Kevin Stewart - West Coast to FLW Tour
Story and photos by Jody Only
Many West Coasters within the industry know Kevin Stewart as Kramer's 2011
"NBT" - making honors of the George Kramer Top 40 list is one thing;
but to be noted as his "next best thing" puts an exclamation point on
the pick.
Stewart, a resident of Elk Grove, Calif. makes news within the sport again,
this year as he decides to make the leap from a West Coast boater to a FLW
Touring pro. As we've learned in many of the Beyond the Pond installments -
"going pro" - is a big choice for an angler and a sacrifice for an
angler's family. Stewart checked in with Advanced Angler to share his
experience weighing out the decision as he prepared for travel to the U.S.
Open.
"It was definitely something that I had been thinking about doing and
something that I wanted to do," said the NorCal angler. "I saw the
Tour schedule when it was released and knew it was time. My youngest just left
for college and that gives me the freedom and the time to travel. I thought it
was a good time, especially with the cancelling of the Opens."
Feeling the 2013 FLW Tour schedule was "perfect" for him, Stewart
also noted that he had not been to any of the locations, previously. "What
I like best is that aside from Okeechobee, all of the other events are at
places that are only about a day and half of travel from a central location
that I can stay at." Stewart added, "I have family in Central Texas,
so it is going to work out well to stay there."
Revealing that owning his own business was a big help in the "time-off
from work" circumstance, Stewart also explained that his wife would have
to pick up some of the slack that his absence caused. "Fortunately, I have
several long-term employees that have been with us for 12-years or so and they
are able to handle most things," he added. "There are few things that
would need me to return, but not much." Even with the sacrifice that Mrs.
Stewart is required to make with the couple's business, her time away from her
husband and the finances that must be spent to allow such an endeavor, Stewart
noted he has his full family's support. "They are behind me 100
percent," he stated.
He was asked what he thought his goals should be as an angler that had only
been competitively fishing since 2009. "I do feel that I have to pay my
dues as a 45-year-old rookie on the tour that has never been to any of the
lakes," he stated. "My first year, there will be a learning curve and
my 2nd year will be more tell-tale. I wouldn't give up if I didn't make the Cup
on my first year; but that is my primary goal. I want to qualify for the
Forrest Wood Cup as a rookie and then the next year, I want to place in the Top
50 and qualify again."
Planning for practice time, Stewart anticipated putting in four to five days on
the water outside of Official Practice days and around Off Limits days. This
practice time is in addition to the Official Practice days allowed at each
event. "I really want no less than eight days minimum to learn each lake,
find out where to stay, where to buy tackle and other things that will make it
easier to fish during the tournament," explained Stewart.
Stewart noted he was building his network of information for the foreign
competition sites and had already started garnering local data; but did say he
wouldn't succumb to the area dock talk. He also commented that he expected the
bill to "live the dream" would run upwards of $45,000 annually and
that he had secured some associate sponsors; but would announce a primary
sponsor at a later date.
The 2013 FLW Tour schedule will find Stewart and his competitors at the
following bodies of water:
Feb. 7-10 Lake Okeechobee Clewiston, Fla.
March 7-10 Smith Lake Jasper, Ala.
April 11-14 Beaver Lake Rogers, Ark.
May 16-19 Lake Eufaula Eufaula, Ala.
June 6-9 Grand Lake Grove, Okla.
June 27-30 Lake Chickamauga Dayton, Tenn.
Aug. 15-18 Red River (Forrest Wood Cup) Shreveport/Bossier City, La.
Read more like this on AdvancedAngler.com.
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