Benton, KY -- A professional bass fisherman from Osaka, Japan, is angling for a unique honor next week.

A big tournament starts June 23 on Lake Champlain in New York, and if Shinichi Fukae can hold onto his current 33-point lead over his closest challenger, he will win the coveted Land O' Lakes Angler of the Year award.

The 31-year-old Fukae is already Japan's top Bass Angler and a win at Lake Champlain will make him the first pro to hook Angler of the Year honors in two different countries.

He should be hard to beat. Insiders say Fukae -- who's known as "Shin" -- is a notoriously hard worker who sleeps in his van in order to get an early jump both on the fish and his competition.

The winner of next weekend's tournament wins $25,000 and a top-of-the-line bass boat.

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