Here We Go
Ish on starting the season and the Rayovac FLW Series event on Okeechobee
The 2015 bass tournament season is officially underway and I am super-excited about the changing dynamics. There is no doubt that the economy is improving and the 250-boat field that fished the first Rayovac FLW Series event on Lake Okeechobee is testament to that.
Hats off to FLW for executing such a super-duper event. I can’t say enough about what an excellent job the FLW staff did running this tournament: Blast-off, check-in, weigh-in were extremely well-organized. There was no controversy, no arguments. They made it look simple and things ran smoothly - it was great! Ron Lappin is for sure giving Bill Taylor a run for his money at being the best Tournament Director in the business.
I love FLW for taking the gamble in running a 250-boat event at the Rayovac level. I think it’s excellent for the sport. I think that this will increase the qualifying criteria at the Walmart FLW Tour level, making it even more prestigious. Anglers who claim to be pros will actually be pros; and by that I mean making a living at bass fishing. If you can’t beat the local sticks you don’t belong on Tour.
The increased fields also mean that, if done right, anglers will actually be able to cash a decent check. Don’t get me wrong, FLW did a good job with this payout by paying down 100 more places than would normally get paid. However, I would like to see only 75 places paid instead of 140 with the money distributed accordingly. If that happened it would mean an additional $1,000 for places 41-75 and that’s a decent check, which translates into more full fields and waiting lists.
I am feeling really good about the upcoming season and my fishing. There are some old favorites and new challenges on the schedule and I feel like each venue sets up to my style of fishing. I can’t wait to get back to Toho; there is nothing better than Florida fishing. And we should hit Smith Lake at a time when you can catch fish any way you want.
I am looking forward to Beaver Lake and working with Walmart and its charity event, the FLW Will Fish for Kids – Bill Kerr Memorial Charity Tournament. We should hit the lake right around the time fish will be spawning, which means a lot of fish will be caught. The fishing is always amazing at Eufaula. I’ll be looking for some revenge at Chickamauga, I’ve had some good events there in the past but the more recent ones have had my number. And the Potomac is one of my favorite places to fish. I love the grass and the fact that it will not be an offshore ledge fishing event.
I missed the Forrest Wood Cup last year and that hurt. My goal right now is to be a competing at Lake Ouachita in August. To be able to compete for the Forrest Wood Cup is an incredible honor and thrill.
Hats-off to FLW once again for running such an amazing event on Lake Okeechobee last weekend; it’s great to start the season with a feeling of rejuvenation for the sport and that’s what the 250-boat field and FLW did. To 2015!