Northern Mountaineer Bass Club was formed in 1986 with charter
members, the late Bert Nolan, Dr. Jerry Whalen, Dale Doty, Gary
Sapp, Ron Allen and Don Kinkade. Originally named Mountaineer
Bass Club, “Northern” was added to the title a few years later
when we joined the West Virginia Bass Federation and another
Federation Club already was named Mountaineer Bass.
Out club
totals 30 members from Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants and Marshall
counties in West Virginia and Monroe County in Ohio. All new
members are accepted into our fold as long as they maintain the
high qualities of expectations that we require.
We are active in the promotion of bass fishing by encouraging
folks to try fishing our club tournaments as a guest, through
conservation efforts, youth activities and civic activities
throughout the state. Our club hosts Casting Kids events in New
Martinsville, Fairmont, Morgantown and Pine Grove, West
Virginia. Fishing derbies for kids ages 15 and under are held
annually at the Paden City Labor Day Celebration. Participants
are supplied with baits and club members work on a one-on-one
basis with the kids to show them how to bait their hooks, cast,
handle the fish properly after the catch, and the proper way to
release the fish unharmed so they can be caught another day.
Club members also have helped plant aquatic vegetation at
Stonewall Jackson Lake, Sutton Lake and Burnsville Lake in our
state. We have also assisted in the construction and placement
of floating docks at Sutton Lake, making it easier for all who
use the facility. In addition, Northern Mountaineer Bass Club
participates in the annual Ohio River Sweep, which is held each
summer to help clean up the riverbanks.
We have a
10-tournament club circuit with a paper-only format to promote
catch and release, proper fish handling and conservation and
preservation of the sport. Club tournaments are drawn at the
regular monthly meetings held at the Senior Citizen Center in
Paden City, W.V. at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of the month.
Boaters and non-boaters are paired by the drawing names from a
hat. We try to make sure that all members get to fish at least
one tournament together in order to share information about the
sport and gain knowledge from each other. Also, no two members
may fish consecutive tournaments together. We use a point system
for scoring using the honor and buddy system where each partner
measures the other’s fish. Points are awarded in 1/4-inch
increments of fish measured.
For example, a fish measuring 12
1/4 inches would award the angler that caught it 17 points. For
each 1/4-inch over 12 1/4 inches, an additional point is
awarded. The highest point total for the day is the winner.
First, second and third place finishers, as well as first place
in the big bass award, are given plaques and points toward the
Club’s year-end Top Six Awards.
We also hold three open
tournaments a year at our local New Martinsville Marina to
promote the sport of bass fishing as well as to introduce
newcomers and veteran fishermen alike to tournament fishing.
These tournaments are also fundraisers so that all club
functions associated with youth, conservation and the
preservation of the sport can be maintained fully.
Our club is
a close-knit group and we all work together to keep our club
stable and happy by having breakfast before each tournament and
having supper with each other after the tournament day.
Getting kids interested and involved, spreading the word to
newcomers about the sport of bass fishing, the conservation and
preservation of the sport and enjoying the camaraderie that the
great sport of bass fishing brings to each and everyone involved
is what our club is all about. Work or play, our club bands
together to “Git R Done”!
Current club officers are Dan Probst,
president; Earl Riggenbach, vice-president; Steve Howell,
secretary; Ron Allen, treasurer; Dale Doty, tournament director;
and Robin Clegg, public relations director.
