Baksay's Decision Influenced By Cali Swing

Photo: BassFan Terry Baksay said Skeeter and Yamaha didn't push him toward one tour or the other.

A few of those pros had the option of fishing the FLW Tour and/or Bassmaster Elite Series. Connecticut's Terry Baksay, a former two-tour pro, was one of them. And his situation is especially interesting since he's a Skeeter/Yamaha pro.

Skeeter and Yamaha both sponsor BASS. Yamaha previously sponsored FLW Outdoors, but hasn't made any announcement about 2010. The company's waiting to see how the Genmar bankruptcy plays out.

It would be easy to assume that Skeeter, and perhaps Yamaha, preferred that Baksay fish the Elite Series. Not so, said Baksay. Neither company pushed him toward one tour or the other. Instead, Baksay's final decision of where to fish next year came down to economics and venues.

Where, Why

"I'm going to fish the FLW Tour, FLW Series, (Bassmaster) Northern Opens and probably some Strens," Baksay told BassFan. "I'm comfortable fishing both trails, and I've fished both. I feel I can compete on both, because I have. But FLW is what I've been doing in recent years. And the cost amount with the Elites – the fact that they're going to California – was probably the biggest thing."

Another factor was Champlain. While many southern pros have griped about the inclusion of Champlain on the Eastern FLW Series schedule, Baksay's all over it. And with the Eufaula FLW Series scheduled over BASS's California swing, Baksay wouldn't have been able to fish a full Eastern Series campaign if he chose the Elite Series.

Another plus in the FLW column, Baksay noted, was the league added Rapala as a sponsor this year. "I've been with Rapala a long time, and that had a little bit to do with it too."

Another Chance?

According to Baksay, his decision doesn't rule out a possible Elite Series campaign in 2011 because he might qualify yet again through next year's Northern Opens. It's a traditionally strong circuit for him.

"I'm not saying that I'll qualify for them again, but I like to think I'd be able to. If you look at my history in the Northern Opens, I've done rather well, and I should be able to again. It's like Frank Scalish told BassFan – he's a good fisherman and always does well in the North and is almost always in the Top 10 in the points at the end of the year.

"I have some really big deals in the works," Baksay added. "They're not going to be finalized until the middle of next year, so I'm looking at them for 2011. That's another reason behind some of these scheduling decisions."

Notable

> Baksay said he hopes to see Yamaha back as an FLW sponsor. "But I'm trying not to think about it. I believe that it'll all work out and everybody will be supported the way they need to be supported."