In addition to the big money and prestige involved in the Bassmaster Tour event on South Carolina's Santee Cooper Reservoir this week, the nation's top pros face their first elimination in competitive fishing's version of "Survivor."
After this tournament, the 175-man Tour field will be reduced to the top 100 for a two-event trek to California, followed by a second cut that will determine which 50 anglers will compete in the final two Tour events and remain alive in the race for one of 40 coveted invitations to the Bassmaster Classic. And as the first cut approaches, there are some prominent names on the wrong side of 100 in the Busch BASS Angler of the Year standings.
The most surprising is Arkansas pro Larry Nixon, who sits in 143rd place. It will take a minor miracle for the legendary angler to continue on in his quest for his 24th Classic appearance.
Other former Classic champions facing elimination include Tommy Martin (112th) and Robert Hamilton (118th).
Other well-known pros who will be sweating it out at Santee include Marty Stone (102), Dean Rojas (136), Randy Dearman (140), Homer Humphreys (141), Scott Rook (145), and Chuck Economou (207). Reigning BASS Angler of the Year Davy Hite is in 171st place, but unworried thanks to his automatic return ticket to the Classic.
In danger of missing the Tour's California swing are top western pros Byron Velvick (109), Mark Rizk (111), Robert Lee (124), Mike O'Shea (148), and Aaron Martens (149).
PRICE OF FAME
Eight-time BASS winner Shaw Grigsby was en route to a Bassmaster Tour event recently when he was stopped by a local policeman.
The Florida pro had his driver's license out and ready when the cop approached his truck. The policeman said, "Mr. Grigsby, did you realize that you were speeding?" After Grigsby's reply, the officer said, "I'd like to give you a ticket, but I have too much fun watching you on TV every Saturday morning."
Grigsby's fame from such Saturday morning venues as The Bassmasters and his own show on TNN sure came in handy.
SNAKEBIT
Marty Stone's chances of cashing a bigger check in the recent Tour stop on Lake Eufaula were ruined by the presence of a large water moccasin coiled on a tree limb a couple of feet above one of his best spots.
"I went to that spot and saw that big snake," the North Carolina pro said. "I really didn't fish that spot very efficiently because I was too busy watching the snake.
"On my third flip into the spot, I got a strike. But I didn't immediately feel it because I was so preoccupied with the snake. When I set the hook, the fish came out of the water and the snake either fell on the fish or struck out at it. In any case, that 3-pounder came off and it cost me another $2,000."
IACONELLI'S NEW VENTURE
Michael Iaconelli, a sharp young New Jersey pro and three-time BASS winner, recently published an impressive audio CD with tips to help aspiring anglers and tournament pros looking for more success to jump-start their careers in professional fishing.
"Michael Iaconelli's Blueprint on Professional Bass Fishing: How to Turn Pro in Five Years or Less" provides good advice on both the fishing and business sides of the sport. In the fishing portion, Iaconelli's guidance is divided into four sections: A Stair Step Process; The Success Equation; Learning to Fish New Water; and Fishing the Moment.
He offers some excellent tips for getting, maintaining and improving sponsorship deals in the business section that includes: Working in the Industry; Education; Attracting Sponsors; and Keeping your Sponsors.
The CD is available for $32 postpaid by calling 800-252-3474.
PROGRESSIVE JOINS BASS
Progressive has become the official insurance of BASS and a sponsor of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail as well as the Bassmaster Federation Championship and the Bassmaster Classic.
"We are happy to have Progressive on board as a sponsor and as the official insurance of BASS," said Dean Kessel, vice president and general manager of BASS. "We hope that our members will take advantage of the comprehensive boat insurance coverage offered by Progressive."
Progressive, one of the nation's leading boat insurers, offers specialized boat insurance coverage options designed especially for fishermen, including: Total Loss Replacement, where fishermen get a new boat if theirs is totaled; Disappearing Deductibles, where fishermen who don't make a claim are rewarded with a reduced deductible; and Fishing Equipment Coverage up to $10,000.
As part of the sponsorship agreement Progressive will have a truck and boat adorned with its logos at each event on the Bassmaster Tour and will also have a booth in the BASS Sponsor Expo area.
"Anyone who knows anything about fishing knows that for more than 35 years BASS has been bringing the best fishing tournaments to millions of enthusiasts everywhere," said Ben Sheridan, general manager, Progressive. "We're delighted to be part of bringing these tournaments to the fans and look forward to meeting folks out on the tour."
RATINGS BOOST
The recent airing of The Bassmasters was ESPN2's highest-rated program of the day, earning a 0.47 rating - representing an average of 396,000 households. It was also the highest-rated program so far in 2003.
"A 0.47 rating is very strong for Saturday morning," said Gary Morgenstern, executive director, programming for ESPN Outdoors. "This is indicative of both the growing popularity of the sport and the dedication of our production crew, presenting the action and telling compelling stories from the world's premier pro fishing tour."
The program's focus was David Wharton's Tour victory, which came from Toledo Bend in Louisiana.
DID YOU KNOW?
The two most recent winners of the Bassmaster Classic, Jay Yelas and Kevin VanDam, share the longest current Classic qualifying streak with 12. After that, it drops down to Alton Jones' seven consecutive trips.
PRO BIRTHDAYS
Florida's Chuck Economou will celebrate his 47th birthday on March 27, while Curt Lytle (34) of Virginia and Texan Darren Wolf share the same birthday (March 28). Dustin Wilks is 26 on March 29, while South Carolina's Jason Quinn will be 31 a day later.
IF I HADN'T BECOME A BASS PRO...
Florida pro Terry Scroggins would be spending considerably more time in his family-owned auto body shop.
THEY SAID IT
"Even to this day, after a bad tournament or a bad season I think if I should be doing something different for a living." Three-time BASS winner Peter Thliveros on the emotional roller coaster that comes with being a touring pro.