COLUMBIA, S.C. – After finishing third overall in the Bassmaster Northern Opens points race, Fenwick Rods pro Keith Poche captured the crown at the Bassmaster Central Open on the Red River in Louisiana with a three-day total of 37-pounds, 12–ounces and punched his ticket to the 2023 Bassmaster Classic.
Poche began the final day of competition with a 14-ounce lead and did what he does best, worked a shallow backwater area with sparse vegetation and scattered wood that was only accessible via a small drainage ditch. He caught limits of 13-pounds, 3-ounces on both day one and day two, and finished with a limit of 11-pounds, 6-ounces on the final day of the event, securing the victory by over two pounds.
“I’ve fished the Red River a lot. I have been here for several events including the 2012 Bassmaster Classic that I led and ended up finishing third in. I had to fight through a lot of adversity this week but my gear performed flawlessly. It was really sweet to finally get it done on the Red River. Coincidentally, my last Bassmaster Classic back in 2019 was in Knoxville, and I am going back to the same place next year. It’s going to be special to get back and try to get it done,” said Poche.
Making short pitches to scattered cover in the backwater off the main river, he fished a 3-inch Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss, a 3/8-ounce weight and a 4/0 Berkley Fusion19 Heavy Cover hook on a new Fenwick Elite Bass Casting rod in a 7-foot, 6-inch heavy action. The longer Fenwick rod was comfortable for Poche and, regardless of the cover, it had the power to move fish and get them in the boat.
“Those rods have come a long way and the new Elite Series rods are built with a solid blank with high-end components all around making it super light and comfortable at a good price point,” added Poche. “For me personally, my comfort rod is the 7-foot, 6-inch heavy action and it’s perfect for the 3/8 or 1/2-ounce for flipping around scattered grass and shoreline cover. I am able to make accurate casts, skips and pitches, and I can control the fish whether they are close to the boat or farther away.”
The Fenwick Elite Series rods offer stronger, more durable rods without compromising the sensitivity and lightness that anglers have come to expect from Fenwick. Every rod series is constructed out of the high grade materials suited for each application. This rod series features a 30-ton graphite rod with Powerlux 200 resin making for an incredible combination of lightweight feel and sensitivity – suited for anglers at any level.
“Our team at Pure Fishing is thrilled for Keith, and we know what this win means for him and his career. Keith is committed fully to our Fenwick brand and has contributed heavily to the new lineup of Fenwick Elite rods,” said Marc Kempter, Vice President of Marketing Communications at Pure Fishing. “We’re looking forward to supporting him and his Fenwick wrapped rig at the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee this coming March.”
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