Bracket racket

A look at some of this year’s more interesting matchups at the upcoming Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship

Love it or hate it, the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship’s unique bracket style of competition is a surefire way to inspire debate. Although it is controversial, there’s no denying it’s interesting when the bracket matchups are looked at with scrutiny.

This year’s crop of pairings is no different, though there does not appear to be an obvious “Bracket of Doom” this season. Nevertheless, potential stories and ones-to-watch abound, starting with the pairing of Larry Nixon vs. George Cochran, which we’ll call the “Legends Bracket.”

Larry Nixon vs. George Cochran

These two Arkansas veterans aren’t exactly in a state of decline. Nixon ended the season with another top-10 ranking, and Cochran fished this year on the heels of a $500,000 championship win on his home lake.

Last year, the General and the Gentleman both made the championship’s final round, with Cochran eventually taking the win. But this year, only one will have the chance for a repeat final-round performance, and Cochran appears to have a slight edge.

Cochran did not qualify for the 2004 championship held on Logan Martin Lake, but in four BASS events held there over the years, Cochran edged Nixon three times, although never by a huge margin. He won one of his two Classic titles on nearby Lay Lake, which, like Logan Martin, is also part of the Coosa River chain. However, Nixon is a legend for a reason, and he was never far behind Cochran in Alabama, making this a true contest of two renowned veterans … and two in-laws, sort of.

“George’s wife is my third cousin, and we’re best of friends,” Nixon said. “We’re even going to room together next week.”

Nixon says that if Cochran has an advantage, it is only if the shallow-water fish are on.

“George is such a good shallow-water fisherman, and I prefer to fish away from the bank,” Nixon said. “It depends on whose fish are on. If the shallow fish are on good, I’m in deep trouble.”

The General admitted he would prefer to fish against another foe head-to-head, but he has a good attitude about it heading into the big event.

“We both look at it as being no different than any other tournament,” Nixon said. “I’m always fishing against George, no matter what. I’d rather it be some other way, but you’ve got to do it one way or another.”

Dean Rojas vs. Terry Bolton/Tim Klinger vs. Steve Kennedy

If Bolton defeats Rojas and Kennedy defeats Klinger, FLW fans will be treated to a Kentucky Lake rematch. Back in May, Kennedy took victory on Bolton’s home lake, a loss that put a particularly bad taste in Bolton’s mouth for several reasons. One, Bolton was ahead by nearly 5 pounds heading into the final day. Two, it would have been his first FLW Tour victory – on his home lake, no less – in a career spanning more than a decade. Three, he lost it only because of an 8-ounce penalty for a dead fish. Four, he lost it by only 4 ounces.

One thing that could soothe the sting of losing on his home lake is beating Kennedy in the championship, but he’ll first have to get by Rojas, and Kennedy will have to get past Klinger. Kennedy is a killer in Alabama, but that’s what we all say about Bolton in Kentucky, and Kennedy still got the trophy. Anything can happen.

“It would be interesting,” Bolton said of the potential matchup. “Steve and I do share an interesting bit of history in a close tournament, and we both caught a lot of bass. If we should meet again at Logan Martin, who knows. Steve likes to structure-fish, and I like to structure-fish.”

Getting past Rojas is also playing on Bolton’s mind, because he and Rojas are both Yamaha pros who are pretty good friends off the water.

“Dean’s a guy I cheer for,” Bolton said. “Being good friends and talking all the time, you’ve got to look at it like it’s not you against the person, it’s you against the fish. I’m sure whoever wins, the other one would be happy, but it’s a little disconcerting, since he’s a guy I usually root for.”

Matt Herren vs. Toshinari Namiki

One’s from Japan, one’s from Alabama, but they sure do meet up often – first, in final rounds, and now in head-to-head bracket competition. In 2005, Herren finished second behind Namiki in a tournament on the Ouachita River where verbal slams were cast as often as lines in the water. This year, they met again on Kentucky Lake, and again they finished back-to-back, though this time ninth and 10th, with Herren taking the higher position.

Now they are positioned against each other for real, and both have their reputations at stake. Herren hails from nearby Trussville and would like to take his first FLW Tour win at home. Namiki is heading back to Japan and would like to end his FLW Tour career on a high note.

“It’s going to be tough – Toshinari’s a great angler,” Herren said. “Over the last couple of years, he and I have developed a pretty good friendship, more or less because of being in the same brackets constantly. We both seem to like each other; it’s going to be a pretty tough matchup.”

Herren agreed that both he and Namiki have a lot to prove at this tournament. The Birmingham crowd would certainly love it if the confetti fell on Herren on the final day.

“It would mean everything to win any FLW event,” he said. “It would be just unbelievable for me or any other angler, but to win in front of your hometown folks, that would be special.”

Andy Morgan vs. Dan Morehead

On the surface, these two don’t look like they have too much in common. Morgan is Tennessee-bred with a high success rate on lakes in the Tennessee River chain. Morehead bleeds Wildcat blue and is well-known for his Kentucky Lake prowess.

However, the pair are members of a set of good buddies that includes Bolton and fellow championship contender Ramie Colson Jr., all of whom room together when out on the FLW Tour. Morgan and Morehead are known as close pals, making this matchup interesting to watch, knowing the bragging rights will likely go on for a good while. Morehead, though, is saving the smack talk, at least for now.

“I’m intentionally not saying much about it,” Morehead said. “I’m not going to start any trash talking, because we’ve been best friends for 12 years. Both of us fish really hard, and whatever happens, happens.”

Morgan could not be reached for comment, but he would likely agree with Morehead. Looking objectively, it’s hard to tell whether Morgan or Morehead has the edge. Alabama has certainly been good to Morgan, but those lakes he performed so well at were not in the Coosa River chain. The same goes for Morehead.

Morgan had the better FLW Tour season of the two, thus securing his higher ranking, but Morehead will hit Birmingham fresh off a Stren Series win in Wisconsin. Morehead may have the momentum, but Morgan is as due as they come for a win on the FLW Tour. With this matchup, it’s a toss-up.

Michael Bennett vs. Dion Hibdon

No. 6 Bennett may have the higher seed, as Hibdon slipped into the championship in the No. 43 spot, but Hibdon is likely at a distinct advantage in this bracket for two reasons. One, Bennett is a second-year tour pro, and Hibdon is a seasoned veteran. Two, Hibdon won the Bassmaster Classic nine years ago on this very lake.

“I definitely feel, experience-wise, he’s got me hands down, no problem there,” Bennett said of his formidable foe. “I’m going into it with the mindset that he’s going to be a very tough competitor, and he’s definitely going to be a very hard matchup. I would like to think I’m going to win, but you never know until the tournament begins and your day starts going.”

Hibdon rode a wave of success on Lake Champlain right into the championship to salvage a year that got off on the wrong foot. Bennett, however, enjoyed a solid year with only one true misstep on Beaver Lake. With one championship behind him, Bennett has already tasted the intense pressure of the event, and he may be ready this year. Hibdon may have the experience, but Bennett could have that underdog drive.

Clifford Pirch vs. Brent Ehrler

It’s the battle of the West Coast in this bracket between No. 9 seed Pirch and No. 40 seed Ehrler. The mighty Western anglers, who have been coming East in greater numbers over the last few years, have certainly helped to break the stereotype that competitive bass fishing is strictly a Southern sport. And while there are several other Western pros competing in the championship, Pirch and Ehrler are the only ones going head-to-head, at least in the first round, and they’re doing it on a decidedly Southern playing ground.

“He’s a great guy, and I consider him a really good friend,” Ehrler said of Pirch. “I would lean toward the fact that he is a better Southern fisherman than I am, and for that reason it will be very difficult. I feel I’m better at Western-style lakes, but the neat thing about Logan Martin is you can fish it like a Western lake, so maybe that’ll help. It’ll be interesting.”

Pirch agrees – Logan Martin may be situated in Alabama, but there are things about it that reminds the Western boys of home.

“Luke Clausen won fishing Western finesse techniques,” Pirch said of the 2004 championship held on Logan Martin Lake. “Just because it’s a Southern-style lake doesn’t necessarily block out those kinds of techniques.”

Pirch also has a healthy respect for the Western-bred skills possessed by Ehrler that should serve him well on Logan Martin.

“Brent’s going to be extremely dangerous,” Pirch said. “I don’t know if there could be a tougher competitor as far as the finesse tactics, because they work so well there. I think this will fish to my strengths as well as Brent’s strengths.”