Ohio BASS Federation Nation Blog

The Thompson Family would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! As you gather with your friends and family these next few days, make sure too take the time and reflect on everything you have to be thankful for…

Now for a little OBFN update and “pep” talk!

As a lot of you already know, the Open meeting went off great! Attendance was a little above what we have had the past couple of years but still not the number that we would like to see. We are thinking that maybe moving it to the beginning of the year would help with attendance? If so, all voting would have to be done online or at a fall Zone Meeting. Either way, we can make it work!

I mentioned in the first paragraph about reflecting back, that’s what I would like to do now.

The past three years has definitely been a rollercoaster ride, starting with rebuilding from scratch. We all owe ourselves a “pat on the back” for getting this thing as far as we have today! It’s been a team effort from everyone involved! DJ and I were both on the BOD prior to the split and we heard numerous times about how the organization was not listening to the members, I hope we have proven that not to be the way of the OBFN. You can see by the number of changes we have made over the first three seasons that this is not the case. Maybe there was some “nay sayers” thinking the changes were that of not being able to get it right, if someone was thinking that, they were on the outside looking in, not a member. I’m glad to say, “I believe we finally have it right!” For 2009, the only changes that we have are that of an off-limits period prior to each tournament. Keep an eye on the website for the details!

Speaking of the website, WOW! Bret has done an outstanding job and if your club’s not taking advantage of what it has to offer, then shame on you! It’s built to be member friendly and everyone has the opportunity to advertise for themselves or their club at anytime! Go ahead and bury Bret with work, he loves it! The site has had over 1 million hits since Bret started it in March, wow! Could you imagine the numbers if it was everyones homepage!! Hint -hint

Without talking of how high our tournament payouts are, let’s look at what we have done overall. First we have taken and built something special from the “ground up.” We started out with nothing and now we have: state of the art weighin equipment, a new trailer w/stage, the best fish-care equipment and much more. Yeah, we don’t have a newsletter that goes out twice a year, could we? Yes, but the cost of doing such a thing is outrageous and we’ve promised from the word go that we would look hard at something before spending your dollars. Right now, it’s not the best “bang for your buck!” We have set a precedence among all the bass fishing organizations with our ODNR funding and grants. Our conservation efforts are at a level that the federation has never seen before in Ohio. Not only with habitat restoration but with the teachings of proper fish-care both with our members and the DNR. Recently the ODNR had a meeting where most bass organizations were invited to send a couple representatives and the topic of discussion was that of a three fish limit, paper tournaments and a 14″ size limit state wide. I can tell you this, we went in prepared thanks to our surveys on the website and Bob Townsend’s efforts of gathering up as much information against this as he could! Each attending representative had a vote on these issues. We all know that the old federation (now TBF) went to a three fish limit on Lake Erie years ago because they put on a bad event the previous year and the only way of making themselves look better was to do this, not thinking that it may eventually lead to something bigger. Voting on the issues was hidden but the TBF had two representatives and there was two votes in favor of the changes! You know me, I have never been one to take swings at them but you can use your own judgments on who voted for what! (2 attending - 2 votes)?????

Look at our youth program, never before has the junior members had total use of the weigh-in equipment nor have they had their very own tournament trail. They do now! We have also allowed them to compete with the adult program, mentoring them more than ever before! With the recent changes coming from BASS, they are now a part of our divisional state team! Mentoring them even more! We were told in the beginning by other states that we could not get enough volunteers to pull off a junior trail, the OBFN adults proved that wrong! At more than half of our junior events, we have turned boaters away! “Hat’s off to you guys for that!” With being the new YD, this season I have an idea for an additional program for our juniors that I think they’ll love! Heck, I bet a number of our adults will have to give it a try also! I’ll send out the details on it when I have everything complete.

I personally have taken great pride in keeping the “line of communication” open with everyone! This communication line is vital to the success of what we do! Maybe at times it’s not as much as you’d like to see but always remember that we are just volunteers, there’s no payroll here and our BOD prides itself on minimal reimbursement too! Keep in mind that the members play a major roll in the communication also. If we’re not hearing from you guys, then we are all thinking the same thing, “everything’s alright!” This season we will be having more zone meetings prior to tournament season starting. Make sure that everyone in your club attends or at least a couple of members. Check the website for the dates and if for some reason you haven’t heard from one of your directors, you contact them! Our next BOD meeting is December 14th at WoodForest Bank off of Hamilton Road. If you need directions, contact any one of our BOD members and they would be more than pleased to help you out!

As we all know, times are financially tough right now. I have heard numerous times, “I’m sorry that more of our guys don’t participate in the trail but with our club fishing 10 events itself, it’s hard to afford and find the time to do both.” I have an easy fix or idea that you might take back to your next club meeting. That is, install a couple of our trail events into your club schedule. Keep stats on how your members finish in the event and it’s a “win-win” for everyone! The new format makes this perfect for doing this type of thing, so take advantage of using the equipment and the hard work of others. Just an idea!

All in all, guys, we’ve done a heck of a job! Our success is due strictly because of our “strength in numbers” and we have the full membership to thank for everything! “There is no duty more urgent than that of saying thanks!”

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, from the OBFN Board of Directors.

Please pass this message along to all your club members!!

Todd Thompson

I know that most of our members have heard me numerous times about supporting our state sponsors, well now is the time to support all of them and at the same time, get your self a really good deal!

Let’s start with our boat dealers. We all are witnessing the crunch from the economy in some way, shape or form, especially most boat manufactures. We are seeing some manufacturers closing plants, some laying off employees and others giving the moon away to try and get your business! With all this happening, this fall is the time to really think about taking advantage of purchasing that new boat. This fall you will be seeing outrageous rebates, extended warranties on motors and special pricing on left over models from 2008.

The OBFN has proven the value of contingency money over the past three years. We have given direct sponsor support back to the members instead of using those dollars for the organization. This helps us in selling sponsor packages to our dealerships and in return helps drive business directly to their stores. What about manufacturer contingencies? As we all have seen, these dollars are through the roof!! Ranger supports our anglers at every event no matter if you’re a winner or not! Champion Diamond has the strongest dollar incentive on the market today, $3500 to a winner! Skeeter Real Money extends its dollars to the winners no matter what year of boat your running! And the Nitro Awards program matches any on the market today! Add all this together, what’s holding you back from buying now??

Let’s look at Woodforest bank. All a member had to do was to open a checking account at one of their many branches. We all shop at Wal-Mart, so the convenience of opening an account does not get any better than this! Contingency prizes to the highest finishing angler with an account! Big Bass prizes to each division at every event! Savings Bonds to our junior anglers at all their events! Most of all, overall sponsorship support to the OBFN for everyone to benefit from! Now what’s holding you back from opening an account!

MinnKota/Humminbird! What can we say about the overall support we get from Johnson Outdoors? Outstanding! As everyone knows that competes in one of our events, we survey all our anglers at registration. I’m proud to say that the ratio of anglers using their products is on the increase and I mean by a lot! We are almost at a 50/50 ratio of anglers using these products. That doesn’t just mean the comparison of MinnKota to Motor Guide, or Humminbird to Lowrance. ! That means all other products on the market today! Take the time and walk around one of our dealers showrooms and look at what’s on the majority of their boats bows. It’s MinnKota! What electronics do your hear everyone talking about now a days? It’s Humminbird! What’s holding the other 50% of you guys back?
With working in the boating industry for 10 years now, I have heard thousands of times, “I’m going to wait until the boat show to buy, that’s when the best deal area!” Let me tell you, “That’s a bunch of bull!” The best deals are now until boat show time and the very best are from now until mid November. If your thinking of buying before next season doesn’t wasting your money on winterizing seem foolish, trade it in! I can’t think of a better early Christmas present for yourself, can you?

Support those who support you!
BASS CLASS

Todd Thompson

OBFN Members,

The past two years have been an incredible ride and I am incredibly proud to have been the one that was given the opportunity to lead the Nation members through the rebuilding process. I want to personally thank everyone that has given their time and efforts in helping the federation anglers achieve an organizational goal that we should have had years ago.

Since the split a little more than two years ago, I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most remarkable, dedicated and innovative people I’ve ever known. At the time of the split, the federation was facing an extreme challenge. We are all fortunate to have such intense leaders that are willing to work together starting at all levels. From the membership to our National leaders and most of all, the resurgence of Don Corkran as our National Director. I truly believe that the split has delivered a lost message to everyone involved, that message is that “We are all shareholders in our states organization which gives us all a strengthened value in the direction we take for many years to come.”

Not unlike the challenges the Nation faced a couple of years ago, my health is facing some of the same dramatic changes. Even though my mind still believes I’m only 18 years old, my body just set things straight with my recent heart attack and reminded me that I am middle aged! Although the doctors are telling me that I will be better than ever within a few months, I have chosen to resign as the OBFN President so that I can focus directly on my rehabilitation. Despite my resignation, I assure all of you that the OBFN will continue with the same tremendous strength, leadership and fundamental focus that I have helped reinstate over the past two years.

I stress to all of you that my involvement with the OBFN will not stop along with my resignation. Jerri and I both will continue to work with the organization as BOD members or volunteers, which ever is needed. Jerri will continue as the Secretary and along with Wendy and Tracy, will continue to work the weighin’s at all the events. These three ladies have played a broad and important role in driving our organization and I cherish all their efforts and leadership skills they have each shown over the past two years. If the BOD agrees, I would love to continue as emcee for the events and will gladly continue my work with our state and national sponsors.

As the President of the OBFN, I have been blessed to meet and to get to know everyone on a level that I never thought could have been achieved in a large organization. The way that the membership and the folks at BASS have treated me, my wife and my children has made the Thompson Family wealthy beyond belief! You are all truly the meaning of BASS CLASS!

DJ Plotner (OBFN Vice-President) will be filling my shoes. It will take a little while for me to tranfer everything over to DJ and the Board of Directors, so please be patient during the process. All the necessary contact information for DJ is on our website under the officers page.

Again, I would like to thank everyone for their great support during our rebuilding process. I look forward to seeing everyone the remainder of the year at our events. We’re off to a record start for this season, so keep up the great attendance!

Todd Thompson

First I would like to start out with a quick reminder to everyone that the entry deadline for Buckeye is closing in fast.  If you haven’t already signed up, you only have through this weekend!

Okay, now the good stuff!  The OBFN season opener at Mosquito went off with a bang!  The first bang that was heard was that of all our equipment Friday night hitting the ground, the tree’s, the asphalt and anything else that might have gotten in the way.  Mother Nature decided Friday night that she was going to bring high winds, strong rains and some intense lightning to the area.  I would personally like to thank everyone that showed up early Saturday morning to help us put the weighin area back together.  BASS CLASS to each of you!

 Okay, even with the storms blowing through, Mosquito handed out some pretty nice bags of fish to our competitors.  By the end of day two, we ended up weighing close to a record amount of fish in a two day event.  Only to be surpassed by Rocky Fork last season.  If everyone remembers correctly, Rocky had some pretty mean weather also!  Maybe we need to ask Mother Nature to show herself more often?

 The Board of Directors would like to thank all of you that took the time to call, email and shake our hands after the event, thanking us for a job well done.  The kind words that were received are very much appreciated by all our volunteers!  A special thank you goes out to Wendy Yost, Jerri Thompson and Tracy Bartholomew for all the time and effort put in so that we can all enjoy our favorite passtime!  These ladies are the meaning of BASS CLASS and we love them dearly!

 Enjoy the spring days and I look forward to seeing everyone at Buckeye Lake.

Todd Thompson

This weekend, Rod Pullins and Steven Dow took a road trip to the “Great White North!”  Guess what?  Mosquito is still iced up!!  With only three weeks to go before opening weekend, I took the liberty of calling some of our anglers from that area.  The consenus from all the northern anglers I talked with is that, “the lake will be open by then!”  From what they also say, Mosquito is one of those fisheries not unlike Buckeye.  What I mean by that is, “once the ice clears, the fish start biting within a couple of days.”  From the report I’m getting from a number of anglers, Buckeye is giving up a pretty good bite now when the sun is out good. 

The online entry is up and going again.  Make sure to take full advantage of this but make sure to also print the entry form as well.  It needs to be signed and mailed in to Rod so that we have the liabilty waiver on file.

I would like to thank everyone that has sent in their kind words about the new format and how great a job Bret has done with the new website.  Bret’s addition to the OBFN Team is just one more step in fulfilling our 5 year goal of making our organization one of the best around the Nation!

 BASS CLASS!

Thanks to last weekends big snow storm, the March BOD meeting was rescheduled for today.  For those of you that have never attended one of our meetings, your really missing out on something special.  I can honestly say that I have never seen a group of volunteers put their souls in to accomplishing something, like the OBFN board members do.  No matter what topic of discussion comes up, the whole purpose of the conversation targets towards growing the membership and taking care of our current members.  What makes these discussion topics so impressive to hear?  It’s because the OBFN board members are all competing anglers with their sights on forming our group into Ohio’s premier tournament organization!

Last season we sent out our club suggestion sheet out in September asking our members what changes they would like to see for 2008.  Out of 34 clubs, we had 19 respond back.  Out of the 19 clubs, the vast majority wanted to see the pre-tournament meetings go away!  So, this season we stated that we would no longer have the pre-tournament meetings.  Big mistake!!  For one minute, I want everyone that has fished in a regional, sqt or any other state event to look back in their crystal ball and remember what the morning of re-pairings was like!  Pretty ugly picture, right?  That’s exactly what will happen again by posting the pairings prior to the day before, RE-PAIRINGS!  No matter how much time prior to the event pairings are completed, there are always changes the morning of once registration is done.  To make these changes always takes time and when things are running behind, tempers run high and when tempers run high, mistakes get made.  When mistakes get made, tempers run high!  Are you getting the picture???

Also keep in mind that all these re-pairings, mistakes and high tempers are done or controlled by competing BOD members!  As you notice the bold type, the key word is competing!  Last years pre-tournament meetings went off well.  They gave us the chance to advertise for our sponsors.  They gave us a chance to build the fellowship that we all enjoy today.  Most important, they took the heat off of the morning of the first competition day.  The a.m. before was the most relaxed atmosphere I had ever witnessed in a lot of years of competing.  So , I’m proud to announce that the pre-tournament meetings are back in play for 2008!  The difference between last year and this season is that the word mandatory has been removed!  Here’s how it will play out:

• Pre-tournament meeting (registration meeting) will be from 4pm-6pm the evening prior to the first day of each tournament
• Entry deadline will still be 2 weeks prior to an event
• Anglers may register themselves during these two hours or have another competing angler in the event register for them
• Phone-in registration will not be accepted!
• Big Bass and 50/50 will be taken during this time (For 2008, credit cards may be used for payment on site)
• Big Bass and 50/50 will also be taken the morning of the event at the trailer site
• Pairings meeting will begin at 6:00 pm.
• Anglers do not have to be present during pairings meeting (There will be some nice door prizes drawn during the pairings meeting for those who chose to stick around.  It’s also a great time to show support for our sponsors!)
• Pairings will be posted in three locations along with a contact information sheet.  Make sure to get all the necessary information needed to make contact with your next day partner!
• Locations for Pairings information will be: Rear of tournament trailer, host hotel lobby and via the website that evening.  Web posting may take a couple hours to post, pending on location of event!

As you can see, we have worked hard at accommodating everyone.  The only things that are mandatory now is that the BOD members don’t have to be at the ramp at 2:30 in the morning.  This is also going to help us get you guys on the water as quick as possible!!

The one thing that has made us special the past couple of years is that we are not afraid to look outside that old federation box that everyone was used too!  Actually over the past 2 years we have taken pride in “looking outside the box” to try and make things more pleasurable, exciting, beneficial and attractive to all our anglers. Is there a certain amount of gamble placed on some of the changes we do?  Absolutely!  This season, at your request, we “looked outside the box” with our new format!  I take that back!  We didn’t just “look outside the box”, we kicked the walls down!

So today we took a close look at what we have been hearing from our members on the new format.  Unfortunately, the linking process is causing a lot of confusion.  This wasn’t put in play to make things more difficult or to even cause conflict within the clubs, but it has! Even though the linking process was put into play, we knew there was a chance of not having even pairings.  To deal with this we put Rule #13, here’s how it reads.

13. Wildcard Positions

• a. An Angler competing in an event without a Co-Angler, Alternate, Observer or Youth member. The OBFN Tournament Director may designate Wildcards as required to help facilitate Co-Anglers, Sponsors, Participating Youth, and Observers.
  b. The Tournament Director will maintain a list of Board Members, Chapter Presidents, and Chapter Officers for Wildcard assignment as required. It is expected that this will be a rotating assignment.

Here’s how it reads now:

13. Wildcard Positions

• a. An Angler competing in an event without a Co-Angler, Alternate, Observer or Youth member. The OBFN Tournament Director may designate Wildcards as required to help facilitate Co-Anglers, Sponsors, Participating Youth,  Observers and the daily pairings.

Rule #13, (Section b) was put into play so that we did not have to pair two boaters together at any time.  As you can see by reading our current rules, we do not have anything in place to deal with this option because it never was an option.  Initially, we thought that the co-angler void could be eliminated with observers, juniors and sponsors, and it very well could be!  But we have to be ready in case it doesn’t!  The Wildcard provision was put into play allowing the TD to send members out alone, if need be.  Such Wildcard assignments were to be given to BOD members, Chapter presidents and Chapter officers in a need to basis only.  The problem with this is that in case of a “need to be” situation, this rotating system could possibly occur every event. As we look at things closer, we see that in all fairness to everyone, the Wildcard needs to be open to all the registered anglers.  So that’s what we’ve done, accomidate everyone!

You’ve read it right!  We could possibly see anglers going out alone, done totally on a random draw basis decided the evening prior to an event.  This is another reason to bring back the registration meetings.  If for safety or any other reason an angler is not comfortable going out alone, we will gladly pair them with a co-angler.  As long as entry numbers allow, we will try our best to do this on a rotating basis so that each angler competes throughout the trail on an even keel!

Is this an ABA style format?  Yes and no!  In the ABA, all anglers are competing for the same prize package at the end of the event.  We’re not!  Two seperate divisions, two seperate payouts and two set’s of state teams positions.  Having this in play will help keep Wildcards positions down to minimual numbers, unlike the ABA where the ratio is more than 10 boaters to 1 non-boater!  Also, keep in mind we still have a 2 week deadline and that is going to allow us plenty of time to find non-boaters if we have a void. It does however tell a boater that if he enters an event as a boater, then he will definitely be a boater!  Like we stated from the beginning! Once again, I would like everyone to look in that same crystal ball as before, except this time, look forward!  Can you see yourself entering as a boater, pre-fishing for 2 days, paying a huge fuel bill and dragging your boat across the state, only to possibly leave it in the parking lot?  I gaurantee you would be extremely upset and it would probably be the last time we would see you at an event!

Accountability, accountability, accountability!  This word best describes the OBFN and it’s anglers!  The past two years we have proven to be a tight knit organization that takes accountability for everything we do, all the way down through our anglers volunteering to help at each event.  This same accountability can and will be carried out throughout competing with Wildcards in play!  I know it’s different than were used to but it works for one of the fasting growing organization in competitive bass fishing, the ABA.  We just tweaked it a bit!

In closing I am going to ask everyone to look closley at the positive aspects of using these Wildcard positions.  The rule changes will be completed on the website within a few days, along with all the host hotel information for 2008!  I look forward to a great year and hopefully this helps with any conflicts that you or your club may be encountering with the new format.

Todd Thompson

BASS CLASS 

Spring is right around the corner!  That means it is time to get ready for the 2008 OBFN Invitational Trail.  Gentlemen, get your fishing rods out!