Back to Bass fishing

It's been a while since I have been able to blog here. Lots of different things keeping me busy and not a lot happening in the bass fishing world during the off season. Then we started pre-production for the Bassmaster Classic and suddenly it got so busy there was no time to blog.

So I thought I'd post a few of the things I've been working on.



This is the opening title sequence for Skeet Reese's mini-show on ESPN Outdoors. The title of the series served as the inspirational jumping off point for the creative. I used a predominately yellow palette because that's Skeet's color. Of course, the subject matter produced a lot of great shots to work with! I hoped to convey the passion for the sport.

Skeet Reese Angler of the Year

Skeet finally did it. He clinched the Angler of the Year title today at Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Florida. I spoke to Skeet not long ago and he was ready to bring the trophy home. Today he did it.

I promised pictures of the ladies in Skeet's life. I think you can see how proud Kim is of her husband.


And the photo here says everything about how Skeet feels about his daughters.

Congratulations, Skeeter. You did it.

Angler of the Year production

We interviewed Jared Lintner for the Angler of the Year show (which will air after this weekend's event on Toho. We also interviewed Skeet Reese and Kevin VanDam....it was interesting to say the least.

Here are three guys at very different places in their careers. KVD talked about how winning a title in no way diminishes his desire to win again. He won the AOY title in his first year on tour - 1992. Then again in 1996 and 1999. But I can tell you from firsthand experience, the guy wants to win it again. He's got quite a task in front of him to take home the trophy this year. Skeet would have to stub a major toe. I have spoken before about what a positive attitude KVD has and that attitude was in evidence today. He absolutely beleives he can win AOY. It inspires me to listen his tenacity. And it makes me want to work harder at what I do.

Skeet, on the hand, is Manwich hungry to win this title. I talked to him a week or so ago while he was still at home in Cali, and I knew his resolce was firm. After interviewing him today, I can tell you nothing has changed. He put it all on the line when he said, "This isn't about sponsors, or fans, or even my family. This is about me achieving a dream I have had since I first became aware of professional fishing. I have always wanted to win Angler of the Year."

Then there's Jared Lintner, who sits in third going into this event. It's his second year on the Elite Series and he's a California boy who has never set foot on a Florida lake. In fact, he's never seen most of the lakes on the Elite Series. Yet here he sits. The former milkman. Humble, a little uncomfortable with where he's at, a lot nervous about doing a television interview....but confident that his versatity as an angler has been proven.

It's going to be a great event.

Bass fishing vacation

Skeet, Kim, and Leah Reese at the '06 Classic (Courtney's in there too!)

I'm a big fan of the Reese family. The picture above was taken at the '06 Classic when Skeet and Kim were expecting baby Courtney. She's toddling around right now in northern California and probably has no idea that her Daddy is in contention to win Angler of the Year.

With almost a two week break between the Bassmaster Legends event and next week's final Bassmaster Elite Series event at lake Toho, I wondered what Skeet had been doing to occupy his time. So I gave him a jingle.

"I've been in the gym and in the office taking care of a little business," he said. "But mostly I've been spending time with my girls."

Skeet's quite the ladies man.....his three ladies of course.

He flies out tomorrow for Florida and he's chomping at the bit to get down there and get started.

If the statisticians are correct, Skeet has to finish 35th or higher to feel safe about winning Angler of the Year. I have no idea how these guys figure this out with the point system the way it is, but they are usually right. He told me that he was anticipating a roller coaster of emotions.

"If I win I'll probably cry like a baby and scream like a mad man."

But he's spent his off time relaxing and I think he's mentally ready. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard him so resolved.

Bassmaster Legends side trip

I had the privilege of accompanying some Elite Series anglers to the Arkansas Children's Hospital today. What a great experience to see these guys spend a few hours making some kids smile. The Angel Anglers rock.


Alton Jones pulled little two year old Christopher around in his wagon.


Skeet had Miss Whitney charmed.


Chris Lane was the piano man.

I wrote a story about the visit for ESPNoutdoors.com. These guys are my heroes.

Bass fishing on Myspace

I'm surprised at the number of professional anglers who DON'T have Myspace pages. Myspace is a great place to let people, especially young people, get to know more about you. Several pros do have Myspace pages and you can figure out pretty quickly which page is a fan page and which page is actually created by the pro.

Take Kevin Vandam for example (okay, this blog is turning into the KVD fan club but whatever...) Here's his "official" Myspace page. And here's a fan site.

And, going down the current Angler of the Year rankings, here's a Skeet Reese page. I can't tell if this is his official page or note because there is another one just like it. Who knows?

Aaron Martens has a Myspace page. I can't tell if it's really his page or a fan site. But he has me in his top friends, so I think it's probably really him. Plus, his blurb talks about his wife, Lesley, and spells her name right. I guess I could just message him and ask, but I hate to bother. Although it IS social networking right? Key word - SOCIAL?

I love Jason Quinn's page and especially his song. But I really love that his wife has a Myspace page. Taffi rocks. She has great pictures there and blogs a bit about what is going on in the Quinn world. Jason's PARENT's even have a Myspace site. Whatchawannabet that Taffi designed it?

Mark Zona even has a Myspace page. I like his interactive map widget that shows where his friends are located.

I searched Myspace for FLW Tour anglers, but I couldn't find any profiles. Not sure why.

KVD definitely has the most Myspace "friends" with over 2100. And just glancing through them it seems that the majority are young people. I think it's great that these pros are reaching out to young kids in a network that young people clearly love. Great way to influence them.

Social networking reaches huge numbers of people. And it is a great way to drive traffic to your personal website, if you have one.