Missouri veteran Mark Tucker, a seven-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, badly wanted to fish the Elite Series this year now that B.A.S.S. is under the ownership of a group headed by Jerry McKinnis. However, his inability to secure a primary sponsor has caused him to step back for at least a year.
"It was the worst thing in the world to have to do because I really had no intentions of quitting, but you just can't do it out of your own pocket," he said. "I'm so aggravated to be in this situation because of how much I love it and I do plan to get back.
"If the economy was better, I think I could find a sponsor. But with the way things are right now, you have to try to go outside the industry, and it's as brutal out there as brutal gets."
He's returned to his former occupation as a concrete finisher, but hasn't been working recently due to the spate of inclement weather in his region.
He'll fish the Central Opens this year and possibly some other events. He missed qualifying for this year's Classic by two places on the points list when he lost a 6 1/2-pounder on day 2 of last year's Elite Series finale at Fort Gibson.
He thinks that if he'd landed that fish, his situation might be different today.
"If you make the Classic, then you can usually afford to go on through the next year. I had that fish right to the boat, and to have it get off was just sickening. But things happen for a reason, and we'll see what happens from here on."
