08-26-2010, 11:10 AM
The third time's the charm. - or so hopes Bill Golightly of Preston, Idaho. As a recent qualifier for the 2010 BASS Federation Nation Championship, Golightly is set for his third attempt at a Bassmaster Classic berth.
"For sure I want to make it to the Classic," he said. "That's what we're all after."
Golightly will be one of 55 Championship qualifiers in competition on the Red River, Oct. 27-29, out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. The Championship will, in turn, qualify six amateur anglers for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic.
It will be Golightly's third BFN Championship - or "The Nationals," as anglers tend to refer to it. Whatever one may call the decades-old event, it is the pinnacle of amateur competition, and has launched many a pro's career.
But make no mistake: Golightly isn't interested in turning pro. He likes working in the family business, a flood- and fire-restoration service. At age 37, he is much too satisfied with life as it is. He's into local competitions as well as Federation events.
"I just love to fish," he said. "I have a great family; I fish a lot with my Dad and my wife also fishes Federation events. We all have made the state team, so it's a family thing we do together."
Golightly's three Championship berths were earned by outfishing all other members of his state team in the Western Division. This year, he was on the Wyoming team - he lives so close to the states' border, he regularly crosses over (common in Federation Nation competition). He hauled in more poundage from the Colorado River than other Wyoming team members, thus earning a ticket to the 2010 Championship in Louisiana.
He also qualified for the 2004 and 2006 Championships. He did well - 15th in 2006 - but fell short of being the best in the West, what was needed to win a Classic seat.
Golightly still doesn't know the names of all the anglers he'll be up against on the Red River, simply because the full field isn't yet set. Two of six Federation Divisionals remain: the Mid-Atlantic, Sept. 6-10 in Delaware; and the Eastern, Sept. 20-24 out of Danbury, Conn.
He does know that the competition's getting stiffer.
"It's harder now to qualify than it used to be. Everybody's getting better," he said.
Reehm moves to Texas: Bassmaster Elite Series pro Clark Reehm has relocated to Lufkin, Texas, near Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
Lufkin is his girlfriend's hometown. They're expecting a child, a son, whom they plan to name Ash Rayburn - after, of course, the lake.
From Russellville, Ark., Reehm had been the only non-Texan in the top six of the Bassmaster Central Open points race.
Viewpoint, by Reese: "It doesn't matter how many tournaments I win, or how many big fish I catch - or lose for that matter - I'm just 'Daddy' to them, and it puts life in perspective for me." - Bassmaster Elite Series pro Skeet Reese referring to his two daughters in his Aug. 17 Bassmaster.com blog
"For sure I want to make it to the Classic," he said. "That's what we're all after."
Golightly will be one of 55 Championship qualifiers in competition on the Red River, Oct. 27-29, out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. The Championship will, in turn, qualify six amateur anglers for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic.
It will be Golightly's third BFN Championship - or "The Nationals," as anglers tend to refer to it. Whatever one may call the decades-old event, it is the pinnacle of amateur competition, and has launched many a pro's career.
But make no mistake: Golightly isn't interested in turning pro. He likes working in the family business, a flood- and fire-restoration service. At age 37, he is much too satisfied with life as it is. He's into local competitions as well as Federation events.
"I just love to fish," he said. "I have a great family; I fish a lot with my Dad and my wife also fishes Federation events. We all have made the state team, so it's a family thing we do together."
Golightly's three Championship berths were earned by outfishing all other members of his state team in the Western Division. This year, he was on the Wyoming team - he lives so close to the states' border, he regularly crosses over (common in Federation Nation competition). He hauled in more poundage from the Colorado River than other Wyoming team members, thus earning a ticket to the 2010 Championship in Louisiana.
He also qualified for the 2004 and 2006 Championships. He did well - 15th in 2006 - but fell short of being the best in the West, what was needed to win a Classic seat.
Golightly still doesn't know the names of all the anglers he'll be up against on the Red River, simply because the full field isn't yet set. Two of six Federation Divisionals remain: the Mid-Atlantic, Sept. 6-10 in Delaware; and the Eastern, Sept. 20-24 out of Danbury, Conn.
He does know that the competition's getting stiffer.
"It's harder now to qualify than it used to be. Everybody's getting better," he said.
Reehm moves to Texas: Bassmaster Elite Series pro Clark Reehm has relocated to Lufkin, Texas, near Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
Lufkin is his girlfriend's hometown. They're expecting a child, a son, whom they plan to name Ash Rayburn - after, of course, the lake.
From Russellville, Ark., Reehm had been the only non-Texan in the top six of the Bassmaster Central Open points race.
Viewpoint, by Reese: "It doesn't matter how many tournaments I win, or how many big fish I catch - or lose for that matter - I'm just 'Daddy' to them, and it puts life in perspective for me." - Bassmaster Elite Series pro Skeet Reese referring to his two daughters in his Aug. 17 Bassmaster.com blog