Poche Still In Groove He Found Late Last Year

It was just about a year ago when Keith Poche seemed to figure out this pro bass-fishing thing.

The 29-year-old from Alabama averaged a 65th-place finish and didn't log a single Top 20 through the first six events of his rookie Bassmaster Elite Series season in 2010. But over his last eight tournaments, including the six so far in 2011, his average placement has been 30th and he's cracked the Top 20 four times.

With two events remaining on the schedule, he's 20th in the Toyota Tundra B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year (AOY) race and on track to qualify for his first Classic. He's also made a 117-place jump – from 182nd to 65th – in the BassFan World Rankings since the beginning of the year.

He was a relative latecomer to the cast-for-cash game, having fished his first competitive event of any sort in 2003. His progression since then has been rapid, but he still had to undergo an adjustment period once he reached the top level.

"I think it's mostly a confidence deal – you have to believe in yourself and what you're doing," he said. "I have to go out and fish what I know, and that's going to work out good sometimes and not so good at other times. I want to be diverse and be able to adjust to different situations, but I know I'm not always going to come out on top."

Bombs have Been Avoided

What Poche has avoided over the past year are finishes at or anywhere near the bottom. He started and ended his rough rookie-year stretch with placements in the 90s, but those kind of big numbers haven't made an appearance on his ledger in the past 12 months.

Since he turned things around, his lowest placement has been 52nd, and he's done that twice this year, missing two money cuts by the combined total of less than a pound.

"I had the fish on to make those cuts – it wasn't like I wasn't on them," he said. "It was disappointing, but I wasn't too unhappy because I was still consistent and I'd given myself a chance. Hopefully that's something I can continue."

He won't have to approach the career-best 4th-place finish he notched a Pickwick in either of the final two tournaments to achieve his preseason goal of making the Classic. Even if he ends up in the 50s at both the Arkansas River and Wheeler this month, he'll likely nail down a berth at the Red River in his native Louisiana next February.

"That would be a great accomplishment because I could consider myself being on a different level. It would be special because it would give me more confidence that I was here to stay and knowing that I belong. I hope to be doing this for a long time."

Light is Right

Although he hails from a region know for producing great shallow-water power-fishermen, Poche's preferred style is a lot more subtle.

"I like to downsize and finesse everything," he said. "Whether I'm flipping or throwing shakey-heads, I try to go a step down. I don't like fishing big stuff. If I go light it seems like I get more bites, and it's something I like to do.

"When I first started fishing tournaments, I was throwing frogs and other big baits at places like Lake Martin and Lake Jordan and just getting my butt whooped. Going lighter was just one of the first things I keyed on and I've hung with it ever since. It's been working for me."

And how does he think his style will play at the final two venues on the schedule? He knows Wheeler well enough to go in with a measure of confidence (he finished 49th there en route to qualifying for the Elite Series via the 2009 Southern Opens), but he has a bit of trepidation regarding the Arkansas River.

"The river's going to be a deal where I'm going to have to keep my hook wet and hope I get into an area where the fish are. I'm a little worried about that one, but I think I can put together something.

"I'm going to be a little conservative and try to make sure I stay in that 50-range and make it to the Classic. If I can make that happen, I'll be real happy."

Notable

> Poche was in the construction trade prior to turning pro and worked on a few jobs following last season, but ended up tweaking his back. He plans to avoid that kind of work this offseason. "I'm going to focus everything on trying to get sponsors for next year," he said. "I was pretty down and out (after the injury) and I'm too young to be hurting that much. My dad's had three surgeries in the last 15 years and he's just now getting to where he can get around a little bit."