June 8, 2007Two days down in the Blue Ridge Brawl
Non-boaters, sometimes called co-anglers, are randomly paired with boaters, who run the show. Non-boaters just have to do the best they can. Plenty of them enter because they want a chance to spend a couple days with pro anglers. Embry, who lives in Williamsburg, is enjoying the heck out of his experience. He fished with Davy Hite yesterday and today he was paired with Mike Iaconelli (to Embry's right, for the two of you who somehow don't know who Ike is). Embry didn't even pay to enter the tournament. He won a raffle at the Bass Pro Shops in Hampton. He made thecut and is fishing with Ish Monroe tomorrow. How cool is that? (Ironically, Embry had some problems with the heat today. But Ike iced him down and he was able to get back to fishing after about an hour's rest.) A couple of years ago I rode as an observer with a couple of anglers during the Bassmaster Classic. It was interesting. But, I'm telling you, spending eight hours in the boat and not fishing is pretty brutal. I don't care who you're with. But fishing? That's a different story. Non-boater entry fee for the Elite Series is $750. So, if you make that cut, that's $250 a day, about what you'd pay for a day with a guide. Even if you draw a rookie, those guys are incredibly good and would be worth spending a day with. If you draw a guy like Ike (or any number of those pros) -- and the odds are 1 in 108 -- you could have one of your most interesting fishing days ever. I'm going to be out on the lake tomorrow some (in a media boat). It is going to be interesting to see how boat traffic affects the fishing. |
About this blog
While growing up in rural Southern Oregon, Mark Taylor developed a passion for the outdoors while he and his younger brother tagged along with their father on fishing, hunting and camping adventures. Graduating from Northwestern University in 1988, Taylor spent four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy based in Norfolk before moving into journalism. After five years writing about the military for a Norfolk-based publishing company, he became the outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times in 1998. He lives in Roanoke with his wife and twin daughters. .....Advertisement.....
|
...Advertisement...
...Advertisement...
No comments yet