FLW Tour pro Clent Davis is a right-hander, but he'll be fishing left-handed at this week's Ross Barnett Reservoir Bassmaster Central Open due to an injury he suffered in last week's Tour event at Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes.
The Arkansan was ripping a rattlebait through some grass at about 1:15 p.m. on day 1 when he felt a painful "pop" in his wrist. That evening, X-rays taken at a walk-in medical clinic revealed a slight fracture.
"It felt like I'd broken it and it swelled up to the size of a softball," he said.
Davis said that clinic personnel recommended that a cast be placed on the wrist, but he declined that option, as it would hinder him this week and at the Lake Lanier FLW Tour in 2 weeks.
"They gave me some kind of Ace bandage deal that's holding the swelling down some. They said it'll probably be 3 weeks before it's healed up."
He figures the injury cost him a paycheck at the Harris Chain. He'd caught a solid 15 pounds on day 1, but managed just 9 1/2 on day 2 when he was at less than full functionality.
He spent much of Monday's practice day at Ross Barnett teaching himself to cast with his off hand.
"I was cleaning out a lot of backlashes at first, but I'm getting pretty good at it now. I should've taught myself this a long time ago."
He should be able to cast right-handed at Lanier, as his offerings will likely be presented exclusively with a spinning rod, which puts far less pressure on the wrist than a baitcaster.
"It shouldn't keep me from catching fish - it's just going to hurt like heck."
