JimmyMack814

I have created and founded a brand new competitive bass fishing club called Chicagoland Christian Bassmen. We are based in Orland Park, Illinois and we are affiliated with FLW/TBF and the Illinois Bass Federation. Our first season begins in April. If anyone who is a boater and looking to join a competitive bass club, we are looking for additional boaters and we will be fishing local tournaments as well as travelling to Central Illinois. Our 2015 schedule is as follows: April 11th - Clinton Lake May 23rd - Braidwood Lake June 7th - Dawson Lake July 12th - Cal Sag Channel August 9th - Lake Vermilion September 13th - Illinois River Morris September 27th - Mississippi River Pool 13 October 17th & 18th - Lake Shelbyville (Club Classic)

Good Afternoon. I am currently a tournament director for American Bass Anglers AFT (American Fishing Tour) and I have proposed to the ABA that the first division in Wisconsin to be created. This division will focus on Southern Wisconsin from Madison to the Illinois Border. Being since there currently is no division from Wisconsin in the ABA, I feel this would be great for Wisconsin anglers and everyone involved. Any thoughts from the Wisconsin Bass Fishermen regarding the ABA creating a division in Wisconsin? Would anyone be interested to fish?

I am a member of Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park. The day that I was introduced to Parkview Christian Church and became a Christian was the day that my life forever changed. Ever since that day, my mind has been working overtime trying to figure how what I could do make an impact on someone's life and just this week, God reached out to me and spoke to me and my realization came to me and that is to create my own ministry combining my love for Jesus into the sport of competitive bass fishing. I have formed Chicagoland Christian Bass Anglers which will be a bass fishing club comprised of Christians of various walks of life and churches in Chicago and the suburbs. We will be doing many projects and events while bonding in fellowship and helping others to learn who Jesus really is. Our competitive fishing season will not begin until 2015. We will be affiliated with FLW/TBF and are currently finalizing the paperwork to be affiliated with the chapter of the TBF (Illinois Bass Federation). Including myself, we have (2) members are looking for plenty more, both boaters and non boaters.

Being since I am a big supporter of American Bass Anglers and B.A.S.S., I am pushing for the ABA to implement an Illinois Division for the Bassmaster Weekend Series! ABA has stated that if enough people want it and by high demand, they may bring the Bassmaster Weekend Series to Illinois! How do Illinois anglers feel about an Illinois Division for the Bassmaster Weekend Series, with a shot at the Bassmaster Classic? With countless lakes and rivers from Northern Illinois to Southern Illinois, this could be huge for the Bassmaster Weekend Series. Any thoughts?

I fish as a co-angler in my club events and American Bass Anglers. SCBassman is right that the other maintenance and expenses of a boat have nothing to do with you. I usually give my boater $40 for boat gas and everyone is different with their own personalities, but co-angler are great to the sport It is important to remember and do these things: 1) Your boater is there to win, so be sure to help him whenever he asks you or calls for the net. That respect factor must be established. Help him win and he will help you win. 2) Don't take a big tackle box. I have a Tackle Warehouse angler's backpack. Too much stuff in a boat will get in the way and cause disruptions. 3) Only take 4 or 5 rods. I usually take 4. 4). Be don't have your stuff all over the back of the boat. Be organized and packed, because when the boater is ready to move, you also be better ready to move. 5) Don't cast in any direction towards the front. Co-anglers have the back of the boat, so there is a good number of quality fish to be caught behind the boat and co-anglers have alot of water to fish behind. 6) If you don't know how to back a trailer into the water, be honest with the boater. I don't, but my bass club is going to be teaching me this year. Most of the time, boaters will have you try and back up during practice, because the only way to get good at it is to try it.

Your best best would be to sign up for the Everstart Series, because there are no opens this year for FLW! I am planning on fishing a couple of the Bassmaster Opens and shoot for that Nitro, though it is a long shot!

A new director has taken over the Central Illinois Kaskaskia Division of the Fishers of Men Team Trail. I am looking for fish the new circuit this year that was implemented called the Stren Team Series. The Stren Series is not new, but new to the this division and I am looking for a boater who is needing a co-angler to team up with for this trail. Below is the 2013 tournament schedule: Lake Shelbyville Wolf Creek State Park Apr 20, 2013 Details Stephen Forbes Lake May 4, 2013 Details Lake Springield Lindsay Bridge Ramp Jun 22, 2013 Details Lake Lou Yeager Ramp #2 Jul 27, 2013 Details Clinton Lake Clinton Marina Aug 10, 2013

I fished an ABA tournament last year and one of the guys was late to weigh in, because of an idiot lockmaster who wouldn't open the locks for him to get in, because an incoming barge that was still 2 miles out and according to the lockmaster, the barge had the right of way and no bass boats were allowed in the lock until the barge passed. He even called the ABA tournament director ahead to explain and was told he has until the last guy weighing in to get to the scale, but he didn't make it was disqualified.

I am planning on fishing for the first time in the BFL Illini Division this year as a co-angler. Does anyone need or know of any boaters who need a guaranteed co-angler, so we are given priority entry rather than being on the waiting list?

I am planning on fishing one of the opens and that one will be in October at Ross Barnett in Mississippi. I can't fish the others, because I am already fishing with my bass club and the Bassmaster Weekend Series!

Being a co-angler has it's advantages and disadvantages. My first season was in 2011 with my bass club and for someone who never does hit before, I did well and finished in 7th overall in the club and was the alternate for the state tournament. Last year though was bad as I only brought one fish to the scale the whole year. You have to take the bad with the good and keep your confidence. I regrouped, got some individual sponsors and ready to get back at it for 2013.

I am a co-angler as well and you have be prepared and ready to fish the style your pro will be fishing. I am a shallow water power fisherman and 99.9% of the time, I am throwing spinnberbaits, chatterbaits, and crankbaits. I am not good at finesse fishing with soft plastics or pitching/flipping a jig, but I have rods rigged up for that in the event that I get paired with a pro who does nothing but that, so I am ready to adapt and give it a shot.

I live in Illinois and just a couple of days ago, FLW informed me that for both Great Lakes and Illini Divisions, they have more co-anglers signed up than boaters currently.

Greetings fellow anglers. I am entering my second season as a tournament angler and I am diving in head first this year. I already have a packed tournament schedule and I have generated a letter for partnership that I would like to ask of you all to critique for me and provide me with your input. Thank you! Happy Fishing! Jim Objective I am interested in beginning a partnership with your company that will allow me to utilize my skills and knowledge to assist in marketing your product with the purpose of increasing revenue and generating additional interest. Personal My name is Jim Womack and I was born on August 14, 1974 in Joliet, Illinois. I am married to Denise Womack and we currently reside in Orland Park, Illinois. Bass fishing is not only my hobby, but it is my passion. I am entering my second season of bass fishing at a competitive level and strive every day to improve and become a better bass fisherman. Angler Associations/Memberships B.A.S.S. (Bass Angler’s Sportsman Society) Central Illinois Bassmasters (B.A.S.S. Affiliated Club) FLW (Forrest L. Wood) TBF (The Bass Federation) IBF (Illinois Bass Federation) Happy Hookers Bass Club (FLW Affiliated Club) American Bass Anglers 2012 Tournament Schedule May 20, 2012 – American Bass Anglers/Happy Hookers Bass Club – Cal Sag Channel (Alsip, IL) June 3, 2012 – Happy Hookers Bass Club – Lake Vermillion (Danville, IL) June 24, 2012 – American Bass Anglers/Happy Hookers Bass Club – Cal Sag Channel (Aslip, IL July 8, 2012 – American Bass Anglers – Lake Shelbyville (Shelbyville, IL) July 15, 2012 – American Bass Anglers/Happy Hookers Bass Club – Kankakee River (Kankakee, IL) July 26, 27, & 28, 2012 – FLW Everstart Series Central Division – Mississippi River (LaCrosse, WI) August 25 & 26, 2012 – American Bass Anglers – Lake Springfield (Springfield, IL) ACHIEVEMENTS & ACCOLADES Central Illinois Bassmasters – Lake of Egypt (1st Place) – May 15, 2011 Central Illinois Bassmasters – Lake Jacksonville (3rd Place) – June 19, 2011 Central Illinois Bassmasters – Lake Springfield (4th Place) – July 23, 2011

Does anyone plan or are planning to fish the FLW Everstart Series on the Mississippi River in LaCrosse, Wisconsin? I just signed up and I am number two on the waiting list, so it looks like I will be confirmed according to FLW. They don't have a full field of pros or boaters yet, but said that usually changes once the date gets closer. This my first tournament at this kind of level and my FLW debut, so it's going to be awesome to experience the this kind of atmosphere. If I don't weigh a fish the whole time I am there, I am just going soak it all in as it will be one great learning experience.

Basscatcher is right. I am actually a possible new member of the Happy Hookers and I am also the new webmaster for the, so check out the site that basscatcher gave you. Also there is a tournament next week at Lake Shelbyville, but you also have to be a member of the ABA or American Bass Anglers as the club has partnered with them. I will be fishing with the club in June on the Cal-Sag. Also depending on where you live in Central Illinois, there is a BASS affiliated club called Central Illinois Bassmasters who are based in Streator. I was with them last year when I began tournament fishing they are a great bunch of guys.

I have a couple of jerseys that I wear. I wear one for my local bass club when I fishing tournaments with them. Secondly, I am getting another jersey through Bassresource to wear at FLW events. I do this for a couple of reasons. I do not have sponsors and I feel like it's not a sponsorship, they are partnerships. I do not get paid, but I wear my jersey to support the products that I use and using smaller local based companies gives them exposure. This is my second year tournament fishing and in the event that I am successful and place fairly high, the possibility of attracting attention and partnerships are good.

I am the kind of guy who is looking for Rods for different applications. I am going to buy the Powell Diesel cranking rod to throw smaller crankbaits like squarebills and also lipless crankbaits as well. I have a Powell Max 683 that I use for spinnberbaits and I am also getting another Powell Diesel to throw bladed swim jigs. You cannot go wrong with Powell.

As a co-angler, I am looking to try my first big tournament this summer that is not too far from where I live south of Chicago. I know both places have their positive and negative attributes, so I am curious to know what others would choose. Would it be the Bassmaster Northern Open on the Detroit River or the FLW Everstart Series on the Mississippi River in LaCrosse, Wisconsin?

I am entering my second season competing in tournaments and being a new co-angler, I have much to learn. I am thinking about fishing in the FLW Everstart Series event in LaCrosse, Wisconsin this year as a co-angler. I have never owned a boat and someday I hope to. Therefore, I have absolutely no experience in back a boat into the water. When fishing this events and being partnered with a pro, are the co-anglers required or expected to back a boat into the water? If this is the case, then I will wait until I am more experienced wit back trailer, because I would feel horrible if I damaged someone trailer or boat.

I am a member of FLW and I am looking for a boater who is also a member of FLW and would like to fish the tournaments in the Illini Division for the FLW Wal Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL). If anyone is interested in partnering up, please let me know. I will help pay the cost for fuel for the boat.

I live in Northern Illinois and tomorrow will be 29 degrees and I plan on hitting the DuPage River for winter smallies. The DuPage River is mainly a shallow river that is overrun by rocks. I am not quite sure what their pattern is on this river in the winter, but I plan on going tomorrow and throwing a bladed swim jig, rapalas, and a rebel craw crankbait.