Skeet Reese has led the BASS Angler of the Year (AOY) race since the third event at Clear Lake. He's also ranked 2nd in the BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten. In other words, he's on fire.
Here's a look at his finishes so far this year, starting with the most recent:
> Smith Mountain: 4th
> High Rock: 24th (Major)
> Guntersville: 53rd
> Clarks Hill: 6th
> Clear Lake: 2nd
> California Delta: 4th
> Amistad: 9th
> Lay Lake: 2nd
He's stated many times that AOY is his number-one goal, and he's arguably closer to that title now than he's ever been. In the Q&A that follows, he talks about his recent performances, and where the AOY quest sits in his mind right now.
BassFan: You've finished in the Top 10 in six of your last eight events. What's behind that? Are you just making the right decisions, or is there something else afoot?
Reese: I think it's just basically getting to a point where I feel confident in myself, and I'm learning to identify my strengths on the water, then utilizing them the best I can.
Also, it's knowing I'm versatile enough to go be competitive with a flipping stick if I can't be competitive with a spinning rod.
What's the key? I can't give an answer, because I don't know. Obviously I've made some good mental decisions, and I've adapted to the changes and just kept trying, and kept looking, and just kept fighting tooth and nail to figure something out.
So I don't have an answer. I don't know what the one reason is. I guess it's 25 years of tournament fishing and all that time on the water – it's basically become wisdom. Hopefully I've become a better, smarter angler.
You talked about adapting. At Smith Mt., you basically did something different every day. Is that an example of what you're talking about?
Yeah, Smith is definitely that type of case – where I kind of bounced around all over the place. Clarks Hill was another one where I kind of just realized that when you're not on something, don't continue doing what you're doing in the same area that's not producing.
In the past, you've said one of your strengths was identifying an area, then sticking with it. Are you saying you've gotten away from that this year?
That's kind of what I've had to do this year. I realized after the practice days that if whatever I'm doing sucks – either the area of the lake I'm fishing or whatever I'm doing – I try to make the decision to go look at a different section of the lake, or completely change techniques.
So the isolated-area deal – I've utilized it in some of the events. But yeah, I've kind of stepped out of the box some, and had to completely change and go fish a whole new section of the lake.
Is AOY still your primary goal?
It still is, absolutely. To me, it's the ultimate title in fishing. No championship in my mind outweighs the AOY title – especially with an 11-tournament season.
AOY now is way harder than before. There's way more value to it. And to me personally, it means more than the (Bassmaster) Classic. The Classic's a great tournament, but with an 11-tournament run, whoever wins AOY absolutely hands-down earned it. You don't get lucky in one or two tournaments and win AOY. It means you caught them all year long.
So where is the AOY race in your mind right now. Do you think about it?
Of course I think about it. That's my goal, and I'm in great shape now as far as the points. But I also realize that it's not over until it's over. We've still got five tournaments left. Anything's possible. There could be some more highs, and there could be some lows. I'm not counting on anything.
Kevin VanDam is 2nd in the points right now, and we all know what he's capable of. Does that intimidate you at all?
Does he intimidate me? No. I've been fishing against Kevin for 8 years out here now.
Is he one of the greatest anglers ever? Absolutely. Is he going to be a factor? I'm sure he is. But as long as I can keep fishing to the best of my abilities, I know I can beat him.
You're fishing Grand this week, and you finished 70th there last year. What's your take on that venue, and the remainder of the schedule?
Last year that was my bomb and hopefully I'll get a decent finish this year. Champlain has treated me well when I've been there. And the Potomac's treated me well. I'm not saying I'm going to keep catching them, but I know when I go there, they're bodies of water where I can definitely fish to my strengths.
I've fished Lake Erie out of St. Clair, but not out of Buffalo.
The one wildcard factor for me as far as tournaments, that I can see, is Toho – the last event. I don't have a clue. I've never fished Toho in September. I have no idea how it fishes then.
So in any one of those tournaments I could have another Top 10 finish easily, as well as an 80th-place finish. I don't know what to expect. My goal is a Top 20 from here on out for the rest of the season.
Notable
> Terminator was a longtime sponsor of Reese, but it dropped him after the company was acquired by Rapala. He said he still hasn't signed a new jig sponsor yet. "Companies made it clear they'd want me to come aboard, but I'm in no hurry," he said. "I'm not rushing anything right now."
