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Long famous for its salmonoids, Oregon's warmwater fishery has remained a well kept secret. Yet on our northern border lies perhaps the finest smallmouth and walleye fishery in the world. Further south, the Umpqua River is also world class smallmouth water.
Oregon's lakes and reservoirs offer wonderful largemouth fishing as well as a wide variety of panfish.
Organized on December 15, 1975, the Emerald Bass Club is one of the
oldest active bass clubs in Oregon. The
organizers were a group of trout, salmon and steelhead fishermen who decided
to band together for a little friendly competition while they developed their
bass fishing skills. No one in
the group owned a bass boat, so they made do with whatever would float, and
hopefully, make it to weigh-in on time. While
competition was intense, it was never about money. The purpose of the club has always been to develop the
fishing skills of its members in an atmosphere of shared information and
friendly competition.
The formula has been immensely successful. The club has always been well represented on the 13-person
Oregon State Team. On at least
six occasions, an Emerald Bass Club member has represented Oregon at the
Wrangler National. On two of
these occasions, the member also represented the Western Region at the B.A.S.S.
Master Classic. Another member
was selected to be the partner for Jay Yelas (a former Oregonian) at the last
of Ray Scott's Eagles of Angling Tournaments.
Beyond the fishing accomplishments of its members, the Emerald Bass
Club has many other reasons to be proud, including:
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Numerous conservation
and habitat projects in cooperation with state and federal agencies.
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Involvement with youth
including sponsorship of one or more Kid's Tournaments each year and as
well as hosting the CastingKids event at the local county fair.
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Involvement with the
Oregon Paralyzed Veterans in staging the Northwest Challenge Bass
Tournament on Tenmile Lakes beginning in 1989. Each team in this event consists of one handicapped and
one able-bodied angler.
Most of all, we are proud of the fine citizenship displayed by our
members. Harry Ruth, former EBC
member and past-President of the Oregon State B.A.S.S. Federation, has
previously served as Environmental Director of that organization for many
years. CPA John Buller, serves as
Secretary-treasurer for many organizations including Emerald Bass Club, Eugene
Bassmasters and Oregon B.A.S.S. Doug
and Ellen Baxter, former owners of Baxter's Custom Tackle, have given untold
hours and thousands of dollars to fishing related causes. And Dwayne Keely, has many times volunteered as Tournament
Director at the Oregon Paralyzed Veterans Northwest Challenge.
These are but brief examples of the fine people found at any gathering
of EBC members.
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