BNF Event Results

[k.hanley]

After a year hiatus it was sure fun to be back.

Here's a quick look at the final numbers from yesterday's event.

...30 teams/60 contestants

...Big Fish = 6 lb. 13 oz. (Anthony Iaccarino)

...Ist Place Team/Holland & Green (combined for 12 lbs 7 oz) $1210

...2nd Place Team/Iaccarino & Marani $1150

...3rd Place Team/Seargent & Piper $730

...4th Place Team/Baisdan & Owens $460

...5th Place Team/Case & Strickland $330

...6th Place Team/Proto & Sanchez $200


Good fun. Great fellowship.
Once we get all the details crunched, we'll post a complete picture of the event.

We hope to see you folks next year!
Cheers, Ken

PS: I'm sorry if I didn't get the spelling on the names correct.

[Ed Wahl]

Hope you don't mind if I walk on your thread here Kenny. I took some pics and just thought I'd share what I learned.

First off, when you get 'volunteered' for one of Ken's gigs you're in for a pretty good time. It didn't hurt that Lee S. and Phil Synhorst were there also.
I'm a guy who's been against the idea of competive fishing since day one. I don't count fish, ever. Never liked even the idea of Bass Tournemants. But I gotta say, Ken's one hard guy to say no to and I like to think of myself as having an open mind.
So there I am, arriving at Buckley Cove in the wee hours of the morning, wondering just what the hell am I doing here anyway when I spotted Lee. I yukked it up a bit with Lee (which if you know Lee is a constant state of affairs with him) and checked in with KD and the gang. They gave me a two way and sent me out to greet and direct anyone else coming in. Hah. What a job. I stand around and yak with fly fishers then just say "head on over to the light". Charlie G. showed up and then it was just a BS session until his ride, Noel, showed up.
After the launching was done we staked out our turf and put up the banners and canopy.
This is the weigh in station long before anything happened.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney004.jpg

Then the waiting hours for the crew. We put up the banners and got the lunch stuff ready as much as we could then just had some hours to kill.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney005.jpg

I hit the side of the boat ramp for a couple of 'gills while we waited. If I'd of known just how this works I think I'd of brought my 'cat' and fished the marina a bit.
Here's the banners that we got up for the event.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney006.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney007.jpg

Once the teams started coming back in we got to work in earnest. One guy on the ramp to help direct, one guy at the turn, one guy right before the weigh station and of course the weigh in crew. A lot more manpower than what I would have guessed.
Here's Phil at the first turn from the ramp to the weigh in, he handed out the fish bags and gave instructions as to where to go.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney009.jpg

Then this guy, I wish I could remember his name, maybe someone will help me out, made sure one angler was out bagging the fish while one stayed behind the wheel. It was all designed to keep the line moving.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney010.jpg

This is the line waiting to weigh in.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney011.jpg

My job was running empty bags from the weigh in back to Phil to hand out, we re-use the same bunch of bags. Although I had to do a lot of running it allowed me so see everything from the bikini's on the ramp to the weigh in and even the release of the bass. Good call Ken, that was great.

So for regular guys who've never seen it here's how it works. The Bass are in live wells to start out. Then they're transferred by the anglers to plastic bags which also hold water. They have to put water in the bags then try to catch the bass in the livewells all over again. And the Bass always seem to have other ideas. The Bass in the bags are put in a sink and then transferred to an empty bag to be weighed. The fish bag is then put into the white basket which is on the scale and weighed. After that they are taken right down the bank and released.

Here's some shots of the weigh in.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney014.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney015.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney016.jpg

I'm not sure what's happening here but it looks like Hatch is wondering how a severed head got into his livewell.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney017.jpg
I think a caption contest may be in order here.

I was trying my best to stay out of John's way since he's a real photographer and all.

Some more weigh in shots. Remember, I was in a hurry running bags so I was taking these on the fly.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney018.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney023.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney024.jpg

My favorite team was determined right here.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney025.jpg

Kenny auditioning for American Idol. Or dancing with the stars. Or something. And John doing his thing.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Bass%20n%20Fly/basstourney029.jpg

It was a much more lighthearted event that what I'd imagined. We had some challenges at times but nothing big. I may have to revise my opinion of Bass Tourny's now. This was actually kind of fun. Probably not as fun as fishing in it but still okay. We had Lees' "Gourmet" dogs and burgers for lunch. If you don't think they were "gourmet", well, take that up with Lee. He's Italian you know.

Ed

[k.hanley]

Ed I enjoyed your post. Thanks again for joining the "Volunteer Team." It only took a little arm bending right?

Cheers, Ken

[Noel de Guzman]

Nice meeting and chatting with you out there Ed. Great post. It's neat learning what it takes to run the event from an insider's view. Great photos too.

[Hatch]

Ken, Kevin, Keith and John,
I just wanted to let you and your group of volunteers know how awesome the B-N-F was. There is nothing like it around in the fly fishing scene in the west and I greatly appreciate all of your efforts. My team mate and I had a blast. It is really a good and fun tournament. The chance to compete against some of the best LMB guys, and gals, around is both challenging and humbling. We got our buts kicked and still really enjoyed the whole experience. From the check in, inspection, blast off, weigh in and the BBQ and awards it was run like a well oiled machine. Congrats to Greg H and his partner on winning. Go G3s !! A metal boat guy kicks ass. That was great.
Thanks again to every one who was there, I will be back next year for sure.
HATCH

[k.hanley]

Noel and Hatch.................

Thanks for your continued support guys.

Cheers, Ken and BNF Team