First things first. I’ve never fished a bass tournament in my life. I’ve fished striper tournaments but never a bass tournament.

However, I have always been a fan of them. B.A.S.S. tournaments, like the Classic and the Elite Series, have always held my attention. The anglers have always been people I enjoyed watching and looked up to when I was a kid.

One of the reasons is the time they spend giving back. In September, my good friends Dorothy and Mike Tarrer, who run The GA Bass Trail, spent two weekends doing just that. Giving back.

The first tournament was held on Sept. 16 and was for the Georgia Masonic Childrens’ Home, put on by GA Bass Trail and Rising Star Lodge #4 F&AM, raising around $2,700! They had 24 boats, and the winners were Tony Luke and Fred Dyer with my good buddy Randy Jackson (the Bass Beetle) and Ken Cothran coming in second.

The next tournament was for Wild Jager Veterans Adventures, a local veteran’s charity that helps wounded and disabled vets. This one was won by my good friend Tommy Tarrer, a former Ranger and Army vet. He and his partner, the old sailor we all call Uncle Bob, won for the second time in a row over there! There were a lot of raffles for this event and even a paddle board donated by Laurel at RIDE. This was truly a fun event, and the money went to a good cause!

Coming up in October, Mike and Dorothy are helping bring the United in Pink tournament Casting in Pink benefitting breast cancer research. On Oct. 28, this tournament will run out of Dennis Station on Lake Sinclair, and it will be a good one. They are expecting over 100 boats and the fishing should be good folks!!! Check out unitedinpink.org/casting-in-pink/ to register and come by and see Mike, Dorothy, Jim Lumpkin with Lake Country fishing and myself. I promise it will be fun!

Now, when I was a boy one of my heroes was the legendary Roland Martin. I remember my dad taking me to the Classic one year. While Roland didn’t win, he was up there. We also saw him multiple times at fishing shows, tournaments, and events.

The time I remember most was my dad taking me to Clewiston, FL, to Roland Martin’s Marina and resort. Man, what a trip!!! Fishing the Big O as a 10- or 12-year-old was amazing and something I have never forgotten to this day. We fished famous places like Moonshine and Monkey Box, the canal, we locked in and out of the lake. It was an adventure! Our guide then was a BASS Classic competitor name Chet Douthit (who also played football for the Miami Dolphins back in the 70s). We fished big worms in the grass, shiners on balloons, and I don’t even remember what all else.

The high point of the trip was the last morning walking out of the store to get in the boat and Roland himself was there! Now, you hear a lot of things about him and other celebrities, but let me tell you. He took time with me that day. He took pictures with me on HIS boat and signed my hat (which still sits in my den) to a young boy who loved to fish. There wasn’t anything better.

Tight lines and following seas y’all!