The BFL All American Championship 2008

     We arrived in Little Rock early afternoon on Tuesday and are picked up by Ginger from FLW. We get to Hot Springs in about an hour and check into the Embassy Suites “WOW”, our room has a huge living room, separate bedroom and a little kitchen area. Registration is 4-5pm; we received travel checks and lots of stuff from our sponsors. Had a dinner with a few speakers, reviewing rules and then we are paired. Greg Rikard is my boater, a two-time All American qualifier, and we got all our tackle in the Z520 Ranger with a 250hp Yamaha motor “sweet ride”.

     Practice day is overcast but warm, we catch a few but Greg has covered his hook so the fish do not get stuck by the hook. Greg is moving fast, buzz bait and occasionally a jig. I am Carolina rigging and skipping Senkos at docks and seawall corners and steps.

     Day 1 of the tournament, it starts out overcast and the buzz bait is working for Greg. He boats two and then loses three in a row. I get one on a grass edge and another under a dock. We peck away at brush piles, docks and weed lines next to shore. We both get limits!

     Weigh-in time and I talk on stage with Charlie Evans, say Hi to Tucker and Shelley, who are watching on the Internet. I end up with 6lbs 6oz, for fifth place.

     I meet my next day partner, Ritchie Eaves, and he tells me we will be running the same pattern tomorrow as I did today.

     Back at the room, Bob Crino, boater from Eastern Division and a teammate from Vermont, talk about our day of fishing and hit the hay.

     Day 2 of completion, I talk to Ritchie and his goal is to make it up to 30^th or better, to cash a $10,000.00 check. I explain that if I stay in the top 10, so I can fish the finals, it would be great. We start in the same cut but on the opposite side and I boat 2 fish within an hour, I am very happy right now. Ritchie ask for a Senko and I gladly give him one. He boats a fish and has changed his boat positioning now. I am having a tough time getting many shots at the docks we are fishing. I get hung up a lot and break a pole in half trying to free a hook. It is a long time in between fish. Ritchie gets his fifth fish within 6 minutes to go. We make it to the check in boat just in time and load up. It is a very quite ride to weigh-in,  as I am sure I have lost my chance of staying in the top 10. I drop to 13^th with the 2 fish turned in, total of 8lbs 3oz. 10^th place is 8lbs 10oz.

      Next day, I head up to the Bath House Row and get the mineral Hot Springs Treatment. It sure is relaxing. As I sit on the porch, cooling down in the breeze, I talk to a Texas state trooper. He is a fisherman also and has largemouth record catch in Texas. Minutes later I notice Scott Suggs and the FSN camera crew approaching. Scott comes up and sits beside me, they film a little something about relaxing before and after a tournament. We talk for at least 10minutes. He picks up his $1,000,000  card board check and heads up the street for more filming. Oh yeah, by the way, he was the winner of the 2007 FLW Cup and the first man to ever win a single prize of $1,000,000.

     Feeling relaxed and ready for some excitement I head down to meet up with Bob. We hit the fun zone and talk to other competitors and sponsor representatives. We head to the arena for the final weigh-in. The National Guard performed the Colors and the National Anthem. Awards were given to several people and then the weigh-in starts. A Florida man wins the co-angler prize of $50,000 and a Virginia man wins the pro-angler prize of $100,000.

     Back to the hotel and we get slicked up for the banquette, prime rib and roasted turkey are the main dish. Charlie Evans gives us recollection of the last 25 years of this event and recognition to all deserving. We receive our trophies and checks, we start saying our good-bye. I talk to Scott Suggs and his wife, I tell her how I remember Scott busting out of the arena and shouting “who wants to go to dinner”. She tells me about 40 people joined them and closed the place down. Together they also tell a story about Flounder fishing the Woo Dave’s family, a very funny story.

     Bob and I head back to the hotel and socialize with Brian and Nicole from Illinois and Ron from Washington. Soon the champions are also over for some refreshments, also allot of fish talk!

     3:00am comes soon and 4:00am we are on our way back to Vermont and our families. I really think “our grass is a little greener”. Bob and I talk about all we have learned on our trip and the friends we have made. Thank-You VBF, TBF, BFL, FLW and All Sponsors for providing such a special time for all.

                                         Tim Austin

                                    Vermont Youth Director