By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor
(Editor’s note: This is part 2 of a two-part series introducing the six California anglers who will be rookies on the FLW Tour in 2017. To read part 1, click here.)
Moulton’s Going For It
Jim Moulton chuckled when asked what his motivation was for registering for the FLW Tour this year.
“I’m bored with life, I guess. It’s something new to do,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.
“My wife and I talked about it. I’m 60 now so it’s now or never. I don’t want to get to be 5 or 10 years from now and be like, ‘What if?’ I might love it or I might not like it. I’m in a position to try it, so why not. I’ve done alright out here.”
His main objective for the season will be to learn as much as he can and just soak up the experience.
“I want to enjoy myself and have fun,” he said. “Of course, I want to be competitive, too. I’m not looking for the fame and glory. I’m not doing it for those reasons. I just like to fish and compete.”
As the owner of a Ranger dealership in Modesto, Calif., and a Triton dealership in Sacramento, he’s excited to get out and see the country and interact with new people.
“I’m looking forward to the new challenge,” he said. “It’s exciting to try something different. I’m excited to compete against the top-level guys and meet some new people.”
He’s well-versed on a lot of the California lakes and reservoirs, but he’s never wet a line at several of the venues on this year’s schedule.
“I’m excited about going to the Harris Chain and the Potomac and the Mississippi,” he said. “I’ve fished a lot of lakes in my life, but never been to places like that.”
He isn’t holding himself to any unreachable goals for the year. He just wants to enjoy the experience and not look back with regrets.
“It’ll be a success if I come away with some new friends and had a good time,” he said “I’d like to get a check in some of them. I want to have a good experience.”
New Frontier For Gosselaar
Chris Gosselaar was born to compete. For 15 years, he raced motocross at the pro level and he’s since turned to bass fishing as a way to stoke his competitive fire.
Chris Gosselaar is the latest former motocross racer to join the ranks of pro bass anglers.
He’s only been fishing tournaments for the last 4 1/2 ears, but he is excited for the opportunity to go head-to-head with some of the best in the world.
“Once you get to a certain age (in motocross), you just age out,” he explained. “I’ve broken so many bones and my body is so beat up, it’s nice to finally do something I won’t get hurt at.”
He competed in the FLW Tour Invitationals last fall and placed 19th at Lake Norman in his first visit to the North Carolina venue.
“I do fish more than the normal person,” he said. “I feel like I’m ready. I’m not going to say I’m going to go out and kill it, but I’m looking forward to it. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I’m financially stable enough on my own to do it, so I figured why not.”
He admits to putting a lot of pressure on himself and the competitor in him will want to scratch and claw for every ounce and pound, but he’s setting some modest goals for the first season.
“My main goal is just to have fun,” he said. “Everybody always wants to win, but I want to be consistent and get better each day I’m out there. I’d be thrilled to make a few checks.”
He said it took him 2 to 3 years to establish himself in the motocross ranks and he’s expecting a similar track in bass fishing.
“I’m approaching it the same way,” he said. “I’m not expecting to light the world on fire. I’m giving myself a 5-year plan.”
He’s most looking forward to fishing lakes and rivers he’s never been to before, but he knows it’ll be a grind being away from his wife and 1-year-old daughter.
“I’ve been on Guntersville before, but just for one day,” he said. “It sets up like Clear Lake. Lake Travis could be a deep-water event and nobody knows a lot about it. I’m looking forward to all of them.”
New Challenge Awaits Curtiss
Wade Curtiss is ready to try something different.
Having finished in the Top 10 in the Western FLW Series Angler of the Year race in 2 of the last 3 years and qualifying for the last three FLW Series championships, he felt the natural move was to jump up to the Tour in 2017.
Wade Curtiss is hoping his versatility will help his ease his transition to the FLW Tour in 2017.
“I just wanted a new challenge,” said Curtiss, a 37-year-old who runs a custom lure business. “I’ve been wanting to do it for a few years and felt like this was right year to do it.”
He says three-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Aaron Martens is the one California angler he’s always followed because of his versatility and ability to win virtually anywhere. Curtiss is hopeful his own versatility will lead to success this season.
“I’m not worried about the competition level,” he said. “I know I’ll be up against a lot of good guys, but being from California, one advantage we have is we’re just as comfortable with a spinning rod as we are with a baitcaster.”
He’s not shy about stating his goal for his rookie season: He wants to win Rookie of the Year.
“I hope to cash a check in every event,” he said. “I don’t know if it’ll happen, but that’s the ultimate goal.”
He says he’ll call this season a success if he’s able to compete in each event and qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup. Beaver Lake is the only venue he has experience at and he’s most excited to get a look at the Potomac and Mississippi rivers.
“I’m looking forward to seeing if I can make it work,” he said “It’s going to be hard to do the whole season financially if you don’t cash checks.”
