The regular monthly meeting was held on March 10, 2010, at Perkins Family Restaurant in Olean, NY.

Tournament Information

New tourney director Bill Melick said our tourney permits for the Honeoye and Conesus tournaments are done. Also, if Long Point State Park is closed the Club Classic will launch at Bemus Point instead.

Several members expressed concerns over the Upper Niagara and Lake Erie tourneys. Specifically, some asked why Erie cannot be fished during the Lower Niagara tourney. Our by-laws specifically state that the same waters may not be fished during the same year. This was discussed and clarified at the March 2009 meeting, obviously before the tourney waters were even drawn. Minutes from that meeting will show that when the Upper Niagara River is fished you may not go on to Lake Erie. Conversely, when Erie is fished, you may not fish the river.

Junior Club News

After many years of faithful service Trinette and Ron Brewer have announced that they will step down at the end of the year as Junior Club Directors. So, we are looking for a successor and the Brewers have offered to mentor and assist whoever takes the helm through the transition process.

The juniors have selected their six-man team to fish the CTC on Onondaga on August 28. The yare: Clayton Shuh, Clinton Brewer, Rocky Sorrento, Brandy Dupere, Caswell Stanton and Logan Shuh.

The juniors will be holding their annual breakfast fund raiser at Applebee’s in Olean on June 12 from 8-10 AM. See any juniors for a ticket and join us for a wonderful breakfast.

Banquet News

Thanks to everyone who made this year’s annual banquet another success. A special thanks go out to Don Hallock , who has supervised the banquet for years and will be stepping down. He will mentor the new banquet chair during the transition process. Anyone interested in taking over should talk to Don about the duties and then contact President Bob Green.

Also, thanks to Sue and Wade McClurg for running the auction that raised $740. The proceeds will be split between the junior and senior clubs.

Miscellaneous Items

We have only three tourneys without sponsors so members are asked to actively seek sponsors. If you have any questions or need more information please contact President Bob Green.

Long Point State Park is on the list of parks to close this year – the vote will be in April. All members are asked to voice their dissent by going to Senator Cathy Young’s website to complete the very short petition. The address is: http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/catharine-young .

The Federation is asking local club members to complete a survey on aquatic invasives. The address to do so is:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GPL85LQ.

Federation News:

Federation Tournament News

The NY federation tournament on the St. Lawrence River will require anglers to have a Canadian license. Also, those fishing the opener on Lake Champlain may want to buy a Vermont license. That will be required if you fish the Vermont side tributaries. It was just announced that the CTC will be held at Owasco Lake.

A Bass Angler’s Voice?

The Federation is asking all New York anglers to be more participatory in local conservation, lake association, etc. meetings. After all, many other organizations have a voice in decisions that are made but bass anglers seem to be at the end of the line. If we don’t, who speaks for us?

Sponsor Program

Many Federation sponsors have offered some great discounts to Federation members…an we’re talking big discounts, not the $5-10 variety. Humminbird, Skeeter, MinnKota, Berkley have some nice packages for you to consider and for sure, you can more than get back your $20 Federation dues with what you’ll save. Check it out on the NYBASSFED website.

The next meeting will be held at the Olean Perkins Restaurant on Wednesday, April 14, 2009 at 7 PM.