(Editor's note: Due to the 4th of July holiday weekend, BassFan will not publish a new top story until Tuesday, July 6.)

Yesterday, BassFan reported the notable fact that FLW Tour pro Mark Rose achieved an enviable triple-play: He qualified for next month's Forrest Wood Cup in three separate ways.



He finished 5th in last year's Eastern FLW Series points. Berth one. Then he won the Stren Championship at Pickwick. Berth two. And last week, a runner-up finish at the Guntersville FLW Tour moved him up four spots to finish 3rd in the FLW Tour points. Berth three.

Rose originally felt his destiny lay in pro baseball, but after dual ankle injuries and a "dose of reality," he put down his glove after his senior year at Arkansas State. Then, a little more than a decade ago, he gave up his job as a manager in the Boy Scouts to again chase his dream of being a pro athlete. In only his second tour-level event – the 1999 Mississippi FLW Tour out of Memphis – he finished 3rd out of an aluminum boat.

In the time since, he's been both a steady and struggling pro across a mixed slate of FLW and BASS tour and AAA-level circuits. But the last 16 months have been a peak of sorts for the Marion, Ark. pro.

"To be honest, I didn't even know that I'd triple-qualified for the championship," he told BassFan. "I don't really look at that. I know this sounds a little cliché, but I've got a motto in fishing: I do the best I can, try to honor God in the process and leave all the results up to Him. I've just gone out and fished my hardest.

"I didn't have rich grandparents, or a big trust fund or anything like that. I've had to work real hard at it. I've applied that concept (my motto) and it's just worked out."

Tennessee Love

Arkansas, as a state, produces an astounding amount of tour-level anglers, and although they tend to be versatile, there's a tendency to be among one of two camps. Those from the western portion of the state tend to excel in deeper, clearer water – products of the Ozarks environment. Those from the eastern portion often tend to be river rats – products of the Mississippi and Arkansas River watersheds.

Marion, where Rose lives, is to the east – adjacent to the Mississippi River across from Memphis. It's no surprise, then, that his best finishes tend to come from big Tennessee River events, like his 2nd at Guntersville last week, 4th at Kentucky Lake the year before, and his 2009 Stren Championship victory at Pickwick.

It should be noted, though, that he won at Pickwick by virtue of a 160-mile run to Bay Springs in Mississippi. A savvy and gutsy move that paid off.

"I'm fishing real good right now and I feel like I've been a student of the sport," Rose said. "I feel like I had a lot to learn and I did it. In the beginning I got beat a lot. But I learned a lot and traveled a lot. Growing up on the Memphis Delta, and fishing the oxbows there, I then had to learn about fishing different regions, species, techniques, everything. I worked really hard at it and I've come a long way.

"Not to say I'm an expert and I've got it all figured out, because I continue to learn. I'll always continue to try to hone my skills, but yeah, I've come a long way from where I started."



Rose recently unveiled his new wrap, which he'll run for the remainder of 2010.

The schedule's played to his favor the past few years – FLW Outdoors circuits have visited the Tennessee River multiple times per season. In fact, both FLW Outdoors and BASS have focused significant scheduling effort on the Tennessee River chain.

For Rose, that's simply where he's most comfortable.

"I've gotten real comfortable with Pickwick, Kentucky Lake, Wilson, Wheeler, Guntersville. I had a little bit of comfort already, but the rest just came from time on the water. I've put a lot of work in, and I also keep up with stuff that's gone on there in the past. I also have a lot of good friends (along the Tennessee). I take it all into consideration – even past TV shows. I get old Bassmaster videos and I've watched some from 10 or 12 years ago. I'm always trying to learn from every different angle."

A few other interesting notes from Rose:

  • He plans to fish the full 10-event FLW Tour slate next year. "I've never fished three lakes on there, but I look forward to going to the new venues. It just makes it more interesting and helps us learn more. I'll have to take a look at the American Fishing Series too."

  • The only time he fished Lanier was spring 2006 for the inaugural FLW Series. He finished 12th. "That was a totally different time of year. I'd much rather fish down there in early spring like we did then. I guess if there's a downfall to my fishing, it's deep, clear water in the summertime. So it doesn't really suit my style or strengths by any means. But I've learned that in those types of situations, you just have to go and keep an open mind. I won't do a lot of practicing (for the Cup). I'll go and try to fish my instincts – fish on the fly and see if it works out. I'd much rather be on the Mississippi coming out of Memphis, I'll tell you that."

  • Asian carp are threatening the Great Lakes, and Rose knows first-hand how intensely the fish can impact a system. They're all over the oxbows he grew up fishing near Memphis. "It's terrible. You have to wear a helmet down here to go fishing anymore, or to go deer-hunting before daylight. The bass are coming back, but it got really bad with the Asian carp, along with the largemouth bass virus about 8 years ago. The carp are a big problem and it's hurt everyone's livelihood. There are no fishermen anymore."

    Notable

    > Next month's Cup will mark Rose's sixth championship appearance.

    > The Tennessee River isn't his only strong suit. He finished 2nd twice at Beaver on the Tour.