In 1998, a little-known Louisiana angler made his BASS debut by finishing a forgettable 193rd in the Bassmaster Missouri Invitational on Lake of the Ozarks.
It was not a hint of what was to come from Greg Hackney.
Since that inauspicious start, no pro can match the incredible consistency of the 31-year-old Hackney, who won the 2004 Rookie of the Year title and fell just three points short of overtaking Gerald Swindle for the Bassmaster Angler of the Year award.
Even more impressive than that run is the fact that Hackney has cashed a check in 22 of his 25 appearances. Included is a victory in a Central Open in 2002, two seconds and two thirds, along with 14 top-10 performances (not to mention qualifying for two consecutive Bassmaster Classics).
And the Hack Attack shows no signs of tiring. He recently added the Southern Open points title to his résumé and easily qualified for this week's Open Championship.
"I was happy about winning the points title because that was a goal of mine," he said. "I had won the points title in the Centrals, and I just thought it would really be something to win it in the Centrals and in the Southerns. You don't get anything for it but bragging rights, but I just wanted that. I felt really good about getting it."
Hackney wrapped up the points title with a second-place finish at the season finale on Lake Okeechobee, where he fished within sight of winner Tim Horton throughout the event. He makes it clear that he was not satisfied with second place and is anxious to add to his victory credits.
"I feel good about the season in a way, but I was in a position to win all three tournaments and didn't win any of them," Hackney lamented. "That's the only thing that disappoints me. Other than that I was really fortunate. I had a good season.
"I hate to be greedy. I feel like I've really been blessed by how I've been doing, but I'd like to win one of them to see how it is. To get in position like that and not win really hurts. That last day at Okeechobee, I really thought I was going to win the tournament. I was confident. With us fishing close together, I knew exactly what was going on. I told myself I was in a position to win, and I tried, but I couldn't do it."
After his remarkable early success, the unassuming Hackney is now searching for that ability shared by the very best pros to kick their efforts into a higher gear when victory is within sight.
"A lot of times you can be in a position to win and not know it," said Hackney, whose Southern Open record was second, third and 21st. "It helped that I was watching the guy I felt was going to win the tournament. I watched him fish, and I knew he wasn't catching them that well the last day.
"I fished a little harder when I saw I was in position to win it. I told myself, 'One more big bite and I'll win the tournament.' I really tried to focus and go to a different level to make it happen, but it didn't.
"I kind of had an advantage there, but if I hadn't been able to see what he was doing, I probably would have left those fish. I probably would have left them after a certain amount of time because I went the last two and a half hours without a bite. I was like, 'Man, I've caught so many big ones and had so many opportunities to catch big ones,' and I knew he wasn't catching them. So I knew one big fish would do it for me."
AGE PREVAILS
Don't look now, but the old man won the points title in the Central Division and will be competing in the Open Championship in pursuit of his 20th Bassmaster Classic appearance.
Former Classic winner Tommy Martin, who won fishing's Big Show 30 years ago, had plenty to celebrate for his 64th birthday last week.
"I had a good year. Everything just went well," Martin said by cell phone from atop a deer stand in the east Texas woods near his Hemphill home.
"It's very satisfying. At my age I'm just glad to be out there. It's hard to compete against those guys."
CO-ANGLER REPEATER
The co-anglers in Open tournaments don't get much attention, but Australian Kim Bains is doing her part. She qualified for the Open Championship for the second consecutive year.
"Last year I was touted as the first female ever to qualify for a BASS end-of-season championship, so this year it was good to back it up," she said.
DID YOU KNOW?
Of all of the states that have hosted BASS tournaments, can you name the state that has hosted the fewest? Actually it's a tie between four states (Ohio, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Minnesota) with two.
PRO BIRTHDAYS
Jim Bitter (62) and Terry Baksay (44) share Nov. 28th as their birthday.
IF I HADN'T BECOME A BASS PRO Kentucky pro Mark Menendez would still be selling real estate in the Paducah area.
THEY SAID IT
"I know without a doubt that we have a huge influence locally because I can look around my neighborhood and see four or five Triton owners. That's my biggest benefit to the company. It may not actually be in Indiana fishing a BASS tournament. It may be right here at home." Reigning Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle comments on the influence Bassmaster pros have on consumers.