This recipient faces a challenge. As an advocate for bass anglers, he also must be a voice of reason, helping separate fact from fiction, especially when it comes to the ongoing controversy regarding management of invasive aquatic plants. Of course, the controversy has been fueled by an social media posts from organizations and individuals who claim they know the “truth.”
We will hear more on this topic tomorrow.
He must try to explain the possible effect that years of spraying fast-growing exotics is having on the environment and water quality — and the impacts those changes in habitat have on bass populations and bass fishing.
“We want to highlight sensible aquatic plant management and assist the state in finding new ways to control overgrowth without over-spraying or having negative effects on our waterways and our bass fisheries.” He has said. “We want a balance.”
The state agency responsible for managing invasive plants formed a statewide Technical Assistance Group, or TAG, in 2019 to address the issues associated with aquatic plant management. The goal of the TAG was to establish areas of common ground, identify problems, concerns, areas of disagreement, evaluate scientific information, develop potential solutions and provide a useful forum for sharing information and ideas.
Nearly 30 individuals representing both recreational and professional anglers, waterfowl hunters, water-related businesses, recreational groups, conservation organizations, local governments and partner agencies joined the TAG, including our recipient as a representative of the B.A.S.S. Nation. His goal was to learn and help him “relay accurate information to the anglers, instead of them having to rely on hearsay and gossip.”
In addition to his leadership in communicating factual information to B.A.S.S. Nation anglers, his is also the president of one of the largest and oldest bass clubs in the state. Over the last several years, under his guidance, the club, other B.A.S.S. Nation clubs, high school teams and conservation groups have participated in numerous Cleanup Days on the state’s lakes, showing the public that bass anglers can “give back.”
He said of these efforts, “We always appreciate being able to get to together with like-minded groups that are concerned with the cleanliness of our waterways.” He was especially thankful to AFTCO for their support of these efforts.
Always willing to pitch in, even here at Bassmaster Classic Conservation Summits and weigh-ins. Attending meetings and being willing to do those not-so-glamourous jobs that often go un-noticed by bass anglers.
One of two Conservation Directors of the Year for 2026 – Lakeland Bassmasters President, Mr. Jayson Hooven
