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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