The Denver Bassmasters is one of the first BASS clubs to be
formed in Colorado and has been in existence since 1971. A few
of the early members still participate and are valued teachers
to new members. According to member and benefactor Don Speas of
Falcon Tackle, the club started meeting in a member’s garage in
1971 and began growing. B.A.S.S. records chartered the club in
1974, when the Colorado Bass Federation was formed.
The
largest clubs in Colorado at 60 members, DBM holds tournaments
both in-state and in nearby states such as Kansas and New
Mexico. This is because of Colorado’s limited number of warm
water lakes that are large enough to hold tournaments.
The
club has always had a focus on fun based tournaments to promote
camaraderie and learning and maintains a tournament experience
for members with nominal entry fees. After the fishing is done,
the club focuses efforts in a variety of ways to promote bass
fishing in Colorado, especially for kids.
The Denver Bassmasters members participate in several youth
events including Casting Kids, Catch-A-Special-Thrill (C.A.S.T.),
and providing support and instruction to kids at event fishing
tanks at the new Bass Pro Shops in Denver. The club recently
partnered with the Colorado Walleye Association to hold a
Military Fishing Day at Pueblo Reservoir for kids of military
families stationed at Ft. Carson, Co.
The Denver Jr.
Bassmasters is the only BASS youth club in Colorado and provides
bass fishing experiences for 40-plus youth members on local
ponds and lakes. Many events are held each spring and summer and
culminate in the Colorado Bass Federation Youth Championship
Tournament where the winners of two age groups represent
Colorado at the BASS Junior World Bassmaster Classic. At this
national event, each State Champion is paired with professional
fishermen and competes in their own tournament. Denver Jr.
Bassmasters members Dylan Ralph and Luke Biewick will represent
Colorado at the 2007 Jr. Classic event.
Club member Chad Phillips has organized the Jr. Bass club for
many years and also has been Youth Director for the Colorado
Bass Federations since the beginning of the BASS Junior World
Bassmaster Classic. Phillips said, “The club wouldn’t have the
track record of 21 years without the generous cooperation of
landowners that provide the opportunity to fish on their private
lakes, which is what we need to provide the ultimate fishing
experience for these kids.”
“Every year we have a few kids
considered at-risk and this club provides an opportunity for a
kid to find a new interest or passion that they can enjoy for
the rest of their lives, unlike so many other sports,” Phillips
added.
He anticipates the day when the Colorado Jr. State Championship
Tournament is the most important fishing event in Colorado.
Long-time member Curtis Welch brought his sons Cory and Casey up
in the youth club to successfully compete later as adults. Casey
Welch won the 2005 State Team Championship Tournament and was
runner-up for Colorado and fourth overall at the BASS’ 2006
National Bass Federation Western Divisional.
“Perhaps I taught
him too well,” Curtis proudly claimed. “All of the positive
comments made by others at the Western Divisional were as
satisfying as his (Casey’s) accomplishment.” Curtis and Casey
Welch are the only father/son duo to have won Colorado State
Team Championships. Curtis boasts two sons, a daughter and five
nephews who have participated in the Denver Jr. Bassmasters
youth club.
The Denver Bassmasters also support conservation
and habitat projects, most recently holding fundraising events
and donating $500 to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National
Wildlife Refuge for the purchase of forage fish for lake
development projects.
