Getting Reel - Fishing News

Can Skeet Duplicate ‘07 in ‘08?

by Don Zaegel on February 4th, 2008

     After coming off of the most impressive season of his career, Skeet Reese may have his work cut out for him in 2008, Especially if he wants to repeat his successes of 2007. After all, out of 11 Elite Series events in ‘07, Skeet managed 9 top 20’s, 7 of which were final day cuts and included a 1st place victory and two 2nds. I don’t care who you are in this sport today, that is tough to do by anyones standards at this level. But in order to repeat his success, does he have to go out and place as well as he did in every tournament or just simply follow-up with another 2008 AOY title?

     2007’s season began with tournaments in the South West and Western parts of the nation. The same parts that Skeet hails from. After the Sooner Run on Grand Lake where Kevin VanDam both won and took over 1st place in the AOY standings, many wrote off Skeet’s chances as they figured he couldn’t possibly overtake and maintain the points lead from KVD in his territory back out east. Skeet proved alot of people wrong by passing KVD and winning the AOY title.

     As much as I would like to sit and evaluate the 2008 Elite Series schedule to see if any of it plays to Skeet’s favor, it almost doesn’t seem to matter. He has already proved that while he may be a West Coat Angler, he is in no way limited to success only in the West. Of his 7 final day cuts, 4 of them came out East, so that alone shows Skeet’s versatility as an angler. 

     Still, in looking at the 2008 schedule, you will see an almost completely different schedule. The Elites will only revisit 4 bodies of water from the 2007 season which are Lake Amistad, Clarks Hill Reservoir, Lake Erie, and Lake Toho (on the Kissimmee Chain). Of those four, in 2007 Skeet placed 9th on Amistad, 6th on Clarks Hill, 13th on Erie, and 14th on Toho. If Skeet can duplicate the same success on those four bodies of water, than he will only need to find success on the remaining 7. Most of which he has had prior success or knowledge on. In this case, advantage - Skeet.

     I think what it will come down to for Skeet is managing the hype. He will need to remain focused on his preparations and on the water decisions. Who knows, if you ask Skeet what he would consider a successful ‘08, it may only be consistency at whatever finish and qualification for the 2009 Bassmasters Classic. As long as he can go out and avoid the pressure of the media and talk of a repeat or follow-up season, than the same angler who keeps getting better and better every year may end needing a second mantle to house a second consecutive AOY title in 2008. 

     My only question is, Who will he have to beat this time? 

Share This

Related Stories

Skeet Reese talks AOY
Skeet Reese Receives Outdoors ESPY Nomination
Is Skeet the next KVD?
McClelland AOY??
Are some Anglers “Over the Top”?

POSTED IN: BASS, BASS Elite Series, Miscellaneous