Veteran tournament angler Jerry Lee found himself in a bad spot on the second day of competition during the recent Bassmaster Central Open at Lake Lewisville in Texas. He was out of water.
The 71-year-old Lee, a resident of Kiefer, Okla., wasn’t just out of productive fishing water. He was out of water deep enough to pilot his bass boat. The independent contractor was stuck on an ultra-shallow sand bar on the far north end of the lake amid bone-chilling north winds.
He might still be on the sand bar if TowBoatUS Capt. James Freeman hadn’t arrived 30 minutes after Lee placed a call for assistance. But getting him ungrounded wasn’t easy.
“He was stuck so shallow that I couldn’t get my tow boat near him, so we pulled out a 300-foot rope,” said Freeman, who also works for the Lewisville Fire Department. “He threw the rope toward me as far as he could, but I was so far up on the sand bar that it fell short.
That’s when a chartreuse-blue Bill Norman crankbait helped save Lee’s day.
“I casted a crankbait out, hooked the rope and reeled it the remainder of the way to my boat so that I could finally tie on," Lee said.
“Once we each had an end of the rope, I was able to jerk him free, essentially by spinning him around to dislodge him,” explained Freeman. “Then I pulled him to deeper water so he could fire up his outboard and go back to fishing."
The crankbait only cost Lee about $5, but because he hadn’t signed up for a $72 annual membership to BoatUS Angler with Unlimited Road and Water Towing, the tow cost him $165. If he had signed up at the tournament registration, online or by phone, the tow would have been totally free.
“I’ve done two stupid things at this tournament,” reflected the good-natured Lee. “I ran my boat up on a sandbar, and I failed to purchase a BoatUS Angler towing membership before the tournament started.”
Tournament anglers who buy a BoatUS Angler membership will also benefit greatly from their subsequent free participation in the BoatUS Angler “Weigh-to-Win” tournament cash bonus program. Participation is as simple as signing up for any of the following invaluable programs. You choose which option appeals to you most.
> The On-the-Road Towing package includes a BoatUS Angler membership for just $38 and is great for bass anglers concerned about breakdowns on the highway.
> Those who want on-the-water assistance would likely choose the On-the-Water Unlimited Freshwater Towing package for $58.
> Anglers who want their mind at ease, both on-the-road and on-the-water, would choose the combined BoatUS Angler membership for $72. All three offerings make you eligible to enter the “Weigh-to-Win” tournament cash bonus program at no additional cost.
It pays to buy a highly affordable BoatUS Angler membership, regardless of which B.A.S.S. events you compete in, including the Bassmaster Weekend Series. To make sure you're eligible in 2012, call (918) 742-6424 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, and ask for Kendell.
To learn more, visit BoatUSFishing.com.
