to this on the board.

 

And I'm floored.

 

I have written stories about what I call, Bits of Wonderful, and that is exactly what you are doing.

 

Bits of Wonderful.

 

It is your Bits, that make Tackle The Storm Foundation work…not anything I do.  It is The Family, Of US, not me, that makes this a success.

 

I have covered the savages in this world, and I have covered the saints…trust me, saints outnumber savages.

 

This past weekend, because of the generosity of The Family, Of Us, Tackle The Storm Foundation quietly provided 300 rods and reels to the 300 surviving Elementary School Children who survived the Sandy Hook School massacre. 

 

I was told stories of children scared by the shootings, coming to the event clinging to their parents, only to leave with a fishing pole slung over their shoulder, and a smile on their face.

 

300 children…6 fish caught…and if you ask anyone there, it was a huge success, the children loved it.

 

I call the fishing rods and reels we give out, Magic Wands of Childhood, because with every cast, comes hope, and it is hope that is needed after the savages have left.

 

I don't know if the rods and reels we get from this will change a child's life…I DO KNOW that it will change a child's day…and for every child's day that we may change, we have a shot at changing the future day by day.

 

Please, do not call me a hero, or even someone to look up to, YOU…Brian…and all of you, are the heroes, not me, I just help facilitate things, I make it possible for you, the heroes, to step up with your Bits of Wonderful.

 

And I leave you with this…it goes out on every donation letter I send out:

 

"And in the end

The love you take

Is equal to the love you make."

The End

The Beatles

 

Thank you, for all the love you will make.

db

[gripnrip]

Welcome DB! I'm in for every 5 pounder. I will donate 10 per fish and to support Siebert, I will purchase enough jigs for another donation. Doublin up like "the rig"

[roadwarrior]

I consider you a hero.

 

 

 

[jhoffman]

Do you take tackle donations?

[NC bassin]

I accept this! my number is also #4

[zip pow]

Me to 5# $7.50 I have seen the joy in a childs face when he or she catches a fish and its worth the whole world to see.

[roadwarrior]

Me to 5# $7.50 I have seen the joy in a childs face when he or she catches a fish and its worth the whole world to see.

 

One combo for every 5lb+ bass sounds good to me.

 

I'm in!

[Texfisherman]

I'm all for this! I will donate for every bass I catch @ 5+ lbs.

[rcr1959]

This topic should be "pinned".

 

I accept! $10 for every 5+lbs bass.

[Alex_bassman]

IM IN!

10 bucks for every fish over 4#

[ProCrafter]

I'm in at 4 pounds!! and adding back to January. Just one so far but that will get better!

[Dinky]

Awesome!

 

I'm in for $10 for every 5# and above.

 

Hope to generate a donation at the Southern Open at Logan Martin next week.

 

Expect the trip to El Salto in Juy to result in a pretty nice donation.

[bassin is addicting]

IM IN!

10 bucks for every fish over 4#

 

 

after rooming with Brian on the trip.......i know his mind (and his mouth) works endlessly....(something about that just doesn't sound right does it??)    to clarify....he talks alot...ok..  LOL!!  you know i love you man!!      (yes we are rooming together next year)

 

Brian...fantastic idea!!  it is awesome to help a child in this way!!

[Brian Needham]

well I caught a MAGIC FISH,  3.96# today, I think I will just count it ........what's .04 between friends and scale variances, right ?

 

I have to say, I know I smiled so big when I first saw the fish, knowing it was a "big un" and the kids were my first thought..........fishing is going to be extra fun this year for this fact alone. 

 

tight lines guys!

[FD.]

Here are two more combo's

 

 

 

The one in my left hand is mine.  The 6.5 in my right hand is tstone's.  He is going to participate as well.