Returning Bassmaster Elite Series pro Keith Poche had a ton of fun fishing his style in 2022, and it paid off in a big way during the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens competition. After securing his Elite Series bid in the Northern Opens and winning the second Central Open at the Red River, Poche locked up the Opens Angler of the Year title in the overall standings with a 15th-place finish at Sam Rayburn.
The Alabama resident accumulated 1,507 points throughout the year, finishing no worse than 73rd all season in a field featuring more than 200 boats for much of the year. He outlasted Cooper Gallant, Cole Sands and David Gaston to earn the AOY trophy and the $10,000 prize.
“It has been fun. I am fishing like I want to fish and doing it my style in my little boat, off-the-grid style,” Poche said. “No matter who you are, whether you fish or do something else in life, if you are having fun and are happy, you will be successful at it. It took me 41 years to figure that out, but heck I’m doing it now and having fun.”
After earning his Elite bid at the beginning of Sept. 2022, Poche started fishing to win. He successfully did that at the Red River and believed he would have a good chance at doing so again at Sam Rayburn.
Unfortunately, Poche picked the wrong area to fish on Day 1 and came back with four fish for 7 pounds, 3 ounces. He rebounded on the second day in a big way, catching the second heaviest bag of the day at 21-0 to secure AOY and a top 15 finish.
“I tasted that victory, and I wanted more of it. I wasn’t going to lay down. I was angry (after Day 1) for making a bad decision,” Poche said. “I didn’t get it done, and I was angry. I knew I had another place to go. I felt like I could catch the upper teens in both areas, I just chose wrong the first day.”
All year, Poche used his Gator Trax aluminum boat to access shallow water areas and get away from the crowd. The realization that he could requalify for the Elite Series came at the James River, where he led after Day 2 but ultimately fell to Kenta Kimura on the final day.
“It really set up well for me. I was going way up this ditch and into this backwater pond, and I let one slip by me. Of course, Kenta had a really good day, but I saw that door opening for a victory, and it gave me so much more confidence and I didn’t let second place get to me. The style of what I was doing was working, and it gave me confidence to continue doing it. It boosted me and solidified my decision-making.”
Now, Poche’s attention will turn towards 2023 where he has a couple of events circled on the Elite schedule, particularly Lay Lake which is an hour from his house, and the Sabine River.
Poche’s sponsors in 2022 included Fenwick, Gator Trax Boats, American Sport Fish, Mercury, Abu Garcia, Berkley and Frogg Toggs.