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Looking to capture ‘The Cup’
As today dawned, pro bass angler Nick Prvonozac was more than 700 miles from his Howland home rigging his rods for the biggest bass tournament of his life.
A winner at every local and regional level of bass competition, Prvonozac joins 49 other pros in Huntsville, Ala., and Wheeler Lake for the Forrest Wood Cup – the championship of the annual FLW Tour, one of two major leagues in professional bass fishing.
To those who have fished with and against Prvonozac, his qualification for “The Cup” comes as no surprise. He qualified in just his third season of trying, a salute to the level of his talent. The Provonozac name is to local bass fishing excellence like Kokrak is in golf, Warfield in football and Dravecky in baseball.
Much is at stake at Wheeler Lake in steamy Alabama. The winner will earn $300,000 and a world title that is every bit as prestigious in bass fishing as the U.S. Open is in golf. Qualifiers get three days of official practice starting tomorrow. The tournament begins Thursday and concludes Aug. 7.
He left Howland yesterday with high hopes in tow along with his Ranger 520C and Mercury 250 Optimax.
“It’s going to be tough because it’s August in Alabama and it’s hot,” he said. “But we always face tough conditions in Ohio, so I think my mind is ready for the challenge.”
He and other Cup qualifiers expect a 15- or 16-pound daily average will put them in contention come Sunday. Based on scout trips prior to the practice cut-off earlier this month, he believes he can catch that average.
“It’s the Tennessee River, which includes lakes like Kentucky and Guntersville, but Wheeler is different. Even though it’s 60 miles long, it’s smaller than most other lakes in the system and its ledges are not so extensive that it takes years to learn them.”
Provonzac honed his tournament skills and instincts through more than 20 years of competition, starting on the lakes near his boyhood home in Warren. He and brother George were regular winners in any and all competition on Mosquito, Berlin, Milton, West Branch, the Ohio River, Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake and beyond.
Local tournaments are contested on waters with small fish populations, sparse habitat and too much fishing pressure, so Prvonozac learned he needed to know when and how to adjust tactics. He’ll put that knack to good use on Wheeler.
“I like fishing the off-shore structure that I think will be key at Wheeler next week,” he said.
A world title and $300,000 in the bank can be a life-changing experience. It would put his name on the same list as world champions like Kevin Van Dam, Rick Clunn, Larry Nixon, Scott Martin and other bass kings. What would it mean to Prvonozac?
“I haven’t thought about that much yet. It will still be family first. That’s important for me. I can’t do what I do without such great support from my family. I suppose I’ll pay off my mortgage and some other bills, but other than that, I don’t see much else changing.”
Family support started when he was a teen. He credits parents George and Tina Prvonozac, today celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, along with wife Tiffany and children Olivia, Logan, McKenna, Max and Amelia.
Prvonozac also is thankful for sponsorship support from Yum, Booyah, Enigma Fishing, Fisherman Central, Costa Del Mar sunglasses, Tufline Braid, Power-Pole, Hovis Tire Pros, Durica Reliant Insurance, A New Beginning Home Inspection, Ranger Boats and Mercury Outboards.
Bringing “The Cup” home to Howland next week would be a dream come true, for sure, and validation for those who have supported his pursuit of the dream.