On Any Given Sunday
by Bruce Callis
March 3,2017
[print_link]
The A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee is in the books and what a trilling 4 days of fishing. Ott Defoe took the lead on day 1 with an impressive bag of 31 pounds 3 ounces, almost 5 pounds ahead of Stephen Browning and almost 6 pounds ahead of Timmy Horton. On day 2, Timmy had a sweet 30 pound 4 ounce bag, knocking Ott into 2nd by almost 8 pounds and Stephen dropped to 5th almost 14 pound behind. The 3rd day saw very little change on the leader board, with Timmy holding on to the lead over Ott by almost 9 pounds.
Championship Sunday was a day of feast or famine for some. Ott made a hard charge and had an impressive bag of 18 pounds 13 ounces to make Timmy sweat as he came up on the stage, Timmy struggled that day, finding 5 fish that weighed just 11 pounds and 7 ounces, but was just enough to hold on to the lead and earn him the victory by just 1 pound 4 ounces. A thrilling finish to the weekend to say the least.
I have met Timmy Horton on different occasions, especially at the Reel American Heroes Foundation Tournament here locally. I like him a lot, as he is always smiling and willing to talk to anyone. This is a victory he needed badly too. But how many people actually thought he was going to do it? How many actually picked him for their fantasy fishing team? If you did, you knew something the rest of us didn’t know. Out of the top 10 leaders on fantasy fishing, only one person picked Timmy in Group E. Out of the top 25 leaders, only 2 picked Timmy. What did they know, or are they just great fans?
We all know that on any given weekend, any of the Elite anglers can indeed pull out the win. We have seen 2 events this year and 2 winners. Jacob Wheeler won the first event, but struggled and finished 61st this time. Timmy Horton won on Okeechobee but finished 96th at Cherokee. On any given Sunday! We all dream of us being up there, and walking away with that trophy held high. On any given Sunday it could be us. If we could find the right spot, if only.
We all know the pain of struggling while fishing. We have all gone out and were glad that we found at least one bass. We have all fished all day and then at the last minute, everything starts to click and we find exactly what they want and where they are, and just wonder why we didn’t do it earlier.
But just like Timmy, we don’t give up. Timmy hadn’t won an Elite Series since 2007 when he won the Champion’s Choice on Lake Champlain. And he topped his winning weight from the 2004 Southern Open on Lake Okeechobee by almost 12 pounds. It has been a lot of lows and some highs for him over his career on the Elite Series, but he never gave up. He knew, on any given Sunday. Having the drive, the desire, to win doesn’t guarantee victory. I have the drive, I have the desire, but I can only dream of being an Elite Angler. But on any given Sunday, it could be me or you. Are you ready to lift that trophy high? Are you?