CPAA Champ Larry Seger Set For PAA
Larry "Doc" Seger of Kimberling City, Mo., will compete on the 2011 PAA Tournament Series after winning the 2010 Central Pro-Am Association points title. (PAA: Alan Clemons)
PAA Communications
BRANSON, Mo. – Larry “Doc” Seger wanted to compete in the final PAA Tournament Series event last week on Table Rock Lake but had the first of two other championship tournaments on his agenda.
But he’ll be competing in the 2011 season and can’t wait.
Seger, who lives in Kimberling City on Table Rock, won the 2010 Central Pro-Am Association points championship. As part of a partnership between the two organizations, CPAA owner Jim Thompson will pay Seger’s entry fees into the 2011 PAA Tournament Series events.
Thompson announced the bonus prior to the start of the CPAA’s season, which ended earlier this month on Table Rock. To be eligible, anglers had to join the CPAA and pre-pay for all of its tournaments while also joining the PAA. He did this to eliminate cherry-picking or late-comers.
Seger, a veteran tournament competitor in the Ozarks, is thrilled.
“I think it’s great,” he said. “I’m very excited about it. I used to fish the (Bassmaster) Opens and haven’t fished them for 3-4 years, but I am looking forward to getting back to it. I’m looking forward to chasing the big boys again and fishing some new lakes.”
The 2011 PAA Tournament Series schedule has not been set yet. Seger began competing in tournaments in 1991, starting as an amateur before winning as a co-angler on Bull Shoals Lake.
“That was the beginning of the end,” he said, laughing. “I went out there without a boat and pulled a boat home, which was exciting. After the fourth tournament this season, I thought I had a shot (at the title) after taking the (points) lead back over. We were coming back home to Table Rock for the final event. There were six or seven guys who were chasing it and could win it, and they’re all good fishermen.”
Solid season
Seger never finished lower than 23rd in six CPAA events this season, including the championship, and narrowly missed winning the opening event on Lake of the Ozarks when he was second. He also finished ninth, fifth, 13th and was 18th in the championship.
CPAA owner Jim Thompson congratulates Seger for his solid season. (PAA: Alan Clemons)
“There’s not a regional circuit in the United States where guys can fish one year and go fish against the pros the next year,” Thompson said. “We have guys who want to move up and this is a great opportunity, along with membership enhancement.”
Many current or former tour-level pros got their start on the CPAA circuit or have competed on it, including Mike McClelland of Arkansas, Tommy Biffle and Jason Christie of Oklahoma, and Randy Blaukat, Guido and Dion Hibdon, Stacey King, Chad and Denny Brauer, Jim Eakins and Brian Snowden of Missouri.
PAA Program Director Danny Blandford said the partnership is good for both organizations because it helps provide a pathway to tour-level competition while promoting both among anglers and fans.
“In our first meeting, one thing Jim and I discussed was how to help bring back the CPAA and put down a path to help these guys,” he said. “The Central Pro-Am has been a strong proving ground for anglers to move on to a higher level and we believe this can be a way to help do that again.”
Strong competition
After competing against many of the pros in CPAA events and in the Opens a few years ago, Seger believes the regional circuit and its tough lakes definitely are a challenging crucible for any angler.
“Absolutely. If you take a look, there are at least 10 guys who are now on the Elite or FLW tours who I’ve fished against and they still are fishing it,” he said. “I qualified for the first year of the Elites but it was just too much time being gone (from home) for me to do it then.
“You look at the Central (Pro-Am) and these guys are the toughest in the Midwest. When I fished the Opens, I had a year with a learning curve and then made money. The Central Pro-Am was what helped me so much in the Opens. Everyone says their circuit’s the toughest, but truly … this is the toughest in the Midwest. Even Charlie Campbell still competes with us.”
Having the entry fees paid will be one less thing Seger has to worry about next year. He has a stable of sponsors – Nitro Z-9, Mercury, Bass Pro Shops, Chompers, Loc-R-Bar, Luck “E” Strike and Solar Bat – but knows every little bit helps.
“What Jim has offered us is a great opportunity for the Central Pro-Am guys and is a huge carrot,” he said. “It takes care of the money issues. You can just go fishing, and anyone who knows the money issue is resolved knows you’re more relaxed.”
Thompson plans to do the same for the points champion of the CPAA’s 2011 season, which begins Dec. 4 on Table Rock Lake.
For more information on the CPAA, visit central-proam.com/
