Avid Anglers was founded in 2004 by former members of Bristol County Bassmasters. The goal of the club was—and is—to make us all better fishermen, foster a love of the outdors in our youth, and to send the very best of our membership to the annual state championships. The benefits that go along with those are many: new friendships, travel to new places, access to a wealth of angling knowledge, and much more.

Avid is affiliated with the Massachusetts Bass Federation, the state-level organization of the FLW, and all club members must be FLW members to join. We also share an affiliation with the Massachusetts B.A.S.S. Federation Nation and several members hold membership in that organization too. Each year the club sends a qualifying team to each organization's state championship for a chance to advance to the regional and divisional championships, and on to the Bassmasters Classic or FLW Cup.

We meet once a month (except for November and December when our meetings conflict with the holidays) on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.at the AFA Hall on Tremont Street in Taunton, Mass. Meetings are held first and foremost to conduct club business, but the club is by no means ALL business. We get it done but we also have fun.

The club consists of about 2/3 boaters and 1/3 non-boaters, a ratio we hope to keep intact as membership grows, since it allows boaters a chance to occasionally fish tournaments alone and for non-boaters to experience a variety of boats and personalities throughout the season without repetition. Our events are all blind draw format, meaning non-boaters pick a boater at random for each tournament. We strive for an even playing field and feel this ratio and format is key to achieving that.



As for the fishing, we hold 5 tournaments each year and volunteer at one or more youth events each season, accumulating points toward an Angler of the Year award and toward qualifying for the state championship. There is also a small payout for first through third place and lunker at each tournament. The first 4 tournaments in a calendar year count toward the current tournament season, while the fifth, held in the Fall, counts toward the next year's season. Particpation in a youth event is worth as much as a first-place finish in the season's point standings.

Each Spring we hold an open tournament on the Saturday before Easter called the Easter Bunny Open as a fundraiser for the club. To date it's been held on Long Pond Harwich. It's usually one of the first, if not THE first tournament of the new season and is a fun event we all look forward to to get the juices flowing for the upcoming season. For more about the EBO see the EB Open page.

If you're still reading, you must be interested! You're invited to read a bit further and check out the FAQ below. If you're considering joining us or if any questions haven't been answered on these pages, please get in touch with one of our officers. We're always happy to chat about fishing!

  John Shpack President
  Jason Frigon Vice President
  Bob Pickering Secretary
  Ed Doyle Treasurer
  Eric Femiak TBF Rep
  Wade Estabrooks BASS Rep
  Dave Waugh Webmaster

How much are club dues?
Annual dues are $120, collected in September for the upcoming year. Members who miss two or fewer meetings in a calendar year are rebated $20, essentially making their annual dues $100.

How much are tournament entry fees?
Regular club tournaments are $20 entry with an optional $5 lunker pool. Easter Bunny Open entry is usually an $80 entry per team (or fish alone), with an optional $20 split lunker pool and a $5 ramp fee.

Where do you fish?
We fish mostly in central and southeastern Massachusetts (Webster, Cape Lakes etc.), but usually fish one event at the location on which the Mass. TBF championship will be held, typically on Lake Winnipesaukee or Lake Champlain.

What kind of boat do I need?
If you want to join as a boater the limitations are that it must be at least 16' in length, and have a working kill switch and livewell. Because we fish some larger bodies of water where the water can get rough, anglers with smaller boats may opt to fish as co-anglers if their boats can't handle the conditions.

Anything else?
It's recommended that any boater carry boating insurance, since you will likely be carrying other people in your boat, and will be manuevering around others in close quarters. It is required for the EBO and many trails and opens.

What about gear?
That's entirely your decision and personal preference. But a few staples besides rods and tackle you'll need for tournament fishing are:
   - A tournament weigh bag
   - High quality rain gear
   - A life jacket (PFD)