Three’s a charm
Third member of Hibdon clan finds way into record books with exciting win at Bass Federations’ junior national championship
Well, the Hibdon family has made bass-fishing history once again. While that is not surprising in and of itself, the fact that neither FLW Tour pro Dion Hibdon nor legendary bass angler Guido Hibdon had anything to do with the latest rewrite of the record books most certainly was.
Payden Hibdon, 14, son of Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship winner and Team Chevy pro Dion Hibdon, won The Bass Federation’s junior national championship at the Harris Chain of Lakes, Feb. 19, carrying on the remarkable, and clearly multi-generational, family tradition of collecting national bass championships like most families collect stamps.
However, that is not to say victory was easy for young Payden either. When all was said and done, Payden took home the win in the 11 to 14 age division by less than 1 ounce. That’s right, 1 ounce.
“This is just pretty cool,” said Payden, who recorded an official winning catch of 9 pounds, 5 ounces to cement his first national title.
Strong legacy
To be sure, the Hibdon fishing tradition is as solid as they come. Both Guido, Payden’s grandfather, and Dion have won prestigious titles at the Bassmaster Classic. Dion is also credited with a huge win at the 2000 FLW Tour Championship on the Red River. In addition, Dion and Guido have amassed nearly $850,000 in career earnings at FLW Outdoors related events in just the last decade alone.
Now Payden represents the third member of the Hibdon family to win a true national bass-fishing championship. And like his grandfather and father before him, Payden appears to have developed a strong case of bass-fishing fever, vowing to fish as many tournaments as his schedule will allow in the upcoming season.
“I’m considering pro bass fishing as a career more seriously than I was before this.”
Proud papa
Dion, who fishes both the Wal-Mart FLW Tour and the new Wal-Mart FLW Series, said Payden’s latest milestone not only made him a proud parent, but also reenergized his dedication to the sport as well.
“I couldn’t be more excited for him,” Dion said. “It has been so exciting seeing how it gets him pumped up, and honestly, it has put the excitement back into my fishing, too.”
Payden ultimately qualified for the junior national championship through the Missouri Bass Federation, which holds five qualifiers for their youth divisions and awards points based on each angler’s finish and weight of bass in each tournament. Payden finished first in the points standings, barely edging out runner up Chandler Young and his younger brother Lawson Hibdon, 11, who finished third in the standings, just six points behind Payden.
“This is the first year they’ve competed,” Dion said. “They’ve fished tournaments with me since they were 7 years old, but those were just buddy bass tournaments. These tournaments have helped them grow as fishermen. They have to think on their feet a lot more now.”
You might think a legendary fishing family like the Hibdons gives Payden and Lawson an advantage, but having a legendary father and grandfather isn’t what makes them winners.
“(Guido) and I just steer them down the right paths and focus mainly on keeping them out of trouble,” Dion said. “The fishing we leave to them to make decisions on their own and wait for them to ask us questions.”
Beginning this year, The Bass Federation will host youth fishing tournaments in conjunction with FLW Outdoors. These tournaments will advance young anglers to a new Junior FLW Outdoors World Championship held in conjunction with the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship in Birmingham, Ala. August 2-5. Look for details on this new program to be announced soon.