“A Texas Rookie's Elite Recap”
 By
Billy "Hawkeye" Decoteau

A few years ago I started following a young Texas Bass Angler named Keith Combs. 

The then Del Rio, Texas native possessed several angling abilities, which many tournament anglers lack! Especially me! 

Knowing what your limitations are, accepting them, and most importantly conforming them into personal strengths versus personal excuses.  Which, is often easier said than done!

Comb’s consistency competing along the FLW Tour and the BASS highly competitive circuits drew my attention to this Texas Longhorn Angler.  The more I became familiar with Keith and the stronger our friendship developed, I came to realize Keith Combs was indeed one of the most matured and honest Professional Bass Anglers I have ever met.

“I have been competing and fishing diligently for bass since I was about fourteen years old,” says the thirty-five year old now Huntington, Texas resident, who by the way, not only holds a college degree in Marketing and Management, but also runs one of the most successful Bass Guide services in Texas.  

“I spend approximately 300 days a year either on the water, in route to a tournament or working shows for my sponsors.” Bassmaster Elite and FLW Tour Professional Keith Combs informed me, “I will be guiding on Lake Sam Rayburn February – October and Lake Falcon November – January.” (Anglers interested in a guide trip with Keith may do so via email, Keith.Combs@Yahoo.com)

One of Keith Comb’s attributes I highly admire is his determination and dedication in assisting individual anglers in their learning experience while on the water, particularly during one of his guide trips.  The customer has the opportunity to turn a fishing trip into a floating classroom learning experience. 

“I like to stress during my guide trips that they can be a great learning experience for an angler,” suggest Combs.

“This is the ultimate opportunity for an angler to learn and develop an in-depth ability for reading electronics, working on and fine tuning a specific technique or for actual pre-tournament preparation,” he added.

Confidence Level up

Keith Combs simply has a way to make every one of his clients feel good about their angling ability, while instilling the importance of framing that ability with confidence. 

“Confidence, going into a tournament is most important to me,” insists the Ranger/Yamaha sponsored Texan. 

However, Power Tackle’s Keith Combs is quick to point out, “Maintaining this confidence at the highest level of competition requires constant lake study preparation, as well as the confidence in all of my equipment!” (www.PowerTackle.com)

No doubt, Keith Comb’s fordable level of confidence, nurtured with a cultivated maintenance program is surely one reason for his success. 

“It’s imperative for me personally going into any tournament to have developed complete confidence in my game plan.” Pausing for a moment, “I just never seem to do well when I enter a tournament without a high level of confidence.” 

According to Bassmaster Elite Angler Keith Combs, his performance on Pickwick Lake in April, during the Elite Series Alabama Charge is an excellent example. 

“I specifically remember, I had two-hours left in this tournament and I’m firing cast after cast.  While, the thought of ‘I do not know what I’m doing’ kept haunting me!” Combs finished 83rd on Pickwick Lake, after registering a 62nd finish at Florida’s Harris Chain of Lake and a Top-Ten 9th place finish on Florida’s St John’s River.

Get Those Bass To Bite!

Once again Combs elaborated on the importance of knowing how he is going to catch his bass before going into the tournament. 

“Pickwick, was certainly a learning experience for me….  period!”

Keith informed me he had actually put together the right pattern during the high water conditions. 

“I had a very tough practice, and couldn’t seem to get these bass to bite? Being in the right location is only half of the winning equation, you must have the proper presentation as well!”

Comb’s, areas included shoreline flooded brush, and backwater pockets.

With his Bassmaster Elite Series Power Line Services/Power Tackle Lateral Perch wrapped tow vehicle and Ranger Boat, Keith headed for Louisiana’s Toledo Bend, and then to Georgia’s West Point Lake. 

“I felt extremely comfortable and confident going into Toledo Bend,” recalls Combs.  Combs placed 25th on Toledo Bend, utilizing his Power Tackle Rods paired with Seaguar Fluorocarbon line. 

“I established a strong jerkbait bite and increased my weight each day by cranking for larger bass.”

Having collected valuable points, along with a $10,000.check at Toledo Bend, Keith Combs knew the importance of a high finish on West Point Lake. 

“This was our fifth Elite Series event, and going into Georgia’s West Point Lake, I was prepared for a really tough tournament!”

Comb’s consistency and preparation worked hand-in-hand with his ability to make all the right on-the-water changes as needed. 

“Day-3 the water was calm and slick, I turned to dragging a deep water rig on main lake brush and caught two really nice bass.  I finished 24th overall, moved up in the points standing, and collected another $10,000.”

 Keith Combs next Elite Series stop was South Carolina’s Lake Murray.  “Evaluating where I stood within the points system I realized the importance of Lake Murray to my qualifying for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.” Whether or not Combs placed too much pressure on himself or not, only Keith Combs can answer. 

“My practice on Murray was terrible,” acknowledged Combs.  Murray’s clear water clarity, strong population of Herring, coupled with Keith Comb’s trying to make the bass eat what he wanted versus what they preferred, had this Texas Bass Pro saddled for disaster!

Finishing in 44th place, Combs squeezed out a check, collected precious points and in his words, “What I learned on Lake Murray is tremendous.  This is a completely different type of fishery from what I am used to.  My knowledge of Murray grew immensely.”

The final two stops for the Bassmaster Elite Series, before the extended season, included the Arkansas River, and Lake Wheeler in Alabama. 

“The Arkansas River was a tough tournament for all of us.  I concentrated my efforts in Pools 5 & 6, where I felt the most confidence in my presentation. 

“When the currents changed I moved with the baitfish and continued to catch bass.”

Comb’s extremely hard dewing fishing efforts paid-off big time.  “I finished 15th, and catapulted myself up in the standings going into our final regular season event on Lake Wheeler.”

“This was my third tournament on Lake Wheeler, my comfort level along with my preparation and confidence in my game plan going into the tournament was completely positive.”

Continuing, the Elite Rookie added, “I finished 15th, collected $10,000. in Cash Winnings and then another $11,000. in Bonus Money for a total of $21,000.” 

Keith Combs and his ‘Power of Positive Thinking’, going into the Lake Wheeler tournament was what he needed to end an awesome Rookie Season on the Bassmaster Elite Series. 

Finishing 8th overall in the Elite Series point system, Combs qualified for his 2nd Bassmaster Classic.  While he came in second to Ott Defoe for the Toyota Rookie of the Year title.  “You have to at least place no lower than 50thin any of the Elite Series Tournaments, otherwise it is extremely difficult to make up the lost points.”

Although, Keith Combs did not qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series extended season, he did qualify for the Toyota Texas BASS Tournament scheduled for October 28-30, 2011. ■