FLW Pros Look Forward To Crack At Guntersville

(Editor's note: This is part 2 of a 2-part story that looks at tour-level anglers' goals and objectives for 2009. Part 1 featured Bassmaster Elite Series anglers, and today's segment focuses on the FLW Tour.)

Curt Lytle

> Primary 2009 goal – "Last year my goal was to become a better finesse and deep-water fisherman, and I achieved that quite well. I don't have anything defined for this year other than to continue into the deep-water stuff."

> Most anticipated tournament – "I'd say that Champlain is my favorite destination this year. We're going to some other great fisheries, but the timing might be iffy. I've never seen Champlain be iffy."

Randy Blaukat

> Primary 2009 goal – "My main goal this season is to have my fishing eliminate the financial distractions that have come about due to the economy. Our performance on the water is the one thing that isn't dictated by the economy, and that gives us an opportunity for a big windfall that most people don't have in their occupation."

> Most anticipated tournament – "Table Rock and Guntersville. Table Rock was my home when I was first starting out, and I'm real excited about fishing a pre-spawn event at Guntersville. The focus will be on nothing but quality fish, and that's unusual for this tour."

David Dudley

> Primary 2009 goal – "The same as always – to beat everybody that I fish against and come out on top. My main three goals are to win, win and win."

> Most anticipated tournament – "I know this sounds bad, but I haven't really looked at the schedule yet. I know we're going to Guntersville first, but I don't know what's going on after that."

Dan Morehead

> Primary 2009 goal – "I want to fish to the best of my abilities and maybe make a run at another Angler of the Year, by what I really want to do is win that Forrest Wood Cup. I've done pretty much everything else in my career except win the championship, and with that million dollars I wouldn't have to worry about money."

> Most anticipated tournament – "I'm impatiently waiting on Kentucky Lake in June. It'll be a ledge-style tournament at a lake I've fished for 30 years and I've won a couple of events there. It should be a damn good tournament."

Chad Morgenthaler

> Primary 2009 goal – "My goal for this year is to limit all the outside distractions and focus more on fishing. With the PAA (he's the VP of the Professional Anglers Association) and everything, things have been a little big crazy recently.

> Most anticipated tournament – "I really want to make the Forrest Wood Cup in Pittsburgh because I fished the Classic there (in 2005) and I'd like to go back now that the conditions are better. Plus, there's so much on the line in that tournament.

Ray Scheide

> Primary 2009 goal – "I want to be consistent and make the (Forrest Wood Cup), but my main goal this year is to win one event. It's been awhile and I want to remember what that feels like."

> Most anticipated tournament – "I sure like Guntersville right off the bat. It seems like when we have tournaments here in Arkansas, somebody from Alabama wins, and when we go to Alabama, somebody from Arkansas wins. Hopefully it's our turn."

David Walker

> Primary 2009 goal – "My goals are always to win an event and win the Angler of the Year – that's what we're all in it for. I want to be able to continue to make a living from fishing."

> Most anticipated tournament – "The (Cup) in Pittsburgh. That's not one where you're going to catch a bunch of big fish, but the amount of money you can make there is life-changing. It's like winning the lottery."

Vic Vatalaro

> Primary 2009 goal – "My biggest goal is always the Angler of the Year and I try to win every tournament, but more realistic goals would be to make one or two Top 10s and I really want to make the Cup. I grew up fishing the Ohio River, so that one's kind of right next door."

> Most anticipated tournament – "I look forward to Guntersville. It might be cold, but there's going to be some big fish caught."

Carl Svebek III

> Primary 2009 goal – "As always, I set a goal to win one of the Tour events – I've come close, but it hasn't happened yet. And of course, I want to make the (Cup)."

> Most anticipated tournament – "Two of them really spark me. One is Guntersville – I got my start on Sam Rayburn, and it's got similar-type grass. The second would probably be Beaver because I've had a little success there and, living close, I should have a good feel for what's going on."

Mike Surman

> Primary 2009 goal – "My goals for the year are to finish healthy, for one. I had spinal surgery in September and I've been rehabbing and trying to get back. And then my other main goal is to make the (Cup) again."

> Most anticipated tournament – "I'm looking forward to two – Guntersville and Kentucky Lake. I've never fished on Guntersville per se, I fished one on Wheeler when we were allowed to run to Guntersville, but that didn't give you much fishing time. It's a grass lake, and that's what I like to fish. And we should hit Kentucky Lake just right – I've had a couple of real good finishes there right around that same time of year (in June).

Alvin Shaw

> Primary 2009 goal – "I'd like to win the Angler of the Year this year. I've knocked on that door a few times but I've never gotten real close. That would be a big milestone for me."

> Most anticipated tournament – "Guntersville, even though I'm a little big apprehensive about the time of year. I'm hoping that'll be a real good tournament."

Jim Tutt

> Primary 2009 goal – "My goals this year are lofty – I want to try to win a tournament on the Tour, the Series and the Texas Strens. It sounds crazy, but with the schedules, I think it's doable. And even if I only get one out of the three, that's still pretty good."

> Most anticipated tournament – "The one I'm looking forward to the most is Guntersville. I don't have a lot of knowledge about it, but it's a grass lake and it's early season, and I love throwing a Rat-L-Trap at that time of year."

Greg Pugh

> Primary 2009 goal – "I try to win every tournament. I know that goal is real high, but I'd hate to say I wanted to make one Top 10 and end up making three, because then my goal would be blown all to pieces. For this year, I'd like to make four Top 10s on the Tour and win the Forrest Wood Cup and the Bassmaster Classic."

> Most anticipated tournament – "Lake Guntersville will probably be a slugfest, and that's the one I'm really looking forward to."

Mark Rose

> Primary 2009 goal – "I don't put goals down on paper – my motto is to fish as hard as I can every day and honor God in the process."

> Most anticipated tournament – "I guess I'm looking forward to Table Rock the most – it's a good fishery and I love the Ozarks in the spring. Of course, that probably means I won't catch a fish there."

Notable

> To read part 1 of this story, click here.

– End of part 2 (of 2) –