Due to a couple of poor finishes across the first three tournaments of the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series season, Keith Combs was no lock to qualify for any of the upcoming championship events. But a strong run the rest of the way not only put him in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, it also gained him his second consecutive berth in the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, which will take place at the end of this month just a few hours from his home in Del Rio.
The 35-year-old finished 15th in the Toyota Tundra B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year (AOY) race in his debut campaign on the Elite Series after 3 years on the FLW Tour. The resulting 2012 Classic appearance will be his second straight – he qualified for this year's edition via the 2010 Central Opens.
"I think anytime you come out of a season making the Classic, it's a pretty good year," he said. "Even though I got off to a shaky start, for the first year, I was really happy and I don't have any complaints.
"The tail end of the season went real well and I had those back-to-back (15th-place showings). I was just worried about making the Classic and I didn't think I had any shot at the TTBC, and that was a heartbreaker. Then after Wheeler, when I knew I'd made both of them, that was a good feeling because I knew I was going to get to fish some more."
Time Management was Key
Combs said this year's Elite Series schedule, which consisted of four sets of back-to-back events over a 4-month period, caused him to make a bit of an adjustment in his routine. A devotee of pre-practice (visiting venues before they go off-limits 30 days prior to the event), he found it difficult to do as much advance scouting as he was used to.
"I was pre-practicing a lot, and the way the schedule was set up, I'd try to work in one trip before (a set of tournaments) and one after. That would mean I was gone for a whole month. It's pretty much a full-time job.
"The tournaments are more spaced out next year and that's a good thing, but I'm still going to be pre-practicing a lot because a lot of them are new lakes for me again. But there should also be time to fish a couple of Opens and a couple of EverStarts."
He said that staying on a rigorous practice routine isn't difficult because of his burning desire to win an Elite tournament. He's still a bachelor, so the long absences from home don't inconvenience anyone else.
"I want to win a tournament so bad that I'm going to practice every day that I can. I mean, I want to be consistent and I'd say my ultimate goal would be winning the Angler of the Year, but winning an event would be a huge deal for me financially.
"I think if I stay consistent, I'll eventually get that one big break (that will lead to) a win. I think you need to fish in a manner that can win – there might be a chance you won't get a limit, but if you do, it'll be a good one. I'll fish like that if that's what's needed and I think it'll come around."
Likes His Chances
He's naturally spent a considerable amount of time at Conroe since learning that he'd made the TTBC field. He placed 4th in that event last year after qualifying via the FLW Tour, but said conditions will be different this time.
"There was more water last year and the fish were pretty well scattered," he said. "They'll be more concentrated this year because the lake's the lowest it's ever been (due to a long period of drought in the region).
"With only 50 of us, I don't think it'll fish all that small because most people will be fishing stuff they can see. I like it the way it is right now and I hope it stays low."
Notable
> Combs said one difference he encountered on the Elite Series as opposed to the FLW Tour was the increased amount of media and fan attention. "It all started at the Classic and at first I was just like, wow!" he said. "But that was really the only major thing. I'd fish both tours if the schedules worked out."
> His worst finish of the year (83rd) came at Pickwick, and that was an event where he'd expected to do well. "I never did get on fish and it was just a brutal week for me."
