Latest News
Lake Amistad and TPWD fizzing video
Shawn Denny sent all of us a great video on fizzing Largemouth Bass from TPWD at Lake Amistad. The link follows and I know I will go back to side fizzing as it definitely seems the better method. You can access the video by clicking here.Fan Favorites
I received a thank you email from Laura during last years Championship and thought I would share it with all of you. The website has proven to be a great means of communications for anglers like Buddy and Mary Sanford who missed their first championship after 26 years of attendance and Jeff and Sheri Jorde but also friends of anglers and friends of friends of anglers. The thank you goes as this...
"Several friends compete in your organization. Wish I was one.
With all the violence on the border we begin to look for other alternatives.
I look forward to getting information from angelers on Grand Lake.
I'm emailing to thank you for the update. I know it takes time from retieing
lures and gathering info from fellow competitors that can be critical to
your next fishing day.
Your organization continues to change as any living thing does.
Congratulation to the officers and members who overcome the political nature
of a club and the present economy.
Just a simple thanks and to let you know I am one of your fans of the
Suncountry Bass Association."
I know Ranger boats is instrumental in keeping this circuit together but at least we know all of us have built a little more into it over the years.
New Web Site Launched
Welcome to your new website, we hope you find it informational and helpful. We encourage your input towards making it even better so please contact a director to give any and all thoughts towards improvement. A special thanks to my friend Ryan Fritz at RYNO Technologies as his input and the addition of some analytics should prove very helpful to all of our sponsors.
Welcome to the Sun Country Bass Web Site
2012 Schedule - Final/Final answer
The Ranger contract is back and signed. I am wanting to change the June date back 2 weeks since the Federation has gone to a 2 weekend 4 tournament format so that has to be finalized and then move Elephant Butte back 1 week so we are off Barry's UBT tournaments up at Navajo for those who want to fish both also. Once we change permits for those two dates we are good to go. I think I have finished tweaking the rules as I added a couple lines to cover things from last year as well as making sure everyone knows you have to fish 3 tourneys as a team to qualify to Championship. We are already confirmed with a permit for March 3rd and 4th at Amistad as you know and the Ramada will be the host. I have to finalize some things with Garry Bolstead but it is about 6 weeks away and I have a lot to finish. I appreciate those who have used the 2011 membership form as none of that has changes. 2012 forms are now on the Membership Page and I have been talking with new teams and things look good for 2012. Keep checking back for news and updates and for all the local tournaments amd schedules check Brian's site at AbqSportfishing.com
The Ranger contract is back and signed. I am wanting to change the June date back 2 weeks since the Federation has gone to a 2 weekend 4 tournament format so that has to be finalized and then move Elephant Butte back 1 week so we are off Barry's UBT tournaments up at Navajo for those who want to fish both also. Once we change permits for those two dates we are good to go. I think I have finished tweaking the rules as I added a couple lines to cover things from last year as well as making sure everyone knows you have to fish 3 tourneys as a team to qualify to Championship. We are already confirmed with a permit for March 3rd and 4th at Amistad as you know and the Ramada will be the host. I have to finalize some things with Garry Bolstead but it is about 6 weeks away and I have a lot to finish. I appreciate those who have used the 2011 membership form as none of that has changes. 2012 forms are now on the Membership Page and I have been talking with new teams and things look good for 2012. Keep checking back for news and updates and for all the local tournaments amd schedules check Brian's site at AbqSportfishing.com
2011 Championship
Championship Final Standings - Congratulations to Kenny Hansel and Bob Lechel on their First Place Finish at Championship. A little luck goes a long way and Day 2 gave them that with two late fish totaling 13 pounds that ultimately made the difference in their victory with a 3 day total of 54.44 pounds. Trent Huckabee and Bobby Brotherton made a late charge to take Second Place honors with Big Bass for the Day at 6.36 and an overall total of 50.65 pounds which also gave them First Place for Ranger Cup for the tournament. Third place with 50.47 pounds was Fritz Staver and Matt Abeyta, Fourth place with 49.26 pounds was Steve DelValle and Doug Stewart and rounding out the Top Five was Mike Chisum and Joe Bennet with 47.48 pounds coming from way back with a 21 plus pound sack. Congrats to John Myers Jr and Tyler Wilson on Angler of the Year as well as Ranger Cup Overall Champions. A special thanks to our Ranger Dealers Kevin Smith from Clovis NM and Jim and Gail Criswell from Del Rio TX for their support of the organization and participation. Overall Standings can be found here and a full recap can be linked to here.
Championship Day Two saw a change in leaders but the weather remained the same - sunny skies and calm winds. Kenny Hansel and Bob Lechel weighed in the Big Bass of the day at 7.99 pounds and took the overall lead with 40.81 pounds. Day One leaders fell off a little but still hold on to Second place overall with 36.10 pounds and Jim and Gail Criswell are still right there with 35.48 pounds and Third place overall. Trent Huckabee and Bobby Brotherton weighed in the large sack of the day with 21.75 pounds and Second Big Bass at 7.46 pounds moving him up to Eighth place overall. Fritz Staver and Matt Abeyta are in Fourth and Steve DelValle and Doug Stewart round out the Top 5. Overall Standings through Day Two are posted but winds 10 to 20 mph are called for on Friday which could change patterns again.
Championship Day One brought sunny skies and calm winds which was a dramatic change from the light rain and cloud cover over the past 3 days of pre-fish, which made for some changing conditions for the 45 teams. Although the sunshine and calm day made for tough fishing for some teams, a lot still found the fish including 2 fish over 10 pounds. Day one leaders Ray Gorman and Jimmy Liles had the second big bass of the day at 10.08 pounds for an overall weight of 26.14 pounds. Second place honors belong to Fritz Staver and Matt Abeyta with 22.49 pounds and third place including Big Bass of Day One of 10.88 pounds and 21.46 pounds overall were Jim and Gail Criswell. Bill McCoun and Walter Burnett are in 4th and Kenny Hansel and Bob Lechel round out the top 5. Overall Standings for Day One are posted with continued sunshine and calm winds forecast for the next 2 days.
Tech. Sgt. John Brown
Our heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to John Newlun and his wife Elizabeth over the passing of Liz's son, John. John served our country as a PJ and paramedic for the Air Force assigned to Seal Team 6 and was killed in Afganistan over the weekend. "Freedom isn't Free" is a slogan we take for granted until it hits close to home, and this surely does as John and 29 other soldiers with families paid the ultimate price for our freedom when the CH-47 they were in was shot down southwest of Kabul. He will be sorely missed by his friends, family and his wife Tabitha. John will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Tuesday evening August 16th at 6pm at the Harvard Ave Baptist Church in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. The YouTube link for John Brown has been re-posted so you can view it with music now, and if you are a Facebook person a page has been built in memory of John Brown here.
Amistad 2012
We will be returning to Amistad for sure in February so be sure to call Garry Bolstead the manager at the Ramada as he has extended the Sun Country Discount for rooms but you must book them through the hotel. Garry has asked you to call 830-775-1511and Request your special SUN COUNTRY RATE so you can receive the discount.
Send me your pictures and I will be sure to post them for all to see.
Championship Final Standings - Congratulations to Kenny Hansel and Bob Lechel on their First Place Finish at Championship. A little luck goes a long way and Day 2 gave them that with two late fish totaling 13 pounds that ultimately made the difference in their victory with a 3 day total of 54.44 pounds. Trent Huckabee and Bobby Brotherton made a late charge to take Second Place honors with Big Bass for the Day at 6.36 and an overall total of 50.65 pounds which also gave them First Place for Ranger Cup for the tournament. Third place with 50.47 pounds was Fritz Staver and Matt Abeyta, Fourth place with 49.26 pounds was Steve DelValle and Doug Stewart and rounding out the Top Five was Mike Chisum and Joe Bennet with 47.48 pounds coming from way back with a 21 plus pound sack. Congrats to John Myers Jr and Tyler Wilson on Angler of the Year as well as Ranger Cup Overall Champions. A special thanks to our Ranger Dealers Kevin Smith from Clovis NM and Jim and Gail Criswell from Del Rio TX for their support of the organization and participation. Overall Standings can be found here and a full recap can be linked to here.
Championship Day Two saw a change in leaders but the weather remained the same - sunny skies and calm winds. Kenny Hansel and Bob Lechel weighed in the Big Bass of the day at 7.99 pounds and took the overall lead with 40.81 pounds. Day One leaders fell off a little but still hold on to Second place overall with 36.10 pounds and Jim and Gail Criswell are still right there with 35.48 pounds and Third place overall. Trent Huckabee and Bobby Brotherton weighed in the large sack of the day with 21.75 pounds and Second Big Bass at 7.46 pounds moving him up to Eighth place overall. Fritz Staver and Matt Abeyta are in Fourth and Steve DelValle and Doug Stewart round out the Top 5. Overall Standings through Day Two are posted but winds 10 to 20 mph are called for on Friday which could change patterns again.
Championship Day One brought sunny skies and calm winds which was a dramatic change from the light rain and cloud cover over the past 3 days of pre-fish, which made for some changing conditions for the 45 teams. Although the sunshine and calm day made for tough fishing for some teams, a lot still found the fish including 2 fish over 10 pounds. Day one leaders Ray Gorman and Jimmy Liles had the second big bass of the day at 10.08 pounds for an overall weight of 26.14 pounds. Second place honors belong to Fritz Staver and Matt Abeyta with 22.49 pounds and third place including Big Bass of Day One of 10.88 pounds and 21.46 pounds overall were Jim and Gail Criswell. Bill McCoun and Walter Burnett are in 4th and Kenny Hansel and Bob Lechel round out the top 5. Overall Standings for Day One are posted with continued sunshine and calm winds forecast for the next 2 days.
Tech. Sgt. John Brown
Our heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to John Newlun and his wife Elizabeth over the passing of Liz's son, John. John served our country as a PJ and paramedic for the Air Force assigned to Seal Team 6 and was killed in Afganistan over the weekend. "Freedom isn't Free" is a slogan we take for granted until it hits close to home, and this surely does as John and 29 other soldiers with families paid the ultimate price for our freedom when the CH-47 they were in was shot down southwest of Kabul. He will be sorely missed by his friends, family and his wife Tabitha. John will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Tuesday evening August 16th at 6pm at the Harvard Ave Baptist Church in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. The YouTube link for John Brown has been re-posted so you can view it with music now, and if you are a Facebook person a page has been built in memory of John Brown here.
Amistad 2012
We will be returning to Amistad for sure in February so be sure to call Garry Bolstead the manager at the Ramada as he has extended the Sun Country Discount for rooms but you must book them through the hotel. Garry has asked you to call 830-775-1511and Request your special SUN COUNTRY RATE so you can receive the discount.
Send me your pictures and I will be sure to post them for all to see.