After a very satisfying and productive off-season, Brent Chapman is toned up and tuned in for his 20^th full season on the Bassmaster Tour, and eager to get started with the first Bass Pro Shops Central open tournament Feb. 5-8 on Lake Amistad.

Amistad is Spanish for “friendly,” but Chapman said he is hearing the fish may not be in a very friendly mode in the lake that is noted for heavy stringers.

“All I’ve heard is bad reports,” the Lake Quivira, KS, pro said. “Fishing has been really tough and that is hard to comprehend because Amistad used to be such a super fishery. Taking just 12 to 14 pounds to win a tournament there is hard to believe.”

But that does not deter Chapman from having a positive attitude about Amistad and the season.

“I’ve got my rod box full of rods. There are a lot of different options there, so I’ve just got to get a day on the water,” he said. “If there are any shallow fish that would be my preference, but if I can’t find fish shallow I know they catch a lot of fish out deep there, so we will just have to wait and see.”

Other than a victory in the Bassmaster Classic next month, nothing would suit him better than a win on Amistad, he said.

“In 2012 I won that first Open tournament. Hopefully, I can do that again this year.”

Now, about that off-season. It was satisfying because Chapman got to do a lot of deer hunting and because he was able to renegotiate sponsorships. It was productive because he spent a lot of time honoring those sponsorship commitments.

“On Nov. 1, I shot a really nice buck. My two buddies, whom I own the land with, also shot nice bucks. Then my son, Mason, shot his first buck ever at 10 years old. I took my niece and she shot a really nice buck and then one of my other buddies closed the season with a nice buck. It normally doesn’t happen like this, but we had a really good hunting season,” Chapman said.

“II know I make it sound like I just took off and did a lot of deer hunting, but there was a lot of business involved since my last tournament in August. It was a busy fall, for sure.”

And, when he was not stalking big bucks in the field and in business offices, Chapman was working to be prepared for this fishing season.

“I’ve been working out hard, really getting in shape,” he said. “This is when it all comes together.”

Following the Central Open opener on Lake Amistad, Chapman will move on to Lake Guntersville for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic Feb. 21-23.

“I am ready to win one of these Classics. That is what I am ready for,” Chapman said.

Following the Lake Amistad tournament, the Central Open series moves to the Red River at Shreveport, La., April 24-26, then finishes up on the Arkansas River at Muskogee, Okla.. Sept. 11-13.

 

Bass Pro Shops Central Open #1

Feb 6-8, 2014

Lake Amistad

Del Rio, TX

www.bassmaster.com