Oklahoma's Shonn Goodwin is headed to this summer's Forest Wood Cup, thanks to his recent win at the BFL All-American. He's never fished at the tour level, although he did fish a number of Bassmaster Opens and Invitationals. He noted the competition at the cup won't intimidate him. Also interesting is how the Cup wasn't on his mind prior to the All-American.
"I honestly didn't even realize going in (about the Cup)," he said. "But since I've gotten back, I've pulled up the info like the payouts, the lake we're going to – there's major money available at the Forrest Wood Cup. So that's a fringe benefit I didn't even know was coming my way."
About the Cup venue – Lake Ouachita in Arkansas – he said: "It's not that far from me. I've spent time at the lake before, and I'm familiar with it. It's close enough that I can go beforehand. I know the type of structure there, and what it offers, so it's something I'm comfortable with."
And about fishing against the big guns, he said: "That doesn't bother me at all. I fished BASS events in the past, and I fished against (Kevin) VanDam, (Jay) Yelas – nearly all the big names at one time or another. I learned several years ago how to ignore that. If you do, and focus on the fishing, you do a lot better."
> He runs a Nitro/Mercury, so he won't have a chance at the Cup's $500,000 Ranger bonus. But he'll still get a half-mil if he wins. "I'll take it," he said.
> The details of his winning pattern will be posted soon on BassFanArmy.com.
