Byrdstown, TN..... Father and son team, Mike and Jake Gipson are headed to Costa Rica courtesy of Early Times Whisky and JDC Marketing for their 1st place finish at this weeks` Military Team Bass Tournament in Byrdstown, TN. The duo started competitively fishing in tournaments just the last few years, and found success today in the 18th annual event. Son, Jake, who is a Political Science major at the University of Florida in Gainsville, was supposed to be on a plane to South Africa today until the team found themselves in the running yesterday and got permission from his professor to depart a day late. "My professor said, if you miss that flight on Friday, you`d better win that tournament! So, I couldn`t let him down", said Jake.
Mike, retired Air Force, lives in Niceville, Florida and calls Toho and the Harris Chain his home waters. "We`ve fished the Military Tournament 5 times and only missed Eufaula in the last 6 years. We`ve finished about 40th or 41st for most of those years, so winning today is great! We caught most of our fish on Brush Hog, green pumpkin or watermelon red with 5/16`s and 3/18`s weights, mostly in the bushes and vegetation in 4 to 6 feet of water. We caught our limit today and the first day and only caught 4 the 2nd day that were all a little smaller. We`ve only been deep sea fishing a couple of times, so we`re really looking forward to this trip to Costa Rica!", said Gipson, "I can`t wait to call my wife, Cherie and son, Mark, and tell them we won."
Finishing in 3rd place was Jim Wood, Retired Air Force from Ft. Walton, FL and teammate Randy Cnota, from Valdosta, Georgia stationed at Moody AFB. "We`ve been fishing together for 17 years and have fished in every Military Team Bass tournament since the beginning. We caught most of ours this week on ZNails and Rattle Rose Baits in 1 to 5 feet of water. We brought in a limit on Day 1 and Day 2 but had trouble getting the fifth one today. We won the tournament in `97 and 200 when it was in Guntersville, AL, and have finished in the Top Five for the past 8 years. We want to say a big thanks to ABA for taking over this event and doing such a great job. We`ve had a fantastic week and hope that more will come out and fish with us in the future. And, we want to say a special thanks to the people here in Byrdstown and the surounding communities. They`ve all been great!"
Father and son teammates, Jerry Barnett, Sr., and Barrnett, Jr., went on to win the Big Bass Title for 2 days. "We caught most of our fish on spinner baits and Zona Spookes top water and in 4 to 5` on 4" worms. I call Toledo Bend my home water said the elder Barnett, while Jerry, Jr. calls the Red River his home water. We`ve fished together since I`ve been born. I`ve never had another partner", said Jerry,Jr. Jerry, Jr., also retired Air Force, whose wife Val, just deployed to UAE on Wednesday looks forward to calling his wife and thanking her for supporting his sport!"
Byrdstown, TN..... Father and son team, Mike and Jake Gipson are headed to Costa Rica courtesy of Early Times Whisky and JDC Marketing for their 1st place finish at this weeks` Military Team Bass Tournament in Byrdstown, TN. The duo started competitively fishing in tournaments just the last few years, and found success today in the 18th annual event. Son, Jake, who is a Political Science major at the University of Florida in Gainsville, was supposed to be on a plane to South Africa today until the team found themselves in the running yesterday and got permission from his professor to depart a day late. "My professor said, if you miss that flight on Friday, you`d better win that tournament! So, I couldn`t let him down", said Jake. 
Finishing in 3rd place was Jim Wood, Retired Air Force from Ft. Walton, FL and teammate Randy Cnota, from Valdosta, Georgia stationed at Moody AFB. "We`ve been fishing together for 17 years and have fished in every Military Team Bass tournament since the beginning. We caught most of ours this week on ZNails and Rattle Rose Baits in 1 to 5 feet of water. We brought in a limit on Day 1 and Day 2 but had trouble getting the fifth one today. We won the tournament in `97 and 200 when it was in Guntersville, AL, and have finished in the Top Five for the past 8 years. We want to say a big thanks to ABA for taking over this event and doing such a great job. We`ve had a fantastic week and hope that more will come out and fish with us in the future. And, we want to say a special thanks to the people here in Byrdstown and the surounding communities. They`ve all been great!"
