Dave Lefebre – Prepping for 2013

The 2013 FLW Tour season is rapidly approaching and for some reason I’m more excited about competing than I’ve ever been. I can’t wait to get out there and get back into shape, both mentally and physically, we’ve been “off” for way too long.

I’ve also been preparing myself for 6 hours of sleep too, something I neglected last year and paid for it in the first practice days at Okeechobee. I’m still in the process of completely re-organizing my tackle and preparing my new garage and office. Although I enjoy the work, I promise you that I’m ready for it to be done; I’m out in the garage from early morning until late evening every day working. I’ve spent more than 2 weeks out there so far and probably need another 2 or 3 days.

After that, I can then start pairing rods and reels, putting line on reels, and getting the baits together that I will need for the first event in Florida. We also have to load the camper and get it ready. Hard to believe we leave in just about a week, we are all excited to get moving southward and escape this arctic craziness.

The FLW season will be a lot shorter this year, but I’m trying to focus on the positive. Every event’s importance is mucho magnified and the urgency to win has never been more overwhelming, I’m challenged and I like it. I’m going back to the way it was when I started this sick game, sleeping in my truck at the boat ramp, eating peanut butter and jelly, and somebody smack me please, cause I’m talking out of my you know what, lol. But seriously, I do feel strangely energized for a fresh start. Of course being pre-qualified for the Cup helps.

I like the scheduled this year with the exception of Beaver Lake, although I’m starting to do a little better there as of late. The rest of it looks like power fishing and/or sight fishing, which I’m down with.

I’m probably most excited about going back to Eufaula, I really liked it when we were there a few years back. I made the cut with a Terminator spinnerbait and let the win slip right through my figers. I think Guido won that one. I’m mostly nervous about the very first one coming up in Florida on Lake Okeechobee. I always do well there, but my philosophy has always been to leave the Sunshine State “alive”, lol. Florida can make or break you as far as points and momentum go, that’s why I get a tad more anxious when preparing for those ones. It would be nice to fish down there with reckless abandon, but I’m leaning toward my usual playing it safe for now, especially with the recent announcement from the TTBC.

I guess the top 15 from the AOY race will be invited back to Lake Conroe, TX in October, but they’ve also announced that anglers who qualify this season will also qualify for the 2014 TTBC Championship. So…if you fail to qualify this year, you’re out next year too… nothing like a little added pressure. Besides Tour AOY, making the TTBC is my main goal for 2013!

Aside from my usual partners in crime, I’ve added Igloo Yukon to my sponsor line up for 2013 and beyond, as well as Terminator and Suffix, both Rapala lines. I’ve been with Rapala for several years now and it has been a perfect fit for me. My other sponsors include Kellpgg’s Frosted Flakes, Ranger Boats, Chevy Silverado HD, Mercury Outboards, Kinami Baits, Solar Bat Shades, Dobyns Rods, Lowrance HDS electronics, and Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchors.

Well, I’ll check back in next week and get back to my weekly blogs here on Advanced Angler.com. Check me out on my Facebook Page