New faces and new technology show up early in the morning as tournaments showcase the growing popularity of bass fishing

Two things I know about Tom Stratton. Bass and speed he loves.
Heading across Herrington Lake last year at a bass fishing tournament sponsored by Touchstone Energy® electric cooperatives, he hollered, "If you'll turn to notice behind the boat, there's a fine 'rooster's tail' up now. Basically, ma'am, this means we're airborne."
Stratton is marketing services coordinator for Blue Grass Energy co-op based in Nicholasville. He's also a dedicated bass fisher and organized the tournament-a fund-raiser for United Way.
Following Stratton's instructions, I reluctantly glanced back over my lifejacket at the arch of white water jutting skyward from our stern-which was, of course, airborne.
We might catch some bass today but they weren't going to catch us.
I wasn't the only fresh face at the tournament. Bass fishing for skill or skillet is appealing to new demographics. Novices are becoming the next wave in one of the state's fastest rising trends in pastimes, vacations, and fund raising.
Women of all ages, young couples, and children are creating a whole new market for travel, clothing, and equipment. With Kentucky's world-famous lakes, rivers, and streams, bass fishing is as natural and historical as the Commonwealth itself. The pursuit of the fish with the stripes, mouths big and small, floats a lot of boats.
"Bass are everywhere," says Ted Crowell, assistant director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Part of the reason for bass fishing's popularity in Kentucky, he says, is that "wherever you have water, you have largemouth bass in this state. Lakes, streams, ponds, they are all over in Kentucky. In most of our lakes, largemouth bass have been our number-one game fish for a long time and will be in the foreseeable future."
Crowell credits bass fishing's national popularity to increased media coverage and the promotional work of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
"It is hard to turn on a TV now and not see bass fishing," says Crowell. "The cork came out of the bottle when Ray Scott invented B.A.S.S. in 1967. Now that the ESPN TV sports channel has gotten into bass fishing, they have a full-blown marketing plan."
Bass fishing is good for families, says Lee McClellan, information officer for the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.
"Bass fishing is a good way to bond with your children," says McClellan. He cautions that its sometimes slow pace may not be right for very young, active children. But for early and pre-teens, he says, "Fishing teaches patience and shows kids that they are part of a web of life that is interconnected."
Fishing can be great for couples, too, says McClellan. He calls it "an excellent way for a couple to get away from it all for a weekend and not spend a ton of money. Plus, if the fish aren't biting, you can swim, picnic, water ski, hike, or whatever."
Bass enthusiast Bruce Weller, of Bluegrass Guide Service of Gilbertsville, says fishing fund-raisers have been growing in prominence for 30 years. He has a special feeling for the tournaments around the country supporting the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.
"I have a niece that just turned 30 the first of this month," says Weller. "When she was 9 years old, the doctors gave her six months to live. Thanks to St. Jude, she is alive today.
"There are about 15 benefit tournaments around the country just for St. Jude-not to mention benefit tournaments for the Children's Miracle Network, Easter Seals, Relay For Life, and many more," says Weller. "It seems bass fishermen have a soft spot in their hearts for kids."
Weller says that despite the large bass population, hooking the fish can still challenge those with a lot of experience.
He says bass "are as fickle a fish as they come when it's up to changing where they are at in the water at a certain time of the year, what kind of bait they will bite, and how the bait must be fished."
This hasn't stopped anyone from making it one of the most well-rounded fishing bargains in the country for prizes and for pleasure.
"Thanks to organizations like Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and FLW Outdoors, which is located right here in Gilbertsville, the sport has grown to national proportions with the money in tournaments being very lucrative," says Weller.
The newfound participation in fish and wildlife has inspired a program just for women. Becoming An Outdoors-Woman offers activities from firearms safety to archery, wildlife identification to, yes, fishing. For more information on Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, call 1 (800) 858-1549.
A noteworthy Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife program is "Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs." The department provides training, volunteers, materials, and equipment to organizations, churches, clubs, and others to carry the message that fishing can be a positive life experience as opposed to turning to drugs for entertainment or social acceptance.
I grew up with an image of fishing based on the opening of TV's The Andy Griffith Show: father and son ambling down a road, poles over their shoulder, whistling, and Opie tossing a pebble into the water.
Fast forward to springtime in the 21st century and the tournament at Herrington Lake. Speedboats and the lingo of power and strategy for rods, reels, lures, and engines skitter across the water and the docks. Computer screens scan the lake's bottom with moon-rover technology. The rods and reels glow with neon hues; many are a slick ebony finish on graphite. The lures are as eclectic and bright as alien costume jewelry. Cell phones are turned off so as not to spook the fish. We're not in Mayberry anymore. I'm thinking Star Trek.
Despite the modern trappings, this large gathering at Chimney Rock Marina has as much a down-home feel as my uncle's old dry-goods store. High-fives, fish stories, country and rock music fill the air. The fish got tossed back but we kept the memories.
The chilled fog lifts from the lazy morning water. No one is really wide-awake here, except for the 113 fishermen whose dreams are of the prize that awaits the biggest catch. After the 7 a.m. launch, a grill master fires up the coals and readies the food for volunteers and organizers.
By noon the sun is high and jackets begin to peel off. The aroma of seared meat from hot dogs to deer steaks, simmering chili, and green beans wafts above the lakeside cliffs.
Stratton drives a boat out of the marina and it gurgles to the edge of the no-wake zone. My personal summertime aphrodisiac, the gas/oil of the motor mingling with lake water, fills my senses. I'm gazing at the familiar light-blue metal span-one of those lovely old "singing" bridges that crisscross the Kentucky River as it moseys through the state.
With a brief "warning," our bow raises and we gracefully turn 40 miles an hour into a smooth-as-glass ballet down the wide section of Herrington.
Our pilot cuts the engine from a blur to a bubble, allowing the trusty Ranger to visit alongside some bank fisherman. There are always a lot of fish under those roots and rocks. "Big rocks, big fish," Stratton murmurs.
He explains that with lures, all artificial, not live, it's not about hunger for the bass: it's simply striking a response. Hmm. The depth finder says it's about 200 feet deep (I cinch my flotation device). Why all the quiet bank fishing? Bass have no eyelids, they like the shade. Eeeww!
The variety of the people and community spirit at Chimney Rock is impressive. A group of young people from Nicholasville cheer their friend as he hands his fish over to be weighed. A quiet but very big man from Harrodsburg claims he didn't get a bite after 10 a.m. He takes the steep hill to the final moment of the day in boots and overalls. A clap of thunder is the only applause he gets.
The dark clouds dip toward us. The wind whips the water and won't let go until the grand prize is handed over in an envelope. The winners, Mark Taylor and Wayne Wesley of Danville, are shy yet satisfied with the generous $2,500 grand prize. While they're securing their boat near the ramp, I ask what they plan to do with the money. Buy more equipment, among other things. Taylor remarks that he wants to dedicate the victory to his dad, who taught him to fish. Okay, so we're back in Mayberry.

Bass fishing on the Internet
A guide to bass fishing tournaments in Kentucky, a link to "The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide," and more can be found at the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources Web site www.kdfwr.state.ky.us. When you get there, click on the "fishing" button.

Where the bass are
The following information comes from last year's population studies as reflected in the 2002 Kentucky Fishing Forecast from the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.
East
Dewey Lake: The lake bottomed out a few years ago, but now has an excellent rating for largemouth bass. There is a 15-inch minimum size limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Yatesville Lake: This lake has many largemouth bass that are over 15 inches as a result of the 15-inch minimum size limit on largemouth bass. Great trophy potential. The best fishing is on deep structure in lower lake in early fall and in the flooded timber in early spring.
Paintsville Lake: This is a great lake for those wanting numbers of fish to catch. The lake has an excellent population of Kentucky (spotted) bass. The newly implemented 12- to 15-inch protective slot limit will help the numbers of bigger fish in the future.
West
Kentucky Lake: One of the best bass fisheries in the upper nation. Considered by many to be one of the top 10 in the nation. Excellent trophy potential for all black bass.
Lake Barkley: In the shadows of its famous neighbor, but just as good to fish. Stay in channels when navigating. Look for channel dropoffs that are well offshore. There is a 15-inch minimum size limit on smallmouth bass.
North Central
Taylorsville Lake: Increasing number of 15- to 18-inch fish as a result of the 15-inch minimum size limit. Try timbered coves. Good fishing despite high fishing pressure.
Guist Creek Lake: Excellent trophy potential. Fishing will improve in the future.
Kincaid Lake: A hard lake to fish, but phenomenal numbers of trophy fish.
South Central
Barren River Lake: Lake is a little down compared to past but should rebound in the future. Good trophy potential. There is a 15-inch minimum size limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Herrington Lake: A hard lake to fish, but many 3- to 5-pound fish with good trophy potential. It keeps producing year after year.
Green River Lake: Good numbers of 15-inch or larger fish available. Fish the upper parts of creeks in the spring, deep points in summer and winter.