Central Pro-Am Association's Angler of the Year, Larry "Doc" Seger
The biggest winner at Central Pro-Am Association’s (CPAA) sixth final Pro-Am Tournament at Table Rock Lake on August 21 was Larry “Doc” Seger, from Kimberling City, MO, who finished 18th and out of the money with a three fish limit weighing 9.68 pounds. The winner of the tournament’s first place prize of $2,250, with a five fish limit weighing 17.09 pounds, was Mark Wiese, Jr. from High Ridge, MO.
It would be a fair question to ask, “How can the biggest winner of a tournament be someone who didn’t even place in the tournament?” The answer is, “It can’t,” but if the question was “Who was the biggest winner at the tournament” the answer would be “Larry ‘Doc’ Segar.”
Although he didn’t win the tournament, his consistent performance over the entire six Central Pro-Am Association’s (CPAA) Pro-Am Tournaments for the 2010 season, including his participation, placement and total weight in this tournament, has earned Seger the coveted title of “Central Pro-Am Angler of the Year.” Jim Thomson, a local Branson, Mo businessman and long time tournament fisherman who owns CPAA said, “This award is based on an anglers consistent level of performance over the entire six tournaments of the season. The measurement of that performance is based on points that are awarded at each tournament for participation, tournament placement and the total weight of the fish caught. The “Angler of the Year” is the one who has the most points at the end of the series.”
Thompson said the Angler of the Year wins their entry fees to all the 2011 CPAA Pro-Am Series tournaments and qualifies for the “pro division” of the 2010 Central Pro Am Championship Tournament, with a guaranteed first place prize of $12,000. The tournament will be held on Grand Lake in Grove, OK on October 2nd and 3rd.
Thompson is really excited about the additional prize that the CPAA Angler of Year will receive this year because of CPAA’s relationship with the Professional Anglers Association (PAA). “As a result of that relationship,” Thompson said, “The ‘CPAA Angler of the Year’ wins an expense paid ‘ride’ to fish the entire 2011 PAA Tournament Series, including paid entry fees, food, fuel and lodging allowances for the entire season.” He went on to point out that the base prize with entry fees etc. is worth over $18,000. He points out that in each PAA tournament the fisherman are competing for in excess of $200,000 in cash and prizes.
Danny Blandford, PAA’s Business Development Manager said, “This is truly a one of kind opportunity, which no other tournament organization has to offer. We at the PAA feel that a program such as this illustrates the commitment of Central Pro-Am to their anglers and this partnership.”
Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and owner of BransonOnTheWeb, one of the major sponsors of the tournament, said that Branson, Missouri will be hosting the final PAA Tournament Event for 2010 at Table Rock Lake October 14 through 16. She points out that the PAA anglers fishing in that tournament will be competing for over $400,000 in cash and prizes.
During an interview with Larry “Doc” Seger on August 21 at the weigh-in for the CPAA Pro-Am Tournament he said that he has been fishing the CPAA circuit since 1991 where he started as an Amateur (fishes from the back of the boat which is controlled by the Professional). He pointed out that his story is reflective of how valuable the CPAA is in the development of professional fishermen saying, “I started out 20 years ago as an Amateur in the CPAA and now here I am the ‘CPAA Angler of the Year.’” Seger also pointed out that he is a member of the Nitro Boats and Bass Pro National Teams. He said, “Over the years I have won a number of tournaments and placed in the top 10, but I have never won ‘Angler of the Year’ before, but this sure was a good year to win.”
He is very excited about fishing the PAA tournaments in 2011 along with the potential increase in revenue that fishing them could bring. He points out that it would be very difficult for any professional bass fisherman to compete without the support their sponsors and expressed his appreciation to Nitro Boats, Bass Pro, Tracker Marine, Solar Bats. TC Cranks, Luck Strike and Chompers for their sponsorship.
