Article
Date: 5/22/06
BACK-TO-BASICS APPROACH HELPS JONES EXCEL IN CITGO BASSMASTER ELITE
SERIES
 CELEBRATION,
Fla. – When Alton Jones explains his early-season success
on the CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series, less is more.
The Waco, Texas, angler has been one of the hottest and most consistent
performers this season on the new Elite Series. With years of professional
experience to draw on, as well as a strong record in BASS competition,
Jones is going about his business very simply in the 11-event, $7.5
million Series.
“At the start of each season, I like to have a theme for
what I do,” said Jones, a four-time BASS tournament winner.
“This year, it’s back to the basics.
“I’m trying to focus on my strengths and use my methods,
not what someone else is doing,” said the 28th-ranked angler
on the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index. “Just because
I hear that Dean Rojas is tearing ‘em up with a frog, I’m
not suddenly going to start flipping a frog. It’s better for
me to fish my own strengths.”
In an effort to “fish smarter,” Jones said he is paying
special attention to seasonal patterns. “I’m listening
to what the fish are telling me,” he said.
The results have been strong. Jones qualified for last week’s
Bassmaster Memorial in Texas, where he placed 35th. He also led
the recent Southern Challenge presented by Berkley on Alabama’s
Lake Guntersville for two days before ultimately finishing second,
and he finished seventh in the inaugural Elite Series event, the
Battle on the Border presented by Mercury Marine, in Texas.
So what’s on Jones’ list of goals now? Adding another
BASS win to the four he already has as well as winning the Angler
of the Year title. (He’s currently in 29th place.) He’s
also starting to look toward the 2007 CITGO Bassmaster Classic,
bass fishing’s most major event.
Helping him along the way are sponsors Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards,
XCalibur fishing tackle, YUM fish attractor, Silver Thread fishing
line, Minn Kota Manufacturing Co., Legacy Outfitters and Lifeline
Youth & Family Services.
“I’m very pleased with the direction BASS is headed.
We’re taking it to a place we’ve never seen before,”
Jones said. “I bet that looking forward, there will be a line
of guys wishing they were here. I think that’s what BASS is
creating.”
Sponsors of the CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series include CITGO Petroleum
Corp., Toyota, Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine,
Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Advance Auto Parts and
Theraseed®.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more
than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation annually. Guided
by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard
for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation,
as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and
culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs,
youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and
multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of
services and support to its nearly 550,000 members. The organization
is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
Inside
Bass, Courtesy BASS
Pennies
on the dollar for fishing rods, reels, baits, lures, and more? You
be the judge!
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