Editor’s note: With the recent death of Roy Halladay, here is a look at the Bassmaster Magazine cover story from March 2011 featuring him with Elite Series angler Skeet Reese
May 29, 2010, set off a chain of events that would lead to one of the greatest athletes in the history of baseball getting a chance to pursue his favorite pastime with one of the greatest anglers in the world. On that evening, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay threw the 20th perfect game in Major League Baseball history, against the Florida Marlins.
Wanting to do something special for their ace, the Phillies sought the advice of Halladay’s wife, Brandy, as to what they should get him as a gift. When they asked what his favorite hobby was, she told them “bass fishing.” The Phillies contacted B.A.S.S. and arranged to have 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion Skeet Reese invite Halladay for a “Perfect Fishing Day.”
When the Phillies returned to Citizens Bank Park a week later, Halladay was treated to a recorded video invitation from Reese on the stadium’s Phan-a-Vision. The wheels were in motion for two great athletes to share a day on the water. That day would have to wait because the Phillies were contenders to go to the World Series. When their season ended in the National League Championship Series, the trip was scheduled for Nov. 28 at Clear Lake, Calif.
Halladay, a 33-year-old right-hander, may be the greatest starting pitcher in baseball today. Since breaking in with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998, Halladay has amassed astounding numbers. His record includes 169 wins versus 86 losses. His career ERA is a miniscule 3.32, and he has struck out 1,714 batters and allowed only 169 walks in 2,297.1 innings pitched.
His 12-year career also includes two Cy Young awards — his first in 2003 as a member of the Blue Jays and his second in 2010 with the Phillies, when he went 21-and-10 and boasted a 2.44 ERA. His season included the perfect game as well as the second no-hitter in postseason history, when he beat the Cincinnati Reds on Oct. 6. His season found him ranked in the top three in every major pitching category in the National League.
In short, Halladay is a stud, a future Hall of Famer; but he is a bass angler at heart.
“I got into fishing when I was a kid in Colorado,” Halladay said. “My grandpa was a big fisherman, and my mom also took me quite a bit for trout and sunfish, or whatever would hit off the bank. I didn’t get into bass fishing until my second year in the minors in Dunedin (Fla.).”
It was a couple of teammates who introduced him to bass fishing. “I started fishing a little on off days with teammates and increased it in the offseason,” he said. “I enjoyed the challenge of it, and found that it helped me relax and prepare for my next starts.”
It wasn’t too long after he and Brandy settled in Florida that he purchased a Ranger boat, and he spent much of the offseason on the water chasing bass. “I love to fish a red plastic worm, and in fact, it’s what I caught my biggest bass on,” he said. “She weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and I caught her on a hump in the middle of a canal on Lake Tarpon. To be truthful, I thought I’d snagged a tree until she started going the other way.”
While he retains his love for his red plastic worm, Halladay said that he has grown fond of lures that allow him to cover water more quickly. “I’ve started throwing Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits the past couple of years,” he said. “I’ve also had a lot of fun learning how to punch heavy weights in the grass mats on these Florida lakes.”
As an amateur angler, Halladay said that his pursuits have been largely recreational and that the times he fishes during baseball season are an escape. “I find it relaxing to get on a lake and get away from the city,” he said. “Fishing involves choosing friends you want to be with, and because it is not how I make my living, it can help me wind down from a big game.”
A competitive person by nature, Halladay said he would like to explore tournament angling after his playing days are over. “I’ve not fished any tournaments to this point, but I watch The Bassmasters on ESPN2 and follow them as much as possible,” he said. “I think it is something I will certainly give a try in the future.”
He said he was excited about the trip with Reese, and that he wasn’t quite sure what to think about meeting a former Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year and Bassmaster Classic champion. “I was a little intimidated about meeting Skeet as the trip grew closer,” he said. “But, it was cool to see how down-to-earth Skeet is; it quickly became like I was fishing with one of my good friends.” The pair is already talking about putting together future fishing excursions.
Clear Lake was less than hospitable for the outing. With air temperatures in the low 30s and water temperatures that dipped below 50 degrees, the day started out tough. The pair threw Lucky Craft LV500s and Pointer 100 jerkbaits most of the morning.
They experienced some action, but found that most of the fish were short-striking their plugs. The best action happened when they returned to Ceago Winery on Clear Lake’s eastern shore to pick up Halladay’s sons Braden and Ryan for their afternoon of minnow fishing.
Despite the slower than desired fishing, Halladay expressed what a great time he had fishing with Reese. “I learned a lot from Skeet,” he revealed. “He told me that I need to simplify my fishing as I tend to change lures too often. We spent most of the day fishing with only two lures, which showed me that it is more about finding the fish than hoping a lure change will trigger a strike. It was a great day.”
