Tournament fishing, at least at the pro level, is largely an individual effort. Long hours on the water, long miles between events; life can get pretty lonely, so you need a support group.
You need folks you can depend on. You need folks that will treat you well.
You need friends.
At the Day-1 weigh-ins, Adam Rasmussen announced that he had laid the foundation for what could become a meaningful and lasting friendship.
With the state of Florida.
“Florida’s not usually my friend, but today I caught twice as much as I normally do, so I’ll take it,” the Wisconsin pro chuckled.
Sacking up a limit of 19 pounds, 2 ounces, Rasmussen placed fourth. At First the Sunshine State gave him the cold shoulder — likely the impacts of post-frontal conditions.
Once Florida warmed up to the Northern pro, things got downright chummy.
“I thought my morning was going to start off better than it did, I had one keeper and it was really slow going,” Rasmussen said. “For whatever reason, there was a clump of grass (amid a pad field), so I set down my Z-Man Chatterbait Jackhammer and picked up a Crush City Pig Stick and flipped it in.
“The first flip, a big fish bit. She had me wrapped up in the pads and about gave me a heart attack. I finally got her out of there and just hunkered down in that area the rest of the day.”
That’s how friendship goes. Find someone you can depend on, you stick with them.
“That’s Florida, when you catch a big one, you don’t go far,” Rasmussen said.
Two years ago, Rasmussen, finished second in Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors at Oklahoma’s Grand Lake. He’s hopeful, Day 2 allows him to strengthen his newfound Florida friendship.
“I shook a big one off and caught a big one in practice and that wasn’t even in the area where I (fished on Day 1),” Rasmussen said. “I’ll have a longer second day and I’ll get to fish a little later, so hopefully, I get to hit some of those spots too.”
