After battling testicular cancer for most of the previous 2 years, veteran Connecticut pro Terry Baksay has been given a clean bill of health and is eager to fish a full schedule in 2012. In addition to the six FLW Tour majors, he plans to compete in the Bassmaster Northern Opens and maybe a couple of FLW Tour Opens.

"I went to the doctor 3 weeks ago and all the tests were fine," he said. "I had a CT scan in August and there were no signs of cancer at all in my body. From that perspective, everything's been great.

"The hardest part is that when you miss time on the Tour, it's tough to get back to where you were (sponsorship-wise). I've always relied a lot on what I've won, and when you don't fish, you can't help yourself any."



He still hopes to strike a deal with a primary sponsor within the next month or two.

"I live in a place where there's zillions of dollars within a hundred-mile radius. But those people who got rich don't seem to want to spend a lot of it right now."

Nightmarish Period

Baksay was told by his oncologist that he likely had the cancer for about a year before he began to feel pain in his mid-section in the spring of 2010.

"When I found out about it I was pretty shocked and my regular doctor was just floored," the 51-year-old said. "He immediately sent me to a specialist, and the specialist didn't seem to be concerned at all. He acted like it was no big deal and told me that, judging from where it was, I should be fine."

The chemotherapy that was used to treat it proved to be effective, but as such procedures always are, it was a major ordeal for the patient.

"Even somebody I hated I wouldn't wish that on. I've never felt so bad and there was about a 4-month period when I felt like I could die at any point in time. The nausea and the fevers were incredible.

"Then I wouldn't be feeling good and I'd have to call the oncologist and tell him what was going on because they want to know everything. I didn't really know what was going on and I didn't know if I was eventually going to be okay. With a wife and two young boys (ages 10 and 5), it's pretty bad.

"My wife (Marcie) has been a gem through all this, and I can't say enough about her and her support," he continued, "and the kids helped me out a lot, too."

Head Wasn't in the Game

Baksay, who qualified for three straight Forrest Wood Cups (2007-09), missed the final Tour event of 2010, but felt well enough physically to return for the start of this year's campaign. His financial picture was unstable, however, and the first three Majors all resulted in finishes of 92nd or worse, and he was forced to skip the second half of the season.

"I tend to overthink things, and after I was inside the money after the first day of each of those tournaments, I got completely blown out of the water on day 2," he said. "I was thinking too much.

"When I'm fishing my best, I'm talking to my partner and it's like I'm not really even paying attention – I just let my instincts take over. I'll dwell on something way too long when what I should do is just go fishing. Those 3 straight years I made the championship, all 3 of those years I just instinctually let it go."

The third of the four FLW Tour Opens took place close to his home (at Champlain) in September, and he logged a solid 21st-place showing. That, along with some good news on the financial front, has buoyed his confidence level for 2012.

"Next year I'll have a whole new outlook on life. I'm just trying to get as much money as I can saved up to go out and fish and compete."

He said Skeeter and Yamaha have stayed with him throughout his ordeal, and some forays into Canada have proved fruitful for some new sponsorship deals that he should be able to announce soon. His optimism (and a desire for a break from the impending frigid Connecticut winter) have him leaning toward entering the season's first FLW Tour Open at Okeechobee in February.

In the meantime, he's been guiding and fun-fishing at Lake Candlewood, a superb smallmouth fishery near his home. He said he gets out on the water at least a couple of times per week.

"If the weather's nice, I take the kids with me. If not, I just go by myself."

Notable

> Baksay continued to serve as the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation youth director throughout his illness. He's also coaching his 10-year-old son's hockey team. "We're a big hockey family," he said.

> He also has a 20-year-old son in the U.S. Army who's recently returned to Fort Drum, N.Y. after a tour of duty in Afghanistan.