Well, it's official – the 2015 professional bass fishing season is now in the books. FLW takes a break while B.A.S.S. awaits a few more Classic qualifiers through the Opens.
Last week’s final pro event, the AOY Championship at Sturgeon Bay, turned out to be a bit of a letdown in the eyes of giant smallmouth hunters everywhere. Stringers were light despite the relentless Michigan tourism campaigns claiming Sturgeon Bay as invincible. As we alluded to here earlier, when it comes to Great Lakes fisheries, springtime stringers are often the exception, not the norm. Anywhere can be awesome in May.
In any case, the AOY Championship pretty much locked up the Classic qualifying process. Barring an Elite angler winning a final Open event (although this has happened before), things are decided for the best on the B.A.S.S. side. The Classic cut appears to come in at 40th place on the Elite AOY standings, with Billy McCaghren being the final qualifier.
Sitting out will be some great fishermen, including guys I’d bet to win if they had made it. In addition, a few of bass fishing’s biggest names will be forced to watch, and that’s just wrong. Had I been given 10 golden tickets, allowing any non-qualifying angler admission to the big show, here’s how I’d distribute them.
10. Mike McClelland
I’ve always felt McClelland was, overall, one of the best on the tour at finding a way to win. His seven B.A.S.S. victories, including four on the Elite circuit, back up my claims. His persistent potential will be missed.
9. Andy Montgomery
Montgomery represents what pro bass fishermen used to be – in a modern package with cooler clothes. Like Jason Christie and Andy Morgan, he’s so old-school he’d even call his dad “son”. I’d like to see Montgomery in Tulsa to represent the way pro bass is supposed to be.
8. Davy Hite
Hite fits into the Elite Series category of legend, from a time period when a handful of bass pros were truly household names. His past victories were epic shallow-water brawls with rod-breaking hooksets. Always a highlight reel when he’s on ‘em.
7, 6 and 5. Ish Monroe, Steve Kennedy and Randall Tharp
These guys epitomize my kind of thinking: big rods, weird patterns and unheard-of lures. I always enjoy when any of the trio threatens to be near the top because, if they can string together 3 or 4 consistent days, it’s game over. That will be missed in the Classic.
4. Tommy Biffle
No Tommy Biffle? What? Tommy Biffle should always get a free Classic card just for being a supreme bad ass.
3. Gary Klein
Gary Klein is, without question, one of the best professional tournament anglers of all time. A review of his stats, based on longevity, easily proves this. While Klein probably doesn’t have as many victories as he’d like, he’s always a top-percentage guy on tour. Coupled with the fact that he’s one of the best-known pro anglers to never win a Classic, Klein should be there.
2. Rick Clunn
The only guy to trump Klein in a Classic popularity contest is Rick Clunn. Like many fans, it literally pains me to watch a championship without him. The obsessed society of Clunn disciples, myself included, dream of him winning a fifth, and again reigning over the Classic kingdom, away from that pesky VanDam. It wasn’t meant to be this time. Shame.
1. Mark Menendez
As we all know, Menendez has had his share of hardships recently, yet continues to overcome adversity, fish extremely well and constantly play the role of the good guy. In addition, Menendez recently moved down the Classic list from “first man out” to several back, thanks to a self-imposed DQ. Combined with the fact that he single-handedly fought for tournament angler justice in the form of his recent “fishing interference” charge, the Kentucky pro should be Classic-bound. For the record, he won the case, publicized much more lightly than it should have been by bass fishing media. If I had only one golden ticket to the Classic, Menendez would get it.
This year’s Classic, sure to be a barn-burner as most recent events have been, will be missing a little drama with these 10 anglers absent. I’m sure each will have a hard time sitting out, but there’s no golden tickets or free passes in bass fishing.
At least there’s always next year.
(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.)
