Q&A with 2008 Forrest Wood Cup champion Michael Bennett

Forrest Wood Cup champion Michael Bennett talks about his new-found fame as bass fishing's most recent $1 million winner

Watch out for Duracell pro Michael Bennett; he’s been quietly catching spotted bass all week. Photo by Rob Newell. Angler: Michael Bennett.

September 19, 2008 • Vince Meyer • Archives

Editor’s note: On Aug. 17, 2008, Michael Bennett became the youngest angler to win the Forrest Wood Cup when he topped a field of 77 competitors at Lake Murray, S.C . The 24-year-old pro from Lincoln, Calif., walked away with $1 million in prize money after surviving four extremely difficult days of fishing against some of the best bass anglers in the nation.

Recently, FLWOutdoors.com caught up with Bennett and asked him questions ranging from his big tournament win to his plans for the future. The following are excerpts from that interview.

Q&A with 2008 Forrest Wood Cup champion Michael Bennett

FLWOutdoors.com: Did this year’s Forrest Wood Cup resemble any tournament you had fished in the past in terms of the bite and what it took to win?

Bennett: I won earlier this year on Lewis Smith Lake using the same the technique I used on Lake Murray. It wasn’t going to get a lot of bites, but I felt if I could get seven to eight bites a day I’d be a contender.

FLWOutdoors.com: At what point did you realize you had a good chance to win the Cup?

Bennett: After day two I figured if I could find enough water I’d have a legitimate chance. But each day was a struggle in itself. On day three I had six bites and caught five. I knew the last day would be the toughest. Going into it I was uneasy. I knew what I needed to catch and that I had to make every bite count.

FLWOutdoors.com: Was the bite on Lake Murray what you expected it would be?

Bennett: Going into it I thought the fish would be deep, and that’s what I concentrated on in practice. But on the last day of practice I spent a couple hours shallow. Then a storm rolled in just before the tournament and I knew the shallow bite would get better. What I didn’t realize was that the water temperature would drop like it did. All that rain dropped it 5 or 6 degrees. The lake was up with some fresh water and that got the fish more aggressive.

FLWOutdoors.com: Why did you choose the Snagg-Proof Frog that you used to win the tournament?

Bennett: No other reason than I had confidence in it. I had used it in the past and I knew if I got on fish it would work. There are several other brands that work well, too.

FLWOutdoors.com: How will it feel to see your banner raised among the past Forrest Wood Cup champions?

Bennett: Awesome. A lot of things change when you win the championship. When you win something this significant it really makes a difference. It’ll always be there.

FLWOutdoors.com: Are you concerned about a let-down next season?

Bennett: For whatever reason, no. A lot of past champions have really struggled the next year and I can understand that. You’re going 100 miles per hour to fulfill sponsor commitments and I can see where you might not concentrate as much on fishing. But this year was the first year I felt really comfortable as an angler and in the decisions I made. When it got tough I would say, “Hey, you know what, conditions have changed, everything you know just changed, so now just go fishing.” That might not work every time, but nine times out of 10 it will.

FLWOutdoors.com: Winning the Cup will place a target on your back next season. Will that affect how you fish?

Bennett: No, the pressure is off. I won the tournament. I always want to fish the best I can and any time I have bad tournament I hate it. There are times when it just isn’t meant to be, but other times everybody whacks ’em and you’re sitting there scratching your head. That bothers me. Next year I’ll expand on what I learned this year and be as competitive as I can be. I don’t know how it will work out, but that’s my plan.

FLWOutdoors.com: How many tournaments will you fish in 2009?

Bennett: I really don’t know. I’ll fish the FLW Tour 100 percent, but other than that it’s up in the air at this point. I had a more relaxed schedule this year and I really enjoyed that.

FLWOutdoors.com: Will you work any boat shows or sport shows where the public can meet you during the off-season?

Bennett: I’m hoping to. I want to get out there and meet my fans. I hope the tough economy won’t stop me from traveling around and meeting a lot of people.

FLWOutdoors.com: How will you spend the $1 million you won at the Cup?

Bennett: Some will go to charities. I’m buying a house that’s being built right now. We’ll close in October. Some will go to retirement and some into savings. The economy is tough right now.