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No Peanut Butter for DeFoe

Category: article

 Aug 22nd, 2012 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Aug 22nd, 2012 at 12:00 AM

After winning the All-Star event last season, his first season fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, Nitro Boats pro Ott DeFoe is poised to strike at winning one the premier, if not arguably the premier, titles in all of pro bass fishing, Bassmaster Angler of the Year.

	Ott DeFoe (Photo BassFIRST)

He is currently sitting in second, just 13 points behind veteran pro Brent Chapman. With a solid event and a slight stumble by Chapman, DeFoe could be on his way to the ultra-elite ranks of pro bassin’.

Sure, DeFoe has been fishing pro events for years. Prior to hitting the Elites, he was a regular at the various FLW events. So being such a seasoned pro you’d think he hardly thinks about winning the Angler of the Year title, right? Well, not really.

“It’s all I think about now,” said DeFoe. “I mean I try not to think about it. I’m not nervous or anything, but its just there all of the time. And this year, it is so close.”

Like many Elite Series pros, DeFoe focuses on performing well enough during the regular season to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic. This year, the Angler of the Year title popped into his head at the start.

“My number one goal is to make the Classic,” said DeFoe. “But after I finished 40th to start the season on the St. John’s River, I told my wife, if I want to win the Angler of the Year title, this finish has to be the worst of the season. So far, it was.”

If the season were over today and DeFoe finished in second, he states he’d be happy with the effort he put forth.

“If it all ended today, I’d feel like I had a stellar year,” said DeFoe. “Especially, since it’s only my second year on the Elite Series. It would just not be my time. I won’t know that until after this tournament is over.”

Oneida has been stingy so far for Ott.

“Oneida is supposed to be really good, I just haven’t experienced that,” said DeFoe. “There are a lot of fish, but I’m just not finding the right things. It’s a very nice place though, I just am not sure I have the answers right now.”

Comfort in family and food helps make this season more enjoyable for DeFoe.

“I travel with my family,” said DeFoe. “We are camping right near the lake, it’s nice. My wife helps me a lot, with promotional things, cooking, though I usually cook if it’s on the grill.

“Sushi is my favorite food, but we can’t really make it and it’s tough to bring on a boat. Though I guess, I could catch one and slice a fillet off.

“My favorite food to bring on the boat is Nutella and Jelly. Not peanut butter. I just like the way the hazelnut tastes.”