Relaxed, But Reloading
I wrote this blog just after I got back from the local clinic. While doing some yard work, I inadvertently disturbed a ground hornet nest and was stung on my left forearm. I thought nothing of it as I have been stung many times by wasps and bees while spending time outdoors.
This time I went to bed and never gave it a second thought. When I woke up my forearm was swollen to about twice its size. The doc gave me some meds, and my arm is already showing some improvement. That’s good. At least it gives me some time to sit down and write a blog about how things are looking for me the next couple months.
As you probably saw on NBC’s broadcast of the Forrest Wood Cup show, the season ended with Anthony Gagliardi winning the championship in probably the most dramatic fashion possible. He had an amazing season, which made for a great story in itself. Congrats, Anthony. You definitely earned that top prize.
The off-season is definitely in full swing for all of us. Although the Walmart FLW Tour is over for the year, it doesn’t mean our jobs as professional anglers come to a halt until next spring. For guys like me who make all their living from fishing income, the year is far from over. Most days this fall will be spent on Lake Guntersville, taking clients on guide trips to help pay the bills until the Tour launches again.
This year the Tour gets a later start – March – which is bittersweet because I’ll get to spend some time guiding in January and February at home while, in the past, I’ve spent close to six weeks down south at Okeechobee preparing for the first event.
Other than guiding, I’ll be working with sponsors, trying to land one or two new ones, and also working with the great lineup I have now to maintain and grow those relationships. I’ve always prided myself in working extremely hard for sponsors because I know that without their support it would be very difficult for me to have a career in this sport. I’ve been fortunate to have some good seasons in the Rayovac FLW Series, as a co-angler on Tour and as a Walmart FLW Tour pro.
Sponsors are definitely great to have during the good seasons, but the one thing I’ve learned is that they’re 10 times more important in the challenging years we all experience. That’s why I try to work hard for them in the good years and also in the not-so-good ones. This year has been problematic for me, what with trying to manage my time effectively fishing tournaments, dealing with new sponsors, purchasing a home in New Hope, Ala., and starting a guide business on Lake Guntersville. I think I somewhat overextended myself this year, and this fall I’ll spend much more time making sure that I have everything in order so when I begin the new season in March I can hit the ground running.
My tackle collection constitutes one of those components I need to get in order. Truth be told, I’ve been decent in keeping stuff organized, but this off-season will be spent making sure I have everything I need and that it all will have a place either in the boat or the Chevy Surburban.
I have also been working on ordering my new Ranger, which is going to be rigged with the awesome new Evinrude G2 motor that has best-in-class torque, delivers the best gas mileage and rates as the quietest two-stroke on the market. If you’re in the market for a boat, I’ll be selling my current model later this fall. It’s fully rigged and should be available in the mid-November timeframe. Get in touch through Facebook if you’re interested.
Other than making a lot of plans, I’ve been trying to spend as much time as possible with Lindsey and our rescue dog, Barney, while I’m home. Although I enjoy the spring season because of the great bass fishing, I really love this time of year with its cool mornings and less-pressured lakes. As most people know, I’m a huge sports fan, and you can’t beat Saturdays with college football, the baseball playoffs and the NFL season. Fall affords me some time to sit back, be a fan and spectator, and relax a bit while recharging the batteries.
Until next time,
Casey