RUSSELL Babekuhl has captured the Mercury Cup for the second time in succession.
The Mercury Cup is presented to the most successful ABT BREAM boater running a Mercury engine. Babekuhl also finished 2012 atop the official ABT BREAM Rankings – in both the Individual Boater and Team Angler competitions.
Outstanding consistency and an ability to perform in the big events have been key factors in Babekuhl’s success this year, along with his Mercury Verado 175hp outboard he says.
“I love it, it’s awesome,” he said, praising the Verado’s speed and power.
“It’s a timed sport so the more time you take getting there, the less time there is to fish. So the Verado’s great.”
Reliability is the other key factor.
“I always run it flat out at wide-open throttle. That’s all it ever does,” Russell said.
“If your engine breaks down then it’s all over. You’d think a fourstroke, being more complicated, would be more delicate, but no way.”
Along with the prestige, the winner of the Mercury Cup also receives $1,000 in prize money. For Babekuhl that on top of the ‘thousands of dollars’ Russell has won in Mercury Bonus Bucks over the years, for being the most successful Mercury-powered fisherman at specified events.
