/// 2019 FLW cUP
HE’S THE BEST,
AND WE HAVEN’T SEEN
NOTHING YET.
– Bryan New
chasing Down History
A Legend in the making
All the preparation in the world
can only take you so far. You need
talent to get the rest of the way.
Suffice to say, Thrift is talented.
“I’ve spent as much time in a boat
with him as anyone,” New says. “I
know everything he knows and do
everything he does. He’s just on a dif-
ferent level. I mean, it pisses me off
sometimes. He’s just that damn good.
“He’s the best, and we haven’t
seen nothing yet.”
Thrift’s talent stems from his pas-
sion for fishing. All he ever really
wanted to do was fish. The man has
few hobbies. All he does is spend
time with his family and fish – more
than 200 days a year on the water.
Heck, the day after winning the
Cup, Thrift went out with FLW’s web
crew to shoot a short Day 5 video. It
was 100 degrees and muggy, and
Thrift could’ve easily just tried to
catch one fish and call it good. Nope.
Even when the FLW crew was done
FALL 2019 I FLWFISHING.com
filming, Thrift wouldn’t get off the
water until he’d caught a limit.
But when you bring up his acco-
lades, the records or his legacy, Thrift
just shrugs it off.
“I don’t think about it,” he says.
“Records were made to be broken.
My No. 1 goal has stayed the same
since when I started: I just want to do
well enough to make a living and pay
the bills.”
He’s certainly accomplishing that
goal, and it’s something he hopes to
be doing for a long time, too.
“I want to be like Larry [Nixon],”
Thrift admits. “He’s still out there day-
light to dark enjoying himself. That’s
what I hope to be. I want to make a
long career of this, and as long as I’m
physically able, I’ll be fishing competi-
tively, cashing checks and taking peo-
ple’s money.
“Besides, I’m only 40. There’s still
a lot of techniques I need to get
more comfortable with. I still have
lots to learn.”
It’s finally time.
The prayers and national
anthem now concluded, Thrift
slides his 5-foot, 7-inch frame
behind the console of his Ranger
and presses the start button. The
Evinrude roars to life, letting out a
soft rumble as he puts it in reverse
to back off the bank.
The fog has started to lift a lit-
tle, which is more than can be said
of the humidity. Perspiration is
already seeping into his long-faded
ball cap.
Over a loud speaker, Thrift’s
name is called out as the leader
going into the final day. Along with
it, emcee Chris Jones lists his
career resume of accolade. Thrift’s
is by far the longest introduction
of the morning.
Fans on a long pier near the
takeoff ramp squeeze together to
get a glimpse of him as he idles
past. They want to see the best
angler in the world on the verge of
the greatest feat. They want to see
greatness.
Thrift had always said the only
thing stopping him from winning a
Cup was having one bad day. So
far, he hasn’t had that yet. He’s led
for two days. Of course, that wor-
ries him and hangs in the back of
his mind as he gets in line with the
flag boat. He’s ready.
With the go-ahead, Thrift hits
the throttle, and his boat responds
in perfect unison, shooting him off
into the hazy fog. Fans on shore
watch the man known as “Smoke”
fade into the mist.
Will today be the day he falters,
or will he finally earn the last jewel
in his crown?
No matter what he’s telling
himself as his Evinrude screams
behind him, Thrift won’t bomb.
And somewhere, deep down, he
knows it, too.
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