Walker Finishes in the Money at Southern Open, Eyes GEICO Bassmaster Classic

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Jan. 16) — With a cash finish from the Bassmaster Southern Open No. 1 in hand, Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat pro David Walker now turns his sights to the GEICO Bassmaster Classic.

Walker didn’t bag enough fish Friday to reach the top 12 and advance to the final day on Lake Tohopekaliga, but his 30th-place finish did earn him a paycheck.

“It didn’t go as I was hoping,” Walker said. “I guess it could’ve been worse, but it should’ve been better.

“It is nice to get a start here and have a good finish. That’s a little victory, but the Classic is a tournament unlike one of these Opens.”

Walker stood 19th after Thursday’s first day, but like a lot of anglers in this tournament he was unable to match that total on Friday. And that has the veteran angler scratching his head a little bit.

“I had a solid finish; I’ll finish in the money,” Walker said. “I was hoping to do a lot better, but the weights were down quite a bit today. There were a few stringers and a few guys who had good days who didn’t yesterday, but all the guys who had good stringers yesterday had trouble today.”

Walker bagged five fish weighing 9 pounds, 12 ounces Friday to bring his two-day total to 23 pounds, 12 ounces.

“I don’t know what to attribute it to,” Walker said of the drop-off of so many pros. “There were no failures, as far as lost fish or broken lines. There just weren’t enough bites to make up the ground I needed.”

But Walker won’t fret, especially when reminded that the GEICO Bassmaster Classic is up next. That tournament, on Lake Hartwell in Greenville, S.C., on Feb. 20-22, is the biggest for pro anglers.

“I love that tournament,” Walker said. “It’s such a good tournament. It is a career-making event. It’s that important of an event. You want to win it just to get into the next one.”

Walker has high hopes for the Classic, where he finished 19th a year ago and will be making his 11th appearance.

“We’ll see when we get there,” Walker said. “Weather is going to be a big factor there. Plus, it is the Classic, so there are a lot of things going on, a lot of hoopla, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in that. But I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat pro angler David Walker posted a cash finish at the Bassmaster Southern Open No. 1 thanks to a two-day total haul of 23 pounds, 12 ounces.