With a little rest and rejuvenation under this girl's rhinestone-studded belt, Janet Parker is excited and geared up for the 2012 tournament season. The first event in the Bass Pro Shops' Bassmaster Central Opens is slated for this week on Lake Lewisville in Texas-Parker's home waters.

It’s official – all four Bass Champs Texas Regions have now begun. The North Region kicked off February 4th on Cedar Creek with 160 teams vying for a portion of the 105% tournament payback. Every ounce counted as weights were stacked tight! Lee Yowell and Brian Schott came out on top to win over $25,000.

JJ Ducharme of Brackettville, Texas, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 23 pounds Saturday to win the EverStart Series Texas Division on Lake Amistad with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 63 pounds. For his victory, Ducharme earned $35,000.

Lamar University's Danny Iles, Hemphill, Texas, and Justin Royal, Vidor, Texas won the National Guard FLW College Fishing South Conference event on Lake Amistad Saturday with five bass weighing 21 pounds, 11 ounces. The victory earned the team $5,000. The win also helped them advance to the South Conference Regional Championship.

Bass Champs kicked off the first of five events for their Central Region anglers January 28, 2012 on lake LBJ. Twenty one teams were awarded checks in this 105% payback event, but Lance Dillard and Lee Beuershausen were the big winners, taking home more than $25,000.

The 2012 season has begun! Big sacks, huge kickers and humungous paybacks as Bass Champs kicked off with the South Region January 14th on Lake Falcon. Nine double digit bass, four sacks over 40 pounds, and more than $58,000 paid back to participants. Jaime Buitron and Terry Oldham won over $20,000 with their 1st place win.

Here are some of the top stories we brought you in the NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert in 2011.  With what will be a critically important 2012, we must increase our efforts to ensure we're prepared to meet the great opportunities and challenges we will face next year.  We will continue to provide you with information in future Alerts to ensure our mutual success.

The Association of Collegiate Anglers has selected Allen, TX as the host city for the 2012 Cabela's Collegiate Big Bass Bash. Hundreds of students from across the country will migrate to the city of Allen, and nearby Lake Lavon, March 19-24, 2012 for what should be a fun-filled start to the 2012 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series.

Bass Pro Shops, recently named as one of the "Top 10 Hottest Brands in America" by Advertising Age magazine, will celebrate its 58th store's Grand Opening Thursday, November 17th through Sunday, November 20th.