Semken 25th at BASS Masters

THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published August 10, 2001

NEW ORLEANS -- John Semken of Olympia finished 25th in the three-day national BASS Masters Classic last week.

Semken was one of 45 fishers, and the only one from Washington state, in the three-day event for the nation's top anglers.

Semken had 10 fish weighing a total of 12 pounds 8 ounces, netting him $4,000.

Kevin Van Dam of Kalamazoo, Mich., won the event and the $100,000 first prize with 15 fishing weighing 32 pounds, 5 ounces.

Scott Rook of Little Rock, Ark., finished second with 31-pounds, 4-ounces of fish for the tourney.

While the anglers fished the Louisiana Delta, the final weigh-in of fish was at the Louisiana Super Dome before a crowd of 22,000 people.

Semken got to the BASS Masters Classic by finishing in second place at a national qualifying tournament and winning the western division of that event.

The BASS Masters Classic is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the United States.

- FOOD TASTING: Better than military C rations, or Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs). Impossible, you say?

Well here's your chance to sample some of that lightweight, freeze-dried food before you carry it for miles into the backcountry.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Olympic Outfitters is offering a free freeze-dried food tasting -- all cooked on a camp stove.

Also Saturday, the downtown Olympia store will offer free backpack fittings.

Anyone can bring in their internal- or external-frame pack and get it adjusted to fit correctly.

- BIKE RIDES: South Sound riders can still sign up for rides this Sunday sponsored by Capital Bicycle Club.

Rides range from 20 to 100 miles.

Registration is from 7 a.m. to noon at Tenino City Park.

For information, call 360-956-3321.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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