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FLW Everstart Potomac River Preview: Thoughts And Thanks June 2013

Posted by melvin on June 18, 2013

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FLW Everstart Potomac River Preview: Thoughts and Thanks! Come ride along as professional bass angler Melvin Smitson shares his thoughts on this weeks FLW Everstart series event on the Potomac River. Story >

 

Story From: www.melvinsmitson.com 

Date: June 18th, 2013

Hello Bass Fishing Fans !!!
 
I'm headed into the second FLW Everstart Northern Division tournament of the year. If you have been following along then you already know that I'm on a decent bag of bass the past few weeks. I'm licking my chops and all my fingers like I just finished eating a piping hot rack of slow cooked pork ribs covered in sweet baby rays BBQ sauce, fresh off the grill.
 
Throw in some freshly steamed Maryland Blue Crabs seasoned with just the right amount of old bay seasoning, a few cold beverages of your choice and I'm literally, salivating at the prospect of cashing in on the $40,000.00 check that the winner of this FLW Everstart Potomac River tournament will receive. You get the point, I have been waiting for this day for so long, I can taste it!!!
 
Now, I could spend my time here telling you that this FLW Everstart Event will be won by fishing a huge grass bed someplace offshore or a secret out of the way hot spot with lots of lilly pads off the main river. It may even be a safe guess that a few large bass will be found near docks, rock piles and timber laydowns.
 
A majority of these big bass will no doubt be landed using familiar lures like soft plastic worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and other critters that mimic natures offerings.
 
Instead, I would like to share a few things you don't know...
 
What you don't know is the incredible amount of time and effort it takes all the great team members I have around me to do the things they do to keep me relaxed and focused on the water come tournament day. Monster energy drinks and 5 hour energy shots do wonders for me during tournament week but my team runs circles around me like I'm standing still behind the scenes.
 
I would like to start off by thanking my beautiful wife and children. No matter where I wind up in the standings on tournament day my family shows me love and support when I pull into the driveway and walk through the door.
 
Secondly, I would like to thank my dad for introducing my to the great sport of bass fishing at an early age. To this day every tournament we fish together is a true blessing.
 
Third, to all my sponsors, I would like to thank you for standing behind me on and off the water. I also want to thank each of you for your kind words of encouragement before and after each tournament. Good, bad or indifferent.
 
I would like to thank Greg and The Crab Place. Greg if your reading this man, thank you for keeping me and my dad on the water for the past several years!!! I will always cherish the time your sponsorship allowed me to spend with him out on the water. No amount of work, sales or promotions that you ask in return will ever be to much because those memories are priceless.
 
Make no mistake about it, I would not be here on this level of professional bass fishing today without the early years of support from The Crab Place!!! Thanks again Greg...
 
I would like to thank Jeremy at Buckeye Lures for working with me on his time off this week to accommodate my passion for using custom Buckeye jigs. Also, I would like to send a BIG THANK YOU to Mike for informing me that my newest batch of Buckeye jigs will be here in time for this FLW Everstart Tournament...
 
I want to thank Val and Mike at Gambler Lures for getting promotions and products to me on time before every bass fishing event...
 
I want to thank Wes at Rat-L-Trap for listening to all my crazy ideas on how I can make his timeless product even better. Sounds kinda silly but I won't stop try'n... 
 
I want to thank Scott at Zeko Shoes for keeping my feet comfy on tournament day. Glad to see you have me listed under the pro section on your website now. Hope to do you proud...
 
I want to thank Tyler at Eco Pro Tungsten for everything. Their are not enough words to describe all the doors that you have helped me open in my career. Tyler your the man...
 
I would like to thank my brother at Flatbellies Fishing Lures for all the help on my website and custom soft plastic ideas he has come up for me over the years...
 
I want to thank Keith at War Eagle Custom Lures for having me be a part of the team. Best custom spinnerbaits on the market hands down...
 
I want to thank Rob at Big Bear Fishing Rods for sponsoring me the last few years. I needed a heavier rod to get the bigger bass out of the grass beds and I definitely found one at Big Bear Fishing Rods...
 
I would like to thank Ray at Pro Sites Unlimited for creating a awesome environment for tournament anglers to thrive in, their own Internet ( Website ) domain...
 
I would like to thank Tyler and his wife at We Fish Media for crafting a professional bass fishing resume that has not only helped me attract bass fishing sponsors but also helps me keep them...
 
I would like to thank FLW for hosting this wonderful event. If you have not fished a FLW event before sign up right now they consistently put on great events and they are even better people...
 
I would like to thank Russell and Jeff at Maloney Aire. I saved this mention for last because without Maloney air in my life for the past 15 years I may not even have a roof over my head let alone be able to go bass fishing. Thank you Russell and Jeff for allowing me to pursue my dream of professional bass fishing...
 
I would like to thank all my Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google + fans and fellow anglers. Thanks for keeping in contact with me out on the bass fishing trails and through social media...
 
I'm sure I have left someone off the list that I should be thanking but I needed to get it off my chest now before I get up on that stage in front of all the people in the crowd that are surrounding the live weigh in stage while I'm holding up that humongous $40,000.00 check and trophy in my hands. If that's not enough pressure to get your nerves going try throwing in the idea of having 500 million viewers on the FLW LIVE Internet camera feed and then top that off with another 500 million folks that watch the final version of this FLW Everstart event on television. Did I mention all the cable and satellite TV interviews, national magazine coverage and world wide website article publicity that follows?
 
Well, I'm here to tell ya'll right now they don't make a pair of boots tight enough to keep me from shak'n til my knees get wobbly and my hands get clammy. That's right before my stomach winds up in my throat and my mind goes blank like I'm on the newest roller coaster ride at Kings Dominion.
 
A long story short, if I win my first FLW Everstart event on my favorite river. The first river my dad ever took me bass fishing on over 20 years ago. I very well may need to pick up a tissue sponsor because tears could be flow'n deeper than the Potomac River tide runs high on a full harvest moon. No place like first place, sunglasses don't fail me now...
 
Follow Your Dream,
 
Melvin Smitson
 
P.S.
 

No Mom, I did not forget you. I'm just waiting for the right time so I can do what any other well trained competitor from any other sport would do. Say "Hi Mom I love You" in front of the camera while the whole world is watching...