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Norman,
OK – Due to his ever-present smile, it can be hard to read when popular Florida pro Shaw Grigsby isn’t enjoying himself. But his personal fun meter probably wasn’t pushed too far to the right during much of the past several tour seasons.
In 2004 his season ended prematurely to deal with a health condition, and in 2005 he finished a disappointing 95th overall, but in both 2006 and 2007 he was within sight of Bassmaster Classic qualification and fell just a bit short each time.
So it was with considerable joy that he remained inside the Classic cut after all but two events of the 2008 season, and finished the year comfortably in 30th place overall.
“I’m happy to be there,” he said. “The last couple of years, being right on the bubble, I didn’t want to go through that again.”
Year in Review
With the Elite Series season starting in his home state of Florida, he had every reason to believe that he’d be able to produce two quality finishes, and he did, ending up 32nd and the Harris Chain and 36th at Kissimmee. But he wasn’t satisfied.
“I was disappointed at Harris,” he said. “I felt I should have made the (top 12) cut. And Kissimmee was a struggle for me.”
He moved up in the standings at Falcon on the strength of a 17th place finish there. While he narrowly missed qualifying to fish on Sunday, he nevertheless felt that it was a special tournament.
“I just really, really enjoyed Falcon,” he said. “It was a slugfest. It’s so awesome – every bite could be a giant and you start thinking that a 6-pounder is just a little one. When you start at 25 pounds and have to cull up, it’s just special.”
That special feeling temporarily evaporated at the next event (Amistad), where he ended up in 100th place.
“At Amistad, they dropped the water and I crumbled,” he explained.
After that, he never had more than two money finishes in a row, but the good far outweighed the bad as he made the cut to Saturday four times out of seven. Two of those times made it all the way to Sunday.
“I felt confident all year,” Grigsby said. “Except for Amistad and Oneida, if I missed a check it was never by much. I had the fish on at Murray two times to make an easy check and I just lost them.”
Indeed, after Murray he was in 42nd place in the AOY race, but it was the last time all year he’d be outside of the Classic cut. “I just felt I was in tune, making the right choices at the right time and that’s a big, big part of this sport.”
Classic Thoughts
From 1990 to 1995, Grigsby made six consecutive Classics. Dating back to his first Classic appearance in 1986, by 1995 he’d made eight of the last ten.
When the big dance becomes a consistent part of your life do you start to take it for granted?
“Yes you do,” Grigsby answered. “My TV show put a crimp in it. I thought I could handle it all but it has been a tough juggling act.” He went on to explain that he doesn’t regret starting the show – indeed, it has given him opportunities that he would not have otherwise had – but he recognizes that the opportunities it provides come at a certain price.
He hasn’t made a Classic since 2003’s event on the Louisiana Delta, and he’s anxious to return to the northern part of the state for the 2009 tournament on the Red River.
“It could play into my strengths,” he said. “I like to settle down and fish in an area.”
He’ll spend no less than a week on the river before the cut-off, but he’s not sure if he’ll be able to do more than that. “I’m in full film mode right now,” he explained. “I just got off a three show shoot so (a trip down there) is not on the near horizon.”
While he’s done just about there is to do in the industry – won eight BASS events, the Red Man All American, competed in 10 previous Classics, written a well-received book and hosted a long-running and popular television show – Grigsby has not won a Classic. If he were never to make “one more cast,” his career would still be a sweeping success, but he still relishes the idea of a victory in February.
“It’d be huge,” he said. “It’s the biggest thing you can do in this industry. I’m going to do everything I can to win it.”
Klein’s Confidante
As a self-described member of “the geriatric crowd” on tour, one who has competed in BASS events for over 30 years, Grigsby still works to maintain his enthusiasm and aggressiveness.
“The competition is definitely better today,” he said. “Now there are so many other things tugging on your life in general, you have to remember those days.”
Speaking of his fellow “geriatrics,” he said “I’m so proud of Paul Elias (for his win at Falcon). And Gary Klein, he’s like the stud of the tour. He’s never had another job.”
Klein will be making his 27th Classic appearance in February and his is known to covet a Classic victory perhaps more than anyone else on tour.
“We talk about it quite a bit,” Grigsby confirmed of his Elite Series roommate. “There have been two or three instances where he’s had the fish to win it and things have happened. Not having that title and trophy is a major deal to him. If I can’t win it, I hope he does.”
He said that they share a bit of information on the road, but not everything.
“Gary’s special about that,” Grigsby explained. “He’s always trying to do everything himself and thinks everybody should. It’s really more about pushing each other to be the best we can be. He always pushes you to do better. “
“He’s a detail person and I’m more haphazard, happy-go-lucky. He takes it to the nth degree and I have a different approach. Still, it’s always making your think about how to be a better angler.”
Economic Realities
With a stable set of big-name sponsors – companies including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Quantum, Triton, Mercury and Strike King – as well as a popular TV show, Grigsby would seem to be economically set, and he confirmed as much, but nevertheless noted that industry-wide, sponsor dollars are limited.
“I’ve been fishing as a full-time pro since 1984 and I fished my first BASS event in 1977. That’s a lot of years and this year is absolutely the toughest I’ve ever seen it.”
He said that while the effects are felt throughout the industry, they don’t affect the pros equally. He confirmed that many of the older pros are safe, and “some of the young guns are probably on solid ground, but (the conditions) definitely make it tough on the newcomers.”
Still, he doesn’t discount the possibility that the impacts will extend to some of the more established pros as well.
“Every sponsor is looking for the new up-and-coming superstar,” he said. “They don’t want to pass on the next KVD. It’s a tough choice for them and sometimes there have to be some cuts and it may be between the newcomers and the guys on the way out.” But fear not, he doesn’t consider himself one of that latter category.
“I have no plans of retiring any time soon. I still think I have eight to ten years left of quality angling where I can be solidly competitive. Right now, it’s business as usual.”
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