Junior World Bassmaster Championship- Less than a

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

We have stratosdadri embedded down there.  Awaiting his morning report any time now.

[TI_Bassin]

So has anyone heard how it went yet?

[ben23]

hey guys!

I'm sitting in the lobby on my dad's laptop......KVD, Ike, and Ish walked by......followed by Zell Rowland and Gary Klein........no one following or taking pictures.......I gauruntee this is the only place in the world where this can happen...its incredible

Anyway, the fishing was awful....the cold front really killed things this whole week. With temps never getting out of the LOW 40's............about 11 degrees friday mourning.

well....i'll give a full report later, but I ended up placing 2nd overall in the mid-atlantic region.....just 2 ounces away from being reigonal champion.

Overall, it took 7lbs 8 ounces to win.........maybe it was 7-7......TONS of kids zeroed both days, so I feel blessed that I caught one each day. i dont know exactly what i finished overall, but probably 15-20th.....not sure though.

It is amazing, even though I am very dissapointed in my performance, this is one of the cooooolest things I have ever done 8-)

ben

god bless

[stroz]

sounds like a tough couple days. Can't wait to read your whole story Nice job and I hope you post about the rest of your week at the Classic.Have fun this week you deserve it  and way to go!!!!

                                                                                stroz

[Alpster]

Ben,

You were a winner before the competition started. 2 Ounces away from regional champ is a pretty good showing in my book. Congratulations on a great representation. Also congratulations for recognizing what a privelige it is just to participate. I woudn't be more impressed if you had won 1 st place, attitude is everything. You are da man! 8-)

Ronnie

[5bass]

Atta boy Ben!! Way to represent!!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Yup, word is the cold front dealt many goose eggs for the young guns. Somthing like 3/4 of the field never saw a fish. To have 1 in the well each day is more than respectable.

Great Job!!

How's that phone working, did it come with a camera??

[John J.]

just 2 ounces away from being reigonal champion.

Ben, don't feel bad man, the qualifier for our region for the JWC (to determine who was going to Alabama) at Potomac River, I missed it by 2 ounces. I was sooooo close to getting the oppertunity to fish the JWC and if I would have won JWC I would be representing our region rather than Stephen Carr. I lost the qualifier to Doug Spangler of Warren County here in Virginia. The prefish day I had an awesome day, I caught 9 fish the biggest was 4 pounds, and 4 fish were above 2 pounds! But the tournament came and I caught two giving me a total of 3 pounds 12 ounces and doug spangler knocked me out by 2 ounces (3 pounds 14 ounces). Man I was ticked! I tell you though, it goes to show you, fishing is unpredictable! You can totally anhiliate the competition one day for the pre-fish but then turn around and loose the tournament. Needless to say I was recognized in our club that day and my name was put in our public paper!!   I was the center of attention I tell you!

Or like me in a previous tournament we held, catch nothing all day until the last 5 minutes, catch a bass that will put you in 2nd! Yes! 1 bass put me in second place!! It was 2 pounds 10 ounces, everyone that day caught small fish except Stephen Carr, he caught a 3 pounder. Mine was the 2nd big fish and I got rewarded. My partner and friend Randy Beasley caught 3, but I beat his 3 with my one by like 6 ounces.

It is amazing, even though I am very dissapointed in my performance, this is one of the cooooolest things I have ever done

Ben23, even though you think your performance was aweful, think about it...you said TONS of people didn't catch anything! You did outstanding those days to come out of it with something, especially 2nd place from regional! That is fantastic! You have been somewhere kids in this world dream of being!! And remember it is not about winning, it is all about having fun and making friends. And I tell you, you've got plenty here at BR! I am proud of you and I know you will always do great. Everyone has their days, I've been to many tournaments and been skunked. For instance for the JWC qualifiers at Lake Gaston over the summer (where Stephen Carr qualified), a few kids caught bass, I was the only one that day not only to not catch bass.....but to catch a stinking Chain Pickerel! Which wasn't allowed!!

The thing was at least 15" long and he put on a fight! There were some docks (Gaston is deep! the docks may stick out 10 feet from the bank and at the end of it you are in 15' of water) and my boat captain noticed there were some brush piles at the edge of the dock so I took a weightless, wacky rigged YUM Dinger and let it float down. Not 2 minutes later (the bait was only about 5-10' below surface) BAM! I felt that bugger hit and when I brought it up it took away my breath lol! Needless to say it was a cool experience to pass around and tell stories but it was worthless in the tournament. But I still had fun fighting that rascal and I was recognized as well!  

Just because you have a hard time in a tournament doesn't mean you are a bad angler. Look at me, there are plenty people better than me and I am learning everyday, you are obviously a better angler than me, you made it to the classic and I didn't, I came close, but I didn't make it!

I give you a pat on the back and clap of the hands!

God bless Ben and I hope your fishing is better in the future!   8-)

[Gatorbassman]

Who did you fish with?

[ben23]

hey guys........Thank you sooo much for your support. It really does mean alot, and is helping the whole self-esteem. I'm going to try my best at getting into the next year's competition....because it was the most amazing experience of my life

LBH- the camera is working great....and its not a half bad phone either... :wink:...I think the RI competetor for the younger division caught a nice 3 pounder the official day....Cady was her name?

And there was some other girl from RI....last name Broggi (do you know her?)........and she was there just for fun- not competing....

and I asked her if she knew someone with a red jon boat that said "low Budget hookers" on it.....and the gave me one of these :-?

haha she was pretty cool though....but apparently had no idea who you were.........maybe i should have told her your name........

anyway it was a great time down there, and i was able to meet a couple BR members at the weigh-in. The most amazing part was just being soo close and hanging out with the pro's.......last night KVD and MARK ZONA both asked me how my sandwhich was while i was eating at the restaraunt !!!

later that night a couple of the guys decided to start a casting competition in the middle of the lobby, starting off with about 3 of us.............by the end of the night.....there were 10 rods trying to cast into the same coffee mug..... at least 30 observers................Iaconelli and Skeet Reese were casting with us for well over an hour

i will include a fully detailed reprt with pics and whatnot within the next week.....haha school comes first though....

ben

ps: I had John Crews as my pro...he is a great guy

[eastkybass]

Congrats sounds like you had a great experince.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

That was Delainey Broggi (you in love Ben?) (Mikes daughter is very pretty)

Delainey is a top notch jr angler and a great kid overall.  She is currently running a fund raiser tourny for CAST for Kids in RI.  It is her final project for school.

Her dad Mike (stratosdadri) is the JR director for RI and my right hand man when it comes to getting things done with CAST here in RI.  Meeting that family this yr has been one of my true pleasures.  GREAT folks.

Mike also told me about the casting comp in the lobby.  As I understand it, IKE even put up a purse for the winner.

Kudos to the pros for giving these kids some serious attention.  They are required to do "X" amount but from the stories coming back, they went above and beyond.  Thanks guys!  You DO make a difference.

So,....................where's the pics Ben??  

ps- I think Cady went as Delaineys friend.  I don't think she competed this year, but I could be wrong.

[Sir Catch Alot]

sounds like fun...and u did good....i wish i would get to fish with john crews he's one of my favorite pro's

[ben23]

Yeah, she had spinnerbait blade earrings.........I considered asking her to marry me right then and there :

Cady was the one who fished, and Delainey was there watching.

Anyway, yeah...Ike was hanging with us for quite some time......i even untangled his line when he got it tangled with one of the other kids.

it was such an amazing experience.....too bad I decided to only hook up with one fish.......

BTW: I fished Guntersville today and had a 21 pound bag.........................why couldnt i do that on Logan Martin? :

ben

ps: ike put up about 20 or so $$$

probably 150$ was bet by the end of the night by various people......it was a whole lot of fun

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

(do you know her?)........and she was there just for fun- not competing....

and I asked her if she knew someone with a red jon boat that said "low Budget hookers" on it.....and the gave me one of these :-?

haha she was pretty cool though....but apparently had no idea who you were.........maybe i should have told her your name

lol

I don't use this monicker around any of the youth programs, especially in town.  BR is probably the only place you'll see the 2 mixed.  

Wait till I tell her...... ;D

[Bass Hole]

That was Delainey Broggi (you in love Ben?) (Mikes daughter is very pretty)

Be careful there see has a lot of protection if you ask her brothers girl friend she would say its the shady kind with crooked noses and garlic breath and cement shoes in there bass boats . 8-)

[BucketmouthAngler13]

Great job! You should sell that sandwich on ebay becuase KVD asked how it tasted! LOL (of course I supose it is in some septic tank right now ;D)

But really, you did great. Just getting to that point was somthing that I dream of. You did a splended job.

Next year your going to win all the $$$, and KVD is going to want your signature!

keep it up

Matt

[ben23]

Thanks guys!!!

LBH- yeah, tell her and see what she says......those earrings were the coolest things i have ever seen........

it was just great seeing the pros bascially everywhere i went.....the elevator......resteraunt.........lobby...everywhere

dont worry....pics will be up soon....let me finish cathcing them out of guntersville first!

[basser89]

Hey Ben,

Haven't been on a whole bunch lately. I just read your report. As the others said, those cold fronts can put a real damper on things for sure! Great job in boating the bass you did! You should be proud! Sounds like you had a blast with the off hours activities too. Glad you had a great time! Don't catch 'em all at guntersville (jealous I am! LOL!)!!!

[StatosDadRI]

Ben Buddy we need to talk. I sent her home. you coming back to the Classic? We need to go fishing in this nice little pond I know it's got some big fish. I take all Delaineys boy, friends there.

Just kidding ...........................maybe

[bighed]

That's the funniest thing I've seen in a while

[ben23]

Hey! nice talking to you on the phone today...if you dont already know, I am a sharkslayer:

if you guys are going tomorrow mourning....give me a call...i want to fish in that pond!

Bethany beach (surf) 2006:

bring it 8-)

[StatosDadRI]

We saw a nice 3-5 lber cruising.  Ok good comeback I'll give you that.  

[bigdog]

Sounds like you had a fantastic time. You did good Ben keep on keeping on, fight the good fight and go for the dream and make it your reality. go for it Ben.Congrats!!!