Bassmaster Juniors and Pros Paired for New York

2008 Junior Bassmaster World Championship Pairs Youth with Bassmaster Elite Series Pros on New York's Onondaga Lake


As the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series season comes to a close with the climactic Trail to the Trophy and the crowning of the 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year at this week’s Champion’s Choice on Oneida Lake out of Syracuse, N.Y., one more round of thrills will be added to the tournament mix as the Junior Bassmaster World Championship takes place Sunday, Aug. 10, just down the road at Onondaga Lake out of Liverpool, N.Y.
On Friday, Aug. 8, at 8 p.m. ET, kids from two divisions of junior anglers will be paired with Elite Series pros at the Bassmaster Elite Series weigh-in stage at Oneida Shores County Park in Syracuse. The teams will then spend a day having fun on the water and practicing Saturday, Aug. 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Ninety-three junior anglers will compete in the World Championship in two age groups: 11-14 and 15-18. Along with the amazing experience of being able to fish with a professional, the junior anglers will compete for a piece of a scholarship prize pool totaling $23,000.
In 2007, South Africa’s Jeffrey Toplis, 14, and Kentucky’s Kalem Tippett, 17, persevered through chilly temperatures and gusting winds on Alabama's Logan Martin Lake to win the fourth annual Junior World Bassmaster Championship in their respective age divisions.
Onondaga Lake is located on the outskirts of Syracuse, N.Y., and is 5 miles long and 1 mile wide. Just south of Lake Ontario, Onondaga has an area of 4.6 square miles and plenty of smallmouth bass for the taking. Many locals consider the lake a secret “hot spot.”
Fourteen-year-old Junior Bassmaster World Championship competitor Justin Rollans of Little Rock, Ark., fished the lake in June.
“I hope to have very good results,” Rollans said. “I’m hoping to get my limit on the smallmouth in the morning and then later on in the afternoon find some largemouth to increase my weight.”
Rollans’ strategy will be to use worms in the morning and then change to jigs in the afternoon.
Rollans isn’t the only junior angler with a carefully crafted plan for the championship – 16-year-old Christian Johnson of Iron Station, N.C., said he’ll use a jig or something slow, and promises that he’ll be “going for the largemouth!”
What Johnson and the rest of the field are most looking forward to, however, is the experience. Johnson has been fishing for seven years and said he can’t wait to just take in the 2008 Junior Bassmaster World Championship.
“I’m excited to fish with an Elite pro,” Johnson said. “It’s just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
About BASSFor 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multi-media platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in Bassmaster.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content – from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage – to passionate audiences.The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Classic, the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS sanctions more than 20,000 events annually.BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 525,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.-30-Media contact: Doug Grassian, (407) 566-2216 or doug.grassian@espn.com or Anthony Bartkowski, (407) 566-2135 or anthony.a.bartkowski@espn.com Age group: 11-14
Josh Abernathy, Estacada, Ore.
Wesley Allensworth, Hannibal, Mo.
Cole Bowen, Colony, Kan.
Drew Brantley, Gaston, S.C.
Max Brovarney, Wauwatosa, Wis.
William Brown, Wetumpka, Ala.
Nick Deering, Portland, Maine
Dean DeWet, Kirstenhof, South Africa
Nicky Diamandas, Oak Ridge, N.J.
Nick Dietrich, Fork, Md.
Ryan Edwards, Stuart, Fla.
Brett Ellis, Hattiesburg, Miss.
Alec Engleman, Milton, Pa.
Michael Evers, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
Chase Frechette, Flushing, Mich.
Garath Fulks, San Angelo, Texas
Hunter Gaines, Wittman, Ariz.
Noah Garnica, Potomac, Ill.
Bryan Golding, Pleasant Valley, N.Y.
Justin Isaacs, Moorseville, N.C.
Dakota Jones, Mead, Wash.
Robert Jones, Battle Mountain, Nev.
Lane Kemper, Olive Branch, Miss.
Logan Latuso, Gonzales, La.
Jacob Lorea, Magnolia, Del.
Jordan McMorris, Bloomfield, N.M.
Brody McWilliams, Greenwood, Ind.
Ryan Mezenen, Clinton, Utah
Dakota Nelson, Anamosa, Iowa
Blaine Newman, Kalispell, Mont.
Chris Pottts, Carmichael, Calif.
Dylan Pounds, Houston, W.Va.
Dylan Ralph, Thornton, Colo.
Jared Raymer, Brandenburg, Ky.
Travis Rockett, Intervale, N.H.
Justin Rollans, Little Rock, Ariz.
Zach Rubendall, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Brad Schaefer, Omaha, Neb.
Lowell Turner, Bradford, R.I.
Richard Vespa, Millis, Mass.
Mitchell Willis, Lincoln, Va.
Benjamin Winge, Chaska, Minn.
Zach Zeno, Southbury, Conn.
Age group: 15-18
Zach Alexander, Salt Lake City, Utah
Chaz Antos, Wickenburg, Ariz.
Joshua Bender, Lakewood, Colo.
Bryce Breslin, Dunedin, Fla.
Zach Brooks, St. Joseph, Ill.
Sam Chavez-Strickler, Castleford, Idaho
Seth Davis, Decatur, Tenn.
Jordan Decker, Clarkson, Ky.
Tyler Dennis, Shawnee, Okla.
William Dionisio, New Fairfield, Conn.
Jacob Dugan, Townsend, Del.
Charl Engelbrecht, Auckland Park, South Africa
Blake Gillispie, Cascade, Va.
Brett Glodfelter, Nescopeck, Pa.
Jordan Graham, Center Point, Iowa
Matthew Gray, Bryant, Ark.
Justin Hamner, Northport, Ala.
Kyle Harrigan, Bradley Beach, N.J.
Daniel Hoffman, Chester, N.Y.
Ryan Jimenez, Elko, Nev.
Christopher Johnson, Ocean Springs, Miss.
Christian Johnson, Iron Station, N.C.
Frank King, Summerville, S.C.
Nate King, Dayton, Maine
Derek Kuntz, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Eddie Levin, Westerville, Ohio
Steven Littlefield, Abington, Mass.
Andrew Loberg, Rocklin, Calif.
Douglas McClung, Gramercy, La.
Colt McMahan, Tecumseh, Okla.
Sam Nelson, Hutchinson, Kan.
John Newman, Oregon City, Ore.
Colton Nichols, Howard, Ohio
Joseph Parker, Commerce Township, Mich.
Matt Peed, Tyndall, S.D.
Aaron Pounds, Houston, W.Va.
Jacob Pyzer, North Platte, Neb.
Robert Rahm, Bloomfield, N.M.
James Richardson, Alton, N.H.
Ryan Rogers, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Brad Rutherford, Lavonia, Ga.
Branson Schmidt, Greenacres, Wash.
Benjamin Sharpton, Hartwell, Ga.
Halden Smith, Missoula, Mont.
William Staley, Smithsburg, Md.
Austin Terry, San Angelo, Texas
Daniel Tuite, Pawtucket, R.I.
John Weber, Hampshire, Ill.
Jacob Wheeler, Indianapolis, Ind.
Dalton Wilson, Houston, Mo.