Boyd Duckett & John Murray Start Slow In ‘08

     Even with the season just eclipsing the half way point, I still feel like the season is still getting underway. So while me commenting on the “Slow Starters” of 2008 could instead be a “Slow First Half” post, I still think that with some luck and good decision making, the two names that come to mind still have time to rebound enough to help them sleep good at the end of the year. Speaking of names, the two anglers I am now focused on have had a 360 degree season of sorts up to this point when compared to last years.

*Photo credited: ESPN/BASS

Boyd Duckett – If you read Boyd’s blog page, you’ll see he is open and acknowledges the fact that his season has started slowly as he continues to make every attempt at improving his preparations and focus. Right now the 2007 Bassmaster Classic champ is sitting 48th in points. That is a far cry from his 2007  AOY points finish of 17th. With that being said, Boyd’s season has been highlighted by a season high finish of 19th at the recent Carolina Clash on Lake Murray, SC. With 4 top 10’s and an additional Major win in 2007, Duckett’s chances for the same repeated success and major improvement are getting smaller and smaller with only 5 events left. What should Duckett’s goal be at this point? Winning is always a goal, but more importantly I’m sure it remains making the Classic. He is really going to need to tighten the belt and go in head first to help him gain a top 37 berth and a seat at the Classic. A few final day cuts and and a couple of top 20’s are just what he needs.

 John Murray - There is night and then there is day and that is exactly what I see when I look at John Murray’s season this year when compared to 2007. Murray exploded last year nailing down 6 top 12’s (two of which were Majors), $139,300 in earnings at the Elite level, and a 23rd place AOY finish. So far, this season has been the exact opposite with a season high finish of 37th on Lake Murray (how fitting) and nothing else inside the top 50. At this point I would like to think Murray’s focus is not on qualifying for the Classic. His main focus should be to concentrate on making adjustments and finding out exactly what it is that has him out of form and out of touch with the John Murray of 2007. He will need good solid showings throughout the rest of the year to help him stay above 87th place in the AOY standings as he struggles to re-qualify for the Elites in 2009.

     While there are of course other anglers having slow years as well, I pointed these two out for two reasons. 1st) I did not see the type of year they are having up to this point coming and I don’t think anyone else did neither. 2nd) I think that if things don’t improve and only remain the same or get worse than we will be witness to what I will project being the worst years of their career on the Elite level and will in turn ignite a spark that will turn into an explosion in 2009.