2010 Bassmaster Classic Champion Kevin VanDam and the legendary Stacey King made an appearance at the Bass Pro Shops in Mesa January 27th 2010. There was a great turnout for the event with fishing demos given by Stacey, Kevin, as well as some AZ Nitro Team members.
The annual GPD kids fishing derby was held October 21st 2009 at Lake Pleasant. State Team members Matt Shura, Tom Wennerlund, Danny Hallock, Mike Brillhart, and Gary Senft were there to help take the kids out fishing for the day. It was a great event and all of the kids caught fish. Special thanks to Rich Stringer for his hard work on making the event happen.
State Team members Matt Shura and Mike Brillhart took out 3 kids each during a kids tournament at Lake Pleasant on October 13th. Although fishing was tough as ususual, all the kids caught fish. Thanks to the AZ Bass Federation for having us and putting on the event.
The AZ Nitro Team 3rd Quarter 2009 meeting was held at Dibrito Lake on Sunday October 11th. Ken Larrabee took 1st place honors and bragging rights weighing in a solid 3 fish limit weighing 6.90lbs with 2nd place big fish of 2.97lbs! Ken won $120 dollars for his efforts. 2nd place was Steve Bornowski with a limit of 5.48lbs good for $80 bucks. 3rd place was Jeff Wilkes who also had the tournaments biggest fish at 3.18lbs good for $40 bucks. The team had a campout on Saturday night and fished Sunday morning from safe light to 11:30AM. A great time was had by all that attended.
We held the meeting next door to the Mesa Arizona Bass Pro Shops at Toby Keith’s bar and grill. The meeting was led by Captain Gary Senft and Co Captain Matt Shura. We had a great turnout with some potential members in attendance. We introduced potential team members Matt Sullivan, Steve Boronowski, and Steve Foutch. Gary and I discussed some of the changes in the 2010 boat line up as well as some upcoming events. We also talked about the new Tournament Rewards board on display that showcases local winners.
A group of Vietnam War veterans from Echo Company 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry and the 199th Light Infantry Brigade arrived in Scottsdale June 22nd for their annual reunion. The reunion which visits a different state each year features camaraderie, remembrance, and fun activities for this remarkable band of soldiers that will be forever banded by their experiences in the jungles of Vietnam.
Prior to arrival the group’s host, Jim Hayes, contacted Arizona B.A.S.S. Federation Nation State President Kip Pollay to inquire about assisting the veterans in a fishing derby, which is one of their annual activities. The AZBFN answered the call and began to organize the event. “We wanted to go all out for these brave soldiers that endured some of the toughest conditions in both the war and upon their return to the states”, said Pollay. “We feel they are true heroes of war that deserve the utmost respect for their time served and felt it was our privilege to organize this event.”
The AZBFN, along with their friends from Team Nitro, West Coast Fishing, Team Arizona Jr. Bassmasters, and the Phoenix Bassmasters provided the boats, life jackets, fishing rods, bait, and their talents to give the 26 veterans who signed up for the fishing activity a day to remember, June 27th, at scenic Bartlett Lake. On the line, however, was the traveling plaque and of course bragging rights of weighing in the single largest bass.
At the lake the veterans were treated to coffee and doughnuts prior to launch and a hot lunch when they returned along with a tournament style drive-thru weigh-in. The AZBFN along with a number of their valued partners including Bashas and Good Water and Ice of Wickenburg, City Electric Supply, Shake Rattle and Troll Radio, and The AZ Nitro Team provided everything necessary to run the event.
Though word had it that the fishing had been a little slow at Bartlett, some anglers had caught over five bass in the four-hour event and nearly everyone brought a fish to the scales. But when the weights were tallied, it was David Giles who claimed the victory with his 1.98 lb. largemouth. Emma Lovering netted the biggest bass in the ladies division with her 1.86 lb. bass, which was 2nd overall as well. “David was the first to weigh a fish and his weight held up for the traveling plaque”, said Pollay. “But watching the veterans come in one by one with huge smiles on their faces made it very clear that everyone was a winner and that the event was a huge success”.
Our first quarter team meeting was held on April 4th and 5th at Dibrito Lake in Phoenix. Team members enjoyed some burgers and comroderie around a campfire.. On Saturday, the first AZ State Team Derby was held. Everyone who attended had a 3 fish limit. Team member Mike Brillhart took first place with 6.23lbs, followed closely Tracker Store manager John Randall with 6.14. Third place was taken by Matt Shura with 5.91lbs. Following the awards ceremony, State Team Captain Gary Senft and Co-Captain Matt Shura conducted the team meeting. Items discussed with the team were the staff changes with Tracker Marine and Bass Pro Shops as well as the new boats for 2009.
1st Place
Mike Brillhart
2nd Place
John Randall
3rd Place
Matt Shura
Belinda Randall
Wayne Jenness
Gary Senft
Jim Hartman
Mary Brillhart
AZ Nitro Team helps kids learn how to catch fish on Tempe Town Lake 
This event was the annual winter trout stocking supported by AZ Game and Fish. Mark Dibrtito, Wayne Jeness, Danny Hallock, Matt Shura, and Gary Senft were there to help. Several trout, bluegill and carp were caught during the event
The Reggie Frieswick memorial benefit tournament was held on November 30th 2008. This tournament was organized by all of the tournament directors in the state to benefit the family of Reggie Frieswick. Reggie was killed in a boating accident while fishing a tournament at Bartlett lake in 2008. The Nitro team showed their support with nearly all of our members entering the tournament. Our team made an additional donation to the family thanks to the efforts of team members Mike and Mary Brillhart and Danny and Monica Hallock.
The Nitro Team was well represented with the team of Matt Shura and Brian Mcallister taking the second place honors with 9.07, just 8 tenths on a pound from the win!
The 4th Quarter Nitro State Team Meeting was held at Ken Larabee’s house on Jan. 11th 2008. The meeting led by Team Captain Gary Senft and Co-Captian Matt Shura went well with discussions about the new Tracker Rewards program. the upcoming boat show, as well as the new aznitroteam.com website. The horseshoe competition followed after the meeting. The team of Ken Larabee and Mike Brillhart dominated the initial rounds of competition. They beat the team of Tom Wennerlund and Brad Cook. Ken and Mike were basking in the glory until the team of LeRoy Price and Matt Shura took the title away from them with a narrow margin of 15-13. It was decided that a best out of 3 championship was in order to crown a champion. LeRoy Price sustained a shoulder injury during competition that prevented him from continuing. So at this point it is a draw and the competition ended. Thanks to all that attended the meeting.
Brad Cook proved himself to be a good horseshoe player with good form while Mike Brillhart watches.
Ken Larabee has proven himself to be one of the best horseshoe players around. He shows perfect form during the competition.
Mike Brillhart gets ready for the ringer while Brad Cook heckles him.
Tom Wennerlund shows perfect form in his release of the horseshoe.
Matt Shura is hoping to get close to the stake as Ken Larabee laughs at his attempt.
Mike Brillhart and Ken Larabee Celebrate the victory over Tom Wennerlund and Brad Cook.
Matt and LeRoy celebrate the win while Mike Brillhart poses in the background.
We had a great turnout for the 4th quarter team meeting. Thanks to John and Belinda Randall of TMBC for the new team jackets!