NEWS

Bassmaster Team Championship Team Profile Wayne Cox and Jimmy Harrison

Bassmaster Team Championship Team Profile
Wayne Cox and Jimmy Harrison
by Dan O’Sullivan

While they have been friends for several years, Wayne Cox and jimmy Harrison fished a team tournament trail for the first time together in 2015.  “Harrison explained that he met his partner when he drew his wife fishing a Weekend Series event approximately eight years ago; they’ve been close ever since.

Harrison fished the Alabama Bass Trail in 2014, but with a different partner.  When Cox told him he was available this year, the decision to fish together was a no brainer, and it almost resulted in an Angler of the Year finish for the pair.  The pair finished 14 points behind Southern Division Points Champions and ABT Anglers of the Year Nicholas Turner and Joe Lay.

Their goal was to win the Angler of the Year title from the beginning.  With a strategy to allow the angler who knew the body of water best to take the lead, it resulted in the team finishing “We were close, and had we landed the two fish we lost at Camden (Miller’s Ferry), we would probably be the Anglers of the Year,” said Harrison.  “We really had a pretty good year and are looking forward to the end of this year and doing it again next season.”

With a strong 2015, and an understanding of each other’s skillsets, they think they can improve on their results.  “Coming from Eufaula, I have spent a lot of time fishing offshore, so that’s my strength, and Wayne really excels at the shallow water stuff” said Harrison.  “We work together to make sure that the guy with the strengths that match the fishery is on the front of the boat, and we think it can make for some strong results ahead.”

As for the Bassmaster Team Championship, Cox and Harrison are excited about the opportunity, but know they will be on limited information headed into the event.  “We are both fishing a championship event, but not together, so we’ll only get to practice for the two official days beforehand,” he said.  “Neither one of us has a great deal of experience on Guntersville, so we’ll have to go out there and figure something out in those two days.”

Like any other team, their goal is to finish high enough to have a shot at the Bassmaster Classic berth.  “Our goal is to be in the top three,” he said.  “We’ll try and get there and then figure everything else out as it happens.

“We’re both excited about the opportunity, and going there as a representative of Alabama Bass Trail means a lot too.”

The sponsors of the 2015 Alabama Bass Trail include: Bill Penney Toyota, the Alabama Tourism Department, Phoenix Bass Boats, Inc., Garmin, Academy Sports & Outdoors, T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., Alabama Power Company, Buffalo Rock, Inc., Jet-Pep, Inc., Tennessee Valley Authority, and Frogg Toggs, Inc., HydroWaveTM, Alabama Foundation Specialist, Boat U.S., LEER, Vicious Fishing, E3 Sports, Inc., Costa Del Mar, Frogg Toggs, Inc., Power-Pole,  Window World and Yeti Coolers.