Omori's Classic Hopes on the Line

Given his stature in the BASS world and his season-opening CITGO Bassmaster Tour win on Lake Tohopekaliga in January, Texan Takahiro Omori would have to be considered one of the pre-tournament favorites in the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 24-26, on the same waters.

That would be the case if the 2004 Classic champion is in Kissimmee, Fla., for professional fishing’s Big Show.

The Japanese pro has not qualified for the 36th Classic, even as routes to the world championship are quickly being taken by other anglers. But this week, Omori is in Prattville, Ala., for his last shot at the Classic through the CITGO Bassmaster Open Championship on the Alabama River.

Actually, Omori has two opportunities to qualify for the 2006 Classic:

• By finishing in the top five in the Open Championship

• If one of the top-five finishers already has qualified for the Classic. BASS would then work down the CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, where Omori stands 33rd and is the highest-ranked angler not already qualified for the Classic.

“I fished this river once, three years ago,” Omori said of the Alabama River. “I led the first day and caught 20 pounds. But it was 10 feet high. It will be different this time.”

It is a surprise that Omori is even in the championship, considering that he skipped one of the three tournaments in both the Central and Southern Open divisions. Fishing just two tournaments, Omori grabbed 25th place in the Central Open standings and the final slot for the championship.

“I was not expecting to make the Open Championship just fishing two (tournaments),” said Omori, who finished first and third in the two Central Opens he fished. “So I’m happy. The only reason I fished the Opens was to keep myself sharp. I would have had five months with no tournaments.”

Looking ahead, Omori downplayed talk of being among the pre-Classic favorites. He points out that he failed to make the top-50 finals in the recent CITGO Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Tohopekaliga. But fishing fans recall that he won the Tour opener in late January by targeting pre-spawn bass with a lipless crankbait — a pattern likely to be effective during the Classic in February.
 

From BASS