Well, it has been a wonderful year for the Western Bass Club as the 2003 tournament schedule ends. There will be many things to look back on over the long cold winter as we re-tool, waiting for the time when the sun basks on the boat decks. Then we'll begin again with the promise of lots of fun, camaraderie, and exciting fishing in the great state of Washington.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for making this the greatest group I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of and will be a part of for many years to come. The Team tournament was a great success. Lake Washington showed why she is the Jewel of the West Side, as she was plentiful for some and fickle for others. The stats are ready for you and I will be sending out a final report with all the stats combined. Look for that and get ready for even more fun and excitement in a new year with new members and another generation added to the Western Bass Club. Hope to see you all at the next meeting on the 17th.
Larry Sullivan

May, June, July, and August brought in some nice 5 to 8 lb. trophies, but September's Green Slips found the big ones noticeably absent - at least in terms of largemouth.  Ron Hankinson's 4 lb. 15 oz. smallie was a nice Lake Washington bronzeback, and took the top honors. Both Doug Booth and Pat Sotherlund brought in 4 lb. 6 oz.  twin largemouth. So… three healthy 4+ lb. fish were turned in, but either the 5, 6, 7 and 8 pounders have gone deeper already, or they're just smarter this time of year. Maybe by now they've seen every thing in our tackle boxes.  OR… maybe the fish weren't on vacation - maybe the fishermen were? 

Three of the 7 Greenslip fish were caught on grubs, two others on drop shot rigs, while a spinner bait and buzzbait rounded out the successful tackle used by WBC anglers. Not surprisingly, both large and small lakes, as well as the Columbia River, produced fish.  (Apparently, young Caleb Booth took his dad, Doug, out to Lake Washington and showed him how to find the largemouth in what is typically a smallmouth haven.) Variety, in terms of locations and tackle, is still a key characteristic of fall fishing. 

And again this month, the big 3 producers didn't win the "Big Fish Kitty" because they didn't sign up this year.  Which was OK for Faz, because his 4^th place fish, a 3 lb. 6 oz. smallie from the Columbia, took home the money! We have one more month of winnings to give away and then the Big Fish Kitty  is over for 2003. The totals will then be added up and someone who has turned in the fattest fish for the past 9 months will earn the Stringer of the Year award. It's no secret that Ron Hankinson and Virgil Wilbur have been duking it out all year with some impressive stringers, but we'll keep the winner a secret until the Awards Dinner in January. Way to go guys! Keep up the good work! But call me when the big ones get back from vacation!     
Chuck Bailey (The Rev.)

Note from Ed: Greenslip entries for September are on the following page!