Date: 9-18-24 Name: Gary Lang Address: Homeless Race: White Sex: Male Age: 47 Charge: Direct contempt of court
Date: 9-20-24 Name: Shannon D Farmer Address: Homeless Race: Black Sex: Male Age: 35 Charge: Resisting an officer (x2), Criminal trespassing
Date: 9-22-24 Name: Joseph C Atkins Address: Homeless Race: White Sex: Male Age: 42 Charge: Possession of schedule 2 (meth), Possession of suboxone tablets, Possession of Paraphernalia, Improper lane usage
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Vivian Ann Davidson October 21, 1944-September 18, 2024 Services: Funeral services for Mrs. Davidson took place at Hargis Baptist Church on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Interment followed at Mt. Zion Cemetery.
Crosby Butler September 27, 1926-September 19, 2024 Services: Funeral services for Mr. Butler took place Tuesday, September 24th, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. in the Southern Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in the Springhill Cemetery near Wyatt, LA.
Shani LaNette Slayter Fallis March 11, 1974-September 18, 2024 Services: Funeral Services for Ms Fallis took place Monday, September 23, 2024, in the Chapel of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield. Interment will follow in the Mill Creek Cemetery in Saline, LA, under the direction of Southern Funeral Homes.
Marjorie Lee Thornton June 10, 1932-September 19, 2024 Services: Funeral services for Mrs.Thornton took place after visitation on Monday, September 23, within the Southern Funeral home Chapel. Interment followed in the garden of memories.
James C. Mercer August 25, 1947-September 21, 2024 Services: Funeral services for Mr. Mercer will be held at Southern Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 25, at 11:00 AM. followed by burial at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Winnfield
Gentry “Bo” Mattox November 27, 1969-September 21, 2024 Services: Funeral services for Mr. Mattox will be held Saturday September 28, 2024 with visitation beginning at 9am, and his celebration of life to follow at at 11am in the Chapel of the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home.
A 13-year old Winn Parish juvenile was charged late Wednesday evening last week with making terroristic threats to a school, according to Winn Parish Sheriff Josh McAllister. The two juveniles were being held locally.
He stated that his office opened an investigation late Tuesday afternoon, September 10, following social media posts concerning possible threats to Winn Parish schools.
It was determined Wednesday that these posts were initially made by six juveniles in Alabama and were shared across several states. Those juveniles were arrested by Alabama authorities.
A second social media post appeared here late Wednesday and the Sheriff stated his office began another investigation. Sheriff’s investigators were able to determine the second post originated from an Instagram account inside the city limits of Winnfield.
The Sheriff went on to say that a second 13-year old Winn Parish juvenile was charged early Thursday morning with making terroristic threats to a school. During the interview with the first juvenile, another threat was made around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday. After midnight Thursday morning, the WPSO was able to make contact with the second juvenile and ultimately charge him.
There are no threats on social media that the Sheriff’s Office is aware of at this time. Due to the circumstances and threats, there was a heavy presence of law enforcement personnel at the schools for the remainder of last week. School resource officers are on duty this week.
Sheriff McAllister continues to ask parents to please monitor their children’s social media accounts. The sheriff and deputies will be in the schools over next couple of weeks educating students of the laws and consequences of bad decisions concerning social media.
He thanked the community for patience and understanding while these threats were thoroughly investigated. He also thanked his investigators and deputies for their work and extra hours during this time. He stated that the Louisiana State Fusion Center and Instagram personnel assisted his office in the investigation.
“These types of social media threats are common and this office has investigated several threats that did not involve schools. Oftentimes, juveniles see these posts and begin either copying them or joining in on the social media stream. Most of these threats are not credible but each one has to be taken seriously,” McAllister concluded.
Following the retirement of the Winnfield City Police assistant chief, Russell Jones, the City Council at its September 10 meeting approved four promotions recommended by Chief Johnny Ray Carpenter.
Moving into the position of assistant chief is Charles Curry who has served as lieutenant. Moving up to lieutenant is Brian Glenn who has been serving as sergeant. Also promoted from officer to sergeant are both Ashley Carpenter and Deantrey Means.
In other action during their September session, the council agreed to use the services of Karl Johnson’s company to oversee and manage the city’s water and wastewater systems, as the city has no certified personnel to handle it. Annual cost will be $75,000.
Asked about the tainted color of the Winnfield water, Johnson replied he has not yet had a chance to assess the city’s old ozone-based treatment system. Johnson has worked with the city in the past so is familiar with that system but said he is unsure what has and has not been done towards maintenance in the interim. Asked if replacement parts are even available and if repairs are possible, he shrugged his shoulders and suggested he’d have to look into it. He added that he will be attending a convention and may find additional information on clarification systems.
Councilman Matt Miller updated the council on an intergovernmental assistance request to the Winn Parish Police Jury on a road overlay project on North St. John Street. Juror Darrell Franks was in attendance. “Any help would be appreciated,” Miller said.
Monday night was time for an official photo of the 2024 Winn Parish Police Jury. Jurors from left are Darrell Franks, Kyle Potts, Phillip Evans, Stanley Garrett, Frank McLaren and Author Robinson. Seated are secretary/treasurer Karen Tyler and juror Deionne Carpenter. (Photo Courtesy Winn Parish Police Jury)
The Winn Parish Police Jury certified the 2024 ad valorem tax rolls as presented by Sherry Potts, chief deputy tax assessor for Winn Parish, at their September 16 session this week.
The report showed that the total assessed value for properties in the parish was $107.3 million (compared to $104.5 million last year), while the total of Homestead Exemptions came in at $18.1 million (compared to $17.8 million last year), leaving a total of $89.2 million in taxable value (compared to $86.7 million last year).
Potts explained that in the approval process, the dates of both when the assessment books would be open to the public for review as well as the dates of the board of review had been advertised. During the 15-day period of public review, there were 16 inquiries. On the two Board of Review days (August 28 and September 4), there were no appeals received.
The Assessor’s Office asked for Police Jury certification of the parish tax roll and received it Monday night.
In other action, the lawmakers approved purchases at state contract rates of new camera/security systems and access control for both the Courthouse and the Health Unit from Bit Happens. Cost for the Courthouse system will be $97,352 while the Health Unit system will be $45,465. Secretary/treasurer Karen Tyler reported she sought and received six different quotes and this was the lowest.
President Frank McLaren explained that the jury will receive state funding in the amount of $23,000 to reduce local costs on the Courthouse project while the Health Unit costs will be paid out of the Health Unit Fund and not cost the jury. He described the old systems as “obsolete and outdated.”
The jury will also spend $20,438 four large rolling sheet doors and some personnel doors for the parish barn on Thomas Mill Road. They are “very large and very needed,” explained Road Superintendent Perry Holmes who said that several cannot be moved while the others are “barely operable.” The rolling doors are 12 feet wide and 14 feet in length.
C.W. “Jack” Jones as a wartime Navy man and as Rev. Jones, as I knew him at the time of my 2012 veterans interviews.
By Bob Holeman
I felt some sadness when we got the call that Rev. C.W. “Jack” Jones had passed away after a lifetime of service to his country, his Lord and his community of Winn. I also felt some pride in just having known him. He was pushing 99 and a member of what newsman Tom Brokaw termed “The Greatest Generation.”
Jack didn’t consider himself a hero but he was. So were the 33 other World War II veterans that I had the privilege to interview a dozen years ago. They believed they were just responding to their call to service for their country, whether that was in Europe, Northern Africa, the Pacific Theater or here in the United States. Many who were called gave their lives for their country and didn’t return. These 34 did. Jack was the last and now he’s gone.
The Greatest Generation. Think about it. The United States with its allies fought a war on two fronts (Europe and the Pacific) and won. This took a full commitment for our entire nation for as men and women were pulled out of the workplace and into the military, those remaining on the home front had to shift into the workplace to supply a ravenous war machine. Most of those were women, as we think of the iconic “Rosie the Riveter.”
Then there were the housewives and families, living on produce from their Victory Gardens and on tightly rationed supplies because so much had to be shipped overseas to feed the fighting men. Those who stayed behind, supporting the war effort in this way, were also heroes and, like veterans I mentioned above, never saw themselves as such. I’d suggest to you that we as a nation don’t have the backbone to repeat that today.
Let’s talk about Jack. His start might have been typical of many families in the South or throughout mid-America. He was one of eight sons of a carpenter who farmed his 40 acres with two horses, raising corn, cotton, peas and sugar cane. Meat came from the cows, hogs and chickens they raised. Folks did what they had to for their families. Rufus Jones received $20 a month from the state for serving as a fire warden, responding with a fire rake and a flap when the fire tower spotted a blaze in the nearby woods.
Graduated from Atlanta High School in 1942 at age 17 (there were only 11 grades back then), Jack went to work at Western Auto. He registered for the draft when he turned 18. He thought he’d go into the Army like four of his brothers but he was sent to the Navy instead. Assigned to the famed aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, the country boy from Winnfield saw his first battle action in the Marshall Islands in what was termed “The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot” due to the many Japanese planes that were shot down.
Jack remained aboard the Enterprise as the war progressed towards the islands of Japan and was on deck when the carrier was off the shores of Okinawa on May 14, 1945. After earlier “near misses” by kamikaze planes, that day one crashed onto the deck, sliding into the forward elevator and exploding, sending the massive elevator more than 400 feet skywards. Damage was so extensive that repairs in Washington state were not complete until war’s end.
Returning home after the war, Jack worked for a time with Milam’s before getting on with the U.S. Postal Service where he worked 26 years. He had described himself as “raised in a church” and found a place there, serving in several positions before surrendering to the ministry and pastoring at churches and filling pulpits for 50 years.
When I first interviewed this soft-spoken gentleman in 2012, I brought a lunch from Brenda’s Chicken. His wife Moeice made tea. So much did we enjoy the exchange around their kitchen table that several times through these years, I’d show up at their doorstep, chicken in hand. More recently, I brought my Tennessee grandson Silas for the opportunity “to meet a genuine World War II veteran.” On Labor Day weekend, I’d hoped to bring my Texas grandsons by for a visit but he wasn’t feeling well that day so we didn’t.
This opportunity to say “Thanks” here in Winn is gone. I know no others than Jack. Of the 3.5 million who served, it’s estimated that only 70,000 are still with us today. They were the Greatest Generation.
District Attorney Chris Nevils and Industrial Board chairman Larry Bates gave Rotary an update on board efforts to attract industry to this parish.
Rotarians of Winnfield learned about the Winn Parish Industrial Board at their meeting on September 4 from Board member Larry Bates and Winn Parish District Attorney Chris Nevils.
Nevils explained that the Board was formed out of the agreement between the Police Jury and Jeld-Wen when Jeld-Wen located its plant in the parish. The Industrial Board acquired the property on which the plant is located, and Jeld-Wen leases the property from the board, paying annual rent of $50,000 to the board.
The Industrial Board uses the funds to investigate industrial development opportunities for the area to attract businesses which will provide jobs for Winn Parish. Bates reported the Board has sought out manufacturing companies which might make their products locally, although none of those discussions has resulted in success.
The board also retained an economic development consulting firm, Retail Strategies, to perform a study of traffic going through the town and of the types of businesses that might be interested in the local resources. This was a one-year contract, which resulted in a report primarily recommending the board seek out fast food businesses to locate on Highway 167. The board felt this type of business would only attract absentee franchise owners and only offer low-paying jobs. It chose not to renew Retail Strategies’ contract.
The board is currently considering creating an industrial complex of about 60 acres or so, to first attract retail businesses and then manufacturing companies to increase available jobs and traffic in the area along the Highway 167 corridor. The board focuses its efforts on businesses which sell and manufacture products from wood, as that is a primary resource of the parish.
After Mr. Bates and Mr. Nevils answered questions from the audience, the meeting was adjourned with the Rotary motto, Service Above Self!
Last Friday, Sept. 13, the Winnfield Tigers played the Caldwell Spartans in a home game at Stokes-Walker Stadium winning 22-7 and improving to 2-0. Both the offense and the defense played very well despite the less than ideal conditions they faced.
All of the recent rainfall made a very wet field, limiting what the Tigers could do in terms of plays but they still came out on top. Early in the game a run by Jaylon Jackson brought the Tigers 55 yards all the way to the Caldwell 25 yard line. Later in the second quarter Detavious Williams intercepted the ball on a pass at the Caldwell 23 yard line allowing the Tigers to gain possession of the ball where a series of plays allowed them to get close enough for Jaylon Jackson to score a touchdown putting the Tigers 6-0 against the Spartans. Soon after, John Micheal Pickett intercepted the ball allowing Winnfield to gain possession of the ball again.
In the second half of the game the Tigers had the ball first and, with a series of rushes by Zaelyn Thomas and Damascus “Tank” Lewis, Winnfield was able to score another touchdown with Jaylon Jackson on the carry. This was followed by a two point conversion bringing the score to 14-0. In the fourth quarter, a rush by John Micheal Pickett got the Tigers a first down and it was soon followed by another with a run by Jeremy Mamon. This series allowed Tank Lewis to make a touchdown, which was again followed by another two point conversion. Overall the Winnfield defense held the Caldwell Spartans to just seven points. In particular Javonta Grisby, Logan Adams, John Micheal Pickett, and Jeremy Mamon who consistently broke up plays brought the advancement of the other team to a stop. With these combined efforts, at the end of the game the score stood 22-7.
“Our defense played extremely well,” says head coach Jay Watson. “We need to clean up penalties but I was very proud of our offensive linemen tonight. I am also very proud of our quarterback [Nickalas Mockosher]”. When asked about his overall impression of the night he stated “I was very pleased with our team performance. I enjoyed how much our defense hated giving up the score at the end. The duo of Jaylon Jackson and Tank Lewis really played out tonight. We did the best that we could with the wet field and bad conditions.”
Next week the Winnfield Tigers will play at home on Friday, September 20 at Stokes-Walker Stadium at seven o’clock in a battle of the unbeatens against the West Ouachita Chiefs (current record 2-0). The weather will be sunny at 95 degrees with no chance of rain in the forecast. Consider coming out to support the Winnfield Tigers!
WHEN: Saturday, September 21, 2024 TIME: 9 AM WHERE: 7675 Hwy 167S, Winnfield, LA 71483
Selling for: City of Winnfield, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Dept, City of Natchitoches, Natchitoches & Caldwell Fire Districts, Local Contractors and Farmers Construction Equipment, Tractors, Trucks, Trailers, Farm Equipment, 100+ Vehicles, Tools & Much More!
Notice: Sale starts at 9AM, we will be selling 2 Rings starting at 11AM. Ring 1 (starts at 9): Golf Carts, 4-Wheelers, Lawnmowers, Boats, Construction Equipment, Tractors, Trucks, Cars, Containers, Trailers, Attachments, & Salvage
Ring 2 (starts at 11): Hay & Farm Equipment, Cattle Equipment, Tools & Misc.
For more information, call Rex at 318-648-8509 or 318-471-0962 or visit us online at: www.proxibid.com/lasyone
There’s something for everyone!! We hope to see you there!! Rex Lasyone, LA lic#:1549, TX lic#: 16267
Partial Listing: ∙ John Deere 160C LC Excavator, nice ∙ Komatsu PC45MR Excavator ∙ Komatsu WA250 Rubber Tired Loader ∙ Case 480F Loader Landscape Tractor w/grapple ∙ IH 806 Tractor, restored from an estate, barn kept, Very Nice! ∙ JLG 10054 Telescopic Forklift ∙ John Deere 450J LT dozer ∙ Komatsu D31P Dozer ∙ (2) Taylor 16K Forklifts ∙ Case 1150G Dozer ∙ Kubota L3300 Tractor, 4×4, Hydrostat, 200 hours, w/Implements: Bush Hog, Box Blade, Post Hole Digger ∙ (2) New Mini Excavators, rubber tracks ∙ 2007 Peterbilt 386 Day Cab Truck & Tanker Water Trailer from Fire Dept ∙ 2010 Mack Sleeper Truck ∙ 2008 Freightliner Single Axle Truck ∙ Army Truck ∙ Dump Trucks & More!
Absolute!! – 30 Parish Vehicles – (2) 2018 Dodge Durangos ∙ 2010 Ford Explorer ∙ (3) 2009 Chevy Impalas ∙ 2016 Ford Taurus ∙ 2015 Ford Taurus ∙ (2) 2013 Ford Taurus ∙ (2) 2016 Dodge Chargers ∙ 2008 Lincoln MKZ ∙ 2013 Chevy Tahoe ∙ 2001 Dodge Dakota ∙2011 Chevy Tahoe ∙ 2008 Ford F-450 Truck, Cummings Engine, 78k mis ∙ 2004 Ford F-250 Truck ∙ 2005 Dodge 2500, 4×4 ∙ (2) 2006 Chevy 1500 Trucks & Lots More!
2008 Mate Tri-Axle Dump Trailer ∙ 2024 Performance GN Flatbed Trailer, dual tandem ∙ (3) 2001 Dragon Oilfield Trailers ∙ Stock Trailers ∙ Bumper Trailers ∙ Vermeer 605XL Round Baler ∙ Hay Grapple ∙ Great Plains Pasture Drill ∙ King Kutter Tiller ∙ (2) Kuhn Hay Cutters ∙ (2) Hydraulic Disks ∙ Bush Hogs ∙ Box Blades ∙ Semi Load of New Tires ∙ Attachments ∙ Feed Troughs ∙ Hay Rings ∙ Panels & Gates ∙ Welders ∙ Air Compressors ∙ Pipe ∙ Tools ∙ Golf Carts ∙ 6×6 Marsh Buggy ∙ Four Wheelers ∙ Lawnmowers ∙ Western Furniture ∙ Tools & Lots More!
Do you recognize any of these excuses in yourself or someone close to you?
Excuse #1: “It doesn’t happen all the time.” This is the most confounding things about abuse. Those who abuse rarely are abusive 24/7. They may even be over-the-top romantics the first time you meet them (which is often love bombing). An abuser may pretend he or she never abused you. They may never acknowledge their abuse or argue against your memory of it this is called gaslighting. You may be convinced it was just a one-time thing that won’t happen again. In between abusive incidents, everything may appear calm on the surface of your relationship. Yet, the difference between an occasional argument and abuse is that a survivor of abuse will usually feel uneasy at all times even the seemingly calm periods. This is why it’s important to listen to your gut. Do you dread going home? Are you afraid to talk to your partner about pretty much anything? Do you feel like you’re walking on eggshells at all times. These can be serious red flags.
Excuse #2: “But he’s never hit me.” Abuse can take many forms, not just physical hitting, shoving, kicking, throwing things, punching the wall, strangulation. Abuse can be psychological, mental or emotional. It can look like bullying, name-calling, lying, gaslighting, shaming or embarrassing a partner on purpose, and isolation from friends and family. Once they realize a survivor is trapped, abusers often escalate their abuse from nonphysical forms to physical violence. It’s important to remember it’s never too early (or too late) to set boundaries with a partner.
Excuse #3: “Other people endure worse than this.” The comparison game is an easy one to play,
but it’s not helpful. If a friend came to you and disclosed that their partner was abusing them, would you tell them, “You can handle it, someone undoubtedly has it worse’? Of course not. So why tell yourself that? Everyone deserves to feel safe with their partner. And not just sometimes, but at all times. Abuse is not a sliding scale there is no excuse for one incident just there’s no excuse for years of control and intimidation.
Excuse #4: ”He’s so romantic/caring/attentive when he’s not angry.” Love-bombing is when the abuser showers the survivor in gifts or feigns interest in everything the survivor likes in order to create a false sense of deep connection. “This inability to trust can ruin love in a way because love gets associated with abuse and control. The reason why the control is so effective, especially in the beginning, is because (the Survivor) is given a love like they’ve never experienced before,” Talia Bombola, certified psychodynamic therapist out Newport Beach, tells DomesticShelters.org.
Halloween this year falls on a Thursday and plans are underway already to allow residents to safely enjoy that happening.
The 2024 Fall Festival has been slated for October 31 in downtown Winnfield from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. when Main Street is traditionally lined with booths, tables and pickup trucks from the Methodist Church down to the Political Museum where youngsters can find plenty of Trick or Treat goodies.
A good starting point for activities is always the Costume Contest for all ages, set to begin at 5:30 p.m. (registration at 5 p.m.) at the Louisiana Political Museum. Six age groups are 0-3 years, 4-7 years, 8-10 years, 11-13 years, 14-17 years and 18 years and up. There will also be Theme Groups and Pets divisions.
Along the route, downtown Treaters will also find Bounce Houses beside First Baptist Church, free food (hot dogs, chips and drinks) and the Pumpkin Patch located at the First United Methodist Church.
The Pumpkin Decorating Contest will return to the Fall Festival, sponsored by the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office. Participants will need to use their own pumpkin and supplies for their painted (not carved) pumpkins. The extended entry time is October 21 through 30. Deadline for entries is 4 p.m. October 30 at the Sheriff’s Office in the courthouse.
There will also be age groups in the pumpkin completion. They are 7 years and younger, ages 8-10, ages 1113 and ages 14-18.
And there’s more. The WPSO will present its first annual (rubber) Duck Hunt. Watch the Journal for details coming soon.
Those wishing to participate in this family-friendly event are invited to call 318-628-0169.
The monthly “Wellness Wednesday” presentation at the Winn Parish Library is set next Wednesday, September 25, with the topic of “Food Safety” to be discussed.
The discussion will be led by Dr. Shakera Williams and is particularly timely was we move towards the holiday seasons where large meals are often prepared and set out for family gatherings.
“Did you know that sometimes your upset gut is caused by unsafe food consumption,” the experts advise. “Come and learn proper food safety techniques and more.”
The September 25 program will be held in the library’s main branch in Winnfield. The program begins at noon. Those with questions may contact Shannan Chevallier at the LSU AgCenter at 628-4528.
The event is made possible through the Rapides Foundation is sponsored by the LSU AgCenter, the City of Winnfield and the Winn Parish Library.
Elias toiled away in his machine shop trying to solve the problem that would make his contraption practical. He thought solving the problem would be quick and easy. Other inventors had tried but failed in the task that Elias struggled with. He worked day and night on the problem and was nearing the point of poverty. Even as he slept, the problem taunted him. Finally, his life depended on the success of his invention.
The king was a ruthless man who was feared by all. When people saw him, they averted their gaze so as not to attract his attention. If the king took notice of someone, it normally ended badly. Somehow, the king heard about Elias’s work on his invention. The king realized that Elias’s invention would put his country in the forefront in the Industrial Revolution, and it would also be a fun game. To Elias, it was no game. It was cruel. The king sent word to Elias that he had just 24 hours to make his invention work. If he failed to get it to work in that short length of time, the king would have Elias executed.
Elias worked at a feverish pace. At times, minutes felt like hours ,while at other times, hours felt like seconds. Elias was running out of time. With a knock on the door, Elias knew his time had run out. His mind frantically worked for a way to make his contraption work. The king’s lead soldier knocked with such force the second time that the door almost came off its hinges. Elias had no choice but to answer the door. The lead soldier glared at Elias. Several other soldiers waited in formation outside. The lead soldier asked Elias if he had finished with his invention. Elias knew better than to lie because the soldier would test the device and the outcome would be the same. Elias hung his head and explained that he had failed to make it work. He needed more time, time the king was unwilling to give. The soldiers shackled Elias’s hands and led him away to be executed. As they walked, none of the soldiers would speak to or even make eye contact with Elias. Elias’s pleas for more time were answered with silence. Elias looked at each soldier, then looked at each soldier’s weapon. In the front were soldiers carrying pikes, long wooden shafts with leaf-shaped steel spears attached to the ends. Elias noticed that the spear points had a small hole drilled near the tip. It was a eureka moment for Elias. In that instant, he knew how to make his contraption work. The one part of his contraption that he failed to make work just needed a hole similar to those in the soldiers’ pikes. He tried to explain this to the soldiers, but they kept marching Elias to the place of his execution. Elias kept trying to persuade the soldiers all the way to the scaffolding. As the soldiers held Elias’s head on the chopping block, Elias begged for them to reconsider. The executioner drew back his ax. As the blade of the ax fell, Elias jerked himself awake. It had all been a dream.
It was about 4 o’clock in the morning when Elias awoke in his bed in Massachusetts. There was no brutal king, no soldiers, and no execution. Then, Elias remembered the pierced tips of the pikes the soldiers carried. He ran to his shop and began working by candlelight. By nine o’clock that same morning, Elias had solved the problem that had stumped other inventors for decades. He tested his working model repeatedly with the expectation that it would soon fail, but it worked beautifully. On September 10, 1846, the United States Patent Office awarded Elias patent number 4,750, from which he became wealthy. Because of that dream, Elias knew where to position the eye in the needle. One newspaper reported that his machine makes “beautiful and strong seams in cloth as rapid as nine tailors!” That dream helped Elias Howe invent the first practical sewing machine.
Over my many years of tournament bass fishing, I have had the privilege and honor of sharing a bass boat with some great anglers. Some of these are 1997 Bassmaster Classic Champ Dion Hibdon, three-time FLW Angler of the Year Clark Wendlandt, and MLF Champion Kelly Jordon who all have the ability to not only find bass, but catch them as well.
Sure, there are videos and some great fishing magazines that can help point you in the right direction, but nothing replaces experience and time on the water. Today, we’ll go over what makes a great tournament angler and the skills necessary to compete on a high level.
Just like any other sport, some athletes are just gifted and have great ability. Some are the complete package and have not only great physical talent, but they possess a great mental aptitude for whatever sport they are playing.
But in the tournament bass fishing world, there are certain skills one must possess in order to compete. First, would be the ability to cast a lure and put it into places where bass live. He or she must be versatile and able to pitch, flip or cast the bait where they want. It’s like a baseball pitcher being able to throw the baseball with precision and accuracy in order to get batters out. If you can’t cast, you won’t be competitive.
But one of the most overlooked skills necessary to be a successful bass fisherman is the ability to locate fish. Finding fish is probably the hardest skill to learn but with today’s high level of electronics, the task has been made much easier.
Today’s up and coming anglers have it too easy with all the new fish locating tools they have at their disposal like down imaging, side scan and, yes, the new controversial forward-facing sonar. Anglers a generation ago had to learn this skill the hard way by understanding water clarity, water temperature, habitat or simply by getting on the water and making cast after cast to try and locate bass.
Back in the day, anglers had to cover a lot of water fan casting a lure for hours trying to locate bass. But most anglers today never have to wet a hook to locate bass. Today’s angler will spend countless hours idling around the lake watching their sonar screens searching and GPS marking good structure or cover like laydowns, brush piles, hydrilla (grass) or more importantly…. baitfish!
All the pre-fishing they need to do today is on a 10- or 12-inch screen. It’s a known fact that some anglers will never make a cast before the tournament starts. Ten years ago, if someone showed up at a bass tournament without pre-fishing, they were just simply donating to the rest of the field. But oh, how times have changed here on Walton’s Mountain!
So, here’s my advice to all the young anglers coming up today. Learn how to find fish on your own. Don’t rely on someone else to send you waypoints or show you where they are catching fish. Rely and trust yourself to find fish! There are no shortcuts or a magical formula for being successful. One thing has remained true from the very beginning of tournament bass fishing, there’s no substitute for time on the water!
Till next time good luck, good fishing and always wear your sunscreen and good UV protective clothing. Melanoma is the number one killer of all forms of cancer. Don’t roll the dice when it comes to your health.
