Reflections on the Costa FLW Series Championship
(Editor’s note: Jamie Luengo is the president of FLW Mexico)
Just a couple of weeks ago, the Costa FLW Series Championship was about to take place on Table Rock, and, for the first time ever, four countries besides the U.S. had anglers in the mix. This quartet of countries each sent two boater and two co-angler champions from its respective tournament series.
Thus began a competition among Canada, South Korea, China and Mexico for a slot in the most important tournament in the world, the Forrest Wood Cup. The top finisher from the International Division on the pro side earned a Cup berth.
Trying to prepare our international anglers for an event as prestigious as the Costa FLW Series Championship is not an easy task. For me, tasks ranged from simple things, such as sharing my experience in the tournament I fished at Table Rock several years ago, to keeping up with and filing in a timely fashion all the legal paperwork required for one of our co-anglers, who is a minor. He can’t leave the country without one of his parents or a written permit that involves a time-consuming special procedure.
The language barrier
There were many hurdles to confront and clear. Some of them you might take for granted. As an example, consider a small thing such as reading the rules and regulations for the event. Just imagine what would happen if you didn’t speak fluent English. Easy, just turn to your “coach” and ask him if he has a Spanish version of the set of rules, right? The answer seems simple enough, but no, there was no such translation.
We had to come up with our own. Just for the record, let me tell you that Google is not the best source nor option for a rules translation. This type of translation only gives you a general idea of what the text or the person you are talking to wants to inform you of in general terms. Spending several hours choosing the exact correct words for a specific endemic meaning of each of the rules is no easy task.
Please don’t get me wrong; we received all the help we could ever need from all the FLW staff and its executives. They looked after every single detail that made us feel respected and at home. Just to mention a couple: All the international boats worked flawlessly, and each of them had the flag of the respective country on the windshield and hanging from the light pole. It was a tremendous job on FLW’s part, and we surely appreciate it. Such preparation and attention to details are what really make these events so special to all the participants.
An international appeal
Fishing is truly a sport that unites nations, a special sport where the losing athlete can’t blame a competitor for a foul or a bad judge’s call during competition. It’s all on you and nobody but you. This is truly a sport that humbles your soul. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, or what religion you follow. It will simply make you love and respect Mother Nature just as everybody else in the world.
As some of you might know, besides being FLW Mexico’s president, I am an avid fisherman who loves tournament fishing and takes it very seriously.
I have had a competitive drive since I can remember. During my high school years when I played soccer I always trained hard. I wanted to be in the starting lineup in every single game. I hated to be sitting down on the bench or replaced by a coach’s decision. I even felt such discomfort whenever I was hurt or got injured during a game and couldn’t play.
Every time I’m entered in an FLW Tour event as a co-angler, I prepare myself.
Several months before the event, especially at a lake I’ve never fished before, I do my homework.
I start “searching” the lake through Google Maps. I do my research surfing the Internet and visiting different forums and fishing-related web pages that provide tournament results. I also glean through YouTube videos, TV shows, and all the visual and digital information I can gather on the lake I’m going to target.
A co-angler is limited on the amount of fishing tackle and rods he can bring to his partner’s boat each day, so that takes careful consideration. Another issue I have to deal with as a legal alien is airline restrictions. Nowadays, more and more airlines are restricting the size and amount of luggage one can take, and this can become a very expensive endeavor.
On the sidelines
For the Costa FLW Series Championship, I helped my fishermen gather such information. I gave them my most sincere advice with just one purpose in my mind: help one of our anglers fish the Forrest Wood Cup in 2017.
Aware of the rules about sharing information during off-limits, practice and tournament days, I have to confess that it really made me go nuts. Now I understand the feelings of a coach watching his team play from the stands. I couldn’t tell them anything, nor give them any advice about their performance during the tournament. You simply can’t make a move except to just watch and encourage them; that’s it.
Sitting on the shoreline, watching and waiting like everyone else, was so frustrating.
The only advantage I had was being able to ride along in a media boat for a time. We followed one of our boaters for a short while, but, here again, with mouth shut. Follow the rules.
None of the four fishermen of Mexico’s team had ever traveled to compete in an international tournament outside his native land. This new adventure became a real challenge for all of us as there are so many distractions a “first-time” angler faces in these types of competitions.
Every co-angler who has ever competed in a Tour event or a big championship like the Costa FLW Series competition knows that there are a lot of situations that can make you lose focus and concentration in a snap.
Why? It’s simple. One of the first things every co-angler wonders is if he will draw a legend like Larry Nixon or one of the top anglers in the world like Andy Morgan. WOW… priceless, right? Yet, this sort of thinking will get you off track in a second. We can become entangled in so many thoughts that we become distracted.
Easy to lose focus
Stay focused, you tell yourself. But then you turn around in the boat as a new day begins and see you’re paired with one of those legendary fishermen, and he asks: Are you ready?
Well, how can I explain it to you! I have no words to describe it except to say that it will send the adrenaline coursing through your body and play upon your mind.
There are so many variables I’ve seen during the years I’ve spent competing in FLW tournaments that were impossible to share with the FLW Mexico team.
We have so little time to prepare our fishermen between the time they earn their place on the team to the start of the Costa FLW Series Championship. It’s a big learning curve in front of all the coaches of every international group. Add to that the fact that next year’s championship will be held at a different lake, and another challenge is presented.
We are glad the Costa FLW Series Championship went smoothly and proud to have been a part of this historic event, though not satisfied with the outcome. Like every other competitor, we expected to return home with a victory and the winner’s trophy. Unfortunately for us, it didn’t turn out that way.
Even so, we respectfully congratulate Korea and its champion, Hyochul Kim.
He truly adapted to the changing circumstances and caught fish under tough conditions that tested even the veterans. Without question he worked hard and was rewarded with a trophy and a place in the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup.
As for yours truly, this new experience as “Team Coach” has presented me with a bunch of new feelings and questions; namely:
“To fish or not to fish,” and …
“To be (coach) or not to be (coach).”
The only thing I know for sure is that fishing is the “reel deal” any way you go about it.