THe Habs Fall Classic - Oct. 10-12, 2008

[Crafty Angler]

Just got off the phone with Pt Jude Joe a little while ago and we discussed some of the points many have had here in regards to doing a tournament. The idea, put very simply, is to have a reason to get together to remember John.

Joe said he'll run everything by Jess in the next few days so everything will done according to her wishes as it should be.

The key to the tourney is based on the K.I.S.S. principle - just keep it simple. The spirit in which the tourney is conducted should be respect and love for Habs and his family. Period.

Since Joe is with the family regularly and works with John Jr just as he worked with Habs himself on production, I knew he was the guy who would ensure that the family's wishes are followed to honor the memory of a friend who is no longer with us.

Anyway, the long Columbus Day weekend would make the most sense, with the tourney to run from 6:00 PM Friday through 6:00 AM Sunday morning. If anyone is interested, I can talk to the owner of Flo's Clam Shack who's a good friend of mine for a Friday Happy Hour meet and greet to start things off.

Then we get to fish our butts off 'til 6:00 AM Sunday morning

Like DZ said in an earlier post, make it a surf contest and we agree. John was a shore guy, not that he or anyone else had anything against boats. No tackle restrictions, Habs himself used whatever worked best to put fish on the beach - or rocks, as the case may be.

Prizes and categories should be simple, too, if we want to get this done in the time frame we have to work with. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners based on certified weight at one of the weigh stations, with the perpetual trophy and donated prizes to go to the largest bass. 2nd and 3rd place finishers get awarded prizes and a smaller trophy if we can afford them. I'll kick in some very nice prints from my collection as will Joe from his line at Pt Jude Lures. If anyone else wants to contribute prizes, they'll be gratefully accepted.

Joe and I will talk to Billie at the Blooberry Factory (also known as the Coddington Brew Pub) and see if we can do an awards get-together there at some point in the afternoon on Sunday - say maybe 4:00 or so - have a few cold ones and something dinnerish, award prizes and hold a raffle so everyone has a shot at winning something, sort of like our TFCTFN raffle. John loved the place and we had some great times with him there. For entertainment, we may be able to get Mike Laptew to show some of his latest footage. Maybe we can get Iron Mike to recreate a performance or two from the past as well

After that, everyone will have the Monday holiday to recuperate after a full weekend and be able to rest up before the work week.

That's pretty much it, no fuss, no muss, just a good time fishing and hanging out. If anyone wants to get more elaborate, there's always next year.

We may also be able to get Habs pins for each of the entrants - the oval Habs pins with "#1 Needlefish" on them, but Joe has to check with Jess to see how many she has left before we know if it's do-able or not, so that's not a sure thing. It would be incorporated in the registration fee, perhaps $15 or so.

Well, that's it - keep it simple, get together, have fun, catch fish.

A great way to remember a great guy.

[Slipknot]

Sounds good Crafty
I'm sure I can get a day off from the boss to fish this one.

[Pete_G]

Flo's AND Coddington? Is there really going to be any fishing?

I'm sure someone already looked (I just tried but couldn't find the email) but we might need to double check that this date isn't already occupied by the Fall Surf Casting Club Challenge. I don't know which weekend it is but it must be nearby.

Sounds like a memorable weekend Chuck.

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Flo's AND Coddington? Is there really going to be any fishing?

Pete, no guts, no glory...

Yeah, it's going to be a blistering pace but the way I see it, you've got a month to run the crew through 'warm-up drills' for the main event. You've got youth on your side, too.

Hey, maybe you could ask the Iron Wonder to coach the SWE team

On a serious note, we knew there could possibly be conflicts with scheduling for some, but the long weekend makes the most sense to put it together and make it do-able for most people. Putting it together on short notice doesn't give us a lot of latitude in terms of selecting dates.

[DZ]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Flo's AND Coddington? Is there really going to be any fishing?

I'm sure someone already looked (I just tried but couldn't find the email) but we might need to double check that this date isn't already occupied by the Fall Surf Casting Club Challenge. I don't know which weekend it is but it must be nearby.

Sounds like a memorable weekend Chuck.

I've not seen or heard anything about the fall MS/MD Club Challenge as of yet. I sent an email 2 weeks ago to the organizer and have not heard back from him.

DZ

[BrianS]

hehe... I have from Wednesday night thru Tuesday off that weekend.

Going for cod thurs.. then looks like a tourney... *nice*

[BassDawg]

however; i've promised THAT w/e to the family.

me bride wants to go to Bahh Hahhbahh!!

kinda sux,,,,,,,,,,but that was the trade off for Sept's(Labor Day's) New!! i will be HAPPY to chip in some bucks for the prizes and schwag for whoever the skilled surfcaster will be.

sounds like things are up to snuff for the Inaugural HABS Fall Classic!!
Well Done, Joe and Chuck, and huge KUDOS for thinking of this event and
stepping up to the plate to make it happen.

if i can help with anything leading up to the tourney,,,,,,,,,,,,PLEASE shoot me a pm or feel free to call.

THANKS again, for ALL that you ~and others~ will no doubt DO!!

[Clammer]

C/A

I,m not in any shape to f #$%^&*( rock hop ..

but i,ll be there /for John & ya can count me in on something towards to raffle ..... 5000 hot wheels cars /LOL
no we.ll talk & i,ll have something ;;;

A one way boat excursion with the CLAMMER /

all rocks, crashes & flips overs are added bonuses ,.,,.

[piemma]

Since I can't surf fish anymore,(actually have a check-up oncology procedure this afternoon), I back Clammers offer with mine. I offer a 4 hour morning boat/fishing trip as a prize. Have to be in the Bay but we can hit the lower Bay such as Anawan, Bonnet, Newport etc.

You guys figure out how to award the prize.

[Crafty Angler]

Hey, Clamma and Paul - you guys are the best, no doubt about it - can't thank you enough for the family

Don't worry about rock-hopping - I'm starting to realize my days are numbered too - well, in that department anyway.

If you can eat and drink beer - or sodas, whatever you like - there will be plenty to do that weekend.

Besides, grouchy old bastards like me and Joe need a cheering section to give us the strength to go on

Hey, I may not be as good as I once was but by God I can be as good once as I ever was.

[Crafty Angler]

I just got off the phone again with Pt Jude Joe and he ran everything by Jess this morning - she's very happy about it.

They do still have some Habs pins we can give to entrants in the tourney and they will be incorporated into the entry fee so everyone who enters gets one (as long as they last, anyway).

A second weigh station is going to be added here on the island at Edwards Bait and Tackle over on Connell Highway (just down the road from the Blooberry Factory). Kevin opens real early (I'll get the times from him) and is happy to help out. There will also be a SoCo weigh station which I think is Quonny but I'll have to double check on that.

I've got a call in to my friend Komes from Flo's Clam Shack about the Meet and Greet Friday nite, should be a go. Me and Joe will also talk to Billie over the next several days at the Blooberry Factory for the awards get-together. I'll also talk to Mrs Iron Mike to see if Michael can come out to play with us - and I'll have DEM on stand-by with nets and tranquilizer darts just in case

That's pretty much it - I gotta turn to, got new tenants moving in in a couple of days so I gotta hustle to get the apartment finished. I've got beaucoup to do and the drywall dust and paint better start flying. The C.N.O. (Chief of Naval Operations) is due home at 1730 hours

[piemma]

You are welcome. Mike and I are happy to help. John was a good friend of mine for a long time. I have several Habs needles that are pre-92. No, they are not for sale. I plan on being buried with them in my coffin. I'm kidding of course. My kid will get them.

[Dad 818]

May be able to enter, but have to wait until I go to the orthopedist on 9/15. Dislocated my casting finger and may have ligament/tendon damage in it.

Plus I work all day on Saturdays. But if I can't get into the tournament, I'd be glad to try and help out in anyway that I can.

Will post a definitive answer hopefully by the 16th.

[cheferson]

Sounds good! Im defienetly in.

[nklinesider]

im in for this one

[ThrowingTimber]

I'm in for sure!

[tlapinski]

Originally Posted by DZ

I've not seen or heard anything about the fall MS/MD Club Challenge as of yet. I sent an email 2 weeks ago to the organizer and have not heard back from him.

DZ

The MS is 10/24 - 10/26. A week later than it was expected, but confirmed via email this week.

As to the Habs tourney, I really like this idea and should be fishing that weekend anyway. How are we doing registration, sending in the entry fee, etc..?

[hyefisherman2]

sounds like it would be a good time for sure!

i might be able to make it...not sure yet.

[Goose]

Are you keeping it Rody only and what about bait?

[JohnR]

In - Chuck PM coming...

[Crafty Angler]

Thanks, Cap - check your In Box -

TLap, we're working out the registration and payment details now - I had stuff I had to get done today so I was away from the computer. Details to follow very soon.

Ran into my pal from Team Azores - that's Pt Jude Joe - at the SWE late this afternoon and got a lot of stuff figured out.

Stay tuned, don't touch that dial. Trust me, you'll like it.

A lot

[Crafty Angler]

Hey Goose, I'm sorry it's been a long day and I just saw your question again -

Yeah, for the first annual it is Rhode Island waters only - it's the Ocean State and Habs home turf.

Try it, you'll like it

Honest, you will. Ask Gilly

[tynan19]

Nice to see you guys this afternoon. I think Joe said Capt. Don's (Quonny) will be a weigh station as well for the SoCo guys. We all appreciate the efforts Crafty and Joe.

[Pt.JudeJoe]

A wee update on this project...We are going to get some registration slips and weigh in slips made up for the 3 weigh in shops: Quonny Bait &Tackle (see Tim the owner) formerly Captain Don's on rt 1 in Charleston, Edwards Bait and Tackle in Newport ,Kevin runs this shop, (Connell Hwy near Walmart and next to the Hillmart convenience store), and the Saltwater Edge on Valley rd in Middletown.
I believe the Boss called Chuck and said we could use paypal thru this site to register as well. All we need bascically is name,address,and phone #. $15.00 gets you in the tourney and a HABS pin,(the ones they had at the RISAA show). DON'T REGISTER YET AS THIS IS ALL STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGE! We'll let you know when it time.
We're going to see if we can have the awards at the Coddington Brewery on Connell Hwy, Sunday afternoon (Pats don't play till 8:30) We will also have some kind of raffle at the awards for cool stuff donated by cool people and company big wigs.
Ok that's yer update stay tuned.

[Pt.JudeJoe]

btw can we apply some internet adhesive to this thread?

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Pt.JudeJoe

btw can we apply some internet adhesive to this thread?

Done

Yes, we'll be able to run tickets through PayPal for those that want to do it online (just not yet, after we get everything figgered owt)

[Clammer]

is this going to be open to just S/B .com members ???? there are alot of other fishemn the knew & liked John /that maybe interested ????

[jbuck]

Open to all.

[Crafty Angler]

Just a note on the awards get-together at the Blooberry Factory - maybe we can get people to indicate whether or not they're going to come on Suday so we can give Billie a number to expect and maybe have the room set up for it if we have enough coming.

Me and Joe are gonna go over this coming week to get that end of things locked down so that's taken care of.

Flo's Friday may just be for whoever shows up for it as a gathering spot to kick it off - my friend who owns it is tough to track down. Looks like I'm gonna have to get crafty on him - you have to be vewwwwy quiet when you're hunting wild Greeks

I'll just be drinking sodas Friday anyway since I'm gonna sling eels all night in rocky places.

Yeah, I figure I've got a month of training to get myself back in shape and I've got a friend reworking something special for me with strong mojo. Robbie T knows just what it is, too

Hey Rob, BTW, I'm still looking for that special thingy we were talking about - as soon as I find it, it's yours my friend

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by Pt.JudeJoe

DON'T REGISTER YET AS THIS IS ALL STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGE! We'll let you know when it time.

We had a powwow last night at Edwards B&T with me, Jake and Elwood Jude (Pt Jude Joe and jbuck) and ironed out some more details beofre going out for some pre-storm fishing.

Wait'll you guys see the trophy plaques for the winners - Jeff came up with an awesome idea for the winners but I'm not gonna blow the surprise just yet

Jeff oughta be the guy to let ya know - hey Joe, looks like Jeff got the brains and you got the beauty in the family