The Bassmaster Classic:
The Final Wrap Up
Bruce Callis Jr
The Bassmaster Classic is history. Dylan Nutt at age 22 became only the second Bass Nation winner, following the footsteps of Bryan Kerchal, age 23, who won the title at the 1994 Classic. But unlike Bryan, Dylan won his in his first Classic appearance, the same age Bryan made his first Classic appearance in 1993. He finished last that year, only 1 pound behind the legend Rick Clunn. Excellent company to be in. And with it, the ability to fish the 2027 Elite season.
History was also made as the weigh-in was televised live on Fox Sports. Before, the only way you were able to watch the weigh-in was on Bassmaster.com or in person. A giant step for the Classic and fishing. But it also changed things behind the scenes. There is always media access before the weigh-in and there are plenty of pictures of anglers putting their fish into the weigh bags. I remember being able to video the moment that Justin Hamner sat in his boat waiting to go out into the arena and after hearing the last angler’s weight, knew he had won. No BASS camera, no Fox camera, just the one video.
But as lucky as I was to view this moment, it wasn’t the same as setting in the arena as the anglers made their way into the arena. That is something that television can’t change. It is something so special to witness, and feel. I have made the decision to sit in the arena twice now instead of staying behind the scenes. You need to do it at least once in your lifetime if you can.
There is just something so special about it. And every year is different in its own way. Before Dave Mercer makes his way out onto the stage to get the excitement of the weigh-in started, B.A.S.S. has sponsors enter the arena and get the fans even more excited by tossing things into the crowd. Shooting t shirts out of a cannon, tossing gear into the crowd. You can just feel the electricity building.
And then Dave comes out and you can feel everything ramping up. You can see it on the faces in the crowd. The family and friends of the anglers section is always a highly charged area. But I don’t believe it can match the fans in the stands. As angler after angler enters the arena, you can feel that excitement elevate, raising the hairs on your arms.
And then the moment that the final 6 anglers, the Super 6 are brought out on stage before they come into the arena. And one man sits in the hot seat. This year it was Trey McKinney in the seat, waiting to see if he would be knocked out. The crowd knows history could be made, especially with a Tennessee angler leading after day two. You can just tell how much the fans and family are into it, as the electricity fills the floor and rises up into the arena.
You can just feel the hairs on your arms standing up with the anticipation of each angler as they made their way in. Trey has sat in that seat before. And each time the angler weighs in and he remains, his paycheck goes up. But he isn’t looking for that as much as he is the title. Like him or not, he is a great young man. We may call him arragnot, but he is filled with confidence. We admired it in our older anglers, but so many call him cocky now. But no matter what, he can fish!
His roommate if JT Thompkins who was also a Super 6 angler. I got to meet his parents and grandparents. We had a great conservation off the record. And like Trey, he is a great young man with overflowing confidence, and the ability to catch fish any way needed. He may have fell short of bumping Trey from the Hot Seat, he did beat him for big fish of the day.
And then it came down to once again Trey sitting in the Hot Seat with just one angler left. But the kid from Tennessee had the same dream of winning. As Dylan entered the arena, the crowd rose to meet him. The excitement level went off the chart! What you see on live just doesn’t do it justice. And when he held those two bass high as he entered, just amazing!
As the crowd was still standing as he made it to the stage to place his bag of bass on the scales. In the arena, it seemed to take forever to get the fish to calm down, and then Dave announced 20 pounds 13 ounces and “This Nutt can’t be cracked!” The crowd that was running on high went even higher. The hairs on your arm and neck stand up with the electricity and excitement. You can only get that by being there in the arena.
For 2027, the Classic will be in Greenville, SC and I plan to be there. I plan to take in every moment possible. Media Day, the Expo, and all 3 nights of the weigh-in. I want to feel that excitement again. I want to see the anglers and their family. I want to be a part of history. So you need to make your way there. Feel the excitement and experience that once in a lifetime opportunity. You really need to have 2 days to be able to really take in the Expo. Come feel the hairs stand on edge and the electricity run through your body. See you there!