Omori’s fish story has a happy ending

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Takahiro Omori, an immigrant from Japan, came to the United States hoping to become a pro fisherman and one day winning bass fishing’s biggest prize, the Bassmaster Classic.

His American Dream came true on Aug. 1, standing on the stage, holding the Classic trophy over his head, with fans cheering wildly, confetti and streamers filling the air in fishing’s version of “the greatest show on earth.”

He was the Ichiro of bass where thousands of fans jammed daily into an arena for weigh-in ceremonies. Young and old alike stood in a long line waiting for autographs.

Omori got to the front of the line by landing 15 bass weighing 39 pounds, 2 ounces in three days of fishing on Lake Wylie on the North Carolina-South Carolina line.

“Anyone who doesn’t think bass fishing is becoming a big-time sport should come to the Classic,” said Stacey King of Reed Spring, Mo., one of the elite competitors that qualified for this year’s championship. “I’ve watched it go from just a fun weekend activity into an addiction, a fervor.

“That green fish we chase has a huge following.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildilfe’s 2002 survey of wildlife-related recreation showed that bass are the most popular sportfish in the country, attracting 10.7 million fishermen. Panfish are a distant second with 7.9 million fishermen and trout third with 7.8 million. Bass tournaments are part of the fabric of life at lakes across the country, particularly in the “bass belt” of the South.

“This is the best day of my life,” Omori said holding his trophy. Omori, 33, lives in Emory, Texas. He said he moved to the United States after reading about the Bassmaster as a 15-year-old.

“I only had $2,000 when I came here, I didn’t speak any English and I didn’t know a soul. But I didn’t get discouraged.”

Omori used some last-minute heroics to win. With less than an hour to go in the tournament, he had only two keepers. He’d hooked two fish other fish in the 5-pound range, but they broke off.

He changed from a jig to a crankbait and immediately caught a 3-pound bass. He was in the right place as fish moved in to a river channel. With less than 10 minutes before he had to leave, he caught two bass that were even bigger — enough to win by nearly 3 pounds.

“I got in with less than five minutes to go,” he said.

The championship earned Omori $200,000 and the distinction of being the first foreign national to win the Classic, a king-maker title that can be worth more than $1 million in long-term exposure.

The Classic title, after all, is the most prestigious honor in the sport. Win the big one, experts say, and you’re going to be the most visible fisherman in the country for a year.

Ask New Jersey angler Michael Iaconelli, just another face in the BASS crowd until he won the 2003 Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans.

Iaconelli, 32, immediately found himself in demand, embarking on an almost non-stop whirlwind tour of appearances, speaking engagements and interviews.

He was featured in Esquire, GQ and Playboy magazines. He threw out the first pitch at a major league exhibition baseball game.

Now it’s Omori’s turn.

“This is the way I dreamed things would work out,” he said. “This is why I came to America.”