Bass Finatics - Family, Fishing, & Fun
By Mike Lytle, Bass Finatics founder and club president.

Some of my fondest memories growing up were fishing some of the best bass fishing waters in New Hampshire with my father. It did not matter if we were on the big lakes like Winnipesaukee or small ponds like Half Moon Pond, as long as I was fishing with him.

My father was a great fisherman but more importantly he was a coach and a mentor who was always willing to teach me and anyone who wanted to learn. Even though he had won the “Best in State” citation from Sports Afield 3 years in a row (1987-1989) and had hundreds of various awards in bass fishing, he would be the first in line to learn something new from someone willing to teach him. He used to say; “Mike, teach those that don’t know and learn from those that do.”

He taught me the virtues of sportsmanship. As a youth I learned to respect the water and its inhabitants, I learned humility, patience, discipline, dedication, and giving. As an adult, my father helped me recognize the virtues of wisdom, experience, and the blessings of health and above all family devotion. In today’s world of hyper Internet connectivity —Facebook, Tweeter, Skype and other social networking mediums—nothing strengthens our family bond more than our early morning fishing trips. Needless to say my father was thrilled to hear in November, 2008 that I was launching Bass Finatics, the first and only true family inclusive bass fishing club in New Hampshire in spring of 2009. Before joining, my father and youngest brother tragically died in an automobile accident. We dedicated the 2009 Bass Finatics’ family oriented fishing tournaments to their memories.

Educating not only our young members, but each other and anyone willing to learn to fish is one of our main goals. Using a display board, we educate children and all members on various fishing techniques, while marketing our sponsor’s logos. Tournament winners are required to present best practices and winning patterns and techniques at club meetings.

In its first year, Bass Finatics held four family-oriented tournaments in which 47 people participated from ages three to 65. More than 25 members and guests participated in the final event. In the family events participants compete for awards in four different divisions: youth, junior, spouse/guest and adult.

We are looking forward to 2010 and plan to expand our memberships. We are a non-profit organization and the first family oriented bass fishing club in New Hampshire and we recognize our youth as the future of bass fishing.

We are very proud to have more than twenty local and national sponsors whom all value the importance of having a family oriented fishing club. Our sponsors vary from big national fishing & hunting companies to local family owned and operated businesses.  The common thread for all of our sponsors is their strong belief in developing our youth and strengthening the family bond, while fishing and having fun. Next year, Bass Finatics is planning to team up with Fox Ridge Outfitters (www.foxridgeoutfitters.com)and Grand View Campground (www.grandviewcamping.com)to provide a day of fun and fishing for children of the St. Charles Children’s Home (www.stcharleshome.org).

“Bass Fanatics was exactly the organization I was looking for. They have the same goal as we have here at Fox Ridge Outfitters, and that is having FUN! Both Bass Fanatics and Fox Ridge are always looking for ways to get families and their children involved in either the outdoors or family fishing events. When we had the opportunity to team up with Bass Fanatics I jumped at the chance and I can clearly see that the partnership will be long lasting,” said Stephen Cunio, manager of Fox Ridge Outfitters.

In addition to sponsors, we have a great relationship with some of the state biologist like Gabe Gries, fisheries biologist and warm water project leader with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.  “I am especially impressed with the primary purpose of your organization and look forward to interacting with this club in the future. Best of luck during the 2009 tournament season,” Gries said.

Having been part of Stateline Bass Anglers, arguably the best bass fishing club in N.H. for the previous 11 years, I feel this new club, Bass Finatics has all the ingredients for a perfectly balanced club: 1.) family and youth participation; 2.) first class sponsorship program;  3.) “teach and learn” is part of the club DNA; 4.) close relationship with the New Hampshire Fish and Game biologists; 5.) New Hampshire B.A.S.S. Federation Nation affiliation; and 6.) a roster full of members that just “get it.”

This year, my six-year-old daughter Kailey decided to draw a picture of her favorite memory this summer. She covered the page with a beautifully colored blue sky, and a colorful boat with two stick figures, all under the super-sized caption that read, “Dad and me fishing.” It was a wonderful reminder of the most important reason I am a proud member of Bass Finatics. Her grandpa would have been very proud, too. 

For more information about Bass Finatics, visit us online www.bassfinatics.com.