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Zamora, Spain. – Press Releases came out this week announcing the teams for the fourth annual Eurobass Cup, a two day event at Lake Ricobayo in Zamora, Spain, September 25th and 26th. The event pits a team of 12 American anglers against a team of 12 European anglers in a head to head style team competition.
Captaining the American team is OT Fears III, an FLW Tour Pro from Sallisaw, Okla., accompanying Fears will be fellow FLW pros Rob Kilby, of Hot Springs, Ark., Darrell Robertson of Jay, Okla., John Sappington of Willard, Mo., Terry Segraves from Kissimmee, Fla., Charles Hammack of New Caney, Tex., Aaron Hastings of Middletown, Md. and Ray Scheide from Russellville, Ark.
Filling out the team are Bassmaster Elite Series pros Greg Gutierrez of Red Bluff, Calif., Kevin Wirth of Crestwood, Ky., Charlie Youngers of Geneva, Fla. and Keith Phillips from Calera, Ala.
The BASS ZONE caught up with Gutierrez and Wirth to discuss the Eurobass Cup as they prepared to leave for their Elite Series season finale at Lake Toho, in Kissimmee, Fla. Both anglers are making their second trip to Lake Ricobayo and have their sights set on the fourth U.S. Championship at the event.
“I’m looking forward to the trip,” said Team Early Times pro Kevin Wirth. “I’m focused on Lake Toho and finishing out my Elite Series season, but am ready for a break, and I will incorporate a vacation with my wife Lisa into the trip.” Gutierrez echoed the same thoughts, “I’m taking Bobby [his wife of 20 years] with me to celebrate our 21st anniversary in a beautiful place.” |
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Wirth told The BASS ZONE that the anglers in Europe are passionate about what they do, and that the event brings him back to the old days of tournament fishing. “The format is a head to head draw, and they want to win badly,” said Wirth. “We flip coins for who has control of the boat, and they compete with you no matter who’s in control.” Gutierrez echoed Wirth’s comments, “It reminds me of Red Man tournaments,” said the Nitro Boats pro. “They compete in a head to head fashion, and they are serious about it.”
Wirth expects the fishing to be fun, and says that he expects to be fishing a lot of hard cover. “We will be fishing a lot of rock over there,” Wirth reported. “We can catch some topwater fish and crankbait fish early, but will have to slow down in the afternoon. There are these rock walls that look like they were property boundaries at one time, and they come way out in the water; those will hold fish.”
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Gutierrez
said that the waters remind him of
some of his favorite Northern
California fisheries. “The rocky
shorelines remind me of Shasta or
Oroville,” Gutierrez said. “They
don’t have spotted bass there,
it’s all largemouths, but the
landscape brings me home, and
Dropshotting and jigs will produce a
lot of fish.”
Other than the fishing, both anglers
speak of the scenery, and the history
of the location they are going to.
“We stay in a castle that has been
turned into a hotel,” Wirth said.
“The castle still stands, but they
built a nice hotel in the middle of
it.” Meanwhile, Gutierrez is struck
with the history of the area. “This
is where the Spanish army fought
Rome,” he said. “There’s so much
history here, it’s amazing.
Both
anglers say that Eurobass pays for the
majority of the expenses, but with
their wives coming will have to foot
the bill for their own airfare. They
also said that there is no purse that
the anglers will be vying for, but
they are motivated by something else. |
“It’s not about the money in this event,” said Wirth. “It’s a pride thing, you and your teammates against them; that’s what it’s about, bringing in enough points to help the team win. Gutierrez also said it is an honor to go. “I’m representing my country; it’s an honor to be asked to go.”
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