Knowing that I might not be able to make it (in pro bass fishing), I wanted to have something to fall back on. I didn't know exactly how things were going to happen -- I thought I maybe I'd have to work for a while. Things have gone well, but I'm glad I have that degree.

As soon as I was old enough to understand what it was, I liked fishing. I started tournament bass fishing at (age) 12 or 13 and it has been something I've had a passion for ever since.

I'm certainly not opposed to a fishing pier but not at that particular site. There isn't good access or enough security. We need to look out for the people who live in the area.

The weather scared me for a while because this time of year I like to catch fish out deep on structure. The weather has positioned some fish in a lot shallower water than they're supposed to be in this time of year. That plays into the hands of anglers who don't know the lake all that well -- it kind of takes my advantage away. But there are still some fish out deep, so I'm sticking to my guns. I've got some other things I can do, too.

There are a ton of big fish in Lake Murray and the lake has been overlooked a bit the past few years. It has the biggest fish on the tour, I think. I look for somebody to catch a 10-pounder in this tournament.

I felt like I had a good opportunity coming into this tournament, and I'm glad that I didn't disappoint. To be able to do this on your home lake is just great. You don't get to many opportunities like that.