In 2015 the Bassmaster Elite Series went out west for the first time since the 2010 season, and for these rookies, some were traveling farther than they ever had for a tournament. Here is how the western swing shaped up for three first-year Elites including their thoughts on the entire road trip west.
Another new wrinkle that greeted these rookies was the 2015 BASfest event held on Kentucky Lake. Although it was implemented last season at Lake Chickamauga, this year was the first chance many new Elites had to compete in this unique format.
Micah Frazier: (78th California Delta, 26th Lake Havasu, sixth Kentucky Lake)
- “I didn’t know how the competition level would be once I got here. It’s definitely not easy, but getting in the Top 30 or 40 is similar to what I’m used to. I really feel like I missed a big opportunity at the Delta because I found an area where a lot of guys ended up catching them, but I got stuck doing that sight fishing deal there. I probably spent too much time on fish that I wasn’t able to catch that I probably should have just moved on. Then on Day 2 I ran out of oil and was late. Havasu was better than what I expected it to be. I love that place; it has to be one of my favorite lakes.”
After a Top 12 finish to start the year at the Sabine River, Frazier knew he could compete, and it was the boost of confidence to start the season that he needed.
- “I’m glad that it started that way because it would’ve been hard to stay positive and keep going if I started with a bad finish. Anytime you start out in a circuit that is points based, when you get a good finish to start the season it allows you to have room for a bad finish. It gives you an idea you can compete against these guys because up to that point I hadn’t competed against some. I see some guys who haven’t gotten a Top 12 after a couple years and for me to do it in my first one was pretty awesome.”
Frazier has a short list of goals for himself in his rookie campaign, but for him it’s really about the moments rather than the rat race.
- “I obviously want to make the Classic and the Angler of the Year Championship; you probably don’t hear this a lot, but I just want to enjoy being out there and don’t want to get caught up in thinking about that stuff. It is a blessing to be out there in the first place and I try to look at it from that side. I don’t want to waste a year worrying about how I do, the points, or anything like that. There are a lot of people that have never had this opportunity, and it’s an awesome deal for me because I get to bring my wife with me and we travel and camp at each event. It’s too much fun to worry about everything else.”
Frazier is currently 18th in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race and is second, behind Brent Ehrler, in the Rookie of the Year race. He has cut a check in three of the five events and has two Top 12’s this season.
Seth Feider: (52nd California Delta, 40th Lake Havasu, 58th Kentucky Lake)
- “Well, it is a lot harder to get a check in these events, that’s for sure. It’s the most stacked field I’ve ever competed against. In the Opens there are some really good guys and then a lot of guys who are working to get to that level. You can’t have a bad day out here and think it’s alright. They catch them every day.”
Feider mentioned his rough start to the season and how important it is to figure something out in practice that you can feel somewhat comfortable with. Otherwise one wrong decision during the tournament can lead to a bad finish.
- “At Guntersville I went the wrong way on Day 1 and was lost from there on out. I really didn’t know what to do during that event. I felt a lot more comfortable on the western swing than the first two events to start the season.”
Practice is always important for tournament events, but on the Elite Series many anglers would say that it is heightened to a whole new level.
- “You have to have everything lined up and prepared ahead of time because of the short time that you have for these events. You can’t miss hours of practice because you have to go to a bait shop or you left something behind. If you don’t think you need it, then you should probably bring it just in case.”
Feider’s goals to start the season have taken a different course after a slow start, but the Minnesota pro still has hope to accomplish one of his big goals.
- “My goals changed quite a bit, but coming into the season I wanted to win Rookie of the Year, which would probably ensure me making the Classic and the AOY Championship. At this point of the year I just want to want to make it to Sturgeon Bay (AOY Championship). I’m not saying I’m going to be a favorite or anything, but I’ve been there and it is probably the closest an Elite Series event will ever come to my house. It would be really cool to have my family there. I’m really excited for some of the smallmouth fisheries coming up on the schedule. The St. Lawrence River and St. Clair should be really fun events for me.”
With three regular season events left, Feider is 79th in the AOY standings and has cut two checks so far this season. He is 45 points from 50th place.
Jordan Lee: (19th California Delta, 99th Lake Havasu, 33rd Kentucky Lake)
- “I had my best finish of the season at the California Delta, but I’ve always struggled with lakes like Havasu. They are just really different fisheries and I don’t have many fisheries I can relate it to. With the Delta, it has a bunch of grass and it looks like Florida, which is something I’ve seen before. I could never really get anything going during practice at Havasu. When that happens, I try to go back on memories and fish where I can relate to lakes I’ve been to.
- “I really don’t know what to expect on some of these northern fisheries coming up. I don’t know if I’ll be able to relate because it’s different than anything I fish around home. Overall though, I’ve been pleased with how the season has gone besides that one bad finish.”
Being versatile is normally on an angler’s wish list, but during the short practice period that Elite Series anglers face, it can have fishermen doing things out of the ordinary. Finding a comfort zone and fishing your strengths is important during the limited practice for events, and Havasu taught Jordan Lee that very quickly.
- “I really didn’t know that fishing shallow was going to be a player at Havasu like it was. I fished shallow some, but not too much and it goes to show you how strange fish can be across the country. Numerous guys did well shallow and I feel comfortable fishing shallow. I like being versatile and do a lot of things, but that can certainly hurt you if you don’t have a great practice.”
Lee went on to mention that if you are struggling to break down a lake, instead of trying to do everything, sometimes falling back on your strengths can be the best thing.
- “I knew I was going to have some tough times throughout the year, but I’m very happy with the decisions I’ve made. I wasn’t on anything good at the Delta, but I made some things happen as it went along and it turned out well. Putting stuff together as the tournament happens is important, but I’d like to get on a solid pattern a little earlier in the week for some of these events coming up so that I can end the season strong.”
Lee is 23rd in the Angler of the Year race and is third in the rookie battle as well. He has made a check in four of the five events so far this season.