Every once in a while, we meet people in life’s journey that change our outlook on life and this time Jody Belcher of Huddleston, Virginia got to hop in the boat with someone and create memories that would last a lifetime.
Belcher qualified for the 2021 BASS Nation Championship that was held in Monroe, LA after qualifying through the BASS Nation Southeast Regional that was held on Lake Hartwell. Jody would be the eventual winner of the event on the Non-Boater side with a three-day total of 20-2.
“This is something I’ve dreamed of for a long time,” Belcher said of qualifying for 2021 BASS Nation Championship.
But it wasn’t until the second day of the tournament that Jody got to get in the boat with 82-year-old disabled veteran Ken Carter. Ken Carter had been paralyzed as a result of an accident on an aircraft carrier in the Korean War.
“This would-be Ken’s final tournament,” Belcher said. “He was planning to retire from fishing, he had a successful fishing career, he has won 9 ranger bass boats, a few Toyota Trucks and his personal best bass was a 15-pound, 1-ounce bass.”
“I felt honored and privileged to be in the boat with this gentleman,” Belcher claimed. “Definitely the highlight of my fishing career by far. A highlight of my life.”
While the fishing may have not been in the favorable outcome for Jody, he made the most of the experience and truly enjoyed his day on the water with a one-of-a-kind angler.
“We get to our first spot and we drift over to some trees and I pick up a jig, flip over there and sure enough I get a bite right off the bat, set the hook and break my line,” he said. “Normally I would be pretty upset at myself for doing something like that, but fishing wasn’t the most important thing that day. I don’t know it was just a special moment.”
Jody ended up finishing the tournament in a respectable 28th place, even on the same day as his birthday. Jody plans to keep in touch with Ken.
“We’ve talked on the phone since the tournament and plan to stay in touch with each other for a long time,” he said. “Something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”
“Everyone has the big dream of going to the Classic and I did too. I’ve been a lifetime member of BASS for 24 years; this was my first opportunity to get to the Nation Championship and I’m tickled to death with how everything went.”
Inspiring is what you would call an 82-year-old veteran that is still out on the water competing even being disabled. Inspiring enough that Jody has decided to compete next year in the 2022 WV BASS Buddy Trail something which he hasn’t fished in a few years.
Best of luck in 2022 Jody!
