(Editor's note: This is part 1 of a 2-part article on tour-level rookies to watch.)
No matter the sport, any effort to predict who the top rookies will be in a given season involves a bit of guesswork.
The BassFan.com Rookie of the Year (ROY) award eventually settles the matter, because it's the only award of its kind in the sport
that measures true rookies and considers multiple tours.
But before the ROY race takes shape, BassFan always highlights a few rookies from each tour that bear watching. For the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series, a good jumping-off point is to look to the points winners from the 2006 Bassmaster Southern and Northern Tours.
James Niggemeyer of Texas and Derek Remitz of Alabama are both transplants from other parts of the country (Niggemeyer is a native Californian and Remitz grew up in Minnesota). Both are fresh off their first Bassmaster Classic appearance and will launch their careers as tour pros this week at Amistad.
A brief look at each angler's outlook and goals for 2007 follows. Part 2 will feature FLW Tour rookies to watch.
James Niggemeyer
Last year's performance on the Southern Tour (which included a win at Santee Cooper) and his recent 17th-place showing in the Classic have convinced Niggemeyer that he can hold his own at the sport's highest level.
"I always had the question of whether I was ready or not, but last year was a real confidence-builder for me," he said. "I think I've come to a point in my fishing where I can compete with these guys.
"It's just tremendous to be able to qualify for both the Classic and the Elite Series by winning the Southern Tour points, because there were quite a few Elite guys fishing those tournaments. This is something I've thought about doing and wanted to do for a long time."
He was raised in the heart of the southern California metropolis, but moved to Texas in 2001 (on the advice of Dean Rojas) in order to fish Lake Fork on a daily basis. He prefers shallow water, so the only Elite venue that really scares him is Lake Erie.
"I wouldn't say (skinny water) is my comfort zone, but I'm definitely more confident there. If I can throw spinnerbaits or crankbaits, or flip and pitch, I'm more comfortable that I am out on deep structure – especially when you only get 2 1/2 days of practice for the Elites."
He's competed on four of the 11 Elite venues and has driven his boat around two others. He visited Clarks Hill and Guntersville after last year's Lanier Southern Tour.
"I just looked at them. I wanted to see how they laid out and what they had to offer."
He's excited about the second and third Elite stops – at the California Delta and Clear Lake. Those are bodies of water he knows extremely well.
"I miss fishing those waters, and it'll be great to go back. I know they've changed some, but the changes have been for the better.
"The whole schedule is wonderful. It seems like we'll be at a lot of the best lakes in the nation right at the prime times."
His primary goal for this year is to requalify for the Classic.
"After making it this year, it was everything I'd always heard about, and then some. It's really whet my appetite to get back."
> His sponsors are APS Payroll.com (wrap), Bass Cat, Mercury, Strike King, Pflueger reels, All Star rods, Seaguar line, Xpoint hooks, Pro-Pak chargers, Cul-M-Rite scales and Lake Fork Tackle tungsten weights.
Derek Remitz said his experience at the Bassmaster Classic will make for an easier transition to the Elite Series.
Derek Remitz
Remitz is just the opposite of Niggemeyer – he loves to fish offshore.
"I like to get myself around structure more than I like going up towards the bank," he said. "The little bit I know about Champlain, I think that tournament will suit me well. I'll get to go fish for (smallmouths) and it's set up like a lot of the lakes back home in Minnesota."
He doesn't mind fishing shallow if the fish are in a pre- or post-spawn mode. But he's bed-fished only once in his life, so he'll need to be a quick study in regard to that tactic. If he can turn in some respectable finishes through April, he thinks he'll be in position to make some hay from there on out.
"I don't know what's going to happen, but I think once we make it to Guntersville, that'll suit my style a little more."
Most of the tournament venues will be at least somewhat familiar to him. The only ones he's never been on are the two in California, plus Clarks Hill and the Potomac River.
He said he'd probably be a little more nervous had he not gone through the Classic experience (he finished 34th).
"That helped quite a bit, since I got to meet quite a few of the guys and I won't have to jump in there cold. Otherwise, I probably would have been awestruck and (saying things) like 'Wow, there goes Skeet,' or 'There goes KVD.'
"I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be glad to get started and see what I can do against all the big guys."
> His sponsors are Omega Custom Tackle (wrap), Triton, Mercury and Naked Baits.
Notable
> Previous BassFan ROY winners were: Frank Scalish (2002), Mike Reynodls (2003), Shinichi Fukae (2004), Dave Wolak (2005), and Jared Lintner (2006).
> Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett isn't a rookie – he fished three Bassmaster Tour events in 2003.
> One advantage Niggemeyer and Remitz have over other Elite Series rookies is a lighter financial burden. Their $55,000 tab for season entry fees was covered via their respective Southern and Northern Tour points championships.
> Remitz is also fishing the FLW Series Eastern Division. He was 97th in the season opener at Okeechobee.
- End of part 1 (of 2) -
