BASS FISHINGBass Fishing Sports Blog

The Primitive Quartet will perform in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at Refuge Baptist Church, 30 Oleta Road, Dana.

The Candler-based quartet has been traveling and singing gospel music for 36 years. It formed when members of the group sang around a campfire on a fishing trip. They realized they had the makings of a four-part harmony group and began singing at their home church and other local churches. The group travels 50,000 miles a year.

The music is traditional mountain shape note-style singing accompanied by acoustic instruments, including the mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitars and acoustic bass.

There is no admission charge; a love offering will be taken. Info: 828-685-8544.

Tryon artists show works

The Tryon Painters and Sculptors members’ show will run through Nov. 5. The gallery, at 26 Maple St. in Tryon, is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Info: 828-859-0141.

BC’s “Taming of the Shrew”

The Brevard College theater department will present Shakespeare’s comedy “The Taming of the Shrew” Oct. 20-23 in the Morrison Playhouse at the Porter Center for Performing Arts.

Tickets are $5. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Oct. 20-22 and 2 p.m. Oct. 23.

Couple performs folk music

Gingerthistle will perform at 4 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness, 1905 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock.

The group, husband and wife Ben Seymour and Becky Cleland, will sing traditional Celtic and Appalachian folk music accompanied primarily with dulcimer, banjo, bones and acoustic guitar.

A love offering will be accepted. Info: 828-693-9783 or 828-698-2357.

Chinese acrobats return to Asheville

Asheville Bravo Concerts has announced its 2011-12 season. The series will open at 4 p.m. Oct. 23 with an encore performance of the National Acrobats of China.

Since 1932, Asheville Bravo Concerts has offered internationally acclaimed performers of classical music, opera and ballet for Western North Carolina audiences. in 2009, the Acrobats performed to a sold-out crowd.

All shows take place at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Tickets and info: 828-225-5887, ashevillebravoconcerts.org.

Dogs, presidents say ‘cheese’

Diana Walker, award-winning Time magazine White House photojournalist, will host a talk “Public and Private: Twenty Years of Photographing the Presidency,” at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Bo Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College. a book signing for “The Larger Picture: Thirty Years of Portraits” will follow.

The session is part of the “Wags to Riches” fundraising weekend events sponsored by the nonprofit Blue Ridge Humane Society. Walker will be a judge in the “Give us Your Best Shot” pet photo contest.

Tickets are $10 and tax deductible.

Trio to play chamber music

The Andoin Piano Trio will present a concert of chamber music at 3 p.m. Oct. 23 at First United Methodist Church, 325 N. Broad St. in Brevard. a reception will follow.

The Asheville-area trio will perform classical works by Buxtehude, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and Ravel. The concert is sponsored by the Beulah McMinn Zachary Memorial Foundation, a trust that underwrites the overall maintenance and special activities of the FUMC’s pipe organ, chapel organ and harpsichord.

The event is free, but donations will be welcome. Info: 828-883-8965.

SOME OF KEITH FRASER’S best friends are birds, and he has names for them all.

Fraser, the 74-year-ancient salt who runs the Loch Lomond Live Bait shop, has a flock of favorites that he feeds daily. Snowy egret Pee Wee, black-crowned night heron Sylvester, fantastic blue heron Nasty Jr. and western gull Crybaby, among others, patrol the dock, line up for snacks of live perch and attract bird lovers from across the region.

Fraser, who wrote a book on sturgeon fishing, founded United Anglers of California and in 1983 organized a flotilla of 150 boats to protest dredge spoils dumping off Alcatraz, has provided bait, gear, fishing advice and a “catch and release” philosophy from his San Rafael shop for four decades. The former longtime baseball coach at San Rafael High School takes pride in being inducted into the Marin County Athletic Hall of Fame and the California Outdoor Hall of Fame.

Q: Why do you love birds?

A: Birds are fantastic company. they all have their own personality. they treat our bait shop like a cafeteria. If our resident birds don’t like what’s in the outside tanks, they’ll just walk into the shop and serve themselves. I never get tired of the show. If we could teach them to make change and answer the phone, they could run the shop.

Q: What’s the greatest threat to birds, marine creatures and other bay wildlife?

A: Excessive water export. For many years we have battled the misinformed politicians who wish to cram the Peripheral Canal down our throats. It’s incredible to learn of the devious schemes of those individuals who covet every last drop of northern water.

Q: How’s the fishing been?

A: Striped bass fishing is hot. The world’s worst angler could catch a bass right now. Halibut and salmon inside the bay at Cal City get a fair rating. big minus tides should provide brilliant sturgeon action.

Q: what should be done to crack down on poachers?

A: Tough judges who know the severity of the impact that poaching can have on our sports fisheries are a necessity.

Q: Are bay fish safe to eat despite warnings from state health officials about toxic pollutants?

A: Yes. The bay is reportedly cleaner now than at any time in the last 50 years. I’ve never heard of anyone getting sick from eating fish from the bay.

Q: what do you do when you’re not out fishing or tending the bait shop?

A: I follow the local high school teams along with college and pro.

Contact Nels Johnson via email at

FORECLOSURE PLOY Lobbyists for the banking industry are pushing for legislation that would limit homeowners? access to Florida courts in order to fight foreclosures. several Republican lawmakers, as well as Gov. Rick Scott, have expressed interest in the proposal that would make it simpler and faster for banks to foreclose on homes. this is a disgraceful thought intended to hurt people and help the banking industry.

EXECUTIVE WANTED The town of Southwest Ranches is accepting applications to fill its vacant town administrator position. The job became open with the death of administrator Charlie Lynn this past summer. The scandal-plagued town is located in the southwestern edge of Broward County. Palm Beach County UNDER CONTRACT Venus Williams? interior design company, VStarr Interiors, has been awarded a contract to design and outfit the model residences of the super swanky One Thousand Ocean condominiums. The one-tale residences, penthouses and multi-tale villas are being constructed on the beach in Boca Raton. The units will be priced from $3 million to $15 million each and the models Williams? firm will design are expected to entice buyers. MILITARY MILESTONE Michael Calhoun is now a Florida National Guard brigadier general. He becomes the first black general in Florida National Guard history. Calhoun, from Lake Worth, joined the Guard in 1977 as a private and worked his way up to general. He is a pharmacist and military medic and also has a master?s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. Broward County DOMESTIC ARSON? Shawanda Robinson, 28, is facing one count of arson for allegedly setting her boyfriend?s shirt on fire during an argument at their Tivoli Park apartment in Deerfield Beach. The blaze got out of control and, minutes later, the entire apartment was? ablaze. No one, including two infants who were home at the time, suffered any injuries. Residents in seven adjoining units were displaced due to smoke and fire damage. RUNNING AGAIN Assistant Public Defender Olga Levine will challenge County Court Judge Leonard Feiner for his seat. Defense attorneys have quietly whispered that Feiner sides with the insurance industry in lawsuits. this will be Levine?s second run for a judicial seat. she ran unsuccessfully against Broward Circuit Court Judge Jack Luzzo in 2010. COP CLEARED former Fort Lauderdale police officer Jason Maldonado has been cleared of wrongdoing in the case of a drug dealer he arrested and carried on an affair with at the same time. The dealer was caught in a reverse sting and allegedly possessed enough cocaine to be charged with trafficking. a trafficking charge could have led to a life sentence if the case was transferred to federal authorities. The dealer agreed to cooperate and reached a plea deal. South Florida Times reported she was able to avoid jail time by entering a court program intended for addicts charged with minor drug possession for personal use. Following that report, prosecutors opened an investigation into Maldonado and the circumstances surrounding the plea arrangement. Assistant State Attorney Jeanette Camacho wrote in a memo closing the case that prosecutors were aware of the amount of cocaine the dealer possessed. DEPUTY CHARGED Last week, Broward Sheriff?s deputy Brent Wooddell was arrested for allegedly stealing money confiscated from what he thought was a drug bust. It was really a reverse sting that targeted him. Wooddell was highly regarded by BSO brass but, according to sources, he worked under a cloud of suspicion for years. more on this later. BILLING MATTERS Earlier this year Hezekiah Jones complained about receiving a $900 water bill for a closed account at a home he moved out of years ago. City of Deerfield Beach officials have yet to provide an explanation, but Jones is not alone. The city?s Finance Department has been quietly dealing with billing errors for its water, sewage, and garbage services. at present officials are quietly trying to reconcile dozens of accounts that received city services for years without ever being billed for them. It?s a mess, but the cat is out of the bag, so stay tuned. Miami-Dade County OUT OF BUSINESS after more than 26 years, the 14th largest landscaping company in the U.S. has planted its last tree and closed it doors. nearly 700 workers around the state have been laid off. Vila & Sons Landscaping filed for bankruptcy in August. Founder and President Juan Vila will watch as the company?s blue-and-yellow trucks and other equipment are auctioned off in October. The Miami-based company had locations throughout Florida, providing landscaping, grounds maintenance and construction services to cities, counties and private developments. at its height, the company grossed more than $50 million annually. POLICE CUTS The City of North Miami Beach has laid off 17 police officers after the police union and the city were unable to reach a wage and benefits agreement. City Manager Lyndon Bonner said the city?s finances were in much worse shape than expected when he took over several months ago and he warned he would lay off workers if no agreement was reached. North Miami Beach is facing a $7.5 million budget shortfall and 113 more officers could be let go in October. MAYOR CLEARED Homestead Mayor Steve Bateman has been cleared in a Miami-Dade State Attorney?s criminal investigation into electricity bills being waived by city officials. Homestead operates its own electricity plant and the director of the city?s billing department reported an incident to police alleging he was directed to wipe out a $10,000 bill for one person, under orders from then City Manager Sergio Purrinos. Purrinos told investigators the order came from Bateman. Photo: Elgin Jones

VAIL — Anthony Naranja doesn’t claim to be the best glide-fisherman in America. But he may very well be the most competitive.

Naranja, 40, serves as captain for Team USA, a tournament glide-fishing squad of five anglers representing the Stars and Stripes around the world in what amounts to the glide-fishing Olympics.

“I used to go glide-fishing to get away from stress,” the Cherry Creek dentist said. “But I think I’ve figured out a way to make it one of the most stressful parts of my life by taking it to the competitive level.”

Naranja and Team USA recently returned from the Sport Fishing World Championships in Italy, where they posted the best result by an American team in a quarter-century of glide-fishing competition on the international level by placing fifth, just 5 points from the bronze medal in the largest field of competitive glide-fishermen in the world. Not to be outdone, the U.S. Youth Glide Fishing Team, primarily out of State College, Pa., brought home the gold medal in the under-18 team competition behind a silver-medal individual effort of team member Dan Marino.

Both teams hope to build upon the momentum and bolster their reputation in Colorado this week at the fourth annual America Cup International Glide Fishing Tournament in Vail over the weekend. Naranja’s Team USA is the two-time defending champion at the tournament that moves to Vail after spending three years in Frisco.

About 70 anglers from Japan, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Canada and the U.S., including three youth teams and a women’s team, will compete for the Cup, fishing five three-hour sessions on Lake Nottingham, Sylvan Lake, the Colorado River and the Blue River in Eagle and Summit counties beginning Friday.

“It’s getting larger and larger,” tournament organizer John Knight of Minturn said. “It’s Year 4, and people are starting to get it. a big part of our mission is just to educate people, to bring this idea of tournament glide-fishing here and build up a savvy volunteer base. Ultimately, we want to be able to provide a venue so we can bid and solicit to have a world championship here.”

For various reasons, tournament glide-fishing has long struggled to find a secure spot on American soil. For many years, it was considered taboo to mention glide-fishing in the same conversation as other tournament disciplines such as bass fishing, Naranja said. and once the U.S. started fielding a tournament team at the world championships in the late 1980s, selection was often based on politics.

The results were less than remarkable, both overseas and at home. to date, the U.S. has hosted only one world championship, with the American team struggling to avoid finishing dead last in Jackson, Wyo., back in 1997.

“I think that (Jackson Hole tournament) was where things really changed, by looking at putting in a system to find anglers who do well in this format,” Naranja said. “It’s not about how much money you have or who you know anymore. It’s about finding the best competitive glide-fishermen in America now. and the results are starting to show.”

International competition abides by a different set of rules than a typical weekend warrior casting grasshopper imitations along the river banks. the FIPS-Mouche rules that the America Cup follows prohibit the use of strike indicators and split-shot weights, and require fishermen to fish a single, continuous leader (meaning a second glide cannot be tied onto the hook of the first).

It has taken some time for Naranja and his teammates to master the techniques required to be taken seriously in the international arena, and they are thankful for opportunities to practice in a competitive environment such as the America Cup tournament. Based on recent success, they believe they’ve achieved the first step toward their ultimate goal of placing an American team on the world championship podium, whether it’s here in the U.S. or not.

“That’s the motivation, and we’re close,” Naranja said. “I’m trying to build a dynasty.”

Thursday, 08 September 2011

Matthew McClellan and Tyler Fisher, collegiate anglers from the University of Texas at Tyler, laid claim to the first Ranger Cup University Fish-Off with their come from behind tournament victory over collegiate anglers from the University of Arkansas. the tournament, which took place August 25 and 26 on Texas' Choke Canyon Reservoir, pitted the two highest-qualifying teams from the FLW College Fishing Championship and the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing National Championship. McClellan and Fisher, who qualified for the expenses-paid competition by being the highest-finishing Ranger Cup University-qualified team in the FLW College Fishing Championship, weighed in five-fish limits in each of the tournament's three sessions. After losing the first session by .02 pounds, the University of Texas at Tyler anglers won session two and the two-hour-long, tie-breaking third session over Arkansas anglers Mook Miller and Kyle Billingsley, who qualified through the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing National Championship. “the final session started with us going over an hour without a bite,” said Fisher, who competed in this, his final collegiate fishing event, having graduated in the spring. “We were nervous at that point but we saw Arkansas scrambling around us, too, so we knew the bite was tough.” Fishing from fully-rigged Ranger Z521 Comanche bass boats, both teams competed in unseasonably windy and cloudy conditions throughout both days of the competition, which failed to yield some of the large bass for which Choke Canyon is known. “I don't reckon the fish had seen wind and clouds in so long that they were confused,” McClellan said. “They forgot that they are supposed to bite in those conditions.” the tournament is scheduled to appear on American Outdoors, broadcast on versus, during the third week of January. the competition will also be featured in 2012 during an episode of the soon-to-premier BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. “It was my last event, and to make it to the event was awesome – and to win it was really something special,” Fisher said. “Not to mention the fact that it will be televised on Americana Outdoors. as far as the cash and prizes, that's just a bonus. This trip was a once in a lifetime experience for all four of us that fished this week." Modeled after the most lucrative contingency program in the industry, the Ranger Cup, Ranger Cup University is open to collegiate anglers fishing in either FLW- or Boat US-affiliated competitions. Signup for Ranger Cup University is free and exclusively for collegiate anglers, regardless of which brand of boat they own. to remain qualified in the program, anglers need only adhere to clothing and decal requirements. the program also allows anglers to reap the rewards of a professionally run contingency program regardless of tournament results. and as part of the Ranger Cup University program, participants will be able to receive specially-discounted tournament gear through Gemini Custom Apparel, with no artwork or set-up fees. For more information on Ranger Cup University, to register and read all about the program guidelines, go online to RangerBoats.com.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 September 2011 )

I am moving down to South Carolina this year for college from Ky. next summer I plan on heading towards the coast for a summer job. I would like to maybe be a deckhand on a fishing boat. I will pretty much settle for anything around boats. Any advice on how I might get a job on a fishing charter? I dont have any experience with saltwater fishing (though I do fish for bass in freshwater a honest amount) but I am trying to get as excellent of a head start on this as possible. Thanks.

The tournament will start at the first safe light, until 3 p.m.

The registration fee is $80 per boat for early registration, or $95 per boat on the day of the tournament. There also is a $5 ramp fee on the day of the tournament.

The first-place boat will be awarded a $1,500 cash prize, with second place getting $750, third place taking $500 and fourth place $250.

A stainless steel gas grill, donated by Home Depot of Lake Wales, will be given away in a raffle drawing. And all pre-registered boats will qualify for a $100 cash prize drawing.

All proceeds from the Reel ‘Em in for Rotary Bass Tournament will benefit youth programs in the Lake Wales and Ridge area.

For complete rules and regulations or registration details, call Nigel Hill, 863-224-4081 or email .

LWMC Breast Cancer Awareness Walk scheduled

Lake Wales Medical Center’s Healthy Woman program is holding its fourth annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk on Oct. 8 in Lake Wales.

The walk will start and end at Kiwanis Park on Lakeshore Boulevard. Walkers will use the path around the lake, and can walk to the end of the path and back, or may choose to walk a shorter distance.

Check-in will start at 8 a.m. at the pavilions at Kiwanis Park, and the walk starts at 8:30 a.m. Door prizes and recognition of survivors will be held at 9:30 a.m. There is no charge to participate in the walk. Participants who register by Sept. 20 will receive a free T-shirt the day of the walk. Late registrants will receive a T-shirt, if available, on a first-come, first served basis at check-in the day of the walk. To register, visit LakeWalesMedicalCenter.com and click on Healthy Woman, or call 863- 678-2288.

Bob Evans restaurant in Lake Wales is donating breakfast snacks for the event.

Bach Festival remembers 9/11

The Bach Festival of Central Florida and Florida Southern College will present a 10th Anniversary 9/11 Commemorative Concert, at FSC’s Branscomb Auditorium at 4 p.m. Sept. 11.

The program will feature choruses, orchestras, bands and musical ensembles of all ages from schools, churches and communities from across the Ridge and Central Florida. the featured soloist will be Kimberly Milton.

This event is free and open to all.

Ridge author to speak at Lake Wales Public Library

The Lake Wales Public Library will present a program featuring local author George Dixon ‘Dick’ Chandley.

Chandley has penned a non-fiction book, “A Truce between Scientists and Religionists: from the Perspective of an Inventor.” Dorrance Publishing co. published the book.

Chandley’s book explores the history of this controversy tracing the modern discussion to the publication of Charles Darwin’s 1859 classic “Origin of Species.”

He has written a book that analyzes the origin of our universe and how humans and their unique brains evolved. the author shows how science and religion are the result of basic human instincts from prehistoric times.

Chandley was born and raised in Lake Wales. he retired in 2000 after an MIT education and a 47-year career in automotive and aerospace development and manufacturing. during his long career, he authored 44 U.S. patents.

Chandley will present his program and autograph his book in the Lake Wales Public Library’s Schoenoff Meeting Room Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

For details, call 863-678-4004, or visit the library’s online calendar at cityoflakewales.com/library.

School instructors receive archery certification

Robin Hood and his merry men were nowhere in sight, but 12 teachers from around Florida flocked to Hillcrest Elementary for a Basic Archery Instructors clinic on Aug. 20.

Among the archery students were Hillcrest staff members Debbie Knuth, Nancy Leatherland and Kim Bearden, who earned their certification.

The Hillcrest Archery Club has $2,000 of compound bows, targets, a drop net and more. the school collects aluminum cans to support the program, and a collection trailer is parked near the school’s front lot.

For details about Hillcrest Elementary, call Principal Barbara Jones at 863-678-4216.

Tina Peak’s “Tina’s Ridge” column appears each Sunday in the Accent section of the News Chief. Contact her with Ridge community news at .

I chose to go back to school to earn my associates in the medical field. My schooling took 2 yrs. and I had to quit my factory job to do my externship for 4 mos. it took me after graduation 8 mos. to find a job in the medical field. unfortunately, my pay in the medical field is less than what my factory job paid. As a result, hubby said it is my fault and it was my choice to go back to school and still made me pay everything for our 2 daughters (food, clothes, furnishing, sporting needs, school supplies and their school tuition etc). Oldest was in a travel ball that consisted of 8 weekends spending in hotels and buying food and gas. Hubby did not help pay for any of this. As a result, since I had no job and only getting minimum unemployment, I had to use all my 401k money to pay for all this. In the meantime, hubby bought groundbreaking new truck, bass boat, rv, 4-wheeler, and fished tournaments all 8 weekends that daughter had ball games. Now, he blames me for all our problems because I went back to school to get my degree without his official ok. I did not want to work in a factory for the rest of my life and not have an education to support me for the future.

I am a 27 year ancient male who recently graduated college and looking for entry level work in various fields. I currently live in Michigan and am not satisfied with the weather nor the terrible economy.

Vital factors in my choice:

-Warm climate year around (I honestly wouldn't mind never seeing another snowflake…but a light dusting once in awhile during the winter months isn't a huge deal)

-Hunting and Fishing opportunities (I bowhunt whitetails and small game, I fish for: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, musky, walleye and panfish) never saltwater fished but would like it.

-Secluded living but near major cities with various forms of entertainment (ie. pro-sports, shopping malls, movie theaters, golf clubs ect)

-Low crime

-Lots of job opportunity

-Safe from all natural disasters (ie hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes)

Long tale small I want to live somewhere that is warm year round..offers numerous excellent fishing and hunting opportunties and has a growing job market and solid housing market.

Anyone have an suggestions or input?

Las Vegas / Arizona both a growing city's with warm weather year round not shure about the fishing though sure you can find a good spot in either

It sounds like you're looking for Utopia. I'm not sure you will find anywhere that will meet ALL your requirements. which are you willing to compromise on.

Orange County is a good place only 1hr from L.a

I am a touring angler and the President of the Twin States Junior Bass Club and I would like to find a college in Tennessee that has a fishing club. one that has access to FLW tournaments.

well if u look up a bunch of sites on the colleges you'll be able to find some with a bass club. hope this helps!