Solek emerges from Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit pack
Very few anglers ever win a major fishing tournament, if they can even win a fishing tournament of any kind. Even fewer anglers will win an angler-of-the-year title.
The 2002 RCL Co-angler-of-the-Year title went to John Solek of Indianapolis, Ind. This is the kind of accomplishment most anglers only dream of, and Solek is living that dream right now.
“I had no plans to fish all four of the RCL qualifying events this season,” said Solek. “I was going to fish the three events closer to my home and skip the Lake Sharpe event in South Dakota. After my decent finish at the Detroit River in Michigan, my friend and RCL pro Rick Cole told me it would be smart to fish all of the events because I was in the running for the Co-angler-of-the-Year title.
“I hesitated a bit, but in the end I gambled and went to South Dakota at the last minute,” he said. “Thanks to my fishing that tournament and doing well throughout the season, I was awarded the title.”
Angling with the greats
Fishing with fishing legends is a dream come true for Solek.
“Fishing the RCL Circuit is just so awesome, a real dream come true for me,” said Solek. “Winning the Co-angler-of-the-Year title is unbelievable. I’ll tell you what, being able to fish with the best walleye-tournament anglers in the country is truly remarkable. It is like a golf fan playing with Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus. Being able to rub elbows with these guys is an experience I will always cherish.
“In fact, every time I hear the National Anthem at the start of these tournaments, I feel like it is Super Bowl Sunday and I am standing in the middle of the field getting ready to play,” he said. “I get goose pimples everywhere.”
The value of prefishing
Solek suggest that co-anglers contact pros and prefish.
“I know many of the co-anglers cannot afford to take a lot of time off work to head up to a tournament and prefish for a few days, but it pays off big time for the co-angler,” said Solek. “Although it is completely up to the pro what you do, by spending time on the water learning what techniques you will most likely be using and to learn what it is like to fish with these pros, you are ahead of the rest of the anglers who opt to not prefish. Most of the pros like to have prefishing partners so they can have more rods in the water.”
Solek was ready to pack his bags and wait for the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit Championship after a less-than-stellar finish at Saginaw Bay.
“I knew that all I had to do was finish in the top 70 to win the title,” said Solek. “Of course, that means I would have to draw anglers who would put us on enough fish to put me in the upper half of the field.
“Well, after a dismal second day, I thought I was finished. I was very depressed, knowing that this title was so close to being mine,” he said. “I headed to the closest pub and had a burger and a beer to gather my composure. Then I went back to the weigh-in stage. The standings were not announced yet, but Mark Dorn was there, and I asked him for my ranking. He knew I was anxious about my finish, and he told me I was in 60th place. It hit me that I won the Co-angler-of-the-Year title. I was stunned and unbelievably happy.”
Next stop: Red Wing
Solek said he is anxiously anticipating the upcoming championship in Red Wing, Minn.
“I plan on fishing just as hard, if not harder, at the championship in October,” said Solek. “You could not keep me away form fishing that event. This has been an unbelievable ride for me.”
Pros deserve credit
Solek thanks the RCL pros for winning the title for him.
“I would like to believe it was my own skill that earned me this title,” said Solek. “However, I know that I am just the recipient of the title – not the owner. All of the RCL pros I fished with taught me, cajoled me and brought out the best in me. I can’t thank all of them enough for their tremendous efforts this season.”
For his efforts this season, Solek will receive free entry into all of the RCL qualifying events for 2003.
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