Another Classic is in the books, resulting in a champion that surprised no one. Well, except me.
Now, I’ve been a Jason Christie fan forever. Regular readers of this column will recognize my use of Christie as a stellar example of just what it means to be a pro bass mobster, taking down any competitor who stands in the way. The guy lives and breathes power-fishing, though even he partially resorted to light tackle and forward sonar to win the title. Hey, the guy’s no dummy!
So was the reason I never considered Christie a threat. I honestly thought he would insist on shallow fishing from start to finish, and that makes for an unwinnable tournament in this day and age. Evidently, Christie’s too smart to be hard-headed. He blended each method to perfection when he needed it most.
My other picks looked good for a while. Stetson Blaylock nearly stole the show, and Kennedy and Hackney toiled around the top early on. But my champion’s prediction of Brandon Cobb never materialized. That happens; poor guy.
The Classic continued to illustrate a trend toward America’s relentless need for new life in the sport-show market. As we all know, the days of these great spring flings is over; most of America is left with a couple lousy boat shows, at best. But the Classic Outdoor Expo is a huge draw – and its popularity continues to grow. The attendees are buyers, big time. It’s common at the Classic Expo to see folks walking out the door with six rods and a five-gallon bucket full of gear. I got lured in by the old “Show Special” trick, forking out a couple hundred bucks for a handful of hardcore items. What can I say ...
I wonder, will a cunning show producer learn from the Classic’s momentum? Is there a place out there for a good, hardcore bass fishing consumer show? I’ll be anxious to see how the REDCREST expo does later this month, and whether it will be met with similar enthusiasm and crowds. Yes, the expo has become the focal point of the Classic, no doubt. Sure, the weigh-in is fun, though long and overinflated.
And the Classic is always a great way to monitor the pulse of our industry. Organized fishing is certainly alive and well, and a flush of young attendees at the show adds to the enthusiasm. Academic-age fishing has made a significant impact in the world of competitive angling. It’s great to see kids with a formal infrastructure to advance in the sport. I love how it’s done at the college level, I hope momentum continues to put more high schoolers in boats, around others who share in their passion. That’s a very impactful age, as many of us can relate.
Turning toward the fishing itself, the ’22 Classic will go down as a soft-plastic battle that keyed on alternative rigs. Wackys, Nekos and Damikis took center stage, as many of the bass were caught somewhere between the top and bottom of the water column. Normally, following this event, we see a rush by the manufacturers to keep up with the winning lures. This year, however, it won’t be as simple as knocking off a productive crank or spinnerbait. Instead, the general trend in advanced bass fishing will likely be in refined soft-plastic rigging. The Damiki rig – that “everything old is new again” method of rigging a minnow bait on a jighead – is precisely the method I look to see the most expansion around.
So much there can be refined. Lures that hang horizontally at rest. Slow-sinking lures, maybe suspenders, somehow. ElaZtech vs. traditional plastics. Different jighead designs and scents. Manufacturers should now be awake; technological advancements will require more precise open-water tactics.
We’ll continue to see a Japanese influence here, too, as the overseas lure business is always more advanced than our own. Taku Ito, now securely one of my favorite B.A.S.S. pros, showed us all something this year with his oversized bluegill/weird-turtle slow-falling plastic bait. I love what this guy brings to the table. My gosh, that keeps my attention so much more than watching a guy dropshot Flat Worms.
But the big spotlight was on Christie, and rightfully so. He came out the final day tied for the lead, caught a decent bag – though nothing he was satisfied with – and took home the well-deserved title. The win pushes Christie over the $2-million mark for his career; and will remember that Christie was an FLW monster before joining B.A.S.S., winning two national titles the same season, and took a bunch of cash to the bank there, as well. Truly a superstar.
One other thing to note about Christie and his win. Another member of the former Ranger pro staff who moved on after the big buyout, Christie now fishes out of an Xpress aluminum boat. How great is that? For those of you who haven’t considered aluminum, you might be doing so now. John Cox got the ball rolling, and now we see a bunch of top guys headed that way. I’ve been fishing from an aluminum for a number of years and absolutely love it. Watch for Christie’s Classic take-down to push more momentum this way.
So another Classic is in the books, and it won’t be one that fans will forget. Folks were out, the show was huge, and the champion already a household name. Trifecta. It will be fun watching this guy as the champ.
(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.)
