On October 13, tragedy struck the bass fishing community. James "Jimmy" Johnson, 56, an angler from Gando, was fatally shot when confronting a burglar breaking into his boat. The shooting happened just steps from his hotel room door in Jackson, Mississippi. His wife, hiding inside the hotel room, heard the shots. "What got me the most is that it was tragic that he was shot and killed, but when I read the report that his wife was with him and heard the shot, my first thought was-- what would my reaction be if I walked out and saw someone I loved shot and killed?" said Scott Burns, a professional angler from Lufkin. It was a senseless crime--a man's life in exchange for a few fishing rods. So, Burns, along with Ron Jones, president of the Nacogdoches Bass Club, decided to do something about it. The Jimmy Johnson Memorial Tournament will be held November 16 at Jackson Hill Park and Mariana. The tournament will begin at 5 a.m. and final weigh in will be at 3:30 p.m. All tournament proceeds and additional donations will go to the family of Jimmy Johnson to help pay for funeral expenses and living expenses for the family. "The angling community is throughout the United States and the world. We are talking about half a million members worldwide. We all share a common thread of interest in fishing and when something happens to one of the members, particularly something useless and dreadful, we come together to help the survivors. We are doing this because it's a brotherhood and we like to help each other. You will seldom find an angler anywhere who won't help one other," Jones said. Burns added, "The only thing I knew to do was to have a grassroots bass fishing when everyone showed up to fish and the last man standing was the winner." The idea to keep the tournament "grassroots" was developed by Burns and Jones because they didn't want to take any glory from the family by bringing in big sponsorships and simply want to show that people care. "In fishing, we all want to write a page in history and write something for history-- not to win money or win plaques, but to better ourselves in fishing in the community," Burns said. The event will be a basic fishing tournament with registration open to anyone. The individual fee is $25 and the team fee is $50. Plaques, not money, will be awarded to the top team and to the top individual. Burns said, "It's a fellowship fishing tournament. I want to see the compassion. I want to see the people willing to show respects to a fallen angler. It's a one of a kind plaque. The money is going to someone who really needs it and not to someone looking for a new depth finder to go on their boat." "If you have a calling to do something, then it's only human nature to want to. I think that is the biggest part and Ron saw that too. I'm passionate about fishing, but it's also about helping people," he said. The tournament will be held at Jackson Hill Park and Marina, on the northeast side of the lake, near Broaddus, and according to, Burns, Terry Sympson, the owner of the marina, "is a true patriot." "He believes in God and country and fellowship and has one of the best locations and facilities on Rayburn to hold an event of this size." he said. Sympson asks for nothing in return and is even donating all the money collected for boat launching fees directly to the cause. He said, "While the competitive fishing industry is nationwide and has thousands of participants, it is a close-knit community, especially here in East Texas." "Jimmy Johnson was well known by many local fisherman and the details of this senseless tragedy really bring home how quickly our lives can change. He was doing what he loved with his wife by his side when his life was cut short. We believe that it is important for us to gather together to remember him, celebrate his life doing what he loved so dearly and to try to help his family get through this not just financially, but by sending a message of love and support to them in this darkest of days," he said. Many East Texans have already made the pledge to fish in the tournament, including The Nacogdoches Bass Club and the Southeast Region of the Texas B.A.S.S Nation. Those that want to help but not fish in the tournament, can still make donations. To register or for more information contact: Scott Burns (936) 215-0652 https://www.facebook.com/ScottBurnsFishingPage?ref=br_tf or Terry at Jackson Hill Marina (936) 872-9266 or [email protected] http://www.jacksonhill.us/