Kansas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation

        Please search the kbcfn.com website for the information concerning the 2010 KBFN Youth Program silent raffle. The raffle is open to any KBFN member age 18 or older, and also to parents/legal guardians of KBFN youth members.

        Just a little history: At the Hillsdale qualifier I was asked by Richard and Laura Heflin if we would be interested in a donation from them in the form of a day fishing on a midwestern lake. The answer was of course "Yes", and now thanks to their generosity we have the auction ready for bids. Since our initial conversations centered around helping to fund KBFN youth angler Nick Luna's trip to the 2010 Junior Bassmaster World Championship, we anticipate spirited bidding will help significantly with the Luna's trip to Nationals.

        Feel free to tell other KBFN members etc. who may be prospective bidders. If you have any questions please email them to me. My plan is to answer them via email and also to post the question and answer in the kbcfn.com forum.

        Good luck with your bidding, and thanks for your support. Brad V.

Kansas BASS Federation Nation

To Benefit the KBFN Youth Program,

We are offering via silent auction the following one day fishing trip.

• Transportation to and from either Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, or Grand Lake in Oklahoma. Starting destination will be Topeka Kansas, or at any other mutually agreed upon site. Date of the trip is scheduled for October 23^rd, 2010. If mutually agreed, other dates are possible, but cannot be guaranteed.
• Fishing will be for eight (8) hours, starting time approximately 7am. The auction winner will be responsible for his/her own meals, drinks, tackle, rain gear, fishing permits/licenses, etc.
• Your fishing host for the event will be Laura Heflin.

o        The first Kansas resident to fish the Women’s Bass Tour.

o        Fished every WBT event from inception in 2005 until it closed in 2009. Best finish as a Pro was ninth in 2009 at Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville TN. Finished 26^th in AOY point in 2009.

o        Has been invited to fish the newly formed Lady Bass Anglers Association circuit premiering September 2010 at Lake Dardanelle Arkansas.

o        Currently fishing the Kansas Bass Buddy team circuit with her 12 y/o son, having 1^st and 4^th place finishes.

o        Was the featured angler of the week in February 2008 by ESPN. Also has been featured on WIBW TV, in articles in the Topeka Capital Journal, and in the March 2009 issue of Great Plains Game and Fish magazine.

o        Currently a member of the Flint Hills Bass Club, the co-coordinator of the Topeka JR Hawgs bass club, and is currently on the Pro-Staff at Bass Pro Shops of Olathe.

Bidding is open to KBFN members 18 years of age or older, as well as parents or legal guardians of KBFN youth members. The actual recipient of the “fishing trip” must be a KBFN adult or youth member. You may make one bid per calendar day beginning September 15, 2010 at 12:01am. No bids will be accepted after 11:59pm on September 30, 2010. The amount of the highest bid to date will be posted each evening at www.kbcfn.com. (Please be patient; we are running this on a volunteer basis, and the exact time of posting the highest bid may vary each evening.) To place a bid, email the amount of your bid along with your name, address, and phone number to both: pioneer@swko.net (Don Leatherman), and jeffnolte123@yahoo.com (Jeff Nolte). The winner will be notified via email. Please submit payment to: Larry Brumley, 3430 S.E. Buckeye St., Topeka Ks 66605-3075.

Kansas BASS Federation Nation

To Benefit the KBFN Youth Program,

We are offering via silent auction the following one day fishing trip.

• Transportation to and from either Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, or Grand Lake in Oklahoma. Starting destination will be Topeka Kansas, or at any other mutually agreed upon site. Date of the trip is scheduled for October 23^rd, 2010. If mutually agreed, other dates are possible, but cannot be guaranteed.
• Fishing will be for eight (8) hours, starting time approximately 7am. The auction winner will be responsible for his/her own meals, drinks, tackle, rain gear, fishing permits/licenses, etc.
• Your fishing host for the event will be Laura Heflin.

o        The first Kansas resident to fish the Women’s Bass Tour.

o        Fished every WBT event from inception in 2005 until it closed in 2009. Best finish as a Pro was ninth in 2009 at Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville TN. Finished 26^th in AOY point in 2009.

o        Has been invited to fish the newly formed Lady Bass Anglers Association circuit premiering September 2010 at Lake Dardanelle Arkansas.

o        Currently fishing the Kansas Bass Buddy team circuit with her 12 y/o son, having 1^st and 4^th place finishes.

o        Was the featured angler of the week in February 2008 by ESPN. Also has been featured on WIBW TV, in articles in the Topeka Capital Journal, and in the March 2009 issue of Great Plains Game and Fish magazine.

o        Currently a member of the Flint Hills Bass Club, the co-coordinator of the Topeka JR Hawgs bass club, and is currently on the Pro-Staff at Bass Pro Shops of Olathe.

Bidding is open to KBFN members 18 years of age or older, as well as parents or legal guardians of KBFN youth members. The actual recipient of the “fishing trip” must be a KBFN adult or youth member. You may make one bid per calendar day beginning September 15, 2010 at 12:01am. No bids will be accepted after 11:59pm on September 30, 2010. The amount of the highest bid to date will be posted each evening at www.kbcfn.com. (Please be patient; we are running this on a volunteer basis, and the exact time of posting the highest bid may vary each evening.) To place a bid, email the amount of your bid along with your name, address, and phone number to both: pioneer@swko.net (Don Leatherman), and jeffnolte123@yahoo.com (Jeff Nolte). The winner will be notified via email. Please submit payment to: Larry Brumley, 3430 S.E. Buckeye St., Topeka Ks 66605-3075.

Results from the 10th annual big bass challenge can be found on our website at www.haysbassanglers.com We had 53 boats and we're shooting for 70+ next year.  We would like to thank all of our anglers and our sponsors who have made this a great annual event. 

     Congratulations to the 2010 KBFN Youth State Champions. Senior division winner Tyler Hetzel, of the Kickback club, weighed in with 834 pts. He also had the big fish of the day, a 3 lb smallie. In the Junior division Austin Bray, of the McPherson club, weighed in with 655 pts. Second place anglers (and the alternates) were Sr division Sam Starr of McPherson, and Jr division Nick Luna of Kickback.

     The tournament was at August 22 at Melvern lake and lasted from 7am to 1pm. The day started with fog that lasted until about 8am. After that a nice 10 mph breeze settled in. By weigh in the temperature was 90 and the skies were basically cloudless and blue.

     After the tournament the anglers, boaters, families and guests were treated to grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, chips, and cookies. I’d like to give a special thanks to Phil Hamilton of Pepsi-Cola of Coffeyville for providing the bottled water, Gatorade, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and other assorted soft drinks..

     The winners each received a fishing pole provided by Melvin Smoot, a certificate good for 10 Fitzwater jigs of their choice, and a certificate good for 5 of Matthew Smoot’s custom painted crank baits. The winners can redeem the certificates at a latter date when they know where the divisional is going to be. This way they can have baits that match their fishing style, the lake, season etc.

     I’d like to say thank you to Jeff Nolte, Matt Lynch, Martin Mazur, and Lisa Starr (and I know I’m missing some) for their help. Thanks Melvin for all you do behind the scenes. Finally, thanks to the boaters who donate their time, boats, and expertise for the youth anglers; the youth club leaders who donate their time to make the clubs available to the youth anglers; and all the anglers parents and family who support their kids in their angling efforts. Thanks, Brad V.

I will see you there Brad.

Martin Mazur

Just a few reminders.

1.  We will be going out of Eisenhower State Park, this is a daily fee area. The pay station is about 1/4 mile into the park, the first building you come to, I'm almost positive..

2.  We will use the east ramp, it's capable of launching multiple boats at once.

3.  I plan to be at the ramp before 6am. Please have the boaters and anglers check with me as soon as they arrive. I would like to have the pre-tournament meeting started by 6:15am.

4.  As soon as the boaters and anglers are paired they are free to prepare to launch. Once launched the boaters/anglers are free to head to their first fishing area, but cannot begin to fish until 7am. I will use standard cell phone time.

5.  I am not going to mandate any patches, insignia etc. I will say that my intention is to take a few pictures, write up a story, and submit a picture and story to BASS for hopeful publication. Please ask your anglers to carefully consider what they are going to wear. Club shirts are cool.

Thanks, Brad V.

Reminder to get your big bass entries in before August 16th to be in before the late entry fee.

80% payout, 2 overall big bass spots paid and hourly cash prizes for fish placing in the hour, free pulled pork bbq at awards ceremony.

Please read through our list of sponsors and patronize them as much as possible when you come to town as we couldn't pull this off without them. Also--a huge thank you to all of you who fish our tournament and help make it a success. Our proceeds go towards youth projects and conservation. In the past ,we endowed a Fort Hays State University scholarship that helps an FHSU fisherie's biology major. Again--please check our list of sponsors below. Thanks!

Waddell and Reed, Inc. Michael Schaffer (800) 450-9654

AmericInn Lodge and Suites ---- special rates for Big Bass Challenge---mention this when calling Boat hook-ups Indoor heated pool/sauna/whirlpool Free in-room internet, hot breakfast & HBO (785) 483-4200

Equity Builders -- Nick Brown Residential and commercial construction (719) 248-4905

Tj's Alignment and Repair, WaKeeney Tune-ups to overhauls over 32 years experience "Best Darn Shop in Town" (785) 743-5854

Casey Design Web Hosting Web Desing and Hosting caseydesign.com

Hayden Outdoors--Tom Hill Agricultural and Recreational Properties (785) 764-0782

Russell County Convention & Visitors Bureau Visit Russell County (785) 483-4000

Heartland Building Center "We take your building needs to heart" Hays-Russell-Stockton Serving you since 1892

Wholesale Flooring--Dave Brin For all your flooring needs (785) 650-1630

Advantage Glass Plus Windshield replacement & repair. Pickup toppers & bed covers.

Meridy's Restaurant & Lounge Full Menu--Daily Buffet Great Steaks--Drinks Russell Exit (785) 483-4300

Dean Ellner Realty Inc. --Rocky Feltis Rocky Feltis---Hays (785) 628 -8268 (800) 286-8268 "The best place in town to find the best place in town"

Southside Convenience Sportsman's one stop for gas, snacks, ice, tackle and live bait. A Bass Pro Shop authorized dealer. 703 S. Vine in Hays

RSC Equipment Rentals small and large equipment rental 1100 Vine St. (785) 623-4300

Kistler Rods Fishing never felt so good kistlerrods.com

Vanderbilts of Hays Fishing and Hunting Supplies "Your work boot center"

 S&W Supply Federated Auto Parts IDC Industrial

Please see the following news that will go to the media later today. We realize this will generate some additional questions, but we wanted to share what we can at this time. We will do our best to keep you informed with any additional news as we can.

August 3, 2010

ESPN Reaches Agreement in Principle to Sell BASS

ESPN Inc., announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement in principle to sell BASS, LLC to a group of investors led by Don Logan, Jerry McKinnis and Jim Copeland.

BASS is the largest membership organization of bass anglers in the U.S. with more than 500,000 members.  It was purchased by ESPN in 2001 and includes several media platforms, including three magazines and a popular web site. 

The purchasing party will assume ownership of all BASS’ assets after the completion of the sale.

“The investor group, with its enthusiasm for the brand, will continue to serve BASS’ interests with anglers,” said Traug Keller, ESPN senior vice president, production, business divisions.

As part of the agreement in principle, BASS’ core television programming assets – the Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Classic – will remain on ESPN networks. 

Investor and outdoorsman McKinnis has a long history with ESPN as the host of the network’s second longest-running show, The Fishin’ Hole, which aired from 1980 until 2007.

Retired Time Inc., executive and avid angler Logan at one time oversaw Time Inc., America Online, Time Warner Cable and the Time Warner Book Group before his retirement from the media giant in 2002.

Georgia native Copeland retired as U.S. and Global CEO of international financial services firm Deloitte in 2003 and currently serves on the board of directors of three Fortune 500 companies.

“I am eager to begin working with the anglers, sponsors, and supporters to bring an even more exciting BASS business to its fan base,” said McKinnis. 

“This group is looking forward to working with the fishing industry’s strongest brand and plans to make BASS even more relevant in the multimedia world,” said Logan.

Until a sales transaction is finalized, BASS will continue to operate under ESPN’s ownership.