Eric Andrews Florida Stick and racing for Co-AOY
We travel once again to the state of Florida were we met up with co-angler Eric Andrews. In the American Bass Anglers Open Series Tournament Trail in the Florida Central and Florida South Divisions, Andrews holds three top 3 finishes, a 2nd place and a championship win. Why do I bring this up between all 8 tournaments this year? Andrews has collectively won a total of $4,030 thus far as a co-angler. Andrews as well is holding strong for a second year in a row a place in the the Co-AOY race. Last year he went head to head with Cesar Jaimes from Davenport, FL and now for the 2018 season is battling it out with his younger brother Omar Jaimes who has dropped to 5th place in the points standings. So Andrews is not new to having to battle it out with other co-anglers. Lets see if this year will be his year.
What is your home town?
I’m originally from Palm Beach County but I’ve lived in Central Florida for the last ten years.
What is your favorite lure?
I have a few favorite Lures, but my number one favorite bite would be chatter bait, fishing hydrilla, almost always black and blue jack hammer model.
What is your favorite rod and reel combination?
My favorite rod combo, if I had to pick one that really suites my style, is the 7.3 mag medium heavy sniper rod by ARK and a Lew’s tournament pro 7.5.1 gear ratio.
What tournament trail do you fish?
I only fish the ABA Open Series Southern and Central. However, I did fish the Bassmaster Opens last February and cashed a check, just not the one I wanted.
How long have you been a co-angler?
This is my third season as a co-angler.
For it only being Andrews third season as a co-angler he has made a very good name for himself and has shown that even in a short time you can accomplish a lot in the tournament circuit. We asked Andrews some more questions about what he likes best about tournament fishing and what he is looking for. This is what Andres had to say.
What lake do you like best and why?
Favorite lake would have to be Okeechobee, because it can go down on any given cast. Also down there you can pretty much cast in any direction and catch them and as a co-angler, that’s a big deal.
Best tournament finish? Which lake and year?
My best finish is a first on ‘Chobee just last march of this year. I also had six top three finishes this year, one being the Ray Scott Championship, finishing in 2nd place.
Eric Andrews May 2018
Lake Toho, Kissimmee, FL
What or who inspires you to fish?
The thing I love most about fishing besides catching fatty’s, is that you never know what to expect, it’s always different patterns, weather, lakes, etc, but if you can put enough puzzle pieces together that day, it will be unforgettable.
What do you expect from tournament fishing?
I don’t know what to expect from tournament fishing, that’s why I love it.
Who is one person you would like to fish with but haven’t had the opportunity to fish with yet?
Not sure if there’s any one specific person that I want to fish with that I haven’t yet, I just go into tournaments with an open mind and 99% of the time my boater and I remain friends, and that’s another cool aspect of being a Co-Angler.
Do you have a fishing goal? If so, what?
My goal is to be a boater by next season and to win angler of the year this season, then I will set new ones, but that’s first.
Here is Andrew’s take on the Ray Scott Championship in LA.
The Ray Scott Championship in LA. this April was an experience I will never forget. I practiced for three days and got two bites, not even a keeper. My practice partner not even one bite, so coming into day one I knew I had to do something different. So I picked up some Zoom lizards green pumpkin and pegged an eighth ounce to it, pitched and casted it on day one, and got just over six pounds. Day two fished all day with my lizard and caught one short, boater nothing, we pulled into a cove and I saw stuff that looked like hydrilla. Weigh in was at 4:00pm and by this time it was 3:00, so I made a switch and went to work with a white speed worm, by 3:15 I had my limit, just under six pounds. Day three was pouring rain 34 degrees, 20 mph winds. I’ve never been that cold in my life and only managed one fish which weighed 1.55. Championship Sunday, 32 degrees, frost on everything, I’m freezing, we ran 55 miles down the river. It was the first day I actually culled, caught five and a half pounds and I felt pretty good with my limit, but it unfortunately wasn’t enough. I missed winning a new boat and $25,000 by 1.13, a real heart breaker. But, I’m not gonna’ let it get in my head, gonna’ keep fishing and focus on making it this year so I can go win my new boat next year.
