Fourth-year pro Clark Reehm of Arkansas logged a pair of money finishes at the Bassmaster Elite Series season-opening events in Florida and currently sits inside the Classic cutoff in the points race (he's 23rd). He'll be a bit handicapped for the final three-quarters of the season, though, as he suffered a severe high ankle-sprain at the St. Johns River when he lost his balance while pulling up his trolling motor, getting his right foot caught in the cable as he went overboard.
His foot and ankle will be in a walking cast (see accompanying photo) for the rest of the campaign, which concludes in June.
The original diagnosis was that the ankle was broken, but he had X-rays examined by an orthopedist once he returned home and it was determined that there was no fracture. That's not entirely a positive development, though, as such sprains are more painful during the healing process than a break, even though the rehab process is simpler.
"It's going to be a hindrance because I'm not able to move around like I'm used to, but I didn't want to ask for a medical exemption," he said. "I've got too much time and money invested in this season.
"I went out and fished with my girlfriend and my dad the other day, and it's doable. I'll have to soak the leg every night because it gets swollen up like a tick, but I can run the trolling motor with the foot that's messed up and keep most of my weight on the other foot."
From a preliminary perspective, he reviews the remaining events on the schedule as at least somewhat accommodating to what he'll have to endure.
"They won't be all bed-fishing, anyway. There'll be opportunities for throwing a crankbait or a Carolina rig or other things and I'll be able to sit down or lean up against the butt-seat. I won't have to stand up and go flipping the whole time.
"These next two events at Pickwick and Table Rock will probably be the roughest water we'll see all year, though, and I'm not looking forward to taking that beating."
He'll rely on some assistance from his marshals, as he did on the final 2 days at the St. Johns.
"I called (B.A.S.S. tournament director Trip Weldon) right when it happened, and he said they could do anything except operate the boat or the trolling motor or aid me in catching or landing a fish. Like they can pull up the trolling motor for me, but then can't run it, or they can hand me a pair of pliers.
"Some of the things that would normally take 2 seconds might take me like 3 minutes now."
