The big show is here at last. After an extended time off, the Bassmaster circuit gets things up and running with the 45th Bassmaster Classic this week, to be held on Lake Hartwell in Greenville, S.C. Finally.
This Classic won’t be without hype. For starters, bass fishing’s version of The Great One won’t be competing. Secondly, this will likely be the coldest Classic in history.
I’m not sure how many B.A.S.S. employees and volunteers have ever tried to launch a tournament when the temperatures are in the single digits. But I’ve been present at a few and I can tell you one thing: For the first truck backing down the ramp, it’s no big deal. For the rest, it quite certainly is.
The weather will make more than the logistics of the event interesting. The fishing itself will likely be vastly different than previous predictions. Record cold temperatures, coupled with a severe winter prior, eliminate any discussion of “spawning bass,"I’d imagine. This will now become a pre-spawn event.
In addition, other weather-related factors will come into play. Spectator boats will be much less of an issue than in previous years. Sure, a few diehards will pack a couple extra beers in the cooler and get out there to cheer on their favorites. Good Lord, I hope one of them is shirt-less with “IKE” painted on his chest. But, for the most part, we won’t see hundreds and hundreds of followers like last year.
My prediction is that the wild card will be spotted bass, and they will be present in the winner’s stringers. Hartwell spots have grown up, from what I’ve heard, and now contribute to 20-pound bags. And, again due to weather, moderate to deep-water spots may be more stable than largemouth.
Plan on the competition being close. Lakes void of vegetation always produce nail-biters, as finding a magic stretch unknown to fellow competitors occurs less frequently than on lakes full of milfoil or hydrilla.
Last week I mentioned that I would give you my picks on whom to watch in this event, as well as my winning prediction. By tradition, I feel inclined to first attach my disclaimer:
If you are a professional angler competing in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic and believe in fate, karma or becoming jinxed, please stop reading immediately.
So, without further adieu, here are my picks for top performances :
Mike Iaconelli
Iaconelli is one of the best fishermen on tour, every year, and usually “brings it” for the big dance. He’s pretty good with a jig, something I think we will see as a common characteristic in the top finishers this year.
Aaron Martens
I know it’s a terrible thing to say, but if Martens doesn’t win, he’ll likely at least get close. Eventually the odds will slide his way, and he’s a renowned deep-water angler who looks for minuscule details; traits that will likely aid him in this cold weather derby.
Jason Christie
I would normally bet against Chrisitie due to spectator boat influence; he gains more each year as the bass fishing public realizes he’s currently the best angler on the B.A.S.S. tour. But, as we discussed earlier, I can’t imagine chasers will be much of a factor. Also, Christie has prowess with a jerkbait, something that will definitely come into play on a big, cold lake filled with blue-back herring and spotted bass.
Edwin Evers and Todd Faircloth
These are two guys who are just so awesome, they are bound to win the Classic eventually. I would be astonished if, 20 years from now, they aren’t both on the list of Classic and AOY winners. Because of that, I will likely put one or both on my list forever, or until they win.
Bobby Lane
Bobby Lane will be off the radar for most. But, as friends who fish the Elite tour tell me often, he is an incredible fisherman, not given nearly the credit he deserves. Several tour guys rate him atop many of their peers in pure ability and potential. We will see more of him, I predict, in the very near future.
An “FLW Guy” with something to prove
We’ve seen spectacular transitions to the Elites from many pros who cut their teeth fishing FLW. Sometimes I feel as if these guys hold a little extra drive, maybe carrying the hint of a chip on their shoulders that pushes them competitively. Randall Tharp has always been a favorite, Brett Hite seems to win a lot, and Jacob Wheeler can’t be ignored. But my pick here is Jacob Powroznik. This guy’s way old-school – the kind of guy who won’t let Classic jitters get in the way of a good, ol’ fashioned bass-mashing.
But my pick; my prediction to win the 45th annual Bassmaster Classic (last chance to quit reading…):
Ott Defoe
I’ve always admired Ott Defoe. Mature well beyond his years, Defoe comes from a fishing heritage that finds him on the water regardless of what Mother Nature throws at him. As a guy who pushes the envelope a bit myself when it comes to weather, I can guarantee that Defoe is looking at the forecast and licking his chops, knowing it will eliminate a lot of his competition. Sure, these extreme conditions won’t be any picnic for even the most cold-hardy, but such will simply be a slight inconvenience to a guy like Defoe.
Also, Defoe’s career seems to be advancing toward this type of milestone. He’s fished enough Classics now (this will be his fourth) that he knows the routine, and he’s placed high in the Classic before (two top-5 finishes).
You see, Ott Defoe just doesn’t seem like a guy to make this any more than what it is: a bass tournament with about 60 boats, where first is the only place to shoot for.
I’ll be there on the water, likely bundled up in ice-fishing garb, in order to get you all the unfiltered scoop on the biggest thing in pro bass. Sorry, Ott, if you’re still reading. Now go make us both look smart.
(Joe Balog is the often outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)
