Innholdsfortegnelse for Classic Preview 2014 i Bassmaster

“I don’t want something really flapping in cold water; I just want the profile.”— Elite Series pro Jason Christie FEATHERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE I’ve heard jerkbaits work well in the winter, and they come with feather trebles. When do you use feather trebles or not? Everett Harding Jr., Ohio Elite Series pro Bernie Schultz I helped design a jerkbait for Rapala called the X-Rap, and one of the features is a tail feathered treble hook. The reason I requested that is because sometimes it acts like an added teaser. The feathers will flare when the bait is sitting still and that can entice fish that are reluctant to hit the lure. When you jerk the bait, the feathers become more streamlined, and when you pause the bait they flare, and…

$308,000: Money raised for the charity King’s Home through the Randy Howell boat raffle over the past three years. Previous job: Howell has never earned a living any way other than fishing: He was a guide on Kerr Reservoir and Lake Gaston in his native North Carolina before turning pro. Starting young: Howell qualified for the B.A.S.S. Invitational circuit at 18 and made the Top 100 tour-level series at 19. Mass appeal: Chances for Howell’s boat giveaway, which benefited the charity King’s Home, sold to people in 45 states and three foreign countries. Local color: Howell says this year’s Classic on Guntersville could favor guys with local knowledge, specifically naming Jordan Lee, David Kilgore, Randall Tharp and Gerald Swindle.…

1976 – Rick Clunn wins the first of his four Classics in Ray Scott’s last “mystery lake” format; Ricky Green catches an 8-9 largemouth for the biggest bass in Classic history. 1992 – Larry Nixon becomes the first angler to surpass $1 million in earnings with a Megabucks victory. 2004 – George Cochran flirts with the Century Club, winning a tour event with 99 pounds, 10 ounces. 2010 – Skeet Reese wins the Guntersville Elite event, again topping 100 pounds. 2007 – Kevin VanDam wins his first Elite Series event. 2009 – Mike Iaconelli, Aaron Martens, Skeet Reese and Kevin Wirth top 100 pounds total weight at an Elite Series tournament.…

Listen To This Musical roots run deep in the Yellowhammer State. From blues to country to rock, Alabama music offers something for everyone. For the road trip to Birmingham, here’s a sample of homegrown talent to put you in an Alabama state of mind. 1. “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” Hank Williams — Country music’s first superstar was born in Mount Olive. 2. “The Righteous Path,” Drive-By Truckers — Three of this Southern rock band’s five members hail from legendary music hotbed Muscle Shoals. 3. “Knock on Wood,” Eddie Floyd — This is Montgomery-born Floyd’s most popular recording from Stax Records. 4. “Mustang Sally,” Wilson Pickett — The Prattville native recorded this one at legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. 5. “Stars Fell on Alabama,” Jimmy Buffett — Mobile’s native son pays…

EVER CAUGHT A BASS on a new-to-you fishery and wonder where other similar areas might be located? That’s the basis of putting together a solid pattern, but difficult to pull off if you are not familiar with a lake. Humminbird just launched a product that eliminates this problem. The new Onix and Ion units will now feature SmartStrike software (an SD card that you insert) that uses LakeMaster map data and extensive search algorithms to pattern and locate fish. Add search criteria, such as season, time of day and weather conditions, and the software will tell you where to start by highlighting areas of the lake. Or, if you catch a fish on a specific spot, select “Find Similar Areas,” and other spots like the one you are fishing will…

It’s the middle of February. The groundhog has spoken — or at least come up to check the shadow situation — and while spring may not be in the air, it’s really not winter that you feel anymore. Things are definitely getting better — warmer — and the bass are noticing. With water temperatures rising and now in the high 40s to low 50s, it’s time to think about bass fishing again. You’re in the Deep South, the cradle of bass life, and daytime highs are near 70. What’s more, you’ve got a virtual bass factory just down the road — a big, sprawling flatland reservoir with all manner of wood, vegetation, shad, crawfish and largemouth bass. You even have your choice of water color. On the lower end, it’s…

Net holder I was tired of never being able to reach my landing net while I was fighting a hooked fish, so I rigged up this handy net holder. I took a 12-inch section of 1 1/4-inch PVC pipe and cut top and bottom tabs as shown with a hacksaw, cutting about halfway through the pipe. I then heated the pipe over an electric stove, carefully folded the cut tabs outward, ran water over the pipe to cool it and screwed the tabs to the front of my boat’s console. Now after running to the spot I want to fish, I insert the landing net handle into the holder so it’s out of the way of my rods and lures but easy for me to reach with one hand. S.…

“IF YOU TWEET about the Classic, use hashtag Bassmaster Classic,” said Tyler Reed, social media manager here at B.A.S.S. “It is my goal in life to create a Vine of Bill Dance describing what a fox says.” “OK, just spell out ‘hashtag’ in front of Bassmaster Classic?” I asked. “No, use a number sign,” she returned. “In front of hashtag?” “You are so stupid.” I was mostly kidding — after all, I do have a 16-year-old daughter. I hear “#youareembarrassingme” and “#allboysarenotspawnsofsatan” all the time. As social media continues to link people to friends, celebrities, companies and events, folks have come to rely more heavily on the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Vine to create extended personal communities. These communities are as broad as the entire bass fishing universe…

“I did catch a 13-pound bass. Unfortunately, I caught it out of the livewell. But I guess I shouldn’t have told that last part.” – Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Detailed exhibits reveal the history of the civil rights movement and slices of black and white life in Alabama from the 1800s to the present. (520 16th St. North, Birmingham, AL 35203; 205-328-9696; www.bcri.org) McWane Science Center Four floors of hands-on exhibits and an IMAX theater make this a perfect destination for families. (200 19th St. North, Birmingham, AL 35203; 205-714-8300; www.mcwane.org) Barber Motorsports Museum For the gearhead in your traveling party, this museum’s collection has more than 1,200 vintage and modern motorcycles and race cars. It’s adjacent to Barber Motorsports Park, home to a 2.3-mile road…

What makes Guntersville such a great bass lake? It’s the grass. The presence of aquatic vegetation has been a source of controversy for many years. But while the Tennessee Valley Authority, lakeside property owners and anglers have butted heads about the grass, it’s clearly made for some incredible bass fishing. Here’s a look at two submerged grasses that could play a role in Guntersville glory. Hydrilla Scientific name: Hydrilla verticillata Description: Small, strap-like leaves in whorls of three to eight around the stem; leaf margins are notably serrated and rough to the touch; forms very dense mats that reach the surface. Eurasian water milfoil Scientific name: Myriophyllum spicatum Description: Leaves are whorled around the stem similar to coontail, but each leaf is limp and deeply divided in a…

A former Bassmaster Classic champion, a superstar in women’s bass fishing, a B.A.S.S. tournament record holder, and a fishing educator and television show host are to become the newest members of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. Induction ceremonies will be held Thursday, Feb. 20, during Classic Week in Birmingham to induct Rayo Breckenridge, Penny Berryman, Blake Honeycutt and Doug Hannon into the hall. The four were selected by popular vote by members of the Hall of Fame. Breckenridge of Paragould, Ark., won the 1973 Classic and soon launched a syndicated fishing show, which aired until 1984. A former professional water-skier, Berryman competed for 25 years on various women’s fishing circuits, winning three national championships plus the Bass’N Gal Classic and Angler of the Year. Honeycutt of Hickory, N.C., still…

It’s the hometown of B.A.S.S., and our readers voted it America’s Bass Capital. When bass fans converge here Feb. 21-23, you’ll see why it’s the epicenter of the bass fishing world. 4 Years since Birmingham last hosted the Classic 8 Number of times the city has played host to the Classic, including the 2014 event. The Magic City: Southern hospitality at its best. 9 Anglers from Alabama in this year’s Classic, the most from any state Great bass fishing awaits in every direction. 13,000 Seats filled with fans at the BJCC arena $25 million Estimated economic impact of the Classic…

LAKE GUNTERSVILLE IS like the popular girl everyone wanted to date in school. Killer body, charismatic and full of life, yet whimsical, deceptive and demanding at times. The angler who has the mettle to handle all of that when 56 Bassmaster Classic contenders come calling Feb. 21-23 will walk away with the prom date of a lifetime. Rated the fourth-best bass lake in the country among Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes, Guntersville is expected to provide one of the most exciting, if not wildest, Classics of all time. Elite pros have fantasized about this year’s Classic since it was announced. Guntersville is loaded with 4- to 6-pound bass from one end to the other, and a late February event — under decent weather conditions — has the potential to produce…

MOST PEOPLE CONSIDER collegiate anglers long shots to win the Bassmaster Classic, but Jordan Lee may be an exception when the event kicks off on Lake Guntersville Feb. 21-23. The 2013 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series champion may be the most experienced, if not best prepared, collegian to compete in the Classic since the program began in 2011. That’s no slight to previous collegiate representative Andrew Upshaw from Stephen F. Austin University or Jordan’s brother, Matt, who carried Auburn’s colors into last year’s Classic. It’s just that the Cullman, Ala., angler has more experience with pressure-packed events having fished several other big competitions and, more importantly, has a wealth of knowledge gained from years of fishing Guntersville. The route to the Classic isn’t easy for any collegian. Lee’s journey began last…

“GRAY ICE STILL covers about half of the main body. But the bays and backwater canals are open!” boomed an excited voice on the other end of the line. The caller was reporting on the status of our favorite very early spring largemouth water. It was the time of year when my fishing buddy Dave Lehman, otherwise retired, accepts the temporary assignment of driving to area lakes every other day to inspect the thawing process in order to keep his circle of friends informed. “They’ve posted a high wind warning for tomorrow as a front blows through — it will be too rough to fish, but the wind should break up the remaining ice,” Lehman continued. “I’m looking at Wednesday — the forecast is sunny skies with just a whisper…

“Lane is rightfully concerned about the impact an overlarge corps of spectator boats might have on him.” IN A FEW weeks, the waters of Lake Guntersville will be whipped to a froth as the 2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic gets underway. Fifty-six boats, even though they’re running ahead of 250s, aren’t enough to roil a lake the size of Guntersville. What will stir the waters, literally, is a fleet of spectator boats. In B.A.S.S. Times last month, we quoted 2012 Classic champ Chris Lane, a Guntersville resident, as saying that the upcoming championship will witness a record number of on-the-water spectators. (I should have pointed out that no one keeps track of spectator turnouts, unless B.A.S.S. historian Ken Duke has recently started doing so. I would have asked him, but he…

There are affordable and classy bass boats on the market today that can turn heads at the gas pump. THERE’S A NOTION among some recreational anglers that if you don’t have a gadget-filled, $70,000 fiberglass bass boat, you’re not a serious angler. I hear that often, and I heard it again this summer at the gas station. The guy next to me strolled around the back of my 19XS Triton, ogling the big Mercury and Power-Poles hanging off the transom. He stopped to admire the Humminbirds bolted to the bow and the console and big fishing platform. “This is why I could never take up bass fishing,” he said in a defensive gruff. “I couldn’t afford all this stuff.” Perhaps some Bassmaster subscribers share similar notions, but that’s really not…

Randy Howell Hometown: Springville, Ala. Birthday: Sept. 25, 1973 You’ve lived in Alabama 15 years, and you spent quite a bit of time practicing on Guntersville before it went off limits. What do you think will be the biggest key to winning the Classic? It’s hard to pinpoint just one key. But as funny as it might sound, I think the biggest thing is not to run out of fish on the third day. It’s a big lake. You can catch them anywhere on that lake. You’re not going to be able to catch 28 or 29 pounds the first day, 23 or 24 on Day 2, and then show up with 18 or 19 pounds on Day 3. You’re going to need to be in the upper 20s all…

The Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership is working to revitalize man-made impoundments that have declined recently. Work on Table Rock Lake ➾ in Missouri began in 2007, with 1,869 cedar and hardwood structures sunk in the reservoir, in addition to other structures. | The user-pays, user-profits strategy of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program has shown an annual return of more than 2,000 percent on money invested in fisheries and conservation, according to the report “The Benefits to Business from Hunting and➾ Fishing Excise Taxes.” | Disabled vets can purchase reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.…

Including 2014, Alabama will have hosted the Bassmaster Classic a record 12 times, more than double any other state. Here’s a look at Alabama’s Classic history. 1974 Tournament water: Wheeler Lake Host city: Rogersville B.A.S.S. rookie Tommy Martin wins one for the Toledo Bend Gang. 1976 Tournament water: Lake Guntersville Host city: Guntersville Rick Clunn wins the first of his four Classics; Ricky Green catches an 8-pound, 9-ounce bass, a record that stood until 2006. 1981 Tournament water: Alabama River Host city: Montgomery At 21 years old, Stanley Mitchell becomes the youngest Classic champion. 1982 Tournament water: Alabama River Host city: Montgomery Paul Elias “kneels and reels” a crankbait to victory. He also gets ribbed by Ray Scott for his awesome beard. 1992 Tournament water: Lake Logan Martin Host…

On The Water Witness the excitement of daily takeoffs at Guntersville’s City Docks near the south end of the U.S. 431 bridge. Or hit the water in a boat and watch your favorite contenders pick apart one of America’s best bass lakes. (Please keep your distance and respect anglers’ fishing areas.) For a list of boat ramps, visit www.ala bamabasstrail.org. On The Web Keep up with the action via your smart-phone, tablet or computer and get real-time coverage at Bassmaster.com. News, live blogs, streaming video from the popular “War Room” and in-depth photo galleries will keep you in the know. On The Stage The Classic picture will come into sharper focus each day with weigh-ins at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex at 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North. The Bassmaster Classic…

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WHEN IT COMES to the Bassmaster Classic, every fan hopes his or her favorite pro will triumphantly hoist the victor’s trophy over his head. Aside from that, we all have an opinion of who is likely to win and which pros will be among the leaders when the smoke clears. The most insightful picks come from insiders whose livelihood is linked to the Bassmaster Elite Series. They include battle-scarred pros who fell short of qualifying for the Guntersville Classic, media folks who follow the Elite Series and manufacturers who sponsor the pros. We asked a handful of insiders to make their picks. Here are some of their responses. WIN 1. KEVIN VANDAM “This will be a Rat-L-Trap and jerkbait tournament. HELLO, KVD !” Boyd Duckett, Elite Series pro “KVD…

Bassmaster : Has your recent Bassmaster Angler of the Year victory sunk in yet? Aaron Martens: It’s been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to think about it much! I’ve had so many sponsor meetings and shows, and having kids and a wife that I need and want to spend time with … I just haven’t really had a chance to sit down and think about it. That said, it has been very invigorating. It has kinda made me want to win the upcoming Bassmaster Classic that much more. BM : Speaking of the Classic, how do you like your chances on Guntersville? AM: Well, I’d rather someone else tell me about my chances. I don’t really like to predict things like that. It can be…

FROM THE BOW, conditions seemed perfect. The morning sun was warm and there wasn’t a breath of wind. Peering into the clear water, striations (formed as ancient glaciers gouged the limestone) were perfectly visible. David Chong, an Ontario B.A.S.S. Provincial Champion, invited me out for a day of small-mouth fishing on Lake Couchiching, a smallmouth oasis located just an hour and a half from downtown Toronto. Our plan was to work the northern section’s rocky flats for the lake’s abundant smallmouth. We positioned ourselves midway between shore and the dropoff. A good cast either way could send our baits shallow or deep. Although the morning seemed ideal, the smallmouth were shy. Numerous bass, sometimes in small packs, followed lures to the boat but failed to attack. A frustrating, yet common,…

Congratulations to the newest members of the Bassmaster Lunker Club™. Membership in the club is free and open to any B.A.S.S. member who catches a largemouth bass weighing 10 pounds or more or a smallmouth bass weighing 6 pounds or more, from Jan. 1, 2013, to the present. New Lunker Club members will receive an official certificate with holder and a Minn Kota hat. Jim Byrd Louisiana 110 Private lake, La. ◆ Zoom Baby Brush Hog (watermelon green) ◆ Water: stained ◆ Weather: clear ◆ Depth: 4 feet Bill Huddleston Texas 615 Lake Bridgeport, Texas 5 1/2-inch Berkley Rib Snake (blue fleck) John Simpson California 134 Lake Del Valle, Calif. 6-inch Zoom Trick Worm (watermelon red) Mark A. Gerst Pennsylvania 68 Newsboro Lake, Ontario 5-inch Gary Yamamoto Senko (junebug) Brian…