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By Don Gowen, Bassmasters of North Alabama Bassmasters of North Alabama and anglers from other Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Clubs, along with fishermen and community volunteers from all over North Alabama, gathered in the cool morning mist at McFarland Landing, Florence, Alabama on Saturday October 31, 2009 to stage and support the 2009 Annual Tim Horton “Fishing for Kids” event for special needs kids and individuals. The volunteers contribute their time, expertise, boats & motors, and money to make this event a truly enjoyable experience for the participants and the anglers that service as boat captains and other support functions.

“Fishing for Kids” began in 1997 when Tim Horton, a previous local fishing guide in North Alabama and now BASS Elite Series PRO, began taking kids fishing free of charge. Most of the kids were special needs children who had never been on the water before. Since then many of the contestants have competed in the event since it began. Tim does not take this program lightly. “I get more enjoyment out of “Fishing for Kids” than anything I do in the sport of bass fishing”, said Horton.

In 1999 the first annual “Fishing for Kids” tournament was held. Since then over 1,000 kids and special needs adults have participated. Each year volunteers come to Pickwick Lake in North Alabama to help with the program, some pulling their boats and some to help the Boat Captain with the kids. Other volunteers help with the registration and the event picnic enjoyed by all attendees. The event enjoys the support of a number of sponsors that provide fishing tackle, caps, bait and minnows, and food for the picnic. The tournament is truly one of the jewels of the sport.

Mike Johnson had a treat this year, he brought Harley to the event, his trusted canine buddy. Not only did Harley have fun playing with the kids, he performed his act of “playing dead.” The children would cock their hand like a play pistol and shoot Harley and over he went until Mike coached him back to life for the new bullet with a treat. When Mike tried to get Harley to open a bottle of water, Harley told him to open it himself.

As an example of the fun enjoyed by all the participants, Mike Johnson and Don Gowen of Bassmasters of North Alabama – an affiliated Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation Nation club - were the Boat Captains for Mary and Mark for the day. Minnows and bait was secured and Tim’s boat was put into service at the landing at McFarland Park. In fact they did not even get to start the big Mercury before Mary had a line in the water. Then it was one fish after another that went into the livewell for the weigh-in scheduled later that afternoon. Mary and Mark are veterans of Tim’s tournaments and they do not waste any time putting bait on the hooks and fish in the boat. Of course there were snacks to eat and drinks to down. Mary and Mike were pulling the fish in so fast that Don and Mark could not keep count – except Mary knew exactly how many was in the livewell and offered to loan Don and Mark a few fish….NO THANKS, we win or lose by our own catch.

Of course the highlight of the day is the tournament weigh-in where bags of fish were placed on the scales and the Awards Ceremony treats every angler to a prize. Some of the anglers scored good catches with bag weights of 1 lb. to 10 lbs. Mary and Mark placed high in the tournament but all the anglers acted like the PROS when they were awarded their prizes and medallions – everyone got a one because they ALL WERE WINNERS!

Until next year…….. More on “Fishing for Kids” at the Web site of Tim Horton: www.timmyhorton.com

CONTACT: Don Gowen
Bassmasters of North Alabama
P. O. Box 5539
Decatur, Alabama 35601
256-350-7824
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