Tuesday 21 February 2012

The Show

Now I know what your thinking. I'm finally going talk about TFB The Show. Well I'm not. That will be coming soon enough but not yet. I'm talking about the first show of the year, The Spring Fishing and Boat Show. I love this show! I get to pay back to my sponsors by selling product for them and helping out two good friends of mine Brian and Steve from JB's Fishing Depot. This is also where all of us on the tour get to meet and catch up, the winters for us can be very long lol. Some of the guy's we don't see from September to June. So you the show makes for a good catch up. You also get to meet all your internet friends, you know the people that you become friends with on facebook or twitter and have long talks with but never have actually met. And then there's all that new product to look at and that one new item that everyone has to have. This year it was that stupid Alabama rig. I saw everyone from 10 to 70 years old buying that thing, and no one thought about whats going to happen when a pike or a musky gets a hold of it. lol. It's going to look like an opened up wire coat hanger. The product that caught my eye and shocked me is the St. Croix line of RAGE rods. I can't believe the quality of the rods at that price point! I don't know how they were able to produce a rod like that so inexpensively. I'm going to pick a few up myself.

 To a large degree the show is where and how I measure my success. I keep count of all the people that recognise me, all the vendors that talk to me, and the requests that I receive. I'm very happy with this years results even though my knee's and feet are not, lol. I would have to say the highlight of the show for me is when I was asked to be on stage with a panel of experts talking and answering question from an audience with Big Jim as the host. That was a first for me and an honour.

 As always Andy, Vita and the whole gang did a great job! From the outside of the storm everything looked smooth and perfect. Congrats guy's and thanks for a great job.

 Well I have to start getting ready for my next stop. I'm heading down to Georgia for an FLW Everstart on Lake Seminole.

Tight lines everyone! 
 

Wednesday 15 February 2012

FLW Tour Okeechobee Open

Wow what a tournament! Even though I was a non-boater I had a blast.I met so many new friends and many facebook friends for the first time. Got to see my two hero's Roland Martin and Bob Izumi in action. I had fantastic boaters both days Arnie Lane day 1 and Roger Crafton for day 2, Great anglers and all around great guy's. The excitement in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The time out on the water went by so fast but at night I was so beat. I left everything out on the water did not rest a second because that next cast could be the bass that could change the tournament, your career, your life. I'm happy with what I caught but not satisfied if that makes sense, I'll be back next year maybe as a boater. So with my beautiful wife and children in hand I started my long journey home feeling sad that it was over but blessed for having had the opportunity to do what I do for a living. I would like to thank Xzone baits, I caught so many fish on their Swammers. St. Croix rods cause there's no way I would have got those bass out of the slop and from behind that Florida cane with any other rods. I would also like to thank Bay Marine, Evinrude, CPI Pictures, Sirius, Via Rail, JB's Fishing Depot, and last but not least the funniest man alive Russell Peters. With out your help and support I would not be able to do this. I would also like to thank my wife Maria and my children Isabella and Andrew for coming out and cheering me on.

 Well my next stop is the FLW Southeast Everstart on Lake Seminole but first is the Spring Fishing and Boat Show. So for the best prices and selection on St. Croix Rods and Xzone baits come see me at the JB's Fishing Depot's booth.

Tight lines everyone!