AZ Nitro Team

Eric Schook

Glenn Haggard — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:40:50 +0000

Personal
Name:	Eric Schook
Home Town:	Scottsdale, AZ
Birthday:	January 28, 1975
Occupation:	Pepsi Salesman
Hobbies:	Fishing & Disc golf

Stats
Year’s tournament fishing:	8 years
Titles/honors:	3 second place championship finishes
Career highlights:	5 career wins….16 top 5s

Angling stuff
Favorite Bait:	Spro little john
Favorite Method:	Power fishing
Angling Hero:	KVD
Home Lake:	Bartlett Lake
Favorite Lake:	Lake Pleasant
Least favorite Lake:	Lake Mead (when its windy)
Favorite Technique:	Top water
Primary fishing strength:	Cranking
Secondary fishing strength:	Top water
Biggest weakness:	Fishing deep
Boat:	2011 Nitro Z8
Motor:	Mercury 225
Tow vehicle:	2009 Chevy Taho
Fishing sponsors:	Nitro boats

Personal Stuff
Favorite food:	Pizza
Favorite Movie:	Remember the Titans
Favorite Music:	Rock
Non-Angling hero:	My Dad
When not fishing:	I’m working

Anthony Avalos

Glenn Haggard — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:07:27 +0000

Personal
Name:	Anthony Avalos
Home Town:	San Carlos, AZ
Birthday:	June 25, 1962
Occupation:	Big O Tires MGR
Hobbies:	Fishing & Hunting

Stats
Year’s tournament fishing:	20 years
Titles/honors:	Championship Qualifier AllStar Bass Team, Couples, Aluminum Boat circuits
Career highlights:	Host of the WISHIN I WAS FISHING K.I.K.O radio. Fished with Bill Dance, Fished the FLW Roosevelt Lake as a non boater placed 31st. Taken one of the biggest Elks in the world ranked in the top 20

Angling stuff
Favorite Bait:	Spinnerbait
Favorite Method:	Slow roll
Angling Hero:	My Dad
Home Lake:	San Carlos Lake AZ
Favorite Lake:	San Carlos Lake AZ
Least favorite Lake:	Bartlett
Favorite Technique:	Slow rolling spinnerbait
Primary fishing strength:	Spinnerbaits
Secondary fishing strength:	4 inch worms
Biggest weakness:	Light tackle
Boat:	2010 NITRO Z7
Motor:	150 MERCURY
Tow vehicle:	CHEVY TRUCK 2500
Fishing sponsors:	Nitro Boats, Tracker Marine, Jack Lewis Custom Baits, Big O Tires

Personal Stuff
Favorite food:	Green chili
Favorite Movie:	Brave Heart
Favorite Music:	Oldies
Non-Angling hero:	My Dad
When not fishing:	Hunting, Going to the mountains, spending time with family & friends

Bassmaster Classic Champion Kevin VanDam and the legendary Stacey King

Glenn Haggard — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:45:48 +0000

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.

2009 Glendale PD Annual Kids Fishing Derby

Glenn Haggard — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:15:01 +0000

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.

2009 Kids Event

Glenn Haggard — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:14:02 +0000

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.

3rd Quarter 2009

Glenn Haggard — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:35:11 +0000

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.

Ken Larrabee shows off his winning stringer

Steve Bornowski 2nd place

Tracker Boat Store Manager John Randall shows off his 4th place fish

Mark Dibrito weighs in his catch of the day

New State Team member Steve Bornowski and his new Z9

New team member Steve Foutch in his new Z9

State Team member and lasts years champion Mike Brillhart and his grandson Jasper

State Team member Ken Larrabee and his 898

Steve bornowski shows off his fish that helped him take 2nd place

2nd Quarter 2009 Meeting

Glenn Haggard — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:49:10 +0000

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.

Arizona B.A.S.S. Federation Nation and Friends Hosts Veterans Fishing Derby

Glenn Haggard — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:48:07 +0000

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”.

1st Quarter 2009 Meeting/Derby

Glenn Haggard — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:35:30 +0000

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 2008

Glenn Haggard — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:06:14 +0000

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