(This short piece comes from industry rep Alan McGuckin, who's in Maryland for this week's Elite Series event.)
To say it’s hot and sweaty at the Bassmaster Elite Series at the Potomac River is as much an understatement as saying the Washington Redskins are past due for a deep run into the playoffs. The heat index will be 106 degrees during this week’s derby, but don’t worry – Toyota pro Terry “Big Show” Scroggins has pickle juice.
Fact is, whether on the smallmouth waters of the Ozarks in early spring or the sweaty Potomac in August, the likeable Florida pro who loves to cook and eat is never without dill spears. But it’s the juice surrounding the spears that Scroggins values most.
“That’s my emergency muscle-cramp kit,” explains Scroggins with a grin as he pulls the jar from his Triton’s cooler. “I told my doctor that I drank lots of water and Gatorade, but that I was still getting bad cramps in my hands and arms, and he told me about pickle juice.
“People think it’s just for hot summer when you’re sweating a lot, but as a tournament fisherman you get cramps in your arms and hands just from overuse whether it’s 45 or 95 degrees outside.
“When I drink pickle juice those bad arm cramps are gone in 10 seconds. Doc told me to keep drinking sports drinks like Powerade Zero, but I say drink pickle juice ‘cause I know for sure it works. Plus, you have the pickles to eat for a snack."
And that’s a double bonus for a guy who loves to eatcas much as he hates muscle cramps.
