By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor

Koby Kreiger is a realist when it comes to his chosen line of work.

"I fish for a living," he said. "So I need to take advantage of any and all opportunities to do that."

For years, he's done that by fishing the FLW Tour along with Rayovac Series events with considerable success. While his 2014 FLW Tour season was one he'd rather forget, Kreiger made up for it by winning the Angler of the Year points title in the Bassmaster Northern Open division, guaranteeing himself an invitation to fish the Elite Series in 2015.

He wrapped up the three-tournament schedule with a 4th-place finish at Lake St. Clair last week, which allowed him to outdistance Elite Series angler Ott DeFoe by one point for the AOY win.

He told BassFan on Monday that he would accept the Elite Series invite when it comes and plans to make that his focus next year.

"No question, I'm going to fish the Elites," he said.

He's not closing the door completely on continuing to fish the FLW Tour as well in 2015, but if a favorable sponsorship package doesn't come about, he'll be the latest pro to jump to the Elite Series.

"Obviously, that wasn't the goal when it all started," he said of winning the AOY crown. "To be honest, I didn't think I could win Angler of the Year after Ott made the cut in the first two events. My goal was to secure a berth in the Elites."

After making the final day at Lake St. Clair, Kreiger was informed he was the unofficial points leader and that he needed a 4th-place finish or better to clinch AOY.

"I didn't even know it was possible," he said. "When they told me I needed a 4th, I said, 'Let's see what I can do.'"

Tough Call

Kreiger said the reduction in FLW Tour events over recent years was part of the reason he wanted to pursue an Elite Series berth through the Opens.

"Two years ago, we had 10 Tour events at roughly the same price as eight Elite Series tournaments," he said. "Now, we're down to six so for someone like me who makes a living fishing, that means I have six weeks to get it done. If I struggle like I did this year, it's hard. That's why I've always filled in my schedule with the Rayovacs."

He said he'd like to maximize his opportunities at the tour level and fish both tours, but for now he's focused on transitioning to the Elite Series.

"It's all about dollars and cents," he said. "If I can get enough money together … I fish for a living. It's what I do. I wouldn't have a problem fishing both tours from a fishing standpoint. Money wise, I'm just not sure. The Elites are on the schedule. That was my goal and it's the number one thing I'm going to do.

"I've been with FLW for as long as anybody (since 1997). I messed around with B.A.S.S. a little bit, but it was around the same time B.A.S.S. went out to California and I had to make a decision. At the time, I was more sponsor-aligned with FLW so I stuck with them."

It's possible Kreiger won't be the only FLW Tour regular to make the jump. Based on their points finish, Micah Frazier, Brandon Coulter and Brent Ehrler should also receive invitations for the 2015 Elite Series.

Erie Was a Dear

Kreiger came to Lake St. Clair after finishing 24th at Douglas Lake and 33rd at Lake Champlain in the first two Northern Opens. He came up north around Labor Day weekend to start his practice for the final event.

"I was dead set on qualifying for the Elites so I wanted to give it 100 percent of my effort," he said. "I started on St. Clair and just got frustrated by all of the boat traffic out there. I said, 'I can't do this. I can't fish here.'

"I went to Erie the next day and I had some old waypoints from an old BFL I finished 2nd in so I checked that area. It was probably 600 yards from there where I found not the winning school, but there was a load of them there – hundreds of them."

He started by throwing a Super Spook Jr. and then he said the first fish he caught jumped and spit the bait and as soon as the bait hit the water, another smallmouth blew up on it.

"There was another boat probably 300 yards away, so I just left after that," he added.

He came back the next day and combed the area with an umbrella rig, catching a double before getting four fish on at once on another cast.

"I thought, 'Oh my Lord, this is the spot,'" he said.

Once the tournament started, it took him a mere 20 minutes to boat more than 21 pounds. It took him just as long on day 2 and on the final day, he had a limit in 15 minutes and within 45 minutes he had his weight for the day.

"It was actually a fantastic trip to Detroit, Mich.," he said.

He said his key area was about 10 feet deep and he was able to put his Minn Kota Talons down and hold steady, allowing him to fish the sweet spots longer.

"I never moved the boat," he said. "On day 2, it was so intense and fierce that my co-angler said he was just going to stand in the bottom of the boat and net my fish since every time he'd get back on the back deck, I'd have another one on.

"I had stress every morning that somebody else was there since the TBF was there, but luckily nobody did. After I'd get there it was stress-free because they were biting so good."