Chris Baumgardner holds his $125,000 check for winning the FLW Tour event on the Potomac River. (Photo by Brett Carlson) Baumgardner completes Snickers trifecta Gastonia, N.C., pro claims first FLW Tour victory, $125,000 By Brett Carlson - 17.Jun.2007   WASHINGTON – Ignoring David Dudley and his millions of dollars, Chris Baumgardner pinned down the Snickers trifecta Sunday. Baumgardner, a team angler sponsored by Snickers, won the Snickers Big Bass award with a 7-pound, 6-ounce Potomac River largemouth caught on Friday. Two days later, he won the fifth Wal-Mart FLW Tour qualifier presented by Snickers. Baumgardner did so in striking fashion, catching 10 bass over the final two days that weighed 33 pounds, 5 ounces. His margin of victory was a whopping 6 pounds, 12 ounces. While other competitors wilted while targeting highly pressured bass, Baumgardner displayed incredible consistency. Although he entered Sunday’s competition with a 1-pound lead, the smart money was probably still on Dudley, a pro with a fat wallet and a tremendous track record on the Potomac. But the mild-mannered veteran from Gastonia, N.C., never flinched. He stuck with his game plan and caught five bass that weighed 16 pounds, 14 ounces. All of those bass came on the original Rad Lures ChatterBait, a lure that is taking professional fishing by storm. On day four, he caught one bass with a black-and-blue color scheme. The rest were caught on brown and green-pumpkin. The jig portion of the bait was a brown color tied the bait’s skirt , and the body was tipped with a 4-inch green-pumpkin Speed Craw made by Zoom. “It’s a bait I’ve been using the past couple years,” said the pro winner. “On these kinds of lakes and rivers where there’s grass, it works real good. It’s kind of like a spinnerbait that you can skip under docks.” Baumgardner never really altered his pattern. During the two-day opening round, he would slow-roll his ChatterBait around lily pads and then move to the milfoil flats around 1 p.m. During the final round, he abandoned the pads and fished the grass exclusively. The winning area was located three miles south of Mattawoman Creek. Baumgardner described it as a classic postspawn area. He caught a sum of 11 keepers on the final day. His livewell was empty at about 8:15 this morning until he hooked up his first fish, a 2 1/2-pounder. A half-hour later he experienced his first flurry, boating three keepers in approximately five minutes. These sporadic flurries continued for the duration of the day. Baumgardner said he remained calm the last two days despite being so close to tasting victory. “I get nervous the first two days. That’s when you can really bomb really bad. Once you make the top 10, all you’re trying to do then is win. To finally get that win is a great feeling. I’ve been wanting to win one of these forever. You think you’ve got it in you to win one, but you don’t know for sure until you do it.” For eliminating 199 of the best bass anglers in the world, Baumgardner earned a $125,000 first-place purse. In addition, the Snickers Big Bass for the tournament paid a total of $1,750.

The Ryan Newman Fishing Tournament

                McCall and Cpt. Stan Donaldson at "Rolling Thunder" in Washington D.C...Memorial Day 2007

Benjamin Dellinger (center) was so surprised by the unannounced visit by Danny McCall (left) and Stan Donaldson that it motivated him to get on his crutches for only the second time since arriving at Walter Reed Hospital several months ago. Contributed Photo   Now it was personal. Now Danny McCall was going. No way he couldn’t. Not after learning what he just did. Same held true for Stan Donaldson. “We had a reason for going,” said Donaldson. Come this year’s Memorial Day weekend, McCall and Donaldson were going to participate in the 20th annual Rolling Thunder Rally — a motorcycle cavalcade made up of military veterans that convoys into Washington, D.C. each year to educate Americans and publicize POW/MIA issues, and helping American veterans from all wars. It would be the first time participating for both of them. Although each had tinkered with the idea in past years, nothing ever came of those thoughts. But then something struck through the heart of them, and even though they are war veterans themselves, this came too close to home. In addition to being a part of the motorcycle convoy, they were going to pay a personal visit to Benjamin Dellinger.  “He went to school with my son, Matthew,” said McCall. Dellinger, a Denver native who had attended East Lincoln High School, had been injured in Iraq, having lost a leg to an IED (improvised explosive device). He was at Walter Reed, recuperating and rehabilitating. And from what little McCall and Donaldson had been able to glean, Dellinger could use a morale booster. But it almost didn’t come to pass. When McCall and Donaldson arrived in Washington, D.C. and made their way to Walter Reed, they were told Dellinger wasn’t there, that he had already left. Dismayed, the two returned to their hotel room. But something just didn’t ring right, and the next day the two returned to learn that Dellinger, 24, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army was no longer in the hospital per se, but in a residence on the hospital grounds, the Monroe House. McCall and Donaldson made their way there and found Dellinger. “The purpose of our mission was to visit, and it was successful,” said Donaldson. The visit came as a total surprise to Dellinger, who not only wasn’t expecting visitors, he didn’t even personally know McCall or Donaldson. “He was apprehensive at first,” said Donaldson. However, that soon dissolved upon learning who his visitors were and why they had made it their personal mission to visit him. “We wanted to thank him,” said McCall, who added that they brought Dellinger some gifts as well. But more than the presents, the presence of McCall and Donaldson gave Dellinger a much-needed boost. So much so that he got on his crutches. “His wife said he had only been on crutches just once,” said McCall. “He wanted to get on the motorcycles.” Although Dellinger has been in a positive frame of mind for the most part, still, it’s difficult. “He’s alone. Even though his wife and kid are with him, he’s alone,” said McCall. McCall and Donaldson speak of an ‘aloneness” — a “separateness” — that perhaps only they as war veterans themselves can understand. “Just because you’re a vet doesn’t mean you’re not filled with awe, a lot of memories,” said Donaldson. “I asked him point-blank, ‘How are you dealing with the loss of your limb?’” added Donaldson, who said Dellinger’s reply was, he was looking forward to his prosthesis (for the left leg which was lost below the knee). Although hardened vets themselves, McCall and Donaldson still felt humbled in Dellinger’s presence. “We had the opportunity to see these guys firsthand,” said Donaldson. “It makes you stop and think. There should be an awareness.” “We’re complaining about $3 gas and these guys would love to have their eyes, their legs back,” said McCall. It was also a reflective time for McCall. “These are mostly kids, he said. “What if it had happened to my son, Matthew?” Upon returning home, McCall and Donaldson were paid a visit by Dellinger’s father. It was an emotional moment, as Dellinger’s father broke down in tears thanking the two for stopping in to see his son. As for McCall and Donaldson, their visit with Dellinger isn’t a one-shot deal. Nor is simply keeping in touch sufficient. They would love to give Dellinger a hero’s welcome when he returns home. “We’re definitely going to try to make a difference,” said McCall.   Want to help? Danny McCall is the owner/operator of Denver Marine, 3333 N.C. 16 North, Denver. Call (704) 483-2628/579-7034, or: boats@denvermarine.com Stan Donaldson can be reached at Russo’s Cycles, 4016 N.C. 16, Denver. Call (704) 489-0441/308-6518.

FIRST-EVER RANGER OWNERS CHAMPIONSHIP
SERIES EVENT DRAWS 334 BOATS TO KERR LAKE
Event Qualifies Two Teams for 2007 FLW Championship
 

FLIPPIN, Ark. – A boat brand unlike any other, the heritage of Ranger Boats is closely intertwined with the history of professional bass fishing. For the first time ever, that grass roots legacy of competitive fishing, combined with the camaraderie of recreational angling, was extended to the thousands of loyal Ranger owners as the first-ever Ranger Owners Championship Series events were announced last fall.
 
The first event, held last weekend on Kerr Lake, drew 334 teams from around the country. In addition to the one-day tournament which qualified the first- and second-place teams for the 2007 FLW Championship, owners and their families converged on Satterwhite Point on the North Carolina side of the large lake to enjoy the fellowship of other Ranger owners.
 
The weekend experience included a picnic-style barbeque dinner on Friday night, a welcome ceremony with appearances by Ranger Boat founder Forrest L. Wood, Ranger president Randy Hopper, FLW Outdoors CEO Charlie Evans and legendary Ranger pros Guido and Dion Hibdon, George Cochran and Jimmy Houston. On Saturday, a fully rigged Ranger Z20 powered by an Evinrude E-TEC was given away to the team of Benny Hutchens (East Bend, N.C.) and Kenneth Hutchens (Hamptonville, N.C.).
 
“It was so great to see so many friends and Ranger owners in one place. The response to this first event was phenomenal,” said Ranger Boats President Randy Hopper. “I spoke with many folks who thanked us for putting this together, but the truth is, we did this to thank them for making Ranger what it is today. Already, people are saying that they plan to fish the event at Table Rock, too.”
 
The event was won by the team of Roger Pope (Statesville, N.C) and Nathan Webber (Boone, N.C.), who pocketed a $10,000 Ranger purchase certificate and who will receive an expense paid trip to the 2007 FLW Championship where they will compete out of Ranger’s Limited Edition 40th Anniversary boats for the richest prize in professional bass fishing. The second-place team of Dennie Gilbert (Nathalie, Va.) and William Roberts (Fairfax, Va.) won a $7,500 Ranger purchase certificate and will also enjoy an expense-paid trip to the 2007 FLW Championship where they will compete.
 
The next Ranger Owners Championship Series event will be May 11-12 at Table Rock Lake in Missouri. Both events will be televised on FSN (Fox Sports Net), Americana Outdoors and Versus. The weekend experience includes Friday night’s meal and welcoming ceremony with Saturday’s competition capped by a live, on-stage, FLW-style weigh in and awards ceremony.
 
There’s still time to be a part of this final event. Regular registration for the tournament on Table Rock ends on May 1, 2007. If you register after these dates, then a $50 late fee will be added. The entry fee for the Owners Tournaments is $200 per team, per event, and entries may be made by calling FLW Outdoors at (270) 252-1000. Entrants who wish to fish the event as a boater and are not currently Ranger Owners Group members may enroll over the phone at the time of registration.
 
The Forrest Wood Cup (Hot Springs, Aug. 2-5 ) will include qualifiers from the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series and The Bass Federation (TBF) competing for a top pro award of $500,000 plus a Ranger bonus of $500,000 for a total of $1 million for qualified Ranger owners. The top co-angler award in the Forrest Wood Cup is $50,000 for qualified Ranger owners.
 

Pro-staffer Brent "Water Warrior" Long has shock the  Bassmaster World with his awesome display of fishing skills and could be the next Bassmaster WINNER!!!

Keep him in your prayers as his Dream comes true!!!!!!!!

    Ryan Newman Foundation Celebrity Fishing Tournament & VIP Reception - Win a Ranger Boat!

This will be a great event and for a great cause.....Please support this Ranger Event!!!  Thanks D.R. McCall

Tony Dadante     ( of C'Mon Fishing outdoors )

has Hit the road on his quest to be the best in the fishing world....

stop by the Denver Marine house to say hello!!!

Good luck Tony from all our team members!!!

Check out Ryan Newman. DRM was kind of enough to help the Ryan Newman Foundation this weekend by taking NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Ryan Newman and Ryan Newman Foundation/NASCAR Foundation Ranger Boat Raffle Winner Freddie Chastain out to Philpott Lake in Basset, VA for a private fishing trip this past weekend.  The fishing trip was part of the prize package for our raffle, which was held this past summer.  The winner received a Z21 Ranger Boat, VIP tickets to the Martinsville race, and a private fishing trip with Ryan Newman.

Freddie Chastain Ryan Newman  

HOME

Guys and Dolls Champions GA.

click to enlarge

Matt & Cindy Ransone

Denver Days with the Tams & the Drifters....Great day for Sales!!! Saturday October 1, 2006

Look for the "Who Crew" and Mike Minter of the Carolina Panthers!!!!

More Pictures to come..So Check back Later!!!

Back to Home Page

Watch the show

Out with old in with the New..Looking Good!!!!

Alex spent the night in his 185VS Ranger the first night he got it !!!

Alex's First Boat, he's a New ranger owner.....

Thank You Denver  Marine for a great Boat !!!! Alex  & friends

In what is great news for Lake Norman, the average weight was 2.06 pounds per fish.   That is a new record and is the fifth straight year the average weight has increased.  Last year it was 1.86, in 2002 it was 1.70 lbs., in 2001 it was 1.64 lbs. and in 2000 it was 1.53 lbs. 

181 teams competed in the tournament. 

In an outstanding team effort between the anglers, the Balls Creek Bassmasters Club who ran the tournament, and Boy Scout Troop 359 and Girl Scout Troop 508 of St Marks Lutheran Church in Claremont, all fish were returned to the water alive and well. Volunteer Tournament Chairman Bob Patrick said   “Our sport depends upon how well we do our job of catch and release. We had the tremendous support of the scouts and the bass club and the National Bass Circuit who provided the aerated holding tanks and weigh in equipment but what really made the difference were the anglers themselves. They obviously did all they could, plus, plus, plus, to keep their fish alive and in good condition. It was a moving experience to watch their dedication.”   

Overall tournament winners and recipient of the $3,000 first place prize were John Council of Boone and Eric Weir from Belmont (Team Denver Marine’s Top Ranger Winner). The winning weight for their five fish limit was 17.41 pounds.  Second place ($1,500) went to Darrell Grifin and Shaun Baker of Millers Creek. (15.86 pounds) Third place ($750) was taken by Chuck and Ed Douthit. with a weight of 15.20 pounds. 

The largest bass prize of $1,810 went to the team of  Jeffrey Jennings of Moravian Falls and Glen Sparrow of Clove for their 6.69 pound lunker. 

In the special categories Ronnie and Jean Wooten of Boonville took the Husband and Wife division with their catch of 9.63 pounds. Dave Snyder of Concord and Edward Markam of Statesville won the Seniors Division with 11.30 pounds. The Adult Child Division was won by Doug McClure( Team Denver Marine’s Top Ranger winner) and his daughter Kinsey with an excellent catch of 12.12 pounds. This was also good for 11^th place in the overall tournament.  

The big winner was the American Cancer Society who will receive between $19,000 and $21,000 from the tournament sponsors and fisher people.  

The tournament has been held on the second Saturday in March for 18 years. Next year’s tournament will  be held at Queens Landing on March 12, 2005.  We hope you will come out a support this worthy cause.  

Marty 4killer's "Talking Tree"  Fishing Derby 8/02/03

The Talking Trees Children's Trout Fishing Derby at Cherokee, North Carolina was a great day for young and old alike. Children of all ages had a great time, not to mention, friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, moms and dads!

895 children enjoyed a day fishing for trout on the Oconaluftee Island Park. Children were also treated by a visit from Kellogg's Tony the Tiger and free breakfast and snacks from Kellogg's. Over $5,000 in prizes were awarded to the Children for their catch as well as drawings throughout the day.

Be sure to watch ESPN2 on Sunday, September 1, 7am and see the fun. Come and join us next year! !!
 

click on to enlarge

Marty and McCall and a Ranger Boat with some of the Winners

SEE KIDS FISHING TOURNAMENT

CLICK HERE

" We Keep you Boating"

Denver Recreational Marine, Inc.

3333 Hwy 16n, Denver N.C. 28037
E-mail-boats@Denver Marine.com

(704)483-Boat(2628)