WB: So, was targeting big fish about bigger baits, specific techniques or a different mindset?
Uribe: It was more in the mindset. I have been fishing FLW since 2007 and I had never won an event. It was a big monkey on my back. It was something that I’ve been so close to, with 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th place; but I had never won. It was just really wearing on me and this year, I was able to take a deep breath, fish with more of a clear mind and really go for big bites.
As far as the baits, I would say – out of all of the events – that was probably key at Havasu. My dad and I put together a swimbait that we threw and they were biting it really good. That made that tournament really special.
At the Delta, I was throwing a River2Sea Whopper Popper and a wakebaits, which most of the guys do. It’s not a big secret; but I just stuck with it, the whole time and never put it down.
WB: Take us through your
thoughts for the season as you
racked up the finishes at each
event.
Uribe: Havasu really set the
pace for me. Winning that event
was a huge relief and just a
confidence builder knowing that I
finally did it.
Going into the Delta I knew I
could continue doing it because
I just finished great tournament
and I just wanted to keep the
momentum going. I was practicing
with my sister. As soon as we got
on the water, I was getting
quality bites and I thought
man this is awesome! Going
to the last day of the Delta
event, I was thinking how it
was unreal. I had the bites to win
on the final day, they just didn’t
hook up; but I had a good event and I
was very excited to get 6 th .
Clearlake is just my all-time greatest
place. I just love it. I don’t look at it like
I’m fishing tournament. I look at it as I’m just going to have fun. With my practice
WINTER 2016
6 th Place at the California
Delta. Courtesy of Joe
Uribe Jr.
the week before the event, there was another big local event going on and I had a lot of guys stop and take time out of their day to congratulate me on my year so far and tell me that they were really pulling for me at Clear Lake. That really got to me emotionally; because, I felt like I had so many people in my corner that wanted to see me do this. That is when, I started feeling the pressure and not for myself, but for everybody that was rooting for me. But in the end, I didn’t let it get to me. I stayed even keeled and focused and I caught them pretty decent the first day. It was tough every day. I worked hard on the fish in Clear Lake. On day two, the FLW camera boat was following me around. It didn’t happen for me in the morning, so they left me and I got on them later on in the afternoon. On that final day, my sister and I talked. She told me to do my crank thing in the morning, but don’t die on it. She reminded me to slow down, fish that pattern that we found in practice and just be patient with it. I did and then and that’s obviously what won.
WB: What does winning AOY mean to you?
Uribe: It means a lot. I personally set that goal for myself this year and I am really proud of myself for doing it. That is what a lot of guys don’t do. They don’t set high enough personal goals for themselves on the water. I’m not out there trying to prove anything to anybody. I’m just out there to set goals for myself – be better, do better, fish better and I did that. I am
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