Here's a throwback to the Top-40 from 2012 - a decade ago....
Although recognized as a talent since he broke in a few seasons back, his fifth place standing in the FLW Tour Majors points was the highest ranking of any angler from the Golden State, and enough to outdistance the 40-odd year old Skeet Reese, who returned to the list after blanking in 2011.
Still it’s safe to say, the last 11 months of bass fishing (especially on the competitive side) have been “crazy,” as one tournament director suggested. Of course, he didn’t have to look at all the standings of all the popular tours and trails, then factor in the sometimes watered down competition, small fields and residence changes for those who are now former Californians.
As is the routine here, once again, we rated the level of tournaments with catch-your-own draws ahead of shared weight events or teams. Success in more than one circuit was an advantage (though rarely seen in 2012), while good finishes in one circuit could be offset by poor showings in another circuit.
And generally speaking, adding a win to one’s resume was usually a difference-maker.
Still, many of the players were so inconsistent it forced my crack Bass Angler Assessment Team (BAAT), to do something we’ve never needed to do in the past. That is, grade angler performance on a curve! Yep, not many A’s and not many F’s. But a whole bunch of average. However, that opened the door to a few newcomers, and along with a few impressive catches by the big bass specialists, put a little meat in the Top 40 sandwich.
So here they are
1. Cody Meyer, Auburn—An excellent FLW season puts him on top of the list as well as the highest ranking Californian in the Bassfan.com World Ranking
2. Skeet Reese, Auburn—Let’s hear it for the Top 40 “Comeback fisherman of the Year!” Disappeared a year ago, but he could be turning it around and headed back to the pinnacle of the sport after a top 10 showing in the Bassmaster Elites.
3. Jeff Michaels, Lakehead—You can plug this guy in the top 5 about every year and he’s money—like Everstart Angler of the Year in the West for 2012. I’m impressed.
4. Butch Brown, Castaic—Nobody had a better, more productive and more documented year for trophy bass than this guy.
5. Greg Gutierrez, Red Bluff—Competing at a high level and only one point behind Michaels in the Everstarts, no one should be surprised at his ranking.
6. Joe Uribe, Jr., Mission Viejo—An excellent fourth place in Everstart points and a top 10 in Bassranking.com, he can catch ‘em anywhere.
7. Jimmy Reese, Witter Springs—Little to differentiate this Reese from others in the Everstarts, so this is where he landed.
8. Wayne Breazeale, Kelseyville—A known commodity who shown best in the WON events, and also captured a USAC title.
9. Zack Thompson, Alameda—Solid 6th place in the Everstart Series, he’s probably plenty good enough to win with just one wacky hook point—but he likes two.
10. Matt Allen, Vacaville—Most impressive thing to the Assessment Team was he caught big ones in more different places and during a wider duration during the year.
READ IT ALL: http://www.kramergonefishing.com/2012/1 ... t-in-2012/
Advertising