In 14 years as a tour pro, David Walker has experienced just about everything the sport has to offer. But for him, nothing compares to competing in the Bassmaster Classic, and that's the primary reason he'll return to the BASS side in 2011 after spending the past 5 seasons on the FLW Tour.
"Fishing the Opens this year, my goal was to make the Elite Series," said the 45-year-old Tennessean, who finished 5th on the Northern points list
after an 11th-place showing in the circuit finale last week at the Chesapeake Bay. "I want to get back to the Classic and back to that level of fishing.
"For me, there's nothing like it. And once you've done it, it becomes an addiction."
It's been quite a while since he's had a fix for that infatuation – more than 4 years, to be precise. He competed in the last of his six Classics in 2006.
He ended up a disappointing 44th in that derby – his worst showing in the sport's premier event. His best were back-to-back 3rds in 2001-02, which gave him a strong sample of how sweet a Classic victory would taste.
"Anybody who's ever aspired to be a pro fisherman, winning the Classic is what they want to do – that's what makes the name. If you want to be Kevin VanDam or Skeet Reese, you've got to win the Classic."
Conditions Not the Same
Walker was among a substantial contingent of BASS veterans who opted not to compete on the Elite Series when it launched in 2006. The huge entry fees ($5,000 per tournament) dissuaded some, and many encountered sponsorship issues based primarily on their boat brand (the Elite Series was a Triton-dominated circuit, whereas Ranger ruled the FLW Tour).
As a Ranger/Evinrude guy, his colors blended best with FLW. But in the wake of changes that have since occurred to both tours and the boat brands themselves (Ranger and Triton are now owned by the same parent company), those lines aren't nearly so distinct today.
"The days when what boat you're in determines what tour you fish are gone, and I'm kind of glad about that," he said. "I don't plan on changing any sponsors to do this, and before you had to – it was part of the program.
"I've been with Ranger for quite a few years and I've had about 15 boats, including saltwater and everything. I like things the way they are and I want it to continue."
Lackluster 2010 Campaign
Walker's 2010 FLW Tour season included a 4th-place finish in the finale at Guntersville, but that was the only real highlight. He ended up 60th in the points.
He said he had a hard time getting into the proper mindset for most of the events, and that's another reason he's looking forward to a "new start" on the Elite Series.
"The way things went this past season, it was time for a change," he said. "I just did so bad, and I know a lot of it had to do with not really wanting to do it. There were so many tournaments where I was fishing just to be fishing, and some of the payouts weren't good."
One of the changes the FLW Tour will undergo next year is that it will basically swallow up the Eastern FLW Series and make those four events "Opens." The traditional six events will comprise the "Majors."
Majors competitors will be required to sign on for the full slate, but not so with the Opens. Therefore, he plans to fish the Opens in addition to the Elites.
"Because I fish for a living, I'm trying to figure out a way to fish as many high-paying events as there are out there. The Opens are supposed to be big-paying events."
Tired of the Booth
Walker said he realized just how badly he missed competing in the Classic as he was working for sponsors at this year's edition in Birmingham, Ala. His best and worst Classic memories stem from the same event – 2001 in New Orleans, which is where the tournament will be held next year.
"It was great being on stage and leading for a while, but then (eventual winner) VanDam weighed in next," he said. "I lost two fish on the second day, and either one of them would've won the tournament for me. Then the third day I rallied quite a bit and I was right there.
"Then the next year we went to Alabama, where Jay Yelas won. I was leading that deal (according to BASS' on-water tracking system) until they turned the water on up at the dam.
"I've done well in some Classics," he continued, "and the pre-spawn/late-winter type of events they have now are a lot better for me. I've caught some of my biggest stringers at that time of year."
He sincerely hopes he'll get another shot at a Classic title in 2012. One thing's for sure – he's eager to get the qualifying process under way.
"For me it's good to have focus – a goal that you can keep your eye on and continue to move forward. I look forward to doing the whole thing and being competitive and having that drive to get there.
"As a tournament fisherman, you need that excitement that gets your heart pumping and your hands shaking. When you quit feeling like that, it's time to make a change."
Notable
> Walker rallied from 47th place after day 1 at last week's Open at the Chesapeake. "I caught three fish the first day and I didn't think that was going to be that bad based on practice, but I came in and the weights were huge," he said. "On the second day I had to be in at 3:10, and at 2:30 I made a change to an offshore place and caught a 4 1/2-pounder. You talk about relief – that was a high-fiving moment."
> He's fine with the make-up of next year's Elite schedule. "It's not a lineup of slugfests the way they've been used to, but I'm glad that I don't have to drive all the way out to California to fish a couple of events. I want to fish those places, but I just don't want to have to drive all the way out there."
