Defending the Classic crown: Randy Howell scouts Lake Hartwell in preparation for the Feb. 20-22 Bassmaster Classic

Today’s feature comes to us from 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion Randy Howell, offering a few thoughts on how he intends to fish in this year’s event.
from The Fishing Wire

I don’t really ever make resolutions for New Year’s – I prefer to set goals instead. Looking back at this same time last year, my number one competitive goal was to win the 2104 Bassmaster Classic.

“Check” on that one.

Randy Howell

My biggest competitive goal as I head into 2015 is a big one: to be a back-to-back Classic winner. In order to accomplish that goal, I also have “sub-goals” jotted down in my iPhone notes, and the first sub-goal is simply “Work hard in practice in preparation for the Bassmaster Classic.”

So far so good on that one.

I just got back from a week of scouting for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina, and I’m pretty encouraged by what I found there.

DECIPHERING LAKE HARTWELL

Right out of the gate, I knew I had some work to do, because I’d never fished Lake Hartwell before I scouted it just prior to New Year’s Day. The Classic was held there in 2008, but I didn’t qualify for that Classic, so I was pretty anxious to get on the water and start to break the fishery down a little.

My first impression of Hartwell is that I really didn’t realize how big it was. I looked at maps and knew that it had around 900 miles of shoreline, but once I got there and started scouting, I realized that Hartwell might be one of the most productive top-to-bottom fisheries I’ve ever seen. Typically, you can look at a reservoir that big and eliminate a lot of water that won’t be productive.

Not Hartwell.

It’s a lot like Lake Guntersville in that it has so much fishable, productive water with a lot of fish in all of it, from one end of the lake to the other. That really makes the Classic anybody’s ballgame, because there are several different patterns that could play big roles in winning that event.

Having a mixed bag of tricks and being versatile are going to be a big deal. If you’re able to fish multiple techniques well, it’ll really show out well at this Classic.

There are some fisheries where you just have to be hard-headed and stick with the jig or the swimbait and just grind on them for four days straight, but I think you’re going to have to mix it up with three of four different techniques to win at Hartwell.

THE CHAMP’S CHOICES: TOP FOUR BAITS

Crankbait Bass At Hartwell

Howeller DMC: The same bait I won the Classic last year with is going to be HUGE for me this year. The little I fished during scouting, I caught big fish on the Howeller DMC. Hartwell really sets up well for that 6- to 10-foot zone in February, which is perfect for the Howeller, and I caught a 5-plus-pounder on literally my second cast on the second point I stopped on during scouting.

I’m going to have some custom paint jobs done that mimic the look of the blueback herring in the reservoir, but I’m pretty sure the Howeller is going to be a go-to bait.

School Master: I’m really excited about this bait in general – I’ve been fishing a homemade version of it for awhile – but the School Master with EBS MultiTouch Technology™ could be a really good option at Hartwell. It’s a slow-falling bait that you can let fall into those schools of fish that suspend over deep trees, and a bait where the MultiTouch™ sound technology will really shine. If that pattern and depth are firing during the Classic, the School Master’s slow-fall action and multiple-sound options could be big players.

Howell At Classic

Howeller DMC SQ: If it warms up the week of the Classic and fish get shallow, the Howeller DMC SQ could be a big one. That bait vibrates really hard, it darts and digs well, and has a really great, erratic action to it. That bait will probably be my go-to for shallow bank-beating, and I’ll likely throw it in Guntersville Craw. Hartwell has a lot of red clay and crawfish, and the Guntersville Craw color family really seems to be a favorite in February and March for local anglers.

Deep Impact 18: The major difference that people will see in this Classic versus the 2008 Classic held on Hartwell is the role the spotted bass will play in the tournament. Hartwell’s spotted bass have done really well in recent years, and you’re going to have to catch them to be competitive. From what I saw during my scouting, Hartwell’s spotted bass really like the Deep Impact 18.

This bait isn’t erratic and fast like the Howeller SQ: it has a really smooth action, and a subtle, tight wobble. The action alone makes it a good cold-water bait, but if fish are keying on that 15- to 20-foot depth, the Deep Impact’s EBS MultiTouch™ sound attraction range is going to make a huge difference.

I’m really looking forward to getting back to Hartwell during Classic week and sort of “dialing in” during our official practice days. I feel like I’ve accomplished one of my sub-goals in preparing hard for the Classic, and am ready to take the next step in accomplishing my big goal for 2015: to raise the Classic trophy again!

The 2015 Bassmasters Classic will be fished on Lake Hartwell on February 20 – 22 with the weigh-in at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. There will be an Outdoor Show with lots of fishing gear and equipment on display and for sale at the Arena all three days.

I almost got to fish the Classic as a Federation representative way back in 1983 and this year I will attend with press credentials – nothing like fishing it but I will get to enjoy the excitement.

The 2014 Classic on Guntersville had some interesting information about how the pros approached it. Contenders have been planning on this tournament since it was announced and spent a lot of time practicing for it before the lake went off limits. Pros like Chris Lane, Aaron Martens, Alton Jones and others have high hopes and plans for the tournament. Many thought Skeet Reese had a good chance to win.

Last year’s competitors faced a variety of challenges, from ice storms on the trip to Guntersville to worries about spectator boat traffic. This year’s Classic will have its own challenges.

Cliff Pace, 2013 Classic winner, was injured in a hunting accident and was not be able to compete in 2014, but BASS deferred his automatic entry to next years Classic at Hartwell, where he finished second in the last Classic on that lake. He will be fishing at Hartwell this year.

Last year the Classic was won by Randy Howell fishing Livingston Lures. A lot of spectators were able to watch him the last day from the road since he was catching his fish on riprap. Who and what will win it this year?

Kevin VanDam had high hopes for winning last year. He didn’t win, and for the first time in many years he did not qualify for the 2015 Classic.

CastAway Rods BASS Elite Series Pro Staffers Todd Faircloth and Bill Lowen were confident heading into the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. And CastAway Rods Pro Russ Lane scores top 10 finishes at Toho, Okeechobee so he, too, was confident. Confidence is one of the most important qualities a pro can have.

A question many ask is how many bass will survive after being released. BASS has a good record on this.

BASS has a blog about the Classic that has more detailed information and will be updated often during the tournament.

Meet the 50 contenders in the 2015 Classic.

Bassmasters Classic Draws Roadside Audience for Winning Catch

By Frank Sargeant
from The Fishing Wire

BIRMINGHAM. In one of the more amazing performances in recent Classic history, Randy Howell of Springville, Alabama, leaped from 11th place and a full nine pounds behind leader Edwin Evers on day two to the Classic championship and a $300,000 winner’s check on the final day.

In fact, Howell hardly needed more than the first hour after take-off to put the trophy and the title away.

He stopped at the Big Spring Creek bridge across U.S. 431 right in the midst of Guntersville, and there proceeded to haul in one lunker bass after another, often on consecutive casts, while a crowd that quickly assembled on the bridge right above his boat cheered him on. Howell put over 22 pounds in the live well in that insane flurry, later culling up to his total bag of 29-2. He released what he estimated at close to 30 pounds more.

Howell only stopped briefly during the performance to thank the horde of howling and cheering fans for their support.

“I’ve been fishing tournaments for 21 years and this was by far the best day of fishing I ever had, period,” said Howell. “I might have had some Divine Guidance on that first spot-I was going to run up the lake and something just told me to turn and go back to Spring Creek. A voice inside me said “do you want to be good or do you want to be great? I turned around and went to Spring Creek and that’s what did it.”

Most of his catches were made on a crawfish red Rapala DT6 and a prototype Livingston Lures medium-running crankbait, also in crawfish red.

B.A.S.S. statistician Ken Duke said Howell’s charge from 11th place to first was the greatest comeback in Classic history.

Howell said God truly blessed him to bring the win in front of his home crowd. He said his son had taped a prayer request on the bathroom mirror which said “My Dad to Win the Classic.” Apparently the prayers came true.

Connecticut angler Paul Mueller was second with 66 pounds, 8 ounces for the three-day competition, Edwin Evers of Oklahoma third with 65-11, Ott DeFoe of Tennessee fourth with 63-6 including the big bass of the day, an 8-4, and fifth was Randall Tharp, formerly of Gardendale and now of Port St. Joe, Fla., with 62-12. Jordon Lee of Auburn was sixth with 62-1.

Seven former Classic champions competed in this event-but none of them even made it to the final-day top-25 cutoff. Four-time winner and bassing superstar Kevin Van Dam came the closest, finishing 26th. The other ex-champions who came up short were Chris Lane (36th), Mark Davis (43rd), Alton Jones (45th), Mike Iaconelli (47th), Takahiro Omori (48th) and Skeet Reese (49th).

This Classic will be remembered as the first where personal video cameras delivered full view reports on many of the fish caught soon after the fact. Every Classic competitor had a tiny GoPro camera-from one of the title sponsors of the event–mounted on his boat, allowing viewers of www.bassmaster.com to see uploaded action throughout the day. The cameras also in some cases clearly show the location where the anglers fished, the lures they used and how they worked the baits-an unprecedented access to information for the viewing public.

Randy Howell was only the second angler ever to win a Bassmaster Classic in his home state. Boyd Duckett, now a Guntersville resident, was the first.

And How: Randy Howell’s Charmed Last Day Leads To Bassmaster Classic Victory
from The Fishing Wire

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Every angler dreams of catching bass after giant bass like Randy Howell did on Sunday.

Randy Howell of Springville, Ala., wins the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro. Bringing in a three-day total of 67 pounds, 8 ounces earned Howell the championship title and $300,000.
Photo by Gary Tramontina/Bassmaster
Howell began hauling in Lake Guntersville lunkers minutes into the final round of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro. He lost track of how many culls he was able to make, but at one point he was trading 4- and 5-pounders for even larger bass.

When Howell brought his bag to the scales, his five bass weighed 29 pounds, 2 ounces, with the largest going 7-3. The banner day beefed up his total to 67 pounds, 8 ounces.

“I don’t even know if I’m going to win, but it doesn’t matter,” Howell said before all the 25 finalists came to the scales. “It was the best day I’ve ever had in 21 years of professional bass fishing, a day of a lifetime.”

But his day did get better: He became the world champion, the 2014 Bassmaster Classic champ.

“I’ve had this dream so many times, and it’s happening now. I can’t believe I won the Bassmaster Classic. I don’t win tournaments very often,” said Howell as he was announced the winner.

Howell is a two-time Bassmaster event winner, including a 2013 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open presented by Allstate event that earned him his 2014 Classic qualification.

Sunday’s victory – Howell’s first after 11 other tries as a Classic competitor – was worth $300,000 and the most coveted trophy in the sport. From Springville, Ala., Howell became only the second angler to win the Classic in his home state.

Howell edged out B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., by 1 pound. Mueller, who on Day 2 set a new one-day Classic weight record at 32-3, totaled 66-8 for second place.

Third place was claimed by second-day leader Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., with 65-11. Fourth was Ott DeFoe of Knoxville, Tenn., with 63-6, including the day’s largest bass, an 8-4. First-day leader Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., finished in fifth place at 62-12.

Howell repeatedly used the words “perfect” and “effortless” to describe his day on Lake Guntersville.

“I caught my first one on my second or third cast,” he said. “I caught one almost every cast or two and had a limit in the first 10 or 15 minutes. It was quick. It would have been quicker if I hadn’t had to stop and retie every time because of the rocks.”

The rocks were the riprap up against a causeway bridge on Spring Creek. That early flurry included releasing eight 4-pounders.

Howell spent most of his time on the riprap. He moved only once, going farther back into the creek to a grassy area. The move yielded a 6-pounder and allowed him to cull a 4-pounder. He then motored back to the riprap. His largest was a 7-3. It was his fourth bass of the day and the one that told him he’d made the right decision to go to Spring Creek.

His Classic lure arsenal included a Livingston Lures model being developed within the Pro Series. Not yet available to the public, it’s a medium diver in a crawfish color. He also used a Rapala DT6 crankbait in the “demon” crawfish color and a Yamamoto bladed jig.

“I went out this morning believing I could win,” the champ said. “That’s the weirdest thing. Typically, I would never be in 11th place and 9 pounds back and think I had a chance to win. But for some reason I had the feeling I could win on Spring Creek – that something big would happen there.”

Fred Roumbanis’ 9-3 largemouth from Day 1 won the event’s Carhartt Big Bass Award of $1,000 plus $1,500 for wearing Carhartt clothing.

Howell earned a $7,500 Toyota Bonus Bucks award.

Tharp received the Day 1 GEICO Everyday Leader Award of $1,000 plus $1,500 for having a GEICO decal on his boat’s windshield. Evers won the same bonus on Day 2.

Fans can catch 12 hours of Classic coverage on ESPN2 on The Bassmasters. The first hour will air Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. ET. The show centered on Sunday’s finale will air in prime time – 8 to 10 p.m. ET – on Sunday, March 2.

2014 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: GEICO

2014 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsors: Diet Mountain Dew, GoPro

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2014 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presenting Sponsor: Dick’s Sporting Goods

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Apparel Sponsor: Carhartt

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications – Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times – comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

KVD Prepared To Deliver A KO In This Week’s Bassmaster Classic

Kevin VanDam

And that also goes for the four Classics that KVD has won, said the seven-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year and 20-time Bassmaster event winner.

“Most Classics I’m scrambling right down to the wire trying to get ready. For this one, I feel prepared on all levels,” said VanDam, as he was hauling his bass rig Feb. 13 from his home in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Lake Guntersville, the 2014 Classic fishery, to arrive in time for the practice period.

“My tackle prep is done, my equipment is ready — and I feel prepared mentally,” he said.

VanDam prepared in a way he has not for any of his recent Classic appearances: He scouted Lake Guntersville.

“It was a very meaningful trip for me,” he said, “Lakes that have a lot of grass change from year to year. I’m hoping that seeing it last fall will help me.”

VanDam already knows Guntersville well. In his Bassmaster career alone, he’s been in 13 competitions on Guntersville. For the most part, those tournaments produced keeper memories. He won the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series event on Guntersville. He had a ninth-place Elite finish on Guntersville in 2010. Pepper in a second, three thirds and one fourth-place finish over the years, and the confidence factor working for VanDam builds quickly.

Backed by such a history, he’s prepared to take chances to go after Guntersville’s largest bass. That’s what it will take to win this one, he said.

“It’s all or nothing. You have to be prepared to fail, have the guts to risk coming across the stage with nothing,” he said.

Guntersville’s huge bass population is a positive for all 55 competitors, VanDam said. The choices of where to fish along the sprawling Tennessee River impoundment are almost endless. But having so many choices can flip around to become a negative.

“It’s a ton of water to manage,” he said. “That’s going to be the biggest thing for me to overcome because I know so much of the lake. I’ll have to narrow it down based on the conditions. And it’s easy to get caught up catching fish in a certain area (during practice), then come Classic time, something might happen to make that area not as good as another.”

Not to mention that on Guntersville, there’s little water that can easily be eliminated from a game plan, he added.

There’s a new wild card in this Classic, too. It’s the frigid weather Guntersville experienced in January and so far in February.

“I’m not sure any of us really know the impact of that,” he said. “It’s unprecedented. Fishing’s going to be a lot tougher than a lot of people think. In the overall field, some will struggle. The few people who find the right area and patterns are going to make it look easy.”

At least one of those anglers will beat the five-fish-limit, three-day Classic weight record, VanDam said. The record, 69-11 in the 2011 Classic on the Louisiana Delta, will fall, he said. (And he’s the one who owns that record.)

“Everybody in the bass fishing world knows just how good the Tennessee River chain is,” he said. “I say Guntersville is the crown jewel of that chain. We’re about to showcase it to the world in a way that’s never been done before.”

Fans can catch the Classic in Birmingham at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Arena doors will open Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. for the weigh-ins. There’s no admission charge. Bassmaster.com will cover the weigh-ins live, and all online access is free.

To see the Classic competition on ESPN2, fans can tune into The Bassmasters on Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. ET for the first hour of five centered on the Classic. The Classic finale show will air in prime time — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET — Sunday, March 2.

2014 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: GEICO

2014 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsors: Diet Mountain Dew, GoPro

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2014 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presenting Sponsor: Dick’s Sporting Goods

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Apparel Sponsor: Carhartt

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

CastAway Rods Pro Russ Lane Scores Top 10 Finishes at Toho, Okeechobee
from The Fishing Wire

Russ Lane

On Lake Toho, Lane finished eighth among more than 200 anglers, landing a total of 37.12 pounds of bass despite extremely challenging conditions. That followed an impressive performance in December on Okeechobee, where he finished fourth with 59.2 pounds against an equally talented field. Lane credits these back-to-back top-10 finishes to his flipping talents, his ability to adapt to tough fishing situations, and the quality and performance of his tackle.

According to Lane, the weather was cold and Toho’s bass were tight-lipped during the Southern Open. “One cold front came in just a few days before tournament started, and another front arrived during the second day of the event,” Lane noted. “Water temps were in the low 50s and bites were few and far between.”

Lane was able to capitalize, however, on a small window of opportunity each day on Toho. “The fish were only willing to cooperate for a couple hours in the late afternoon, so I had to make the most of things during those brief periods,” explained Lane. “Flipping was working for me, so I stuck with that technique and my CastAway Invicta INV-FP76 extra-heavy action flipping stick the whole time. It was the first time in my competitive career that I used just one rod over the course of an entire tournament.”

Lane paired his CastAway Invicta flipping stick with a Shimano Curado baitcaster spooled with 60-pound Sunline FX-2 braid, enticing the finicky Toho bass with a black and blue Big Bite Real Deal Craw weighted with a 1½- ounce tungsten sinker. “I worked hard during practice and found a couple of areas that had matted grass, clear water and a lot of fish,” said Lane. “Whenever you get these cold front conditions in Florida, however, the fish bite very softly. You need a rod that’s sensitive enough to feel those subtle bites, but has enough power to get the fish out of the thick vegetation. The CastAway Invicta flipping stick provides the perfect balance of sensitivity and strength required under those extreme conditions.”

Lane pointed out that the lightweight, yet super strong, graphite construction of his Invicta INV-FP76 rod allowed him to flip for long hours without any fatigue. “That’s the beauty of this flipping stick, and all of CastAway’s rods – for as strong and durable as they are, they’re surprisingly light.” He also appreciates the golf club style grips. “They allow for a super comfortable, secure hold even when wet, without interfering with the sensitivity of the blank. I can feel the vibration of a hit transmit from the rod tip all the way to the handle.”

While Lane’s Invicta INV-FP76 flipping stick saw plenty of action on both Toho and Okeechobee, he also uses other CastAway rods to put fish in the livewell. Lane relies on six models with different lengths and actions specialized for handling various fishing techniques. “Along with my flipping stick, I use CastAway Invicta Series rods made for cranking, topwater, casting jigs, working big worms and finesse fishing,” he said. “Those are my ‘go-to’ rods. Each one is light, strong, durable, and perfectly designed for its intended application.”

With plenty of confidence in his abilities and his tackle coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes in two high-profile tournaments, “Big Daddy” has momentum on his side with the new season just around the corner.

To learn more about the complete lineup of tournament-quality CastAway Graphite Rods, visit www.castawayrods.com or call (936) 582-1677.936-582

About CastAway Rods

For more than 30 years, anglers have come to rely upon Texas-based CastAway Rods handcrafted American-made fishing rods for every condition on the water. The evolution of fishing is in the palm of your hand and you’ll feel the difference every time you pick up a CastAway Rod. Rod performance is a combination of great design, quality components and superior technology. It’s the reason that CastAway Rods are the choice of professional anglers.
– See more at: http://www.thefishingwire.com/story/311233#sthash.do8mgpIE.dpuf

Competitors’ Challenges Abound At Feb. 21-23 Bassmaster Classic
from BASS

Josh Bertrand of Arizona

Halfway into his 1,700-mile road trip from his home in Gilbert, Ariz., an ice storm hit. On top of that, he was coming down with a cold.

Under the weather both ways, Bertrand, a 25-year-old who qualified for his first Classic after just one season in the Bassmaster Elite Series, took refuge in a hotel room in Sweetwater, Texas. The ice storm kept him prisoner for two days.

“It wasn’t worth the risk to keep driving,” he said. “The worst situation would have been not being able to get a room, then sleeping in the truck while being sick. That could have ruined the whole Classic for me.”

Fortunately, he had left home early. With this being his first Classic, his plan had been to arrive in Guntersville two days before the practice period began Feb. 14. He wanted to adjust to the time zone change and rest from his trip.

But the best-laid plans…so it went for Bertrand. He finally was able to get on the road again the morning of Feb. 12. A snow storm was east of him. He pushed through, arriving in Guntersville late on Feb. 13, safe and feeling like his cold was better.

That trial behind him, Bertrand knows other Classic challenges are in store. The cold water of shallow Lake Guntersville is one.

“You have to try not to unravel at 1 o’clock when you have only two fish in the boat. This time of year, the bite will likely improve at the end of the day as the water warms,” he said.

For Ott DeFoe — who lives in Knoxville, Tenn., the trip was much easier to Guntersville than Bertrand’s — the big concern is spectator boat traffic.

“It’s something we as competitors always deal with. But it will be more of an issue on Guntersville than other places we’ve been. I expect spectators to be out in droves,” said DeFoe, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro who will be competing in his third consecutive Classic.

“It’s an amazing thing, it’s a flattering thing, it’s part of our sport to have spectators follow us around. But I hope they can keep a reasonable distance, and absolutely, positively, do not fish,” he said. “I don’t just mean to not come in and fish a spot we just left, but to not fish at all. We’ll be gone after three days.”

For Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., getting the big bite, every day, is at the top of his challenge list. An average of 4-pounders in a five-fish limit — a respectable haul at many events — won’t cut it on Guntersville, he said.

“You bring in a 20-pound bag, you’ll be behind,” said the Elite Series pro who has competed on Guntersville so many times, he’s lost count. “There will be 30-pound bags. So you have to go for the bigger fish. Finding that bite consistently is what you have to do to win.”

The logistics presented by Birmingham weigh-ins and a fishery 70 miles away will be something all 55 competitors must deal with. They can elect to make the drive in the morning from Birmingham, or head back to the lake each evening after weigh-in.

Biffle, who competed in last year’s Classic, when the lake and weigh-ins were a similar distance apart, isn’t too concerned about logistics. It’s all part of the game, and he’s taking it in stride. He’ll be making his 19th Classic appearance within a career that has spanned decades.

“But two-lane roads and driving through towns will slow us down,” he said. “I expect the drive will take more time this year.”

Biffle said he has left his options open. He’s made plans so he can spend his nights in either Birmingham or Guntersville. The decision will hinge on weather conditions and where the weigh-in order leaves him timewise.

Bertrand, who already has had his share of Classic road adventures, has chosen to spend the nights in Birmingham.

“If I get out late after weigh-in, I don’t want to have to drive two hours back to the lake,” Bertrand said. “I think it will be better to be able to relax in the evening.”

Giving himself any advantage extends to keeping a positive mindset, said Bertrand.

“I welcome all these challenges,” he said. “I’m learning to love everything the sport throws at me. I’d love to be the first rookie to win the Classic.”

Winning would bring him $300,000 and the most coveted title in the sport.

Fans are invited to see how the game unfolds at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, Feb. 21-23. Arena doors open at 3 p.m. Next door, the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods will be open each day. Expo hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. All times are CT. There’s no admission charge for any Bassmaster event.

2014 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: GEICO

2014 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsors: Diet Mountain Dew, GoPro

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2014 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presenting Sponsor: Dick’s Sporting Goods

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Apparel Sponsor: Carhartt

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

Skeet Reese

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The yellow jersey is the giveaway: You know even before the magazine slides completely out of the mailbox that the man on the cover of B.A.S.S. Times’ February issue is Skeet Reese.

For those not so familiar with his signature canary-yellow tournament garb, there’s the large headline: “Classic 2014: Is Skeet the man to beat?”

Some people believe so. One reason is the Auburn, Calif., Bassmaster Elite Series pro’s competition record on Lake Guntersville, the fishery for the Feb. 21-23 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.

Reese reigns as the most recent champ of a Bassmaster pro-level tournament on the big Tennessee River impoundment in northeastern Alabama. That win was in May 2010, when he busted the 100-pound mark — always a milestone in a four-day Elite Series event.

Now add in his runner-up finish in a 2009 Elite competition on Guntersville — again whacking 100-plus pounds.

While Reese acknowledges that such a history is a plus, he doesn’t see that it gives him a true advantage over most of the other 54 Classic qualifiers (other than being chosen to be on the cover of a major fishing publication).

“You have the best anglers in the world competing, so just about anybody can have the right tournament and win,” he said. “Winning there, it was my time for that week. But that doesn’t give me any better odds of winning the Classic. It’s a different time of year, different fishing conditions.”

But yes, the California pro who owns the 2007 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title is among the believers in a Reese repeat on Guntersville. The strongest source of his confidence is knowing that Guntersville fits his style of fishing.

“It allows you to fish fairly aggressively,” he said. “You know you’re on a body of water that’s got a great caliber of fish. You can go out there and fish for big bites. It’s not like you’re taking a chance. The lake’s full of 5- to 8-pound fish. It gives you more confidence when there’s the potential of catching big fish.”

Characteristically, Reese did not scout Lake Guntersville, while many qualifiers did before the off-limits period began at the end of December.

“I don’t ever pre-practice,” Reese said. “I’m familiar with running the body of water and have enough of an idea where I’m going, so I don’t have to worry about eating up hours trying to figure out navigation.”

What will count will be the four days Classic qualifiers will be given to practice on Guntersville just before competition begins, Reese said.

“That will be current, real-time conditions,” he said.

His strategy worked in the 2009 Classic on the Red River in Louisiana. He won even though he had had no more time on the river than the four days allotted to all Classic anglers just before the competition began.

Besides, he said, the freezing weather that settled on the South in January has changed Guntersville’s fishing.

“What the guys learned who went there in December or before probably won’t do them that much good. Areas of grass are dying off day by day,” he said.

“The fish probably won’t be as much (in the) prespawn like people thought they would be. As it looks now, it’s going to be a full winter bite. The lake would need a week of good, warm weather to get things moving again. And that could happen,” he said.

Another unknown is the flow of the Tennessee River on the three days of the Classic. Current speed and water color are two very important factors that affect the Guntersville bite, Reese said.

With heavy upriver rains, “They could be blowing mass amounts of water through the dams,” Reese said.

But given favorable fishing conditions, Reese said, a winning weight could hit the 80-pound mark, which would be a record for a three-day, five-fish-limit Classic.

“Twenty-five (pounds) a day is going to win it or at least keep you in it,” he said. “Yet there’s potential for 30-plus pound bags. I don’t know that we’ll see (the daily leader with) 30 pounds every day — but it’s possible.”

Reese reiterated that likely achievers of those kinds of big bags could be any of the 55 Classic competitors. Yet three names popped into his mind as major threats: Kevin VanDam (“If the fish are positioned right. He’s had great success there, too.”); Gerald Swindle (“I think he’s ready; he could have a good event.”); and Randall Tharp (“He knows the lake well, and he’s at the top of his game.”).

Fishing fans are invited to watch the Classic anglers take off from City Harbor in Guntersville at 7:15 a.m. CT. Daily weigh-ins will be in the arena of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex; doors will open at 3 p.m. CT. Next door, the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods will be open the same three days as the competition. There’s no admission charge for any Bassmaster event.

The Classic will be on ESPN2 March 1-2. The first of five episodes of The Bassmasters centered on the Classic will air March 1 at 10 a.m. ET. The Classic finale show rated a primetime slot on ESPN2: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 2.

2014 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: GEICO

2014 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsors: Diet Mountain Dew, GoPro

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2014 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presenting Sponsor: Dick’s Sporting Goods

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Apparel Sponsor: Carhartt

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.