Carver earns top angler in two area bass clubs

Carver earns top angler in two area bass clubs

Oct. 19, 2000

STAFF REPORT

Mike Carver of Cortez earned "Top Angler of the Year" awards by two area clubs recently. He was named that honor by both the Four Corners Bassmasters and Cortez Bass Club.

Carver took the official title when he won the top point standings from participating in fishing tournaments. There were eight tournaments fished this year. Points were accumulated by what place an angler finished in each event with the heaviest of five fish limit, winning first place in each event.

For the Cortez Club, Carver placed first, followed by Bud Hall, J.C. Baker, and Guy Steigelmeyer. Baker caught the largest fish of the year. Len Hartley was named the non-boater fisherman of the year.

Carver finished fourth in a recent jackpot tournament, but it was enough to earn him the claim to this year’s top angler title. He caught five fish weighing 4.73 pounds at Navajo Lake. He barely beat out Andy Robinson.

The two men had ended the regular fishing season tied at the top of the season points standing for the Four Corners Bassmasters. The jackpot fish served as a regular tournament as well as a fish-off between the two top anglers.

The tournament was the last official tournament of the year for the Four Corners Bassmasters. The area fishermen will resume the area’s next tournament trail this month.

The Cortez Bass Club recently hosted its annual Casting Kids Competition.

Skyler Schrage won the 11-14 age division with a score of 120 points. Jami Cheney won the 7-10 group with a 90 score.

Casting Kids contest is designed to test their basic fishing skills, to have fun, and provide them with an activity they can enjoy for a lifetime. Bassmasters’ Casting Kids is the nation’s most successful youth fishing program.

It is open to children in age groups of 7-10 and 11-14. The goals of the competition are to involve America’s youth in fishing, to foster in each participant an appreciation and concern for the great outdoors, and to make sure they just have fun.

The competition works similar to the longstanding National Football League’s Punt, Pass, and Kick competition. Only the challenge for this contest is to cast, pitch and flip, the three basic fishing techniques.

Under the guidance of B.A.S.S. Chapters and State Federations, local, state, regional and national competitions are held. The national semifinals and finals will be held at the 2001 Bassmasters Classic in spring, 2001.