Omori Back Home After Whirlwind Ride

It's been a little over a month since Takahiro Omori won the Bassmaster Classic, and he's been home for all of 4 days. After he won, he headed down to the FLW Tour Championship, fished that, went home to Texas for 2 days and then flew to Japan for a series of media events that put him back on U.S. soil on Tuesday of this week.

In other words, it's the typical whirlwind that all Classic winners experience. He's wiped out but happy, and is looking to get back out on the water again.

Japan and Back in 14 Days

For most of the last few weeks, from Aug. 18 through the 31st, he was in Japan. "I came back (to Texas) for 2 days, and repacked all my stuff to go back to Japan for Lucky Craft," he said. "Gerald Swindle and Marty Stone (Editor's note: Both also Lucky Craft-sponsored), two ESPN and two BASS people came too, and of course Lucky Craft was there."

He didn't receive a rock star's greeting at the airport, likely because no one knew exactly what time he was arriving, but it was different when he got to his first stop. "From the airport we went to the Popeye tackle store in Japan – that's the Ranger dealer over there. I actually used to work in the store. A lot of people were there, and they were taking pictures with the (Classic) trophy."

He, Swindle and Stone bought some tackle to fish Lake Biwa, a major Japanese bass lake, the next day for a show that will be televised on ESPN. "The last time I fished Biwa was 10 years ago," Omori said. This time "it was different. It had more weeds, but the biggest difference was that they have Florida bass now. The ones I caught were 2-pounders. They looked the same as Lake Fork bass, just smaller (laughs)."

After fishing half a day, he went to a press conference for the Japanese fishing media. "It was just like after the Classic," he said, except for the fact that when a 15-minute ESPN-produced video about his Classic victory was shown, many of the people there "were almost crying. The people watching have been waiting (for a Classic win) too," he explained.

He also saw his mother for the first time in 2 years. "She stayed with me for 5 days. She was happy. I think she understands it," he said of his victory. "She was proud of me, I think. She was totally surprised. I think she's still surprised I can (make a living) fishing like that."

After a 5-day Lucky Craft tour, he spent the next day getting a tour at the Yamaha factory, then 2 days with Daiwa for a TV show, then 2 days at his mother's house, where he also visited his father's grave. After that, he was wiped out and headed back home.

"I was so tired before going to Japan, and the whole trip I had so much to do, now I'm finally back to my house on Lake Fork," he said. "It's home. Honestly, now east Texas feels more like home than Japan."

Fall and 2005

Omori's schedule is still filled with interviews, and he has some appearances that will conflict with the Southern Opens, but in the short-term he's looking forward to fishing the Busch Shootout later this month. "Finally I can go fish," he said.

"It's been exhausting. So far the best thing was winning the Classic (laughs). After that – I'm not used to this much stuff, interviews and (being in demand). This is way too much for me. Yesterday I went to Gary Yamamoto's house for another party. I have like three more parties this week, all for me. It's fun, but now I've had enough parties for me (laughs)." (Editor's note: In Japan, with Lucky Craft, a party was given in his honor four nights in a row.)

Asked if he would try to capitalize on his success by ramping up his appearance schedule as other Classic competitors have done, he said: "I want to work for the sponsors who have helped me a long time to win the Classic. I want to spend more time with my sponsors and with my friends, not try to get new sponsors and have too much to do. I want to help Yamaha, Ranger, Daiwa, Yamamoto and Lucky Craft. That's what I want to do until December.

"No seminars between January and June. I'll tell you right now: I'm going to fish the Bassmaster Tour, the FLW Tour and the E50s. All seminars will be done before January so I can go fishing."

"My main focus is still fishing," he said. "That's how I want to spend my time and energy. I want to become a better fisherman, and I still have room to improve."

Notable

> He doesn't want Classic-related appearances to mess up his 2005 fishing, but on the other hand he's not overly concerned about it. He noted that the prior three winners – Mike Iaconelli, Jay Yelas and Kevin VanDam – all had good seasons after their Classic wins.

> Marty Stone said that on the Japan trip "they treated all of us like royalty. Way too good. I met some of the kindest, most humble people over there, and the hospitality was incredible. One night they had us dress up in these traditional Japanese gowns, sit down at little bitty table and have dinner. Two guys 6' 4" in gowns – we were a little out of place. But we had them going. We told them we didn't mind the gown (because) no one told us to put on underwear."