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Skeet’s Dialed In

Category: article

 May 24th, 2013 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified May 24th, 2013 at 12:00 AM

Maturity and the ability to understand what you can and what you cannot control are starting to become evident when looking at the former Bassmaster Classic and Angler of the Year champ Skeet Reese. Early in his career, he was known to have exceptional skill pulling in bass, but was also known to allow his emotions to dictate his fishing efforts.

	Skeet moments after winning the 2013 West Point Lake Battle. (Photo BassFIRST)

After a couple of subpar seasons following two regular seasons where he won the Angler of the Year (AoY) regular season points only to lose to Kevin VanDam each year in the now defunct Bassmaster post-season, Reese seems to be poised to make another run at the prestigious AoY title. He is currently sitting in second behind Edwin Evers and in front of Kevin VanDam with three regular season events left.

“I feel really good,” said Reese. “I’m not worrying about things like I did before. I’m fishing the fish. I’m not forcing anything. I’m trying to make the best of what I’ve got every time I am fishing. Whether it’s enough for a win like at West Point or a Top 50 finish. I’m making better decisions on the water and learning to go with the flow.”

One of the keys to Reese’s rebound this season is a focus on health.

“I have a better workout program now,” said Reese. “It is really important to be in good physical condition. I feel better about myself and that makes me more confident. I’ve been playing this game long enough to realize these things are all so important. I’m in a much better frame of mind.”

Redemption is a word Reese thinks about.

“The two years when I won the regular season points and lost in the post-season haunt me,” said Reese. “I worked so hard and didn’t win. I do think about those years. I’ve put a lot of work into this and feel pretty jacked about being in position to have a chance to win the AoY this year. If I did win, it would be a kind of redemption.”

Reese feels the pressure is off.

“I’m excited about where I am at going into the LaCrosse event,” said Reese. “I don’t feel the pressure. I’ve been here before. Kevin is usually right there and Edwin is usually up there too. The difference is Edwin has never won this title. He has pressure on him. He’ll be puckered up from now on. I’m just worried about my own game and keeping in position to make a run at the title during the last event of the season.”