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Butcher hangs it up, sort of

Category: article

 Nov 20th, 2012 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Nov 20th, 2012 at 12:00 AM

While many of you faithful BassFIRST visitors are familiar with Bassmaster Elite Series pro, Terry Butcher from Talala, Oklahoma, many casual observers may not know him. Sure, he’s won tournaments, and yep, he is the guy who blew a shot at making the Bassmaster Classic next February, on his home lake, Grand Lake in Oklahoma, by arriving late to check in at the Lake Oneida Elite Series event. Other than that, he is a down-home family man who has made major career choice. He is stepping down from fishing the Elites. That is a shock to some fans who feel fishing at the Elite level is the dream of all dreams, but for Butcher, its time to stay home.

	Terry Butcher will continue to fish the Central Opens in 2013. (Photo BassFIRST)

“I’m just tired of being away all of the time,” said Butcher. “I’m tired of being away from my family. My girls are getting older. I want to be around for them. I really need to be at home and with my family right now.”

Butcher’s decision doesn’t mean he is casting off his title of tournament angler. He is simply shifting focus from national to regional events.

“I will be fishing the Central Opens next season,” said Butcher. “If I do well I can still qualify for a shot at the Bassmaster Classic through the Opens. I also plan to fish stuff around my home.

“You never know, I may want to fish the Elites again. By fishing the Opens I stay in it and can re-qualify if I want to go that route.”