Bass fisherman hopes down time helps him qualify

Rick Morris is in a slump that could cost him a shot at making the Bassmaster Classic.

So the Virginia Beach professional bass fisherman is employing his daughter to help him relax.

Luckily, Morris has three weeks until the next Bassmaster Elite qualifying tournament.

"I'm going to spend three weeks just being a dad and not thinking about tournament fishing," Morris, 46, said Thursday. His daughter Sabrina is 10.

"I'm going to show her how to wakeboard and ski, and let her get back to pulling her (compound) bow," Morris said. "She likes to do everything Dad does."

She also likes to fish, but Morris is trying to put that on the back burner. "We'll still fish from the docks a little and have some cookouts," he said.

Morris is in 37th place in the Bassmaster Elite standings. According to Bassmaster officials, the top 36 in the Angler of the Year race make the Bassmaster Classic. Morris finished second in the 2006 Classic but did not qualify last year.

At one point this season, Morris was in the top 10 of the overall standings, but four of five finishes out of the money have put him in a slide.

"I'm the bubble boy right now," Morris said. "I've got to get two checks in the last two events. I think that will do it for me.

"At this point, it's hard to make up positions or slide down... unless you have a couple of bad tournaments, like I've been having."

The final two events will take place in New York state - July 31 to Aug. 8 on Lake Erie, and Aug. 7-10 on Oneida Lake in Syracuse. Morris has done well in both places, finishing 12th (Erie) and 32nd (Oneida) last year.

Those kinds of finishes probably will secure him a spot in the 2009 Classic field.

There is a lot on the line.

"There is money all the way to the top 50 in the Angler of the Year race," Morris said. "There is guaranteed money if you are in the Classic, and there are sponsorship bonuses for making it. And there is some leverage with sponsors when you make it. "

Still, Morris said he isn't feeling too much pressure.

"Right now I'm just trying to clear my mind and get some good rest and spend some time with my kid," he said. "The week before the next tournament, I'll spend time with the boat and come back out ready."

More bassin'

Bobby Clarke of Virginia Beach finished second in the Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division tournament on the James River two weekends ago.

The league is affiliated with the FLW Tour.

Clarke had five fish that weighed a combined 12 pounds, 5 ounces, good enough for $1,777.

The success kept him in the running to make the Albemarle Sound Regional Championship Oct. 9-11 out of Elizabeth City.

Clarke is in 37th in the Shenandoah Division overall standings. The top 40 make the regional event.

The fifth and final league event of the year is Sept. 13-14 on the Potomac River.

"I usually do pretty well on the Potomac," said Clarke, a 41-year-old pet supply business owner. "I know I'm on the bubble, but fishing there is a good feeling.

"I think I'm going to make it."

Charitable angling

Garrett Holden's Mark Carter Classic fishing tournament last weekend raised $10,000 for the SEAL Warrior Fund, an organization that helps the families of SEAL Team members killed in action.

The tournament, held out of Hampton's Bluewater Yachting Center, featured 41 boats and 200 anglers. Prizes were awarded for the largest flounder and croaker.

Brian Smith's team of Suffolk anglers won the flounder event and $1,000 with a 5-pound, 8-ounce flatfish. Tommy O'Neil of Suffolk won $1,000 for his 1-6 croaker.

Cole Ruiz, 6, of Virginia Beach won the pirate costume contest and donated his $100 winnings to the charity.

"We had people coming from all over. It was unbelievable the turnout and the support we got this year. We raised $2,500 last year, so this is pretty great," said Holden, the event's founder. "... This has just turned out to be a great event for a really good cause. I'm looking forward to next year."

Results

From the Eastern Surfing Association's Mid -Atlantic Regional Championships last weekend in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Results show only placements of Outer Banks (OBX) and (VA) districts:

BOYS - Julian Payne, OBX, 6th. JUNIOR MEN - Price Wheeler, VA, 3rd. MEN - Chris McDonald, OBX, 2nd; Ryan Leopold, VA, 4th; Sean Martin, OBX, 6th. SENIOR MEN - Pat McManus OBX, 1st. LEGENDS - Bobby Holland, VA, 2nd. GIRLS - Kate Easton, VA, 4th. JUNIOR WOMEN - Hillary Watters, VA, 6th. WOMEN - Regina Foster, OBX, 3rd; Leanne Foster, OBX, 5th; Jeanne-Marie Destefano, OBX, 6th. MENEHUNE LONGBOARD - Julian Payne, OBX, 5th; Cam Fullmer, VA, 6th. JUNIOR LONGBOARD - Michael Agnew, VA, 2nd; Brandon Minor, VA, 5th; Alex Strangways, VA, 6th. MASTERS LONGBOARD - Jesse Fernandez, OBX, 1st; Mark Pillsbury, OBX, 6th. LEGENDS LONGBOARD - Bobby Holland, VA, 3rd. WOMEN'S LONGBOARD - Kate Easton, VA, 1st; Bree Kleintop, VA, 4th. MENEHUNE BODYBOARD - Michael Bain, VA, 2nd; John Joyce, OBX, 3rd; Morgan-Taylor Leavel, OBX, 4th. OPEN BODYBOARD - Forrest Roberts, VA, 2nd; John Joyce, OBX, 6th. OPEN SHORTBOARD - Pat McManus, OBX, 2nd; Mike Agnew, VA, 6th. Kate Easton won the Junior Iron Woman Award. Mike Agnew won the Junior Iron Man award.

Upcoming

- The Great Bridge Fisherman's Association will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Great Bridge Baptist Church, 640 S. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake. Capt. Skip Feller will talk about reef fishing and deep-dropping. Nonmembers are welcome.

- The Tidewater Angler's Club will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bayside Presbyterian Church, 1400 Ewell Road, Virginia Beach. International Game Fish Association representative Julie Ball will talk about king mackerel fishing off Virginia Beach. Nonmembers are welcome.

- The fourth annual Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament is Wednesday through Saturday out of Marina Shores. Registration is $400. Last year's event featured a total payout of more than $92,000. The captains meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the marina. Call (757) 222-2909.

- The 12th annual Virginia Beach Invitational Marlin Tournament will hold a pre-registration luau at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fisherman's Wharf Marina. The tournament is July 24-27. Call Paula Owen at (757) 428-2111.

- The fifth annual Dare County Boat Builder's Challenge fishing tournament to raise funds for the Dare County boat Builder's Foundation is July 17-20 out of Pirate's Cove Marina in Manteo. Registration is $5,000 for all four entry levels, or $2,000 for the basic entry. Last year's event paid out a total of $57,000 and raised $30,000 for the foundation. Call (252) 473-1015.

- The Airfield Shooting Club will hold an open house and membership drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 19 at the Airfield 4-H Educational Center in Wakefield. The club is an offshoot of the old Virginia Beach Shooting Club. Annual membership is $75. Call John Zupka at (757) 474-2255 or go to www.airfieldshootingclub.org.