We asked the six USA competitors some questions just before they fly to the Netherlands for the Hobie Fishing World Championship IV. The competitors are on the edge of their seats waiting for their chance to compete against some of the top kayak anglers from around the world. Are they prepared? What can we expect from these top anglers? Find out what they said when we interviewed them before the tournament starts.
Hobie Fishing Worlds Qualifier, Justin Ritchey, stunned the competitors of the IFA Jacksonville Qualifying Event when he had a 61” total. That’s 10” more than the second place competitor! With the incredible competitive spirit he has shown we can only expect he is mentally prepared for what is the biggest tournament he has ever fished.
We asked Ritchey some questions in a phone interview as he was packing up for the tournament.
What have you done to prepare for the tournament?
I’ve been researching as much as I can. Mainly watching YouTube videos of kayak anglers targeting pike in waters similar to the lake we are fishing in the championship. I have also asked friends in the northern US how these species react to the fall transition or if there are any colors that are preferred by the species.
Are you going to be using any specific techniques and lures in the tournament?
Long paddletails and heavier jigs that I will slow troll for the bigger fish especially pike and possibly a nice zander. It looks like rattle baits work very well over there too, which is great for me because I use them all the time for reds. If the fish turn for shallower water, I will throw some topwater like a prop bait because who doesn’t like topwater.
What are you looking forward to the most during the tournament?
I really want to see how other anglers from around the world fish. I want to learn what techniques work, what kind of patterns they are looking for. I want to see everyone’s style! We all want to become better fisherman by learning from each other.
Throughout the interview I could only think about how genuine Ritchey was. For a person to have entered a worldwide competition, he was calm and very humble. Maybe it is me, but I consider Ritchey to be a fast learner and exceptionally well thought out. His open mind may prove a powerful asset.
To learn more about Justin and Hobie Fishing World Championship IV, visit: http://www.hobiefishingworlds.com/.
