CONGRATULATIONS TAKAHIRO AND TEAM YAMAMOTO

They say to fish in the Classic makes a dramatic, lasting impact on one's life. In 2004, seven Yamamoto members enjoyed this experience many of us dream of, to fish the Classic. Congratulations to Ben Matsubu (1st Classic), Bernie Schultz (7th Classic), Brett Hite (2nd Classic), Lee Bailey Jr (2nd Classic), Art Ferguson III (4th Classic), and John Murray (3rd Classic in row). John made the final cut and finished tenth. Congratulations, Ben, Bernie, Brett, Lee, Art and John. We are all proud of you.

Yet most of all, congratulations to Takahiro Omori who won it!

Tak's career story is similar to that of many American pros who struggle to pursue their dream: "I was just a teenager when I met Gary Yamamoto in Japan. From that moment, I knew what I wanted... to be a bass fisherman in the United States. Eight years later, at age 21, I had saved enough to make it to America to pursue my dream."

"My first BASS tournament on Sam Rayburn in March 1992, I was low on money, lonely, and sleeping in my beat-up station wagon. I spoke little English. I only knew one person who lived in the United States; thankfully, I found him. Gary Yamamoto shared his room, let me pre-fish with him, and gave me the encouragement I needed. From that moment on, I have been living my personal dream in the United States. Winning the Classic is the best day of my life."

On day one of the Classic, Tak landed what would be the heaviest bag (16-02) to be weighed at the 2004 Classic, putting Tak into first on day one. But day two would turn out to be an emotional rollercoaster ride for Takahiro. On day 2 he broke off not one but two five pound bass, finishing with only a smaller limit (9-08) for day two. Dean Rojas, fishing the same water as Tak pulled into first place, ten ounces ahead of Tak. With the stigma of losing two good fish hanging over his head, Tak wondered if he had lost any chance to win the Classic. On day three, the two big bass broken off the day before were haunting him. "I was thinking no one can overcome misfortune like that, not in the Classic. With only 45 minutes left to go, I wasn't in contention, but I didn't give up," says Takahiro. At that moment, Tak made a move that would win him the Classic, boating three good bass on crankbaits with only minutes until weigh-in.

This was Tak's third Classic appearance and his 142nd BASS tournament since March 1992. Takahiro has finished in the BASS money 57 times with four wins (including the Classic), four seconds and twenty top tens. Tak's BASS career winnings are $684,625.

Tak has fished 56 FLW tournaments including 4 FLW Championships since 1995 with one win and four top ten finishes. Tak's career winnings on FLW are $289,293, taking Tak close to the million dollar ($973,918) mark in combined BASS and FLW winnings.

The new BASS world champion, Takahiro, must now block out the whirlwind and world-acclaim of winning BASS in order to focus on Lake Logan Martin, Birmingham, Alabama for the FLW world championship on August 11-14.

Joining Takahiro competing in the FLW Championship are fellow Yamamoto pros Lee Bailey, Jr, and Tom Mann, Jr.

Go Tak! Go Lee! Go Tom! Go Team Yamamoto! Bring the FLW world championship home!