By BOB LAMB / Tribune Outdoors Editor
Tom Monsoor’s Wal-Mart FLW Tour season came to an abrupt halt late last week, but after hearing the good news late Saturday afternoon, he is already gearing up for 2005. Advertisement
Watch your newspaper
for details on our upcoming
Delta Blowout sale!
Click for Details
Advertising Info Directory
“I made it. I made it,” said Monsoor, a commercial fisherman by trade, but one of the Upper Midwest’s leading pro bass anglers. “What a relief.”
Monsoor’s 92nd-finish in this year’s final FLW standings was just enough to qualify for the prestigious 2005 tournament series. Only the top 100 anglers qualify, so he didn’t make it by much.
The talented La Crosse angler garnered 626 points compared to 716 points and a 74th place finish in his rookie season one year ago. However, Monsoor’s winnings went up considerably. He won $87,000 this year compared to $29,000 in 2003.
Monsoor said his goals were to have three top 10 finishes in the six regular-season events and qualify for the FLW Championship. He was runner-up in one tournament and third in another. However, his best finish in the other four events was a distant 95th.
“That’s the key. I have to be more consistent,” he said. “I can’t have two or three bad tournaments.”
Monsoor believes his odds will increase each year he fishes on the FLW Tour, because it takes years to learn the different rivers and lakes.
Ford fan, I would have told you to stay in Bassinal’s boat on Saturday.