Harry Charcalis of Gilmanton NH will represent the NH BASS Federation at the 2001 B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship. The tournament will be held April 23-28 on the Alabama Delta out of Mobile Alabama. The B.A.S.S. National Championship is widely considered the most prestigious Amateur fishing competition in the World. It brings together the top anglers from the 46 State Federations as well as the champions from Federations such as Canada, Japan, Italy, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Harry will be fishing for the top prize of $15,000, but ultimately his goal will be to become the top angler in the Eastern Division. If he beats the other 12 Federation Champions from the Eastern Division, he will earn a birth in the 2001 BASS masters Classic to be held in August on the Louisiana Delta in New Orleans.
Harry Charcalis loves to Bass fish. He started fishing as a kid, and has been involved in competitive fishing for nine years. He got his club level start as a member of the New Hampshire Hawg Hunters, before leaving to join The Back Bay Bassmasters in 1997. He is a cook by trade, and the father of 3 kids ranging in age from 5 to 10 years old. His dedication to competitive fishing is scary, if not downright obscene. He went as far as to marry a woman named "Fish" (I'm not making this up). I routinely see Harry show up for tournaments running on little or no sleep, and I have never seen him quit fishing early. He spends what free time he has pre-fishing for upcoming tournaments and his commitment to winning is unrivaled. An example of this occurred at the 2000 BASS Federation Regionals that were held in September on the Potomac River. This particular tournament had no cutoff and many competitors were taking advantage and getting extra practice prior to the tourney start. Harry had business and family considerations, but still found the time to get an extra couple of practice days. He planned his schedule to work all day, and then drive all night to Maryland. Upon arrival, rather than catch up on much needed sleep, Harry proceeded to go out for a full day on the River. This type of dedication, rewarded Harry with a top finish and a trip to the Federation Nationals as the NH Champion. Although this will be his first trip to the National Championship, he has been close before. He has fished on three State Teams and actually tied for first place at the 1995 B.A.S.S. Regionals on the Nanticoke River in Delaware. He lost on the tiebreaker (number of fish caught) and had to absorb tremendous disappointment. He vowed to make it back, and six years later, he made good on it.
Harry runs a Triton TR-19/Mercury outboard, and is sponsored by Rocky Ledge Tackle Company, Greens Marine and Netters Inc.-Tufcore Softplastics. Harry is equally adept at catching both smallmouth and largemouth bass and has proven a quick study in figuring out unusual bodies of water. This should serve him well on the distant waters of the tidal Alabama Delta. Harry will be pre-fishing the Delta during the designated pre-practice period in late March. Follow the B.A.S.S. web site (www.bassmaster.com) for details of the National Championship, and if you see Harry, wish him good luck in his attempt to make the BASS masters Classic.
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