Pirch Opts To Accept His Elite Series InvitationCliff Pirch hopes to fish both major professional circuits in 2013. But if finances limit him to one, it'll be the Bassmaster Elite Series. The Arizona pro, a five-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier and winner of the 2011 Chickamauga FLW Tour Major, will accept the invitation to fish the Elites that stemmed from his 2nd-place finish in this year's Northern Open points. "I just think it opens up a few more sponsor opportunities," he said. "I still have a lot of good friends at FLW and I'll still fish there when I can, but this seems like the better direction for me right now. Two-Time Winner Pirch Takes Top Slot With 13.40 Stringer
The FLW Tour pro from Arizona, who won at Lake Mead in both 2007 and 2010, bolted to the top of the leaderboard with a tournament-best 13.40-pound sack that gave him a 2-day total of 24.33. Tomorrow, he'll attempt to join Aaron Martens and Mike Folkestad as the derby's only three-time winners. |
The 2012 WON Bass U.S. Open has been a major struggle for most of the event's past champions – Clifford Pirch notwithstanding
