US Navy backs PRO fishing in Japan!!

[Hollywood]

The Captain of my ship just decided today that my fishing the W.B.S. Pro Tour here in Japan is a big ordeal and the USS Blue Ridge LCC-19 needed to get involved.

For each of my tournaments where time away is needed I will be sent T.A.D. (Temp Assigned Duty) to the Lake to conduct my pre fish and the tournament.

They see this as a very big publicity and public relations item with our Host Nation of Japan as tensions are at there highest in recent years.

They will be flying me off our ship during the last part of our deployment later this year to fish in one of the biggest tournaments here.

I wish this would of came about last week as I was invited to fish in the Korea vs. Japan Bass fishing Annual Expedition as part of Team Japan. It is too bad I have commitments to make here in Japan and I won’t be able to make this one.

This is good news for fishing industry here in Japan. Now I am set for the entire tour!

Time to go get my gear ready for this weekends 2nd Stop on the W.B.S. Tour!

Kevin Johnson

[Scott D.]

A Navy Chief wishing you luck. I'm stationed at NAS Lemoore, but my first 3 years in the Navy was on in VFA-151 in Atsugi, aboard the USS Midway out of Yokosuka. The USS Blue Ridge was always in the berth next to us. I never got the chance to bass fish over there. Anyway, I wish you luck and think it is awesome that the COC is backing and supporting you. Stroke 'em.

[TTCal]

pretty cool Hollywood... goodluck to ya out there!

[Andy Lippert]

Hollywood,

I'll be headed to the mainland within the next few months, probably for a weekend, maybe for a 96 around the 4th of July or somethin like that, not too sure yet, but I'll be there. It'd be great if we could hook up and go fishing. There's not much here on Okinawa except for saltwater fishing, and I've been snorkeling my a$$ off around the reefs they've got here, spearing an occasional grouper. Pretty fun. Anyway, shoot me an email, we should try to work something out. Talk to you later. Congratulations on your command okaying the PTAD for the tournaments, that's awesome.

-LCPL. Lippert

Camp Futenma, Okinawa

[Hollywood]

Andy,

We will be underway during the 4th of July but I will be flying off my ship 3 after for one of the tournaments here in Japan. If you are around before June 19 or after July 10 I am good to go.

It is going to be a neat thing with the command endorsing this and the Captain saying I "MUST" attend these and nothing is to get in the way of them. Sounds great to me!

Kevin

[R watts]

Kevin,

That sounds like you got a great gig. Sho-em how it's done!!
Let me know if you found those plastics I was talking about I can't seem to find them anywhere.


Thanks bud and have a great time with the fishing!!

Randy Watts

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

Dang, I never had a Skipper like that..Had some danged good ones, but none that would send me TAD for a tourney..Now if they would just get you a wrapped boat and a little more pay, you would really be fixed up..CONGRATULATIONS..

mac

[chaoscow]

Dude that's freakin hott! I wish you the best of luck!