Tak in the NY Times
COLUMBIANA, Ala. — The rap of knuckles on the car window could come at any time of the night. A hotel security guard would discover Takahiro Omori asleep in the back seat of the worn Chevrolet Suburban and there was no sympathy for an angler in a pinch.
Takahiro Omori, who has upgraded his mode of travel and has attracted sponsors, believes he is on to something by focusing only on bass fishing.
“They said, ‘Can’t sleep here, go,’ ” Omori said. “Sometimes, in the country towns, they are also fishermen and they let me stay in parking lot.”
For three years, from 1993 to 1995, Omori would try to dodge security guards or the local police in hotel or shopping center lots, which was a challenge because it was difficult to be discreet while pulling a bass boat. He had come from Japan without sponsors and without the blessing and support of his family, trying to survive on the professional bass fishing tour. Often he did not have enough money to cover the fee to stay at a campground.
