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Kissimmee, FL – A lot was on the line for at least half of the Elite Series field heading into the final tournament of the season at Florida’s legendary Lake Toho. For some, securing a Classic berth was the primary goal. Others had no hope of making it to the Classic, but had to fish well enough to re-qualify for the 2008 season…or at least make another $10,000 check.
Of course, there’s been the much-ballyhooed Toyota Angler of the Year race. The title presentation, which was all but officially decided Friday after Skeet Reese made the top 50 cut, was understandably saved for last. VanDam weighed first and managed only a small seven-pound limit, while Reese did what he had to do by catching 10-5 to close it out and earn his first Roland Martin trophy and a $125,000 bonus by being named the 2007 Toyota Angler of the Year.
Knowing what was on the line, KVD fished hard for three days trying to pull out the upset. VanDam managed a limit all three days, but was never able to land the knockout blow. As anticipated for most of the week, a very emotional Reese was ultimately awarded the Angler of the Year trophy Saturday after a simply brilliant season.
The same could be said for the Rookie of the Year race where both point’s leader Derek Remitz and his pursuer Casey Ashley failed to make the cut, but third-place Matthew Sphar did. Making the most of the situation, Sphar snuck into the cut and sparked hope of an upset.
While it was mathematically possible (with 301 points of separation at the tournament’s beginning), Sphar was far from winning the title at the conclusion of the day; however, he shook things up a little before Derek Remitz was ultimately awarded the prize Saturday.
The fishing at Toho has been shown life this week, the storms that passed through the area overnight – coupled with a week’s worth of fishing pressure - Saturday’s fishing slowed further still. There are always a few in the field who catch them regardless of the conditions – particularly on moving day when all the stops are pulled out in an effort to make the Top 12. |
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Day Two leader Brent Chapman brought 12-9 to the scales Saturday to hold onto first place with a three-day total weight of 42-3. Chapman has a one-pound lead over Ben Matsubu, who’s in the second spot with 41-3. Matsubu smoked a 17-8 limit Saturday to keep things interesting near the top.
Glenn Delong held down the third-place slot after weighing 12-3 Saturday, which boosted his combined weight to 37-12. Fourth place belonged to Day One leader Bill Smith with a three-day total weight of 35-12, due largely to the big bag he brought in the first day as his weights have been falling since then with Saturday’s four-fish bag weighing only 6-10.
Bradley Hallman jumped up from the 10th-place spot to end the day in fifth, on the heals of a day three weight of 13-2, giving him 35-10 for three days of fishing. Rounding out the top six with 34-11 was Scott Rook, who brought the day’s heavyweight bag to the scales Saturday weighing 19-6.
THE
ANGLER OF THE YEAR TITLE - SKEET REESE
All those second place finishes. All those times in the hunt for the duration of a marathon year – near wins that created the question of when your turn will finally come. Skeet Reese endured those emotions and that poignant question along the road of a career that’s spanned a decade.
The 2007 season that started at the Classic seemed ripe for an attack on the proverbial hill that had escaped him for 10 years, and it came down to one fish on the third day of the final tournament of the year for Skeet to see all his hard work be rewarded. “When I caught the two-pounder today there was a lot of emotions that spilled out,” he said.
“I’ve had an incredible year, but that one fish was a career moment because I knew right then that I had done it. I’d won Angler of the Year.”
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Everyone talks about wanting to win Angler of the Year because of what it means – you were the best for the entire season. Skeet commented more than once during his 2007 campaign that he could stomach making cuts and not winning a tournament if it meant he could ensure the title. “It’s been a personal conquest for me,” he said. “For the last 10 years, this has been the goal. |
“For me personally, it solidifies my career in what I’ve done and what I’ve wanted to do. Do I want to continue to win tournaments and get more titles – absolutely! But this year and this title was my Mt. Everest.”
The year that Skeet has had is one for the books, without a doubt; however, to Skeet it’s been the culmination of 10 years getting to this point in his career. “With age comes wisdom,” he said. “After 25 years of tournament experience, this year it seems that I was finally able to put everything together and utilize that collective knowledge and experience to each single day on the water.
“Tournament fishing is all head games – it comes down to how you process information in your head.”
To clarify, Skeet added that “head games” is more appropriately described as being confident enough in what you’re doing to be able to trust your instincts. “I feel like I’m finally to the point where I can process information quickly and accurately on the water and go with what my gut’s telling me,” he explained.
“That makes you a top 10 fishermen every time you go out, and if you’re in the hunt enough, you’ll win tournaments and be in contention for Angler of the Year.”
| Top 10s, as Skeet pointed out, are great; however, winning is the crowning achievement – and winning the Angler of the Year is the gravy on top. “The last couple years, I really had gotten sick of making top 10s and not winning,” he said. “I think it pushed me to a new level to work harder creating second place finishes and a win this year…and ultimately the title.” |
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With everything shaping up for a career-year, Skeet explained that it wasn’t until Champlain where the Angler of the Year title seemed within his grasp. “After Grand Lake, which was my worst tournament of the year, I went up north and was able to put everything back into perspective,” he said.
“Everyone thought that since it was in (Kevin’s) backyard he’d kick my ass. I was able to finish higher than him both times, which really gave me the confidence that I could actually win the title – that was a good feeling. Then to go to the Potomac and win, that really validated the season”
While the Potomac may have validated his season, the Angler of the Year title validates and entire career. “The win was kind of icing on the year for me,” he said. “The title validates every decision I’ve ever made. No matter what I do for the rest of my career I’ll know that for the 10 years leading up to today I had everything right.”
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