(Jun. 04, 2003 – NEW ORLEANS, LA.)… Newly crowned Busch BASS Angler of the Year and reigning CTIGO Bassmaster Classic champion Jay Yelas hasn’t had much time to reflect on his latest triumph or look ahead to his next goal – defending his Classic crown in New Orleans this summer.
Phone calls from well-wishers, interviews with the media, sponsor duties and the massive giveaway of his recently published autobiography have kept him busy since May 25th when he did the unthinkable – became just the second Classic champion to follow up by winning the Angler of the Year title the following season.
In the 32-year history of the Classic, only Yelas and 1993 winner David Fritts have accomplished that feat.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, ” he said. “It’s been neat having all of my friends and family calling and congratulating me.”
The 37-year-old Texas pro proved to be the big winner in one of the tightest Angler of the Year races in BASS history. He entered the final event of the CITGO Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch Beer in second place behind leader Alton Jones and followed closely by Louisiana’s Roger Boler, Florida pro Shaw Grigsby, three-time Angler of the Year Mark Davis and Arizona’s John Murray.
“It was sort of a come-from-behind victory for me to be in the hunt because I haven’t had a great year,” Yelas said. “I’ve only had one top 10 until the last tournament.
“Nobody had a great year. Every Angler of the Year that I can recall has won a tournament during the season and has had numerous top 10s. But that wasn’t the case this year. We had 10 tournaments this year compared to six or seven in years past. I think with the more tournaments you have, it keeps more people in the hunt who are just consistent and don’t have real flashy seasons. And that’s kind of how I fished. I just kind of grinded all year and just stayed in the hunt. And then my veteran experience in this last tournament – knowing how I needed to fish in order to win-paid off.
“It wasn’t a real flashy, kick-butt kind of year like Kevin (VanDam) and Mark have had over the years, and Timmy (Horton) had that one year. It was more of a veteran grind-it-out type year where a lot of experience came into play, one where you leaned on what you’ve learned over the years and gamble when you most need to.”
Yelas admitted that aiming for the Angler of the Year crown was, uncharacteristically, not his goal entering the 2003 Tour season. Like most recently crowned Classic winners, he reasoned that making a run at the title was not realistic considering the new and dramatically increased demands on his time and attention. That is the reason why most Classic champions need to fall back on their automatic return ticket to the sport’s Big Show.
So Yelas adopted a laid-back approach that somehow kept him among the leaders in the Busch BASS Angler of the Year standings throughout much of the season.
“In years past, I’d prefish. I’d press. I’d be on the water from dawn to dark,” he said. “Not this year. I was just enjoying myself and fishing and having fun. Not pressing too hard, real relaxed until the last two tournaments when Angler of the Year became a reality. Then I really started getting geared up and the adrenaline started flowing. So winning it is just amazing to me.
“I probably worked about 75 percent as hard this year as I have in past years. I didn’t put forth the effort that I have in the past. So I won Angler of the Year, but I can’t say it’s because of something I’ve done or some new formula that I’ve come up with. I think God likes it that way because that way I can’t take the credit for it. And it’s easy to give him the credit for it.”
His fellow pros realize the significance of Yelas’ achievement.
“My hat’s off to Jay,” runner-up Alton Jones said. “What he accomplished is incredible.”
In recent days, Yelas has been watching as the $100,000 prize he received from Busch as Angler of the Year is being spent in a grand way. He used the money to purchase 20,000 copies of his new autobiography from his publisher, who set up a toll-free number (1-866-JAY-LURE) to give the books away to fishing fans.
“I feel that’s the best thing I can do to have a positive influence on other people,” he said. “People can read it and it can have a positive impact on their life. I just feel like that’s the best thing that I can do.
“I’m very appreciative of Busch’s involvement in the Angler of the Year program and their efforts to advance our sport.”
Soon, Yelas’ thoughts will be focused on New Orleans and the Louisiana Delta, where he will have a chance to accomplish another rare feat – successfully defending his Classic crown.
“I’m looking forward to New Orleans,” he said. “That will be another great Classic down there. And the fishing should be good. I hear it is a lot better than it was two years ago and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Sponsors of the CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented by Busch Beer include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Busch Beer, Chevrolet Trucks, Yamaha Outdboards, Mercury Marine, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Kumho Tires, Progressive Insurance, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Diamond Cut Jeans, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Bass Pro Shops, Armstrong Industrial Hand Tools, and BASS Platinum Visa/First USA.
Associate Sponsors include Bass Cat Boats and G3 Boats.
Local sponsors include the state of Louisiana and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.
By: BASS Communications/ BASS
