|
A Look Back at the Classic, Q&A
with Evergreen Pro Angler Morizo Shimizu
| Date: |
11/7/11 |
|
Interview: |
Morizo Shimizu |
|
Subject: |
Evergreen, Bassmaster Classic |
|
Interviewer: |
B. Hiroshima
(Brock) |
Introduction: Last year Pro Angler Morizo Shimizu made headlines when
his strong finish in the Toyota Angler of the Year standings qualified him to
make his classic debut. Brock catches up with Morizo to reflect on last year's
Classic as well as talk some shop about his involvement with Evergreen.
Brock:
Congratulations on your first classic berth Mr. Shimizu, what does it feel like
to make it to this prestigious event?
Morizo: It's
awesome, the best feeling after so many years of trying.
Morizo at the airport on his way
to the Classic
Brock: How
was your prefish leading up to the event? What baits did you use to establish
your patterns?
Morizo: Not
easy for me, I found only a couple of good area's, I used a D-Zone Spinnerbait
and a 1oz. punching rig to get on my fish.
Brock: Once
the event started did you stick to your game plan and can you tell us a little
about it?
Morizo: Yes! I
went with the pre-fish area's and patterns. I fished dead end sloughs pitching
Bait Breath BYS craws in black with blue flake with a light Texas rig set-up.
Also a D-Zone white and Chartreuse 3/8oz. spinnerbait. There were lot's of males
and I was hoping a few big Momma's would move in.
Morizo is very active with
Evergreen and has designed lures including the D-Zone spinnerbait
Brock: At any
point did conditions or areas change? If so how did you adjust?
Morizo: The
fishing got better, the tide was much better, more water movement, The water
temperature went up and the fish moved back further into the sloughs.
Brock:
Switching gears I'd like to help our readers better understand your history.
When did you start fishing and for what species?
Morizo: I
started when I was four years old, fishing for Japanese carp.
Brock: What
region of Japan did you learn to fish in? and when did you fish your first Bass
tournament?
Morizo: It was
in Osaka, in 1982 I fished my first Bass tournament, I was 11 years old.
Brock: At
what moment did you decide you wanted to come over to America and how long did
it take to make your dream a reality?
Morizo: I was 13
years old watching Bass Masters in Japan, it was then that I decided I wanted to
come to the U.S. to fish Bass Tournaments. My first Bass Tournament in the U.S.
was the U.S. Open in 1999 on Lake Mead in Nevada. Then after that all I wanted
to do is fish the U.S. Bass tournaments, Mainly the Bass Masters tournament
trail.
Morizo uses a spinnerbait to fish
heavy cover
Brock: What
was your first impression of fishing in America? and what were the major
differences?
Morizo: It was
amazing! The lakes are so much bigger and the fish are more aggressive, also
the tournament paychecks are much bigger and angler technique is also much higher.
Brock: What
techniques from Japan helped you the most?
Morizo:
Spinnerbait fishing, I then designed the D-Zone spinnerbait and it has
performed well for me over the years.
Brock: For
those that don't know when did you get involved with Evergreen? and how did your
involvement come about.
Morizo: It was
19 years ago, My friend Fukumoto from Hot Spot Tackle Shop introduced me to
Evergreen. Evergreen and I have had a great relationship since then.
The Showerblows is Modo Series
lure and is designed to draw big topwater strikes
Brock: The
Modo series is very popular in Japan and is beginning to really turn heads here
in the states. How hands on have you been in the lure testing process? How many
prototypes do you generally test before arriving at a final product?
Morizo: I have
designed and tested all Modo lures, Over 100 prototypes are used to
develop
the final lure. It takes on average about three years to go from prototype to
final product.
Brock: How
has developing this lineup helped your fishing?
Morizo: I feel
very confident using my Modo series of lures. I feel I have the best quality
bait, and most productive lure I can use. I think I will catch more and bigger
Bass on my Modo lures.
Another Modo lure, the One'sBug
which creates a lot of noise on the surface and displaces a lot of water with
each tug
Brock: Last
but not least in a perfect world on any lake of your choosing where would you
fish?
Morizo:
Guntersville Lake, I love cranking and tossing spinnerbaits the grass there,
and there are lot's of Big Momma's there.
Brock: Thank
you Mr. Shimizu for your time and congratulations on your 23rd place in the 2011
Classic good luck this year on the Elites!
Morizo has been very active on the
B.A.S.S. circuit and we wish him the best in the coming season
|
A list
of
Morizo
Shimizu's
favorite
outfits
for
various
techniques:
|
|
Spinnerbaits/D-Zone: Evergreen
Heracles
"Red
Meister"
HCSC-67MHR,
16lb.
Fluorocarbon |
|
Casting
Jig/Football:
Evergreen
Combat Stick
Tactics
"Detonator"
TCSC-70X,
16lb
fluorocarbon |
|
Texas
Rigging:
Same as
above with
16lb.
fluorocarbon |
|
Shallow
Crank Baits:
Combat Stick
Tactics
"Super Nova"
TCSC-70MG,
17lb.
Monofilament |
|
Medium
Crank
baits: Heracles
"Torquata 7"
HCSC-70MG
14lb
fluorocarbon |
|
Deep
crank baits: Heracles
"Strike
Master 77",
HCSC-77MH,
12lb.
fluorocarbon |
|
Jerkbait:
Heracles
"Manipulator",
HCSC-64M,
12lb.
fluorocarbon |
|
Topwater
Popper: Same
as above
with 15lb.
Monofilament |
|
Topwater
Showerblows
or other
walking
baits: Heracles
"Red
Meister"
HCSC-MHR,
22lb
Monofilament. |
|
Buzzbaits:
New
Prototype
Heracles
Rod, 19lb
Monofilament |
|
Flippin:
Combat
Stick
Tactics "Morizo
Flip"
TCSC-77X,
22lb.
Fluorocarbon |
|
Texas
Style
Punchin: Same
as above,
25lb.
fluorocarbon |
|
Carolina
Rig: Heracles
"Strike
Master 77"
HCSC-77MH,
or Heracles
"Actaeon"
HCSC-74X,
20lb.
fluorocarbon. |
|
Drop-shottin:
New
Heracles
6'11"
Prototype
spinning
rod, 8lb.
fluorocarbon |
|
Shaky-Head:
Combat Stick
Tactics
"Super Scout
Master"
TCSS-66M,
8lb.
Fluorocarbon. |
Morizo Shimizu would like to thank
his sponsors Evergreen International, Daiwa, Bait Breath, Gamakatsu, Sunline,
Edwin, Popeye, Zeal.
|
