Frank I Bottoms

Frank I. Bottoms passed from this life on February 6, 2024 after a hard fought battle with cancer. Frank was born on February 15, 1942 in Nampa, Idaho to Hugh and Bertha Bottoms, the oldest of four children. He graduated from Nampa High School in 1961. A short time later he met the love of his life, Cheryl Tucker. They married in 1964 and made their home in Idaho Falls where they raised their two daughters. They lived and worked in Idaho Falls until 1995 at which time they moved back to Caldwell.

Frank had several hobbies throughout his life and made friends everywhere he went. He enjoyed drag racing and riding dirt bikes in the early days, trap shooting, archery hunting, camping and being a part of the muzzleloader club. He lived to fish for steelhead on the Salmon and Clearwater Rivers with his beloved brothers and cousins. He hunted big game and birds and loved each of his wirehair pointers: Corky, Gretchen, Heidi, Greta, Gus and Sasha.

Frank was hooked the first time he picked up a bass rod and fished every spare moment he had. In 1990, he earned the Idaho B.A.S.S. Federation Angler of the year. This provided him the opportunity to fish the B.A.S.S. Nationals in Roanoke, Va. Although he fished for years and loved every minute of it, the trip to the B.A.S.S. Nationals remained one of his greatest memories.

He was known for his handlebar mustache and that mustache led to an article in B.A.S.S. Times magazine in the spring of 1991 which read:

“Mustache record set

It was once said that records are made to be broken, but Frank Bottoms of the Western Division’s Eaglerock Bass Masters set one at Smith Mountain that will be hard to surpass. While Bottoms was weighing in a 14-inch largemouth bass during the final day of competition, Ray Scott asked the Idaho resident how long his handlebar mustache was. Bottoms replied that his mustache was 18 inches in length and that no one in federation history had ever sported one that long. Doubtful of that claim, Scott and Federation Director Lyn Wheatley held up the bass to Bottom’s face and measured the fish against the handlebar. The mustache beat the bass by a good 4 inches.”

Compiled from the notebook of Bruce Ingram, a respected Virginia outdoor writer who staffed the event for B.A.S.S. TIMES.

Frank loved to share his knowledge and wisdom of hunting and fishing with his girls, sons-in-law and grandchildren with the hope that they would carry on his passion for the outdoors. He’ll be remembered for his integrity, kindness, his infectious laugh, and his drive and work ethic. He was tough as nails but had the most tender heart. He loved his family the most.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl of 59 years, his two daughters Andrea Wise (Rocky), Lori Empey (Colby), three grandchildren Hailey (Gabe), Jamison and Hudson and one great granddaughter, Lainey. His sister, Marilyn Michael, brothers Mike Bottoms (Kari) and Wendell Bottoms (Karen) and many nieces, nephews and cousins.