Christie Continues Giving Back

Forrest L. Wood presenting Jason Christie the second annual
Forrest L. Wood Sportsmanship and Community Service Award.

A couple of weeks ago, I watched Jason Christie receive the Forrest L. Wood Sportsmanship and Community Service Award on stage at the Forrest Wood Cup. That came as no surprise, given all I've ever heard about Christie and his character and all I've seen in him as he interacts with fans or talks on stage in front of a weigh-in crowd.

Christie continues to back that solid reputation with his hopeful plans for the Bassmaster Toyota Trucks All Star Week. If he gets voted in, Christie plans to donate all of his All Star Week earnings to the Make-A-Wish America Foundation. Not 10, 20 or even 50 percent. 100 percent. That decision, when combined with his all-star fishing performance this year, easily earns my vote. With a week left in the voting, Christie sits in fifth, one place out from making All Star Week.

Ten anglers earned their way into All Star Week strictly through their fishing. Those ten include the top eight in the Angler of the Year standings, the Rookie of the Year (Hank Cherry) and last year's Bassmaster Classic winner (Cliff Pace). The other four are chosen by fans, who can vote for four anglers daily through Sept. 6. Click here to cast your vote.

By the way, do you know where you would find Jason Christie if you went looking for him this morning? He'll spend this morning pond-side at a children's fishing derby, signing autographs, posing with children in photos and encouraging young anglers.

B.A.S.S. All Stars Begin Today

Tennessee pro Ott DeFoe, who won last year's All Star Week event, qualified again this year and therefore will get the opportunity to defend his title.

Twelve All Stars, two lakes, four days and a unique format that includes head-to-head elimination rounds. On Sunday one All Star champion will be crowned. The action begins in a little less than three hours.

The field of 12 includes the top eight finishers in the 2012 B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year standings, plus four anglers chosen by fan voting, and it's definitely a star-studded cast and promises plenty of drama.

Top eight includes last year's All Star champ and the 2011 Rookie of the Year Ott DeFoe, so he has the opportunity to defend. Other pros who made the event by virtue of season standings were 2012 Angler of the Year Brent Chapman, Terry "Big Show" Scroggins, Todd Faircloth, Randy Howell, Matt Herron, Kevin VanDam and Edwin Evers.

No surprises in the fan picks -- Mike Iaconelli, Gerald Swindle, Skeet Reece and Aaron Martens. In fact, if you somehow could have removed  the Top 8 from consideration and held the vote before the first tournament was even held this year and without any of the angler campaigning for votes, I suspect the results would have been exactly the same. Those guys have earned fan favor and respect over the years.

The split venue of Illinois' Lake Shelbyville for the semi-finals and Lake Decatur for the finals provides plenty of mystery for pros and fans alike. Although both are locally popular waterways that host a lot of tournament, neither has much of a name nationally nor has played  host to such a marquis event. Tweets and facebook posts I've seen from the competitors suggest that it's fishing pretty tough. We'll know more soon!

B.A.S.S. All Star Campaigning

Elite Series rookie Cliff Prince had an outstanding first year on tour, qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic, and has a case to be one of the four fan picks for Toyota Trucks All Star Week.

If you follow any bass pros on Facebook or Twitter or pay attention to any bass news sites, you may have noticed that presidential candidates aren't the only folks on the campaign trail right now. Elite Series pros who were not among the top eight finishers in the season points are busily appealing to fans for votes. The first eight Toyota Trucks All Star Week places were determined strictly by the final season standings. The final four will be chosen by fan voting, which is going on right now and will continue through Sept. 10.

The dozen pros who make the final field will fish in an elimination format tournament that's spread over two weeks and is split between two different Illinois waterways. There is no entry fee, and the top finisher will take home $60,000 and the title of All Star Week Champion. Anglers who have already qualified are Brent Chapman, Ott DeFoe, Terry Scroggins, Todd Faircloth, Randy Howell, Matt Herrin, Kevin VanDam and Edwin Evers.

Many pros who aren't already in the mix are making direct appeals to fans, asking for daily votes, with some offering pretty strong incentives. Alton Jones, as an example, has committed to taking a Facebook fan on an all-expenses-paid trip to Falcon with him if he makes the post season. Edwin Evers, who is already in, is going to bat for his brother-in-law, Terry Butcher.

Like any All Star event, fans have different ideas about what the voting should be, with some picking favorites, others answering personal appeals and others studying season accomplishments and voting for the anglers who they think have earned the spots. Of course, B.A.S.S. is offering its own incentive for fans to participate, no matter who they select. Someone is going to win a Skeeter ZX190 bass boat powered by a Yamaha VZ 150 TL motor.

It'll be interesting to see who ends up making the final field. I've cast my first round of votes!