By Janet Parker
Phoenix outdoors columnist
October 13, 2006 12:19 am
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Most anglers don’t realize the United States has a professional bass fishing team, and it competes internationally.
Last week, Team USA competed in Ricobayo, Spain, bringing home their third consecutive Eurobass Cup.
The U.S. team beat the Europeans 14-10. Danny Correia of Marlborough, Mass., is also the individual champion, with a tournament total of 5,055 points.
The American team also consisted of team captain Byron Velvick, Lee Bailey, Jr., Ken Cook, John Crews, Brent Ehrler, O.T. Fears III, Anthony Gagliardi, Shaw Grigsby, Steve Kennedy, Aaron Martens and Fred Roumbanis.
The Eurobass Cup is organized through the Iberian Hunting and Fishing Week in Spain. The first tournament was in 2004 with the goal of bringing together anglers from the United States and Europe for a championship of quality and prestige.
The competition included anglers from France, Spain, and Portugal. Benigne Ampaud of France netted the tournament's biggest fish, a 1,660-gram fish (3.652 pounds) caught on day one of competition.
Results of Easing Restrictions Evident:
According to the National Wild Turkey Federation, more than 11,000 apprentice-hunting licenses have already been sold in two states that removed youth hunting barriers through the Families Afield initiative.
In Michigan, 9,145 apprentice licenses have been sold since Aug. 11, while more than 2,100 have been purchased in Ohio since Aug.1.
More than five million hunters in 11 states now have the opportunity to introduce their sons, daughters and other newcomers to the hunting tradition, according to the NWTF.
Using data from the Youth Hunting Report, the three organizations joined forces to remove youth hunting barriers across the nation through the Families Afield initiative.
Free Guide Available On Shooting Sports: A free, all-inclusive guide to the trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearm industry, published by the the National Shooting Sports Foundation, is now available. The guide is available to the general public.
It contains information on all of NSSF's programs and services, including its participation programs, hunter recruitment and retention efforts, consumer safety and conservation education programs and member services. It also includes a catalog of educational materials and a complete listing of all NSSF-sponsored Web sites.
"Whether you're a hunter, a shooter, or just curious, this guide is your resource for getting more acquainted with the wide range of programs and services NSSF has developed to ensure a positive future for our great American traditions," said Colleen Swain, NSSF manager of publications, safety and education services.
To order a free NSSF Resource Guide, contact NSSF's Safety and Education Services Department, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, Conn. 06470, call 203-426-1320, or e-mail literature@nssf.org.
Janet Parker is a Muskogee High School ex who is a professional bass fisherman now living in Texas. For questions or comments to Janet, e-mail her at girlangler@bellsouth.net.
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