So close, yet so far

After the first day of action at the 10th-annual Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, John Guzej and Ted Stewner find themselves in a familiar position—in second place behind James and Bill Lindner.
Last year, after leading the pack heading into Day 3, the pair had to settle for second place—2.7 pounds behind the Lindners.
“After last year’s tournament, we analyzed everything and we told ourselves, ‘Man, if we would’ve went to this part instead of that spot, we could’ve saved half-an-hour instead of running here or running there, and maybe we could’ve made up that [extra weight],’” Stewner said earlier this week.
“There were what ifs, there were a lot of what ifs,” Stewner repeated for emphasis as he shook his head.
And that wasn’t the first time the Winnipeg duo came close to winning in their seven years as partners in the FFCBC. Last year might have been tough, but 1998 is still a nightmare, said Guzej.
Once again leading after the second day of the tournament, the third day brought grief and heartache as things went from bad to worst for the pair.
“Last year wasn’t bad because we didn’t lose a fish, so we can’t really complain,” said Guzej. “But one year we were first after the second day and we finished third, but should’ve won because we lost a lot of fish.
“That was in 1998 and it still haunts me,” he added. “We’re always just a little bit short around here.”
So have they gotten used to losing by such close margins?
“I look at it differently than that,” said Guzej. “Even if you’re there [the top placing] that’s a big thing because a lot of people wish they were there, so I have no problem with that.
“There’s nothing you can really do. As long as you keep fighting and you’re close, then that’s all that counts.”
Stewner said this year’s cold spring and a late spawn produced “the worst pre-fishing that we’ve had in all the years that we’ve been in this tournament.”
“Winning isn’t our hope this year,” laughed Guzej.
“We were on the boat Sunday and we were saying, ‘Man, maybe this year we should shoot for top 90 the way things are going,’” agreed Stewner.
But then again, maybe not. The pair reeled in 18.36 pounds yesterday to sit in second place behind the Lindners, whose first-day catch totalled 18.54 pounds.
Kirk and Gene Boyer sit in third place at 18 pound even.
Guzej believes the Lindners are this year’s favourites again (“James is still on those fish, he hasn’t missed a beat”) while Stewner believes John Maffei, who is partnered with Bill Straight, is the favourite.
“John has been reeling those fish in,” Stewner said. “He’s hot and cold, and when he’s on, he’s on. And lately, he’s been on them big time.”
One thing both say is that this year’s FFCBC will be one of the toughest ever. It won’t likely result in a huge upset of the top anglers, but huge weight discrepancies between the veterans and the less-seasoned anglers.
“The winners will have high weights, but you’ll see a big drop-off with the lesser experienced fisherman,” predicted Guzej.
Whether they’re right or wrong, one thing is certain, it will be a very interesting tournament by the final weigh-in tomorrow afternoon.