As the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit season opener on Lake Okeechobee approaches, Shinichi Fukae is preparing to join 19 of his fellow MLF anglers in fishing both the Pro Circuit and Bass Pro Tour.

After years of success at the tour level, including winning an Angler of the Year title his rookie year in 2004, Fukae hasn’t had the success he’s been accustomed to in the two seasons he’s fished the Bass Pro Tour. The Mercury pro is the first to admit it.

“The format should set up perfectly for me,” Fukae said of the every-fish-counts format, and his noted skills with finesse tactics and light line. “It hasn’t been good, but I think fishing more events this year will help me.”

Getting in a Groove

Fukae believes he’s at his best when he’s fishing as often as possible. He fished just five events in the COVID-shortened 2020 season: not nearly enough for the Japanese native to get into a competitive groove.

“I didn’t do that well in those five (tournaments), and each event (represents) a chance to make money and win,” Fukae said. “I need more of those chances every year. With all the breaks between events last year, it gave me too much time to think and plan. I want to keep fishing and go to the next one and not rest.”

A Full Schedule

Fukae and the other 19 Bass Pro Tour anglers tackling both formats will be compelled to toggle their brains and strategies to adjust between the two different formats. Fukae welcomes the challenge, as well as the opportunity to compete against some old friends on the Pro Circuit.

“The two formats are much different,” he said. “If you catch 20 pounds in the morning in the five-fish format, you can rest some and start planning for the next day. If you do that on the Bass Pro Tour, you’re worried about the next period and who might pass you. It’ll be an adjustment going back to the five-fish format, but it’ll also be a reunion to compete against Gary Yamamoto and Greg Bohannan again. It’s going to be fun.”

Fukae is eager to get back to Lake Okeechobee for the Pro Circuit opener, and the Bass Pro Tour stop on Lake Champlain. He’s won at both venues and counts them as his favorite fisheries in the United States.

“I love fishing big lakes like those, where you can fish an area for four days of the tournament,” he says. “I’m excited to get back down to Okeechobee.”