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April
18, 2008
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Lake Fork, Texas
It’s
been said, “Finding a good tournament partner is harder
than finding a good wife.” Although the comparison is
mostly made in jest, there is some merit to the
statement. Everyone has friends that they enjoy fishing
with but there is a difference between a fishing buddy
and a tournament partner. The pressure during the eight
hours of competition can drive a wedge through even the
closest of friendships. Complementary fishing styles
and confidence in each other is critical to being
successful in team bass fishing competition. “I’ve been
blessed with both” stated Billy Dyson when describing
his tournament partner and wife Kay Dyson.
Husband and wife teams in bass fishing are a rarity.
Even rarer is for one of these spousal teams to
consistently rank at the top of a tournament trail – let
alone win Angler of the Year (AOY). The team of Billy
and Kay Dyson are a husband wife team with some
impressive records for their first couple of years of
fishing together as a tournament team. “2007 was our
first year to fish competitively together,” explained
Billy.
When
Kay decided that she wanted to fish as a team in bass
tournament trails, Billy and Kay took an entire year off
of competition to perfect their technique. “She
excelled and I knew we were ready as a team” recalled
Billy. Over the course of this year they worked out as
many kinks as possible in order to insure that they
would be prepared to handle all situations to the best
of their ability during competition. Knowing each
other’s strengths and weaknesses and using both to their
advantage as a team. After that year of preparation
they hit the tournament scene with determination to win
– “Kay is very competitive and hates to lose” stated
Billy.
Their
first tournament as a team found them competing against
107 other teams in the Media Bass Slot Lakes Division
season opener on Lake Fork. Proving their preparation
paid off, the team finished in second place, “we had the
only five fish limit that day” recalled Billy.
Following that event they entered the inaugural J.C
Outdoors Lake Fork tournament trail and finished second
again – merely a prelude to what was to come from this
husband and wife team. Overall in their first year of
competition the Dyson team finished in the money eleven
times out of 14 tournaments. Kay weighed her first over
the slot fish during the Sealy Outdoor McDonalds Big
Bass Splash on Lake Fork for an hourly win and they
finished second in the Farmers Insurance March of Dimes
benefit tournament on Fork. Although their efforts
never yielded a first place finish throughout the year,
the consistency paid off in “Angler of The Year” titles
in both the Media Bass Slot Lakes division and the J.C.
Outdoors Lake Fork division. Some might question what
more could a team ask for than a stellar first season
performance but the Dyson team wanted more, “We had a
great year but never won one” exclaimed Billy.
The
Dyson team’s sophomore season started off in February
this year with a solid finish in the first Media Bass
tournament cashing yet another check -- continuing their
reign of consistency. As the weigh in line closed for
the first Spring J.C. Outdoors tournament, the Dyson
team drowned the monkey that rested on their shoulders
all of 2007 and posted their first win during a tough
early February tournament. Following this
accomplishment the team proved at the next event that it
was no fluke and again finished in the first place
position in the second J.C. Outdoors event. “That was
one of the hardest days physically and mentally”
expressed Billy.
This
team has experienced success that most tournament teams
dream of. It’s not by chance that they are always at
the top. “We fish every weekend out of pure love for
the sport and a passion for fishing” stated Billy. The
team is definitely in tune with their surroundings and
they know where the fish are supposed to be. Kay
explained, “We stick to the prime colors – green
pumpkin, black & blue, and watermelon candy.” Billy
added, “We rarely throw straight watermelon.” The team
is most comfortable fishing deep water structure
throwing to 35 foot of water but they have had to adapt
and step out of their comfort zone. According to Billy,
“We have been forced to fish shallow for these
tournaments and we have gotten better at it.” Billy
also attributes their success to Grande Bass soft
plastics, “That’s basically all we throw and we have a
lot of confidence in the baits.”
With
the 2008 season just getting under way and the team of
Billy and Kay Dyson securing a check in each trail event
they have fished this year, the future looks bright for
the husband and wife team that seems to have conquered
both challenges -- finding the perfect spouse and the
perfect tournament partner. Keep up the great team work
and best of luck the rest of the season.
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