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Team Skeeter Mid-Season Update -Professional Anglers Set Sights on 2009 Goals

KILGORE, Texas, May 28, 2009 – At mid-season of the Bassmaster Elite Series, most of Team Skeeter’s line-up of professional anglers are taking a much needed break, heading home to mentally and physically recharge for the second half of the season which starts back at the Tennessee Triumph event on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee, June 3-6.

“We’re extremely pleased with the on-the-water performance of our Team Skeeter anglers this season, and hope for continued success the rest of the year,” says Skeeter’s Senior Vice President & General Manager, Jeff Stone.  “We have a versatile group of anglers that includes Classic Champions, Elite Series veterans, rookies, Women’s Bassmaster Tour stars and Bassmaster Open regulars.  We expect our anglers to take their job seriously, understanding the importance of representing their sponsors with the highest of integrity and professionalism, as well as realizing the role of building and growing individual fan bases,” says Stone.

Team Skeeter Sets Sights on 2009 Goals

Consistency is something that all anglers strive for from tournament to tournament, and each year the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year rewards this consistency with a $200,000 purse.  At mid-season, Skeeter’s Alton Jones ranks 3rd with 1240 points, Todd Faircloth is 6th with 1207 points, Mark Menendez is 8th with 1152 points, with Bradley Hallman, Cliff Pace, Dean Rojas, Matt Herren and Kelly Jordon rounding out the top 25.

BASS made revisions to this season’s Elite Series, which will now include a postseason, matching the skills of the top 12 angers in the final AOY standings against each other for the Toyota Trucks Championship Week, a two-event format set for September 10-18 on Lake Jordan and the Alabama River.

Team Skeeter kicked-off the year with six anglers finishing in the top 25 at the Battle on the Border on Lake Amistad, including a 2nd place finish by Alton Jones.  Mark Menendez then took 1st place in the Diamond Drive on Lake Dardanelle, and the Team then placed nine anglers in the top 25 during the Dixie Duel on Wheeler Lake.  Team Skeeter has 32 top 25 finishes in the first half of the Elite Series.

In the Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race, won last year by Skeeter’s Bobby Lane, Matt Herren is currently leading the standings with 1030 points, with Greg Vinson in 2nd place with 935 points, followed by Vince Fulks in 5th place and Mark Burgess in 7th place.

Skeeter’s success extends beyond the Elite Series, as Dave Mansue earned his first BASS victory at the season-opening Bassmaster Northern Open on the Chesapeake Bay.  While on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour, Juanite Robinson is currently in 2nd place in the Toyota Tundra Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year standings.

At the mid-season break, several Team Skeeter anglers reflect on the first half of the season, and what it will take to meet their goals the remaining of the year.

Alton Jones

“I feel good about my performance to date, but I’m still not satisfied.  My goal is winning the AOY title, and I’ll continue to work hard toward this goal.  In this sport, it’s very important that you never quit learning – how to practice better, how to make better decisions on the water, execution, and how to better prepare.  It’s also learning how to maximize the value I give to my sponsors, and how to better engage my fans.”

Jared Lintner

“I began the season really well, with a 3rd place finish at Lake Amistad, but have not had the same success since then due to poor execution and some poor decisions.  I’ll continue to work hard, with hopes of securing a Bassmaster Classic spot.”

Dave Mansue

“I am having a great year, and am excited about the remainder of the season.  One of my goals was to make the PAA Championship, and I’m currently in 18th place with one event remaining.  I’m also ranked 1st in the Bassmaster Northern Opens, with a good shot at qualifying for both the Bassmaster Classic and next season’s Elite Series.”

Mark Menendez

“I have had a great season to date, and have exceeded my Classic goal by far.  I’m shifting my efforts to the AOY race, as I’d like to be a part of the Elite postseason, as these two events are located on fisheries where I’ve been successful in the past.”

Bradley Hallman

“I’m having a good year, and am pleased with my 16th place ranking in the AOY standings.  I’ve made the final day cuts in several tournaments, and if I continue on this course, I should obtain my goal of making it to the Bassmaster Classic.  I have filled my non-Elite Series schedule with local and grassroots tournaments to keep my skills sharp.”

Matt Herren

“To date my 2009 season has been okay, but I need to be more consistent.  I have taken an aggressive approach during each tournament, and that can sometimes lead to some very high finishes but some low finishes as well.  I have three goals, making the Elite Series postseason, winning Rookie of the Year, and making the 2010 Bassmaster Classic.  For the remainder of the season, I plan to focus on fishing ‘current’ conditions, rather than fishing ‘past’ areas and conditions.”

Greg Vinson

“I have made good decisions in practice and during tournaments, but have made a few rookie mistakes that cost me both points and dollars.  My goals remain the same – making the Classic and winning Rookie of the Year.  As a rookie, the most important step for me is to learn quickly, continue to improve both as an angler and businessperson, and maintain my integrity as I do so.  I always ask my co-anglers and marshals what they think of the performance from my Skeeter, and all concur that my 20i-Class is an exceptional fishing platform.” 

Mark Burgess

“I’m about 50% in reaching my goals, and hope to make the final cut in at least one additional Elite Series tournament.  My goals starting out this season were to finish in the money in at least half of the events, and to make the Classic.”

Juanita Robinson

“I feel good about this year, and will continue to work hard for a first place finish this season.  I always start working on the next tournament as soon as I finish on one.  There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not working on my tackle, my boat or on the Internet looking for information to make me a better angler.  It’s also nice to have the utmost confidence in your boat, knowing this is one area of your job that you don’t have to worry about.  My goal continues to be the AOY title and a Classic berth.”

Dustin Wilks

“I’m right in the middle of the pack, starting out slow this season, but moving up in the standings.  My goal is to win one Elite Series tournament this year.  I continue to gain confidence at each tournament, and hope that this momentum will carry me into the Bassmaster Classic.”

Todd Faircloth

“I have made three top 12’s, and am currently in 6th place in the AOY standings.  I’m pleased with my performance this season, but want to continue to do my best to promote my sponsors and myself.  My Skeeter allows me to get me most out of my practice and tournament time, as it’s worry-free.  If I can continue my pace, I should be able to make the Elite Series postseason, and qualify for the Classic.”

Kelly Jordon

“My performance has been good, but leaves much room for improvement.  I have not met my goals this season, as I hope to win one Elite Series event.  I am extremely thankful that I get to do what I love for a living.  In these tough economic times, many people take to fishing as a way to get away, if just for a few hours.  Our sport has never been stronger, and it’s the fans that often make this worthwhile.”