(Provided by IBF)
The St. Joe Valley Bass Masters of South Bend was awarded the 2014 Indiana Bass Federation Club of the Year title and the states Community Service award recently.
The honor was based upon the clubs annual youth tournament at Potato Creek State Park that attracts more than 200 kids a year. Each participant was given a tee shirt, goody bag provided by local businesses, and lunch. Prizes, including bicycles, rod and reel combos, back packs, MP3 players, and sleeping bags were given to the best anglers in three age groups.
The club also partnered with the St Joseph County Sheriff Department and local business to conduct Crime Night Out in which club members took their boats to parks and talked about bass fishing. The idea is to show kids there are alternatives to crime.
The club also conducted a charity bass tournament which allowed them to give the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Niles a check for $500.
The LaGrange County Bass Masters were presented with the Youth Award. They conducted kids casting contests at the LaGrange County Fair, the DeKalb County Fair and Heritage Days Festival. Participants were given the opportunity to cast lures at targets to test their casting skills. They also provided boat captains and assisted the Ball State University Bass Club in conducting their bass tournaments.
The Indiana Bass Federation also awarded two $300 scholarships. Skyler Bell of Hanover and a senior at Madison Consolidate High School was one of the recipients. Skyler will be attending technical school to pursue his career in diesel and automotive service. His father, James, is a member of the Chelsea Bass Masters.
Danielle Quinlin, Mooresville, a senior at Mooresville High School also earned a scholarship. She plans to major in biology with her career goal to become an anesthesiologist. She is the daughter of Mike Quinlin, a member of the Indy Bass Hawks.
Two anglers who have long been associated with the IBF were inducted into the Indiana Bass Federation Hall of Fame. Bob Toppe, Commiskey, Ind., was a IBF Director for the Indiana South Zone from the mid-1980s to 2008. In 2006 and 2007 he helped revitalize the IBF Invitational Tournament Trail when he convinced businesses to advertise with the IBF Invitational Trail. He also helped raise $20,000 in cash and merchandise to sponsor the trail. He helped construct handicap fishing piers at a lake near Salem and one on Celina Lake near Tell City. He also won numerous fishing awards, was a member to the 1991 and 2006 IBF State Teams, and a regular qualifier for the Invitational Trail Classic.
Hall of Fame Inductee Elden Crabtree, New Castle, was elected as a Director in the East Zone in 1978 and served in that capacity until 1989. In 1990 he served as IBF Vice President and as president from 1991 to 1992. He served as youth director from 1993 through 1996, was reelected vice-president In 1997 and 1998 and was president in 99 and 2000. He also served as the IBF Conservation Director, and while serving in that capacity, helped raise $50,000 to help restock and restore the White River in central Indiana after a massive fish kill.
Crabtree also has helped raise funds for the Special Olympics, the Boy Scouts, and Childrens Make-A-Wish through charity bass tournaments. Toppe and Crabtree join Forrest Woods, Joe Landwerlin and Larry Watson in the Indiana Bass Federation Hall of Fame.