YOUNG ANGLERS FIND HOPE AND NEW POSSIBILITIES WITH JUNIOR FISHING TOURNAMENT
Humminbird and Minn Kota, two of Johnson Outdoors family of brands, are always looking for opportunities to give back to the community and to the outdoor world- those are the values that Johnson Outdoors believes in. This year these two brands sponsored the Big Bass Zone Junior Championship, (BBZJC) one of the most inspiring fishing tournaments in the world, the Bass Masters Classic for kids if you will.
Bill Siemantel, a full-time fireman with a love for the sport of fishing, realized that there was no tournament that was easily accessible to the youth of America but there was a growing number of kids ages 13-16 that were fishing. 60,000 youths were registered in fishing tournaments around the country in 2018 but there were over 4.3 million youth in that age bracket nationally that weren't getting exposed to the world of competitive fishing.
One of the main reasons that America’s children were not getting access to the sport was the fact that they did not have access to a bass boat which is required for fishing tournaments and fishing teams at the highschool and college level.
“5 out of 40 kids could be a part of this world and the other 30 would be turned away because they couldn't afford a boat to compete in.” - Siemantel
Bill wanted to make a difference and that same year he created the BBZJC. The tournament rules are different from traditional fishing tournaments which allowed kids access to a fishing event without the need of a boat. The BBZJC is open to ages 13-19 with only a 25 dollar entry fee per state which includes a one year subscription to Bass Masters magazine. With a 50 dollar entry each competitor is open to fishing the entire United States which gives them a higher chance of making it to the Championship. If the child wins their respective state they are then flown out to Idaho, all expenses paid, to join in a one day tournament, big fish takes all, where they will have a chance to win up to 90,000 dollars for a first place finish!
The tournament runs from January 1st until August 15th and every fish caught during that time frame counts towards the results even if the fish is caught in another tournament. The biggest Largemouth and Smallmouth caught per state win their own category which allows for more kids to have an opportunity to make it to the championship.
“I wanted to open up an event nationally for these kids to have fun 24-7. This stuff is life changing. This tournament can become a family effort and I wanted to give some hope and excitement. I wanted to reach out to the inner-city kids- the kids that were being left on the sidelines and give them a shot at stardom.” - Siemantel
This year's first place prize includes a 35,000 dollar bass boat, a trip to fish with Joe Thomas and Billy Chapman on national Television, a 30,000 dollar scholarship to Bethel University and a 25,000 dollar mystery weight option. For 2nd through 54th place the prizes amount to over 250,000 dollars and the finisher has the opportunity to select his or her own prize which allows these children to choose the prize that benefits them the most. In last year's tournament the 19th place finisher was able to walk away with a 30,000 dollar scholarship because it was still available. That is what this tournament can do for a child and all of that for a mere 25 dollar entry.
The winner for the State of Minnesota, Kyle Bahr was excited about his opportunity. “The experience we had when we went out to Idaho was phenomenal. You're meeting people from all over the country. My brother and I are competitive anglers who have been in it for quite a while and then you've got kids out there who are just getting into it and it's cool to see their eyes light up knowing the fact that they're competing for such a big prize and being able to travel to the locations.”
What's truly special about this tournament are the opportunities that it presents to the kids that are involved. Each competitor not only has a chance to win an incredible prize that can change the course of their lives but even those who don't win 1st place will have a unique experience that will, no doubt, have an impact on them in the future. For half of the young anglers in this tournament this will be the first time that they have ever been able to fish out of a bass boat. When you qualify for the championship tournament the BBZJC provides a boat and driver for each competitor, all with the same technology and capabilities making it all about the fishing.
“I have kids right now that are driving their four wheelers or quads with kayaks 10 miles down a dirt road to fish out of ponds that have never fished out of a bass boat.” -Siemantel
Ashton Moglach, last year's 1st place champion, was happy at the opportunity to travel. “I was shocked and very excited when I realized what was at stake, I was just happy with winning a trip to Idaho, a place I’d never been, and to be a part of a big tournament with an opportunity to to get my name out there because eventually I would like to make fishing a career.”
We at Johnson Outdoors applaud Bill Siemantel for creating the Big Bass Zone Junior Championship that changes the lives of children across the country. This tournament is the epitome of opportunity, not only for the children and the future it can create for them in the sport of fishing, but for their families as a whole and that is what Johnson Outdoors is all about.