(Editor's note: This is the third of several installments in a series titled Cup Q&A. These interviews focus on pros who qualified for this week's Forrest Wood Cup, to be held in Hot Springs, Ark. at Lake Ouachita.)
The last time the FLW championship was in Arkansas was 2005, when George Cochran fished in inches of water right outside
his Lake Hamilton home and put together one of the finest competitive hours of his life.
After his win 2 years ago, Cochran said: "I know that my career's getting close to the end. But it seems like the most important victories are the ones late in your career."
This week brings him another chance for a "most important victory" because the Forrest Wood Cup's back in his home state of Arkansas. This go-round goes down at Lake Ouachita.
What was especially notable about his 2005 win was that he did it "Cochran-style." He committed himself to shallow fish and never wavered. It was a low-weight tournament that, in the end, hung on that single hour in the morning.
So far, the word from this year's Forrest Wood Cup paints an opposite setup. Most feel the deep bite will win at Ouachita, which could put Cochran out of his comfort zone.
In the Cup Q&A that follows, he talks about Ouachita, his opportunity to repeat in Arkansas, and his quest for a shallow pattern.
BassFan: You qualified for this event through the 2006 FLW Series points, so you've known you'd be fishing for a while. Now that it's close, how do you feel?
Cochran: I'm excited about it, especially because by qualifying for this (as a Ranger pro) I have the chance to win $1 million. Anybody would be excited.
But you've got 80 guys, compared to (48 in the previous championships), who fish for 2 days. Then they cut to the Top 10. So you can't let up any. You have to do your best, and the thing is, the fishing's real tough.
So you've struggled a little in practice?
(The bite's) not normally what it would be this time of year. They've really been pulling the water down. It's been real high, and they're pulling it down.
The fishing's still real tough, but I like it when it's tough. I'm just hoping I can figure out how to catch a bunch of fish shallow. So far I haven't.
Have you focused your practice on shallow water?
I've been doing 50% of the day shallow, and 50% deep.
Do you think it can be won shallow?
Yes, I think so. But remember (in 2005), the first day I had like 3 pounds, but every day after that I got better and better, then had a big, strong day the last day. I'm hoping to figure out how to catch them every day (this year).
That's the bad thing about when you only have 2 days of competition, then a cut to the Top 10 – you can't have a real bad day and come back. It's possible to catch 15 pounds (at Ouachita), but this time of year, a good string is 8 to 12 pounds.
Because it's so hot, the fish are biting at night, and right after daylight. But we don't take off until 7:00, and it gets daylight at 5:20. Usually the early (shallow) bite's over about 7:30. Then after that, you really need to be fishing structure.
You overcame the "local curse" in 2005 and won on the lake where you live. Do you feel you're at an advantage on Ouachita too?
Just like when I won in 2005, I know the lake. If I can get on any kind of pattern, I'll know other places just like it to go to. That's the advantage. Whereas a guy from Alabama or Georgia who finds something – he has to start hunting for some more places like it.
Ron (Shuffield), Mark (Davis), Larry (Nixon) – if we can get on anything, we have a real good chance to find other places that are just like it.
Do you think this is an event you can win?
I look at it that way every time. I know I have the ability to win, if I can just get on a pattern that I'm comfortable with – a shallow-water pattern. I haven't been able to find one yet. I'm just catching one here or there. And usually by 8:00 I have to start moving deep.
But there's always a way to catch them shallow. I'm still looking for it.
Notable
> In addition to his 2005 FLW championship win, Cochran has twice won the Bassmaster Classic (1987, 1996).
