| Get5Bass.com "Covering the Arkansas Bass Fishing Tournament Scene" |
News: 08/07/07
Kevin Koone Makes a Big Splash from the Back of the Boat
Kevin Koone Weighs his Fish at the Forrest Wood Cup
Story by Terrance Narveson
The Forrest Wood Cup held on Lake Ouachita this past weekend was a highlight to
Arkansas fishing fans with local professional Scott Suggs (Alexander, AR.) winning
the top prize of $1,000,000. But we can't forget about those anglers that fish out of
the back of the boat. A rather unknown but soon to become a household name,
Kevin Koone from Greenbriar, AR. has proven he has the skills to compete with the
best of them. He has finished in the top ten 5 times and won 1 tournament since he
started fishing FLW outdoors events last year. As a fellow co-angler and friend, it is
inspiring to see that persistence and determination can lead to success. I had an
opportunity to talk to Kevin after his 7th place finish this weekend in the co-angler
division at the Forrest Wood Cup to get a up close look at his approach and future
plans.
Get5: What are you plans now as you have proven yourself on the tour and Sten
Series, are you moving from co-angler to pro?
Kevin Koone: I am probably not going to make any changes yet. I will probably
fish another year from the back of the boat and work on picking up a few sponsors
to really make the move to the boater side. I am considering going as a boater on the
Stren Series with the possibility of coming back to Dardanelle, and the championship
is going to be on Table Rock where I feel I can be competitive. I just plan on fishing
everything I can fish next year.
Get5: How does next year's schedule play out for you?
Kevin Koone: The first one on Florida will be my toughest because I have never
been there, but the rest of them really play out to my strengths and I have had fished
on all but Toho. It really helps to make you feel comfortable when you have been on
a lake before, and it helps to take off some of the pressure.
Get5: Has fishing out of the back of the boat with the different pros helped you to
make connections with different sponsors?
Kevin Koone: I think it has. Most of all it has helped me to learn about the business
of fishing because it really takes time to get to know the people in the business and
hopefully it will pay off in the future.
Get5: Does it get you excited when you see a tournament fall on a home lake here in
Arkansas?
Kevin Koone: Oh yea, just the comfort of being able to sleep in your own bed or
like here at Ouachita - with friends and family. It just so different when you get to fish
at home.
Get5: What would be your advice be to someone new that is looking to fish on one
of these circuits?
Kevin Koone: Get in there as a co-angler and fish. There are lots of opportunities to
fish and lots of times they are looking for co-anglers to fish. There is so much you
learn that you don't realize at the time and then suddenly you are put in the same
situation and you able to use that experience and build from it. You learn so much
about the lakes and other fishermen, but there is no better way to learn about bass
fishing than fishing with the best guys in the business.
Currently Kevin is 30th in points in the Stren Series with two more to go and then he
fishes in the championship, where he has to finish in the top 30 to qualify for next
years championship at Lake Murry, SC. His hopes are high to get to fish Murry next
year because it fishes more to his strengths, with all the deep brush available. As
Kevin has proven himself in the FLW Outdoors tournaments, I asked him what two
lures have been his confidence lures and have helped him out the most? His reply
was day in and day out it would have to be the shakey head worm. It really has
proven to be the best from the back of the boat. The next choice would have to be
jig and Texas rigged worm. "Finesse fishing wins checks!" said Koone.
Kevin Koone Makes a Big Splash from the Back of the Boat
Kevin Koone Weighs his Fish at the Forrest Wood Cup
Story by Terrance Narveson
The Forrest Wood Cup held on Lake Ouachita this past weekend was a highlight to
Arkansas fishing fans with local professional Scott Suggs (Alexander, AR.) winning
the top prize of $1,000,000. But we can't forget about those anglers that fish out of
the back of the boat. A rather unknown but soon to become a household name,
Kevin Koone from Greenbriar, AR. has proven he has the skills to compete with the
best of them. He has finished in the top ten 5 times and won 1 tournament since he
started fishing FLW outdoors events last year. As a fellow co-angler and friend, it is
inspiring to see that persistence and determination can lead to success. I had an
opportunity to talk to Kevin after his 7th place finish this weekend in the co-angler
division at the Forrest Wood Cup to get a up close look at his approach and future
plans.
Get5: What are you plans now as you have proven yourself on the tour and Sten
Series, are you moving from co-angler to pro?
Kevin Koone: I am probably not going to make any changes yet. I will probably
fish another year from the back of the boat and work on picking up a few sponsors
to really make the move to the boater side. I am considering going as a boater on the
Stren Series with the possibility of coming back to Dardanelle, and the championship
is going to be on Table Rock where I feel I can be competitive. I just plan on fishing
everything I can fish next year.
Get5: How does next year's schedule play out for you?
Kevin Koone: The first one on Florida will be my toughest because I have never
been there, but the rest of them really play out to my strengths and I have had fished
on all but Toho. It really helps to make you feel comfortable when you have been on
a lake before, and it helps to take off some of the pressure.
Get5: Has fishing out of the back of the boat with the different pros helped you to
make connections with different sponsors?
Kevin Koone: I think it has. Most of all it has helped me to learn about the business
of fishing because it really takes time to get to know the people in the business and
hopefully it will pay off in the future.
Get5: Does it get you excited when you see a tournament fall on a home lake here in
Arkansas?
Kevin Koone: Oh yea, just the comfort of being able to sleep in your own bed or
like here at Ouachita - with friends and family. It just so different when you get to fish
at home.
Get5: What would be your advice be to someone new that is looking to fish on one
of these circuits?
Kevin Koone: Get in there as a co-angler and fish. There are lots of opportunities to
fish and lots of times they are looking for co-anglers to fish. There is so much you
learn that you don't realize at the time and then suddenly you are put in the same
situation and you able to use that experience and build from it. You learn so much
about the lakes and other fishermen, but there is no better way to learn about bass
fishing than fishing with the best guys in the business.
Currently Kevin is 30th in points in the Stren Series with two more to go and then he
fishes in the championship, where he has to finish in the top 30 to qualify for next
years championship at Lake Murry, SC. His hopes are high to get to fish Murry next
year because it fishes more to his strengths, with all the deep brush available. As
Kevin has proven himself in the FLW Outdoors tournaments, I asked him what two
lures have been his confidence lures and have helped him out the most? His reply
was day in and day out it would have to be the shakey head worm. It really has
proven to be the best from the back of the boat. The next choice would have to be
jig and Texas rigged worm. "Finesse fishing wins checks!" said Koone.
