Jeff Gustafson only Canadian on FLW professional bass tour
Kenora, Ont., angler, known as Gussy, makes a name for himself against American pros
Jeff Gustafson, from Kenora Ontario, hopes to qualify this year for a tournament that is considered the most prestigious competition in all of bass fishing — the Fishing League Worldwide's Forrest Wood Cup.
Gustafson started fishing in the Fishing League Worldwide open tournaments three years ago where he finished in the money in all four of the tournaments he entered.
His success in that first year allowed him to qualify for the league's professional tour, pitting him against the top 150 anglers.
"It's been a bit rougher go the last two years fishing the whole tour. I got cheques in three out of six tournaments in my first year and last year at four out of the six, so I'm getting a bit better," Gustafson said.
He's preparing for the current tour, a six-tournament event, that kicks off next week at Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Florida and ends in June with a tournament on the Potomac River, near Washington, D.C.
"I am down in Florida in bare feet and shorts and a T-shirt and it's hot out so I'm sorry to rub it in to everyone back in northwestern Ontario. I know it hasn't been nice in the last week or so, but I could be in a worse spot right now," he said.
The top fifty anglers from the tour qualify for Forrest Wood Cup championship in August, according to the Fishing League Worldwide's website. That's where they compete for a $500,000 top prize.