Young Gun
Corey Waldrop has always wondered what it might be like to be a rookie among the stars. He is about to find out.
The 19-year-old recently competed in a BASS Wildcard event on Lake Okeechobee in Florida. At stake in the no-entry fee, no-pay back tournament were the last 10 qualifying slots on the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series tournament trail.
The Fort Worth teenager earned one of the spots by finishing fourth in the overall standings. In doing so, Waldrop became the youngest angler in BASS history to qualify for the Elite Series tour.
The Elite Series is considered by some to be the world's most competitive professional tournament trail. Some of the biggest names in the industry do business there. Among them are Kevin VanDam, Skeet Reese, Rick Clunn and Denny Brauer, just to name a few.
How does it feel to be the pup about to step into the arena with the big dogs? Waldrop said it is just now beginning to sink in.
"I'm going to be fishing against the elite anglers in the business, the best of the best," Waldrop said. "When you look down through the list of competitors, you see a lot of household names. I'm really excited about this opportunity. It's going to be a treat to fish against them. I fished hard all year to be where I am. Now my goal is make the most of it."
Coming up with money to pay his way on tour is the first line of business.
It costs $5,000 per pop to fish in each Elite Series event, plus travel expenses. With 11 tournaments on tap between March 3 and Aug. 7, that means Waldrop needs to secure $55,000 in entry-fee money alone. That's no easy chore for a teenager who has pledged to make it on his own without the financial support of his family.
"My parents have my back 100 percent on this, but their feelings are that I should do it on my own [financially], so I'll gain some respect for what I am doing," Waldrop said. "I completely agree with that."
Elite Series pros are allowed to pay their entry fees on scheduled installments throughout the season. The first installment, $7,000, was due Dec. 11, Waldrop said.
"It is going to be like paying on a house mortgage from hell," Waldrop said. "I've been hustling, trying to get it done. I have secured a couple of sponsors to help with the first installment. Hopefully, that will give me the time to come up with something for the rest of the year."
A personable pro with thick, wavy red hair, Waldrop looks his age. I drew him on Day 1 of the Texas Division Stren Series event on Lake Texoma earlier this fall. I suspected that he wasn't yet old enough to buy beer, but I had to ask.
Waldrop laughed when I inquired of his age as we idled into the mouth of Catfish Creek the following morning.
"I'm only 19, but I've been fishing this lake my whole life," he said with confidence.
A Legend Boats pro staffer, Waldrop said he hopes to use his age as a marketing tool to attract sponsors.
"I am going to try to use it to my advantage," he said. "My age should give me an approach to getting sponsors that some of the other anglers don't have. When I do well, it might put me in the spotlight a little more than another angler because I am so young. It will be a great avenue to generate some great exposure, which is what sponsors are looking for."
Waldrop needs to capitalize on his status as a teenager early in the season. He turns 20 on March 15.
The Elite Series opens the 2008 season in March with back-to-back events in Florida. The first tournament is the Sunshine Showdown at the Harris Chain of Lakes, March 6-9, followed by the Citrus Slam on the Kissimmee Chain, March 13-16.
"I know this is not going to be easy, but I am going to give it my best shot," Waldrop said. "I may have to sleep in my truck and eat a lot of peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches. But I am willing to do it if that is what it takes. It will make the fire inside me burn hotter to do good out there. The rewards are worth it."
• Matt Williams's e-mail address is mattwilliams@netdot.com.
Share this story:
Google
Yahoo
digg
del.icio.us
facebook
Slashdot
