SALEM, Va. (WFXR) — “These kind of trophies do not come easy,” said Bassmaster Elite angler and Missile Baits owner John Crews as he gestured toward the large blue trophy sitting on his desk at Missile headquarters in Salem.
Crews, has captured many top finishes in his Bassmaster Elite Series tournament career. Among those are two tournament wins. Next week, he starts his quest for a third and maybe more. That’s when the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament season opens at Toledo Bend Reservoir on the Texas-Louisiana border. The pursuit of another championship is what drives him.
“It’s one of those things you’ll remember for the rest of your life,” said Crews. “It motivates me for every single event; maybe this is the one to get another one of those blue trophies?”
The Bassmaster tournament season is long, and life on the trail can be grueling. There are hours of travel hauling a boat to each event, and then even longer hours on the water pre-fishing, and then fishing the actual tournaments. Crews says mental and physical preparation is vital.