Co-Angler Brings Wealth Of Experience To Sc Bfl On Santee Cooper
DJ McEachern expects to see some big bags on Santee Cooper this weekend
For a guy who is only 19, DJ McEachern is pretty confident of what the fish will be doing in the Santee Cooper Lakes this weekend when he is fishing the South Carolina Division BFL tournament.
“There are going to be a bunch of bedding fish and I am sure the lower lake will be on fire because it always is this time of year,” he said.
If he sounds experienced, even though he is only a couple of years out of high school, it’s because bass fishing is such a major part of his life – and has been since before he reached his teens.
The Columbia, S.C., college student has competed in the The S.C. Bass Federation’s Junior Division State Title Tournament every year since 2004. In 2008 and 2009 he was the TBF of SC Youth State champion, finishing 17th in the world in 2008 and 11th in the world in 2009.
He won the St. Andrews Junior Bass Club Angler of the year Award in 2005, 2006 and 2008. He finished second in points in the BFL S.C. Division in 2011 and was also second in points as a co-angler in the TBF-SC. He finished 4th as a co-angler in the BFL Regional on Kerr Reservoir last October, qualifying for the BFL All-American this June June 27-29 on Nickajack Lake in Chattanooga, Tenn. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
That, said McEachern, is what he has been aiming for most of his life.
A sophomore at Midlands Tech, who plans to transfer to the University of South Carolina this fall and fish for the USC Fishing Team, McEachern said his long-range goal is to fish the BASS Opens and try to qualify for the Elite Series.
“I am not too worried about that right now. As soon as I get my truck fixed I plan to start fishing some open tournaments like the CATT Trail and I hope to fish the BFLs as a boater next season,” he said.
As for this weekend at Santee, McEachern said it will probably take 28 pounds to win the SC BFL Tournament, probably 19 or 20 pounds for the co-angler winner.
“Whoever wins, I think, will be looking at the fish. They will be sight fishing for bedding fish and catching a few in between on a swim bait. They will just have to beat everybody else there to catch them.”
You can keep up with DJ McEachern’s fishing exploits on his website: www.djmceachernfishing.com.
Walmart Bass Fishing League (BFL) – South Carolina Division
Sat, Apr 13, 2013
Santee Cooper Lakes
John C. Land III Landing
