For years, he slept under the Alabama pines in the trailer, which he jokingly nicknamed the Particle Board Palace. When he wasn’ t sleeping, he’ d work for months straight at times, six or seven days a week, 12-hour shifts, saving up cash for fishing. It was the only way, Dortch says, he could tally enough money to pay entry fees into the Costa FLW Series, the circuit that spring-boarded his pro career. Often, it was also the only way to keep his boat seaworthy.
That boat, electronics included, was worth less than $ 3,000.
His winnings from the 2017 Harris Chain FLW Tour event alone could have purchased it 33 times over.
Dortch, who’ s now sponsored by Blazer Boats, kick-started his career on the decks of the Porpoise, starting at the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League level. From there, he graduated to the ranks of the Costa FLW Series, where a string of strong finishes, capped by a 2016 win at Wheeler Lake, would land him on the FLW Tour in 2017.
Starting Strong
How Dortch captured the FLW Tour Rookie of the Year title is, in itself, a story of perseverance. Finishes of 15th, 87th, first, 85th, 14th, 32nd and 86th paint an up-and-down portrait of his first year at the league’ s top level. Together, those experiences have dealt the Alabaman a lesson that too many professional anglers have learned the hard way.
“ You win by gambling,” he says.“ The biggest thing I learned this year is to not fish scared. When you’ re high up in the standings, it can kind of make you fish conservatively. There were several times that I didn’ t fish in places where I was getting bigger bites in practice. Instead, I would head to a place where I was getting more bites. I guess I knew I could hold my position if I could just weigh in fish, but that’ s not how you win. You’ ve got to take chances.”
Chances are what got Dortch to the Tour. They’ re what got him to the winner’ s circle in Florida, where he bucked the mass of other anglers fishing spawning areas in favor of postspawn fish out off the bank. And, they’ re what he
ultimately needed to win Rookie of the Year, edging out Justin Atkins by just 11 points.
“ Reflecting back, it seems like the tournaments I did the worst in were the ones where I was already in a strong position,” he recalls.“ Then, I’ d be in a tight spot at the next event and have to take a chance to bounce back.”
On to the Cup
So the rookie’ s season unfolded as a constant lesson in managing pressure and competitiveness, all the while looking up at the shadow of the Forrest Wood Cup, where the pressure of the points system is finally off.
“ I’ m thrilled to death to make it to the Cup,” he says.“ I’ d much rather fish a tournament like that, something that doesn’ t involve points. I’ ve already been up to the lake and spent a day driving around, and I really like what I see up the rivers. Without a doubt, I’ m going to be fishing to win it.”
On Lake Murray, Dortch will find himself up against a wall once again, pitted against a field littered with past Rookies of the Year who are unimpressed by his newfound crown. He knows that, of course, and says he’ s up for the task.
“ Guntersville showed me I could compete with these guys on the Tour level,” he says.“ Going up there and placing 15th made me feel like I belonged, and it really set the tone for the whole season. The win at Harris was huge for my bank account, but more than that, it told me I could win on the Tour level. Now I’ m thinking‘ what else can I do?’”
For the working-class hero from south Alabama, a victory at the Forrest Wood Cup isn’ t out of the cards. It’ s something he dreamed about years ago, on the deck of the Porpoise, and in the halls of the Particle Board Palace. A win at the big daddy of bass tournaments is something he thought about long before this season.
“ It would mean everything,” he admits.“ Winning Rookie of the Year is a great honor. With 30 rookies in the pack, to win against that level of competition is something special. They are some damn good fishermen. But to win the Cup? That would be huge.”
PHOTO BY KYLE WOOD
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2017 I FLWFISHING. COM
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