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Team Yamamoto - Eastern Region

Roger Lee Brown - Crown Point, NY

"The Bass Coach", Roger Lee Brown is a full-time professional bass angler and instructor, with over 20 years fishing as a pro. A founder and former President of the Pro-Tec School of Bassin', he currently runs a three-day "on-water" bass fishing school on Lake George and Lake Champlain, NY. It's affordable for the average angler and provides one-on-one instruction. Roger is Coast Guard licensed and holds a NY fishing charter. He has fished in many tournaments throughout the United States and is also a qualified Boating Safety Instructor and an accomplished author and lecturer.

In 2002, Roger will be fishing the Foxwoods Trail (a couple of tournaments), the BFL (Redman), several area "Opens" and the Vermont Federation Qualifier for the 2003 Regionals which will take place on Lake Champlain (Roger's backyard!). For 2002, he's also scheduled seminars for some Jr. Bassmasters kids from local Vermont clubs, and will be helping a lot of kids get in tune for their state federation tournament of champions.

Mike DelVisco - Yulan, NY

Being a full time professional bass angler has its share of ups and downs, says Mike DelVisco. I've only found two workable speeds for this, and not much in between. First, when I've been out on the road for a while, I can't wait to get home. Second, when I've been home for a while, I get antsy and can't wait to be on the road again. But, that's the nature of the fishing business, and I wouldn't trade it for anything, says Mike.

In the course of his travels, whether to tournaments or one of the many seminars he conducts each year, many people will say, "Man, Mike, it must be great to just go fishing every day, and then get paid for it!" Well, that's the glamourous part most people see of the sport. What's not apparent are long travel hours from tournament to tournament, and numerous seminar and personal appearances that may take Mike over 100,000 miles a year. Coordinating show and tournament schedules is actually a job within a job itself. The "sport" becomes yet more "business-like" when you consider dealing with sponsors, negotiating new contracts, and meeting writing deadlines.

But then again, where else can a grown man have the opportunity to drive a fancy boat, fish with the best rods, reels and lures, catch little green fish, and yes, get paid for it! So, maybe the fishing life is great!

At seminar and show appearances, Mike DelVisco offers his audiences one of the most visually exciting and informative seminars in the business. He pioneered the use of state-of-the-art, computer driven multi-media wide screen presentations to bring the excitement of modern bass fishing right into the theater with you. When you get a chance to attend one of Mike's Shows, make plans to go early and sit up front. You'll be glad you did!

Joe Lucarelli - Meredith, NH

Steve Lucarelli - Meredith, NH

Steve Lucarelli has been fishing in New Hampshire's Lakes Region for over 15 years.  In that time, Steve has seen how delicate the fishery can be. Steve believes that properly-released, fish will continue to benefit us, and our children, for the future years. Steve and his son, Joe Lucarelli, operate the Lakes Region Bass Fishing Guide Service. Visit their web site at www.NHsmallmouth.com. In 2002, Steve wil be fishing the New England Bass Assoc. Trail, Northern Bass Supply Trail, and the Foxwood Challenge Trail.

Al "River Jack" Pugh - Alexandria, VA

Al Pugh grew up on the Greenbrier, and learned the outdoors crafts from his father - Al calls him Pappy to this day. Al remembers, "Pappy never took a poor shot, kept a fish the family didn't need, and always wanted the other person to have the best show." Al married his high school sweetheart - two sons and a Navy submarine career later they are still looking forward together. Both sons love the outdoors, hunting and fishing whenever the opportunity occurs.

These days Newport News, Virginia is home, but Al works for a defense contractor in engineering management in the Washington, DC area, providing him a wider scope of rivers to fish. He hunts and fishes whenever he can, and loves to introduce others to these pursuits.

Al did his first writing for RiverSmallies.com and Gary Yamamoto's Inside Line Magazine, and still cherishes those associations. Additionally, he is associated with Case plastics and Cabin Fever Tackle. Most recently he joined the Pro Soft Glue Pro Staff with Mike Rice's Innovative Products, Inc. It has been some time since Al fished any sort of tournament tour, but his fishing experience dates to 1959. Al feels that going "pro" in this way gives him both the freedom and the responsibility to choose his associations carefully - he believes he has done just that.

He primarily fishes rivers for smallmouth bass, and his most likely lures are of the plastic variety (Senkos, tubes, Hula Grubs, Mad Toms, etc), followed closely by hair jigs, small silicone jigs, and selected hard and wire baits. He's searched for replacements for Phil Shafer's hair/fur jigs since Phil semi-retired from the business. Al throws Butch Neal's silicone jigs, buzzbaits, and spinner baits, but he primarily chooses Yamamoto plastics, backed up by Charlie Case's creations, among others.

With his hectic work-a-day schedule, you may find Al on any of the mid-Atlantic rivers, from the Susquehanna south to the New, or inland as far as West Virginia's Greenbrier and New. By his own description a "jack of all trades" on the river, and since Al's grandfather (seven generations back) ran a ferry on the Greenbrier and was called "River Jack," Al has taken the email address river_jack_gen7@yahoo.com. Al responds to all serious inquiries, but asks that you allow him a "bit of time" to reply.

Pat Xiques - Mahopac, NY

Pat Xiques left the saltwater surroundings of Long Island, NY in 1988 to chase "sweetwater" bass, and he's never looked back. He's represented the NJ B.A.S.S. Federation at the Eastern Divisionals in 1988 and 1999, and finished in enough federation, regional and local tournament "top tens" to grab the attention of Gary Yamamoto's Inside Line scouts back in 1996, where Pat is now a staff writer for the magazine.

A reformed shallow water power fisherman, Pat now resides in Upstate NY on Lake Mahopac where he has perfected his own self-made approach to "offshore" bass fishing, using bottom-probing tactics like dropshot rigs, "One Ton" hula jigs, spoons and hair jigs. Pat also deploys tactics for suspended bass such as wacky-rigging Senkos and the Senko Jig for roving offshore bass.

Xiques relates, "Yamamoto Baits are becoming well known here in the East. Things are changing. A few years ago the fishermen were satisfied with whatever the X-Marts carried. Now they're seeking out the custom bait products, and Yamamoto is right in the midst of the action."

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