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Then again , last season laid down plenty of challenges for Sprague .
Every angler is going to experience bad luck time and again . Lost fish , boat breakdowns , flat tires , a bad neighbor at a motel – things happen , and he hopes each is a one-time deal . Sprague wasn ’ t so lucky . He battled a series of mechanical issues throughout the season that threatened to derail his AOY chances .
Because of the issues , he lost fishing time , inadvertently erased some important
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waypoints and had to deal with enough hurdles to cause even an experienced angler to lose his cool .
But Sprague didn ’ t . He showed poise that suggests a level of experience and confidence not often found from someone just a few years into a professional fishing career . As it turns out , those traits are exactly what have led the 35-year-old to this point in his career . He ’ s established now , having earned plenty of respect last season . In February , Sprague heads into the 2017 FLW
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Tour on the unofficial list of AOY favorites , with a track record that suggests he ’ ll make a run at the title .
Rising Above It
Jason Reyes has seen a lot in more than a decade of professional fishing . What he saw happen to Sprague last season – the highs despite the lows – was a first .
“ He rose up to it ,” says Reyes . “ Most guys would use it [ a mechanical issue ] as an excuse , fold up or completely melt down . He simply battled through it .”
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The Hartwell tournament epitomized that to Reyes . Reyes and Sprague room together during the season , so both had seen the 3 1 / 2-pounder bedding beneath the dock of the house where they were staying at Hartwell . Since Sprague got the better boat draw the first day , he got dibs on it . Sure enough , he caught it , only to have to throw it back when a breakdown forced him to go through a restart .
“ I ’ ve seen something like that ruin tournaments so many times ,” Reyes says . “ You have to be in the right mental mindset to do what Sprague did – get a new boat , regroup , completely scrap your plan and crack 17 pounds .”
Then again , after having watched Sprague come into his own as an angler these last few years , Reyes wasn ’ t all that surprised .
The first time Reyes met Sprague was when Reyes drew him as a co-angler several years back . Almost immediately Reyes saw something different in him .
“ You could see he was young and hungry , but it wasn ’ t like he was trying to get anything from me ,” Reyes says . “ Best way I can put it is he was mad at them [ the fish ].”
The two clicked as friends almost immediately , and since Sprague didn ’ t know anyone else competing on Tour , Reyes invited Sprague to practice with him at the next tournament . They ’ ve been traveling together ever since .
Reyes was also the one who pushed Sprague to move to the front of the boat . He actually suggested that Sprague make the move a year earlier , in 2013 , but the young pro held off for another season .
“ That just shows his maturity ,” Reyes says . “ He picked the right time .”
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