Byron Velvick's old licsence plate read "BASSZEN" on an AstroVan or something like that. I like Byron a lot. I enjoy his style and like his attitude. I fished with Byron once on the Delta, we did good. I learned more about power fishing as opposed to the San Diego Lakes shake 4" worms tradition than I can even relate. The funny thing is that I was putting worm fish in the boat while he put blade fish and in the boat. We finished the day listening to Led Zeppelin I, while fishing mind you, out of a stereo he had built into his BassCat. I swear I caught my first true slow-rolled blade fish during 'Communication Breakdown'. <BR>I have had the opportunity to fish with some unbelievable fisherman through WON BASS and Angler's Choice. As my college experience winds to an end here December, I remember Byron telling me to get a college education and bass fishing will follow. That was my senior year of high school, two weeks before graduation at Lake Mead in early June 1995 (WON BASS). That was my third "professional tournament" ever. I made a check too, with fish I caught! That tournament,like many others I've had, are absolutely profound in my mind as far as my life goes. That tournament, Rob Sandford(who has fallen from grace-nobody's fault but his)had Jake Crawford and myself over to stay at his home in Boulder City to save us some $ for that tournament. We arrived and realized we were staying at a house with Byron Velvick, John Murray,Robert Lee, and Sandford. (Whose name in that list is the least recognizable?Give up?Rob Sandford!!!) Anyways, to two high school kids aspiring to fish professionally, we thought we'd died and gone to Vail Lake in the early 80's!!! Those guys were so hospitable it was unbelievable. When a healthy young woman offered us dinner, it became clear at that moment that Byron was one hell of a sight fisherman!!! I had fished with John Murray at Lake Pleasant earlier that year in February. In fact, I drew John the first day of my very first "big tournament". As far as I was concerned, I won no matter what happened. We sucked by the way, and maybe that's how he remembered me. It wasn't until much later I figured out that Murray owns Pleasant. Basically, that stay at Mead guided me to where I am now. I decided to fish at all costs throughout my college career while earning my degree.<BR>Tournament fishing through college has been great. Crazy at times. My first day of college, I was late to a biology GE class from oversleeping from getting in at 4:00AM from Clear Lake the morning before. My teacher asked me if I fished when I walked in. I was wearing a Bass Pro Shops T-shirt.He forgave me for being late. Later that year I fished with Byron at the Delta, the next day, I fished with the late Derrick Crenshaw. We weighed in day two's heaviest limit and both got 2nd place! I broke a fish off that would have won it for the both of us! I qualified for the Western Classic that year,and I practiced with Murray the day before the tourney at Naci. Rico fishing 101! I wasn't even throwing a Rico, I threw a spook behind him. I didn't even know how much he was stoking me at the time!Got third at the Classic and damn near won the boat. My folks were up for my sister's B'day and it was a thrill. I met Dan Frazier there too! Not a bad tournament, huh? I got DQ'd a few weeks later at Mead 1, and I would have won the tournament if we'd only been on time! I almost cried, and I sure wanted to! Never again. Cost me the whole year. I sucked at Pleasant the next tournament and was done. I was so bummed, I kooked out in front of Robert Roster after he had just won. Frazier and I both did, and I'll never forget it or make that mistake again. We were sorry-ass sore losers and he had just won. Again, never again. I surfed the rest of that season away. Scoring up and down the Central Coast. I lived in Morro Bay and in hindsight it was meant to be. My surfing progressed to levels much like my fishing had. I'll surf and fish for as long as I live. The next year was my finest. Completely regrouped, finacially ready, and committed. I was in the money in all but two tournaments I fished that year. I won at Havasu at my first Angler's Choice event. I drew Aaron Martens and beat him out of the back of his boat. Heavy limit option for him and me. I fished with Murray on day two and boated my only fish that day early. The next weekend Ben Matsubu put a 9lb bass in the boat for us at Pleasant. Some years you got it some you don't! I went on to third place at the Western Classic that year and damn near won the boat again,missed Mercury AAA angler of the year by a hair too! This year I didn't even qualify for the Classic. I did qualify for Angler's Choice Championship though coming up in November!!<P>Bass fishing has been extremely good to me. I've been blessed to meet Rob Belloni here at Cal Poly. One hell of a nice guy and a terrific fisherman. I can't tell him enough or help him out enough. He has a lot going for him and I'm glad to know him. I'm real busy these days and really scared of being done with school. I hope to find work in the professional fishing world, or find something that will guide me there. Rob is my age and has my enthusiasm in bass fishing. It is so great to share ideas and thoughts with people your own age and on your wavelength. Besides Cameron Smith of Dana Point, Brett where are you at Woodward, and Jake the seafarin'Crawford, I haven't known other people who truly understand bass fishing at our age. This web site is a testament to Rob Belloni's committment to fishing and fisherman. Look out big girls, 'cause one of these days Rob's gonna fool ya with one of his swimbaits. Good luck to you Rob!

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