WesternBass Magazine December 2011, Page 36

WesternBass Magazine December 2011, Page 36

SUPPORT.DEFEND.FISH.

T

he armyBassanglers & the Coalition are not

content with just fishing the toughest team

tournaments in texas. More importantly,

they use their ability to fish in national team tournaments and the support of some nationally

member of the team is gone, the other “rucks up” and carries the load for both of them, this is by design and is ingrained all our military training,” states roberson.

Finally, and last on their list of “priorities of fire” is the FiSH pillar of the mission statement. They currently

recognized sponsors to raise the awareness and

fish all across the country on the World Fishing Network

generate support for some very note worthy charitable

on the toughest National team tournament trails,

causes and events. “We are ecstatic about the support

like Bass Champs, oakley Big Bass tour, Faith angler

provided by all our sponsors that enables us to carry out

Network and other regional and national trails. again,

our SUPPort.deFeNd.FiSH mission,” says roberson.

they uses these appearances as “combat multipliers” to

the team dedicates a lot of time and effort to raising

promote returning Heroes Home, HoW and Vo and the

awareness and money for returning Heroes Home

Fishing for Freedom charity events all while caring the

(returningheroeshome.org),HeroesontheWater

torch as ambassadors for their respective sponsors, but

(heroesonthewater.org) and Veteran outdoors

do not count them out as qualified contenders.

(Veteran outdoors). With the severity of their wounds,

If you read about their successes in the

(amputations, parallelization, burns, disfigurement, post-

tournament highlights page of their website, you will

traumatic stress, etc) it is critical that they have a place

quickly notice they are a threat every time they idle

andoractivitiesastheybegintheverysurreallongroadto into a weigh-in. President/Founder, Cody roberson,

recovery and reintegration.

describes the team by saying, “We don’t consider

In addition, the ArmyBassAnglers

ourselves professional fishermen, but professional

& the Coalition are involved in three fishing tournaments

Soldiers who just happen to be really good, avid anglers

dedicated to taking Soldiers fishing. the team volunteers

with a far more important mission —HooaH!”

their personal time to supports “Fishing for Freedom”

BASS/ESPN has tapped ArmyBassAnglers

each year on Belton lake, Choke Canyon & truman lake.

as the Ceremonial launch Boats for the past three

the whole premise behind the events is an opportunity

consective years for each day of The 2009, 2010 and

for the local angling and business community to thank

2011 Bassmaster Classics and recently the Paa has

these Heroes for their service and sacrifices. annually,

tapped aBa to be the lead boats for the 2011 toyota

Choke Canyon reservoir is the host location for “Fishing

texas Bass Classic on Conroe.

for Freedom,” a tournament that pairs local fishermen

In 2012 ArmyBassAnglers and the Coalition will

with wounded Soldiers in the San antonio area for a day

continue their mission by continuing to build combat

of tournament bass fishing on an awesome fishery just

power across the country. in FY 2012 as part of an

for them. all three events are heavily supported and only

expansion phase of their current operations President

made possible through the generosity of local businesses,

Cody roberson has created an alliance to partner

volunteers, and caring local and regional anglers. these are

with the Western powerhouse of fishing and fishing

justafewofthewaystheteamandorganizationlivesupto forums—Western Bass.com. “We are extremely

theSUPPortpillarinitsthreeprongedmissionstatement. excited about our new Coalition partner Western

As mostly active duty Soldiers, the members of

Bass.com in our fight to SUPPort.deFeNd.FiSH.

armyBassanglers & the Coalition have the very surreal

We are looking forward to a whole new level

responsibility to deFeNd this nation and the liberties

of StratCoM capability across the entire Western

we enjoy as americans. Members of the organization

ao of the US to achieve our objectives. Western

are currently deployed with several others scheduled

Bass.com will truly allow us the ability to expand

to make their second or third deployments next year.

and reach service members from all branches of

it makes it tough to uphold their obligations in their

service proudly serving in the Western ao. What

charity work and to their sponsors, but what makes

an exciting time and exciting opportunity to partner

them & the Coalition unique is that their military

with such a great organization as Western Bass.

background creates a “take care of each other”

com—HooaH!,” stated Cody roberson, President/

mentality. “each angler has a “battle buddy” that he

Founder of armyBassanglers, NavyBassanglers,

fishes two-man team tournaments with and when one airforceBassanglers, MarineBassanglers.com.

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http://www.returningheroeshome.org http://www.heroesonthewater.org