| Get5Bass.com "Covering the Arkansas Bass Fishing Tournament Scene" |
News: 05/30/07
Get5Bass.com "Pro Scene Column"
Daniel Kweekul has Sights Set on Professional Fishing Career
Daniel Kweekul with one of his fish from his 9th place
finish at the 2007 FLW Series tournament on Lake Dardanelle
(Photo: FLW Outdoors)
Daniel Kweekul (North Little Rock, AR.) is quickly becoming one of the more
recognizable names in Arkansas Bass Fishing. Kweekul (Age 32) is a relative
new comer to bass angling, having fished his first tournament in 2003. Today,
Kweekul is currently ranked high in the points standings on the FLW Series
Eastern Division (35th), the Stren Series Central Division (29th), and on the
Pro Side of Mr. Bass of Arkansas (3rd). Get5 recently interviewed Daniel, and
he openly talked about his career ambitions, and his recent 9th place finish at
the FLW Series Tournament on Lake Dardanelle.
Get5: When did you get started tournament fishing?
Kweekul: I started to learn how to bass fish in 2000, and started fishing
competitively in 2003. Due to other obligations, 2006 was the first year that I
was able to fish a complete a full year of tournaments.
Get5: Do your career ambitions include fishing?
Kweekul: Yes, I intend to fish full time. I am currently on inactive status with
the National Guard. I've got 14 years in with the guard and would like to fish
full time (professionally) when my obligations expire in February 2008. Next
year I intend to fish the FLW Series (Eastern Division), the Stren Series
(Central Division), and hopefully the FLW Tour. Also, time permitting, I would
like to continue to fish Mr. Bass of Arkansas.
Get5: How would you describe your
fishing style?
Kweekul: I like to fish fast and
cover a lot of water. My foot usually
doesn't leave the trolling motor. Once
I get to a target that I feel is holding
fish, I'll slow down and throw at it 10
or 20 times. If they don't bite the bait
I'm throwing, I'll switch up and throw
something different. Sometimes just
changing the casting angle will cause
fish to strike. I definitely like to cover
a lot of water.
Get5: Let's talk about your 9th place finish at the FLW Series Tournament on
Lake Dardanelle. Give us a rundown of the event.
Kweekul: Since I was fishing the Stren Series Event on Kentucky Lake, I
only had two full days of practice. I went to water that I'm comfortable with
(Illinois Bayou) and started fishing. I was targeting post spawn fish that were
guarding fry. I wasn't sight fishing, I was swimming a jig through grass (water
willow) looking for reaction strikes. The swim jig that I was using (made by
Mark Diffee - (501) 804-1437) looked exactly like a bream trying to eat their
fry.
On day 1 of practice I fished the grass and had about a 20 pound bag, and on
day 2 I had about 23 pounds, so I thought I was in good shape.
On day 1 of the tournament when I got to my area there was about 20 boats in
the area, but I just stuck to my game plan and fished grass. The fish were a
little finicky, and I landed a 13 pound sack.
On day 2, I believe the pressure moved the fish out a little, as they were no
longer on the emergent grass, but on the grass that was just barely under the
surface. I still threw the swim jig, and again landed a 13 pound sack.
On day 3, I knew I was in position to make the cut, so I stuck to my game plan
and fished around grass. The fish were gone. They had moved entirely away
from the grass and were positioned on secondary structure such as stumps,
rocks, ect. away from the bank. Although the fish had repositioned, I still
caught them on the swim jig.
On day 4, I was down 10 pounds so I swung for the fence. I went to an area that
I had been saving and the fish just weren't there. I ended up catching my fish
on the final day around grass on a plastic worm and a Senko.
Get5: Tell us a little more about the swim jig.
Kweekul: It's a 3/8 oz. swim jig made by Mark Diffee (Hot Springs - (501-
804 - 1437). It's a weird color. It had a few strands of charteuse, black, and
green pumpkin all mixed into one. It looked exactly like a bream in the water. I
tipped the jig with a Paca Chunk (Green pumpkin - claws dipped chartreuse).
Diffee Swim Jig (click to enlarge)
Notable:
Get5Bass.com "Pro Scene Column"
Daniel Kweekul has Sights Set on Professional Fishing Career
Daniel Kweekul with one of his fish from his 9th place
finish at the 2007 FLW Series tournament on Lake Dardanelle
(Photo: FLW Outdoors)
Daniel Kweekul (North Little Rock, AR.) is quickly becoming one of the more
recognizable names in Arkansas Bass Fishing. Kweekul (Age 32) is a relative
new comer to bass angling, having fished his first tournament in 2003. Today,
Kweekul is currently ranked high in the points standings on the FLW Series
Eastern Division (35th), the Stren Series Central Division (29th), and on the
Pro Side of Mr. Bass of Arkansas (3rd). Get5 recently interviewed Daniel, and
he openly talked about his career ambitions, and his recent 9th place finish at
the FLW Series Tournament on Lake Dardanelle.
Get5: When did you get started tournament fishing?
Kweekul: I started to learn how to bass fish in 2000, and started fishing
competitively in 2003. Due to other obligations, 2006 was the first year that I
was able to fish a complete a full year of tournaments.
Get5: Do your career ambitions include fishing?
Kweekul: Yes, I intend to fish full time. I am currently on inactive status with
the National Guard. I've got 14 years in with the guard and would like to fish
full time (professionally) when my obligations expire in February 2008. Next
year I intend to fish the FLW Series (Eastern Division), the Stren Series
(Central Division), and hopefully the FLW Tour. Also, time permitting, I would
like to continue to fish Mr. Bass of Arkansas.
Get5: How would you describe your
fishing style?
Kweekul: I like to fish fast and
cover a lot of water. My foot usually
doesn't leave the trolling motor. Once
I get to a target that I feel is holding
fish, I'll slow down and throw at it 10
or 20 times. If they don't bite the bait
I'm throwing, I'll switch up and throw
something different. Sometimes just
changing the casting angle will cause
fish to strike. I definitely like to cover
a lot of water.
Get5: Let's talk about your 9th place finish at the FLW Series Tournament on
Lake Dardanelle. Give us a rundown of the event.
Kweekul: Since I was fishing the Stren Series Event on Kentucky Lake, I
only had two full days of practice. I went to water that I'm comfortable with
(Illinois Bayou) and started fishing. I was targeting post spawn fish that were
guarding fry. I wasn't sight fishing, I was swimming a jig through grass (water
willow) looking for reaction strikes. The swim jig that I was using (made by
Mark Diffee - (501) 804-1437) looked exactly like a bream trying to eat their
fry.
On day 1 of practice I fished the grass and had about a 20 pound bag, and on
day 2 I had about 23 pounds, so I thought I was in good shape.
On day 1 of the tournament when I got to my area there was about 20 boats in
the area, but I just stuck to my game plan and fished grass. The fish were a
little finicky, and I landed a 13 pound sack.
On day 2, I believe the pressure moved the fish out a little, as they were no
longer on the emergent grass, but on the grass that was just barely under the
surface. I still threw the swim jig, and again landed a 13 pound sack.
On day 3, I knew I was in position to make the cut, so I stuck to my game plan
and fished around grass. The fish were gone. They had moved entirely away
from the grass and were positioned on secondary structure such as stumps,
rocks, ect. away from the bank. Although the fish had repositioned, I still
caught them on the swim jig.
On day 4, I was down 10 pounds so I swung for the fence. I went to an area that
I had been saving and the fish just weren't there. I ended up catching my fish
on the final day around grass on a plastic worm and a Senko.
Get5: Tell us a little more about the swim jig.
Kweekul: It's a 3/8 oz. swim jig made by Mark Diffee (Hot Springs - (501-
804 - 1437). It's a weird color. It had a few strands of charteuse, black, and
green pumpkin all mixed into one. It looked exactly like a bream in the water. I
tipped the jig with a Paca Chunk (Green pumpkin - claws dipped chartreuse).
Diffee Swim Jig (click to enlarge)
Notable:
- Daniel's favorite tournament fishery in Arkansas is Lake Millwood. "I
catch more quantity and quality there than anywhere else" He
commented.
- As part of his National Guard duties, Daniel served two years in Iraq.
Daniel was a big hit at the FLW Series
Tournament on Lake Dardanelle
(Photo courtesy of Daniel Kweekul)
Tournament on Lake Dardanelle
(Photo courtesy of Daniel Kweekul)
