Jordan Lee Becomes Third Angler To Score Back-to-Back Bassmaster Classic Victories

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March 19, 2018

Jordan Lee Becomes Third Angler To Score Back-to-Back Bassmaster Classic Victories

Jordan Lee of Grant, Ala., won the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods at Lake Hartwell with a three-day total of 47 pounds, 1 ounce. This is Lee’s second Classic win in a row.

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

March 18, 2018

Jordan Lee Becomes Third Angler To Score Back-to-Back Bassmaster Classic Victories

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — After three magical days on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina, Jordan Lee now belongs to one of the most exclusive fraternities in professional bass fishing.

Lee, who began Sunday’s championship round in sixth place, caught five bass that weighed 16 pounds, 5 ounces and won the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods with a three-day total of 47-1.

Lee, who won last year’s Classic on Lake Conroe, Texas, joins fishing legends Rick Clunn and Kevin VanDam as the only anglers in history to win the Super Bowl of professional bass fishing two years in a row.

“That part of it hasn’t set in for me,” said Lee, who pushed his career earnings with B.A.S.S. past $1 million with the $300,000 Classic win. “I’m still just freaking out.

“It was just a perfect week for me. I caught fish on five different baits and a lot of different techniques.”

Unlike last year, when Lee struggled during the first round of the Classic before rebounding to win, he got off to a good start during this year’s first round with a catch of 18-10.

Since he didn’t have a good practice, he said he decided to stay within his comfort zone and fish boat docks — much like he does on Smith Lake in his home state of Alabama.

“I just wanted to cover as much water as I could to give myself the best chance of putting a bait in front of a fish,” he said. “On this lake, I knew boat docks were going to play because they always do — and that’s what I like to do.”

With no solid pattern identified, Lee alternated between a Strike King Rage Swimmer and two Strike King stickbaits — an Ocho and a Shimmy Stick. He stuck with green pumpkin and green pumpkin/blue as his primary colors.

He also caught fish throughout the week on an unspecified jerkbait and a homemade bladed jig.

“I really didn’t have a game plan,” he said. “I knew I could catch a lot of 2-pound spotted bass, and I knew those fish weren’t going to win me the tournament. But that’s what I wanted to do, and everything just kind of fell into place.”

Lee weighed in all spotted bass on Day 2 and saw his weight drop to 12-2. But he still easily made the Top 25 cut in sixth place to fish on Championship Sunday.

But being behind on the final day is nothing new for Lee, considering he started last year’s championship round in 15th place and came back to win.

Once again, he hit the jackpot on the final day.

“Today, I went in the back of this one little pocket and the water was 57 degrees,” he said. “I caught a fish — probably my biggest one of the day — and then it turned out there were bass under every dock in there.

“They were swimming around by my boat. It was just loaded.”

There was one tense moment for Lee in that pocket when he thought he might have let the historic victory slip through his fingers.

“I really thought I had lost the tournament on my last cast,” he said. “There was one bass about 4 or 5 pounds under a dock, and I pitched my worm right on it and it swirled and ate it. I set the hook and the worm popped off.

“If that one had cost me, it was going to be tough to sleep at night.”

As it turned out, though, Lee had just enough weight to edge California pro Brent Ehrler by 1 pound. Ehrler was second with 46-1, followed by Jason Christie, who led the first two days but caught only 8-11 on Sunday and fell to third place with 45-15.

“I didn’t go out all week thinking I was going to win this tournament,” Lee said. “I just decided I was going to fish the way I wanted to fish.

“You can’t plan on winning this tournament. Everything just has to fall into place.”

Alabama pro Mark Daniels Jr. won $2,500 for catching the Berkley Big Bass of the week, a 6-11 largemouth he caught on Day 1.

Toyota Bonus Bucks will pay $7,500 to the highest-placing eligible angler and $2,500 to the second-highest-placing angler.

2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
3/16-3/18
Lake Hartwell, Greenville SC.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 15 47-01 0 $300,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 16-05
2. Brent Ehrler Redlands, CA 15 46-01 0 $50,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 16-04
3. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 14 45-15 0 $45,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 4 08-11
4. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 15 43-15 0 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 17-06
5. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 43-04 0 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 15-00
6. Ott DeFoe Blaine, TN 15 42-13 0 $22,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 13-00
7. Jacob Wheeler Harrison, TN 15 42-13 0 $21,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 12-02
8. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 15 42-12 0 $21,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 12-07
9. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 15 42-09 0 $20,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 15-04
10. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 42-02 0 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 10-14
11. James Elam Tulsa, OK 15 41-10 0 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 09-09
12. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 15 41-09 0 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 09-00
13. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 41-05 0 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 12-08
14. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 15 40-12 0 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 08-10
15. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 15 40-10 0 $17,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 5 14-01
16. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 15 39-13 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 12-13
17. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 15 39-10 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 13-14
18. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 15 38-15 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 10-15
19. Mike McClelland Bentonville, AR 15 38-12 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 10-09
20. John Cox Debary, FL 15 37-04 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 11-05
21. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 15 37-03 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 11-06
22. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 13 35-04 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 3 09-04
23. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 13 33-09 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 3 07-08
24. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 15 32-08 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 07-15
25. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 13 29-00 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 3 03-08
BERKLEY BIG BASS
Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 06-11 $2,500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 51 255 684-12
2 45 245 584-12
3 21 118 290-02
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117 618 1559-10

Kansas State Dominates Bassmaster College Series Classic On Keowee Docks

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March 18, 2018

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Kansas State Dominates Bassmaster College Series Classic On Keowee Docks

Zach Vielhauer, left, and Will Andrie of Kansas State won Sunday’s Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lake Keowee with five bass that weighed 13 pounds, 2 ounces.

Photo by Laurie Tisdale/B.A.S.S.

March 18, 2018

Kansas State Dominates Bassmaster College Series Classic On Keowee Docks

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Having found favorable clarity and appealing water temperatures during practice on Lake Keowee’s south end, Kansas State’s Zack Vielhauer and Will Andrie sacked a limit of 13 pounds, 2 ounces to win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Committing their day to dock fishing, the winners focused on precise presentations that adjusted with fish movement.

“As the sun came out, the fish moved farther and farther under the docks, so we were skipping our baits father under there where nobody else was reaching,” Vielhauer said. “We had never fished this lake before. But in practice, we went all the way from the south end, all the way up to the north end; so we were able to eliminate the whole north end and concentrate on the south end.”

The K-State anglers fished unweighted Texas-rigged Senkos in watermelon and green pumpkin, and 3/16-ounce finesse jigs with green pumpkin/brown trailers. Light line — 8-pound fluorocarbon — proved essential to their effective presentations.

“With the clear water, we were able to get those baits under there and the fish weren’t able to see the line,” Vielhauer said. “But, we work well together as a team and if one of us was unable to make the pitch or the cast, the other one’s able to do that. So, we alternated.”

Andrie said he and his teammate started deeper, but they ended up spending most of their time fishing in 2 to 10 feet of water. Following a rotation that they had established in practice, they fished 25 to 30 docks.

Their action started early with four keepers in the first 20 minutes.

“Most of the fish we caught today were prespawners; they had big bellies and they were ready to go,” Andrie said. “They were staging to do their thing, but we intercepted them today.

“Today, we predominantly had spotted bass — the biggest spotted bass we had all week, but we did find a couple of those key largemouth that really did it for us.”

Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic presented by Bass Pro Shops

3/18/2018

Lake Keowee – South Cove – Greenville, SC

STANDINGS BOATER DAY 1

Today’s Activity

Name # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz # Fsh # Live Lbs-Oz PTS

1 Zach Vielhauer – Will Andrie Kansas State 5 5 13- 2 5 5 13- 2 0.00

2 Ben Stone – Greyson Williams Lander University 5 5 12- 3 5 5 12- 3 0.00

3 Justin Grigg – Brett Blackwood Winthrop University 5 4 9-15 5 4 9-15 0.00

4 Colby Bryant – Dillon Harrell Sam Houston State University 5 5 9- 9 5 5 9- 9 0.00

5 Jonathan Kelley – John Duarte Coastal Carolina University 5 5 8-14 5 5 8-14 0.00

6 Trevor Topken – Zachary Catoe University of South Carolina 5 5 8- 9 5 5 8- 9 0.00

7 Jake Lee – Cole Sands Bryan College 5 5 8- 8 5 5 8- 8 0.00

8 Derek Freeman – Robert White Clemson University 5 5 7-11 5 5 7-11 0.00

9 Remington Wagner – Garret Beck Hutchinson Blue Dragons 3 3 3- 6 3 3 3- 6 0.00

BIG BASS

Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz

1 Justin Grigg – Brett Blackwood Clover, SC 3- 7

TOTALS

Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits

1 43 42 81-13 8

Christie And Evers Still Top The Bassmaster Classic Leaderboard On Lake Hartwell

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March 18, 2018

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Christie And Evers Still Top The Bassmaster Classic Leaderboard On Lake Hartwell

Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., maintains the lead on the second day of the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods at Lake Hartwell with a two-day total of 37 pounds, 4 ounces.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

March 17, 2018

Christie And Evers Still Top The Bassmaster Classic Leaderboard On Lake Hartwell

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Once again, Jason Christie is on the verge of winning the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

And once again, his good friend — and occasional nemesis — Edwin Evers, has a chance to take it away from him.

The Oklahoma anglers occupied the Top 2 spots in the standings for the second straight day at Lake Hartwell, and they will lead the remaining 23 anglers into Championship Sunday with a chance to win the $300,000 first-place prize and the most coveted trophy in professional bass fishing.

Christie caught 16-6 during Saturday’s second round to push his two-day total to a tournament-best 37-4. Evers had a much tougher day than he did on Friday, landing only 13-0. But he remained in second place with a two-day mark of 32-9.

“It was the same deal today where you just had to weed through them until you found a good one,” said Christie, who also led the first two days of the 2016 Classic on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, only to lose the title to Evers on the final day. “I had a chance to have a really good day, but I lost some fish. I don’t know if it was the lightning we had this morning or if the water’s clearing up or what, but they’re biting funny.”

Those funny bites led to some ragged hook sets that cost Christie on several occasions.

“I lost a 5-pounder and a 3- or 3 1/2-pounder,” said Christie, who won the GEICO Everyday Leader Award of $2,500 for the second straight day. “I also broke one off that was my fault. I hit a cable on one cast, and I didn’t retie. Then later on, I broke one off setting the hook.

“I caught a 4-pounder on my last cast, but I’m not getting enough of those kinds of bites. I can’t afford to booger those up when I get them.”

After landing 19-9 on Day 1, Evers struggled Saturday as he battled heavy boat traffic.

“I’d be fishing down a stretch expecting to get bit and it just wasn’t happening,” Evers said. “I would think to myself, ‘It seems like somebody’s already fished this.’ Then sure enough, I’d see a boat run out of the back of the pocket.”

When Evers scored his come-from-behind victory in the 2016 Classic, he changed radically on the final day from what he had been doing the first two days and managed to catch five bass that weighed 29-plus pounds.

He said he expects to make a similar change Sunday.

“I’ve got a plan — and it’s a pretty big change from what I’ve been doing,” he said. “I’m going to go fish a section of the lake that I haven’t fished because I think that section has been getting beat up pretty good.

“I don’t know that it’s going to work like it did back then (in 2016), but that’s the plan.”

Trailing closely behind Evers are Georgia pro Micah Frazier with 32-2 and a third Oklahoma pro, James Elam with 32-1. Alabama anglers Gerald Swindle is in fifth with 31-4, and Jordan Lee in sixth with 30-12.

Frazier said he fished a different area of the lake Saturday than he did Friday — mostly because he knew Elam was fishing the area as well.

“I started in an area Friday that James Elam was in, and he got there before me so he kind of took one side and I took the other,” Frazier said. “I chose not to go back up there today because I didn’t think there would be enough fish in there for both of us.”

The unselfish decision paid off.

“I started in a new area and caught a 5-pounder right off the bat,” Frazier said. “Then I ran to another area and caught two big ones.

“There’s a pattern to where all of the big ones have been — and they’re eating. But there’s just not a lot of them.”

The 6-11 largemouth caught by Alabama pro Mark Daniels Jr. still leads the race for the Berkley Big Bass Award. If that holds, Daniels will earn $2,500.

The tournament will conclude Sunday with takeoff scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing and Event Center in Anderson, S.C. Doors will open for the final weigh-in at 3:15 p.m. at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in downtown Greenville.

The GEICO Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the TD Convention Center. Just outside the Center is the Get Hooked on Fishing presented by Toyota and Shakespeare, an interactive exhibit for youngsters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All activities are free to the public.

2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
3/16-3/18
Lake Hartwell, Greenville, SC.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 2

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 37-04 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 16-06
2. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 32-09 0
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 13-00
3. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 10 32-02 0
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 18-11
4. James Elam Tulsa, OK 10 32-01 0
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 15-10
5. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 31-04 0
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 15-07
6. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 10 30-12 0
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 12-02
7. Jacob Wheeler Harrison, TN 10 30-11 0
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 14-10
8. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 30-05 0
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 15-05
9. Brent Ehrler Redlands, CA 10 29-13 0
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 12-05
10. Ott DeFoe Blaine, TN 10 29-13 0
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 13-05
11. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 28-13 0
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 15-02
12. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 28-04 0
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-00
13. Mike McClelland Bentonville, AR 10 28-03 0
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 15-04
14. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 10 28-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 15-02
15. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 27-05 0
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-03
16. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 27-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 13-03
17. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 10 26-09 0
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 10-11
18. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 10 26-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-08
19. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 10 26-01 0
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 10-12
20. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 10 26-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-00
21. John Cox Debary, FL 10 25-15 0
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 13-13
22. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 10 25-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 14-15
23. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 25-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 14-07
24. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 10 25-08 0
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 10-03
25. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 24-09 0
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 10-15
26. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 24-08 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 13-06
27. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 24-04 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 12-12
28. Josh Bertrand San Tan Valley, AZ 10 23-14 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 10-05
29. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 23-12 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 09-05
30. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 23-10 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 07-14
31. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 23-10 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 09-14
32. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 10 23-09 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 09-09
33. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 23-08 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-00
34. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 22-15 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-08
35. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 9 22-13 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 4 11-13
36. Ryan Butler Blue Eye, MO 9 22-05 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 4 08-05
37. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 22-04 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 10-01
38. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 22-00 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 09-14
39. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 21-06 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 09-07
40. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 21-02 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-09
41. David Walker Sevierville, TN 10 21-01 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 09-00
42. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 9 20-09 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 4 06-00
43. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 20-09 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 10-07
44. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 20-00 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 09-03
45. Luke Gritter Otsego, MI 10 18-11 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 08-06
46. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 10 18-00 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 05-06
47. Carl Svebek III Siloam Springs, AR 10 17-07 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 09-07
48. Marty Giddens Cropwell, AL 8 17-00 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 3 07-08
49. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 6 15-11 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 1 03-00
50. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 9 14-11 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 4 06-09
51. Stanley Sypeck Jr Sugarloaf, PA 5 12-01 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
52. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 11-05 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-05
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 51 255 684-12
2 45 245 584-12
———————————-
96 500 1269-08

Scott Stiltner and Jeff Davis Win Angler’s Choice Team Tournament Trail SML March 17,2017

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March 17, 2018

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Scott Stiltner and Jeff Davis Win Angler’s Choice Team Tournament Trail SML March 17,2017

On a cool march day 187 anglers ascended onto Smith Mountain Lake to fish the first Angler’s Choice event of 2018. With weights being in the mid 20 plus pounds to finish in the top five the team of Scott Stiltner and Jeff Davis took home the win with 5 fish 24.74 lb They Took home over $6,000 in Cash & Prizes

2nd place was Ralph and Justin Hicks with 22.52 lbs taking home a check for $3,100

More Photos & Video will be uploaded soon…

Click Link To See Full Results

Diligence Rewards Floyd And Gibbons With Bassmaster High School Classic Win

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March 17, 2018

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Diligence Rewards Floyd And Gibbons With Bassmaster High School Classic Win

Tommy Floyd Jr., right, and James Gibbons of South Florence High School won Saturday’s Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods on Lake Keowee with five bass that weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces.

Photo by Laurie Tisdale/B.A.S.S.

March 17, 2018

Diligence Rewards Floyd And Gibbons With Bassmaster High School Classic Win

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Staying with the deep game and capitalizing on random moments of opportunity led Tommy Floyd Jr. and James Gibbons to victory with a five-fish limit of 8 pounds, 13 ounces in the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods on Lake Keowee.

The clear Savannah River impoundment presented tough conditions compounded by morning rain. The winners tried fishing shallow, but when they determined they couldn’t find any prespawn staging bass, they committed to fishing in about 35 feet of water. Even there, their action was inconsistent.

“The fish bit in flurries and we could catch two or three,” Gibbons said.

Floyd and Gibbons relied on traditional deep-finesse presentations. They caught their fish on 1/4- and 3/8-ounce shaky heads fitted with watermelon candy finesse worms and drop shots with 1/4-ounce weights and finesse worms in the morning dawn color.

Floyd said finding the right type of bottom structure — mostly chunk rock boulders on the upper end of the lake — was essential to his team’s success. Using their Humminbird side-imaging and down-imaging unit helped them dial in the right targets.

“We hit three spots today,” Floyd said. “We rotated them all through the day.”

Also, Gibbons said that recognizing the fish’s noncommittal behavior allowed them to make a necessary adjustment that allowed the fish second and third chances. Throughout the day, the fish would nip at their baits. Looking past the frustration, Floyd and Gibbons recognized that the situation was ripe for persistence.

“You had to let the fish eat it,” he said. “You had to let them swim around with it for a long time because they were short-striking it. We could throw back to a fish to a fish three times and he would bite it each time.”

The Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic presented by Bass Pro Shops will take place Sunday on Lake Keowee with weigh-ins being held in the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville at 3:15 p.m. ET

prior to the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods

3/17/2018

Lake Keowee – South Cove – Greenville, SC

STANDINGS BOATER DAY 1

Name # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz PTS

1 Tommy Floyd JR – James Gibbons South Florence High 5 5 8-13 5 5 8-13

2 Justin Watts – Colby Badeaux Live Oak HS 5 5 8- 6 5 5 8- 6

3 Kyler McKie – Michael Burch Fox Creek High School 4 4 8- 1 4 4 8- 1

4 Chase Taylor – Colton Williams Good Hope Fishing team 4 4 5-11 4 4 5-11

5 Cody Miles – Jordan Bowlin Benton High School 2 2 4- 4 2 2 4- 4

6 Garrett Torres – Jayden Vosseller Kickback HS 2 2 3- 5 2 2 3- 5

7 Trevor Whisenant – Brett Lasley Kick Back High School 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0

BIG BASS

Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz

1 Tommy Floyd JR – James GibCbOoWnsARD, SC 2-13

TOTALS

Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits

1 22 22 38- 8 2

The 2018 Bassmaster Classic Experience by Bruce Callis

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March 17, 2018

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The 2018 Bassmaster Classic Experience by Bruce Callis

The 2018 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell in Greenville, SC was a whirlwind of activity. Since this was my first Classic, it was a lot to take in. The number of fans, the activities, the Expo, and the weigh-in. And to add to it, as a media member, there was the access to the Elite anglers as they came off stage. Luckily, I had some help in the form of Brian Carter, the president of The BassCast, Josh Roller of BassBoats4Sale, Jacob Stephens and Chris Kimbrough. The day became so much easier as a team.

My first Expo experience at the TD Convention Center was overwhelming, and at the same time, so amazing. Getting to talk with so many amazing companies, meeting the pro anglers who were there representing their sponsors, and talking about the newest products they have on the market, was simply a thrill, but the time goes by so fast. You really need to be able to go all three days just to be able to take in everything fully. And as busy as it was, everyone kept saying, wait until tomorrow.

We left the Expo early to head over to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the big weigh-in. As we rounded the corner to the arena, the crowd standing outside was amazing. So many fans waiting for the doors to open, reminded me of a concert, where the most diehard fans lined up hours in advance so they could get the prime spots for viewing the event. But with so many fans, things still moved smoothly and we managed to find parking rather easily. A short walk over to the arena and into the media entrance, then down the elevator to the media room where the anglers would make their way after they came off the stage.

As a rookie, here is where it gets crazy. As the angler enters the media, it is a mad dash to try to be the first to get your interview and be ready for the next angler to make their way back. Reporters with video equipment, others with notepads, voice recorders, phones for live broadcasts, and they all want to talk for that quick story. And the anglers are always so open, sharing just enough, but holding back just enough to keep their competitors from knowing what they think. And at the same time, hoping to grab something to eat and drink before they go back to prepare for the next day. Chaos with some order. And the top 6 have to wait for a final live press conference.

I talked to a lot of the anglers, and learned a lot. Some were talking about the bite having changed so much in 2 days, others about the heat, and some about how their patterns would hold up better than others. The strategies varied, just as much as the techniques. Out deep, up shallow, around docks, and off points. But all talked about how you had to make changes quicker to locate the bass and then land them.

For me, the first day was all about learning. Learning just how much work it takes to put on such an amazing event. Learning that it takes a team to cover such a huge event. Learning that its impossible to do everything in one day. And the most important thing I learned on my first day, have fun and take in as much as possible while still doing that which you came to do. The Classic is but once a year, it’s an experience you need to add to your plans.

Oklahoma Anglers Lead The Way After Bassmaster Classic’s First Round On Lake Hartwell

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March 17, 2018

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Oklahoma Anglers Lead The Way After Bassmaster Classic’s First Round On Lake Hartwell

Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., took the lead on the first day of the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods at Lake Hartwell, bringing 20 pounds, 14 ounces to the scales on Friday.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S

March 16, 2018

Oklahoma Anglers Lead The Way After Bassmaster Classic’s First Round On Lake Hartwell

GREENVILLE, S.C. — After one day of fishing on Lake Hartwell, the leaderboard for the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods has a familiar look.

Oklahoma angler Jason Christie leads the way, with Edwin Evers — a fellow Okie and Christie’s roommate on the Bassmaster Elite Series — sitting close behind in second.

Christie said a change in strategy near the mid-point of Day 1 helped him to his tournament-best weight of 20 pounds, 14 ounces.

“I’ve got two little deals going, and I did the first little deal for the first three or four hours,” said Christie, who claimed the GEICO Everyday Leader Award of $2,500. “But then it just kind of ran out.

“I changed it up and actually caught a 5-pounder — and that gave me a clue. So, I just ran with it and ended up culling everything I had.”

Christie said he caught fish all day, but patience was required for finding the type of big fish that helps an angler win the Classic.

“They’re all on the same kind of stuff, but you just don’t know where the big ones are going to come from,” he said. “You’ll catch a 2-pounder, a 2-pounder and then finally a 5-pounder.”

Evers, who brought in 19-9 Friday, got off to a fast start with a good early-morning bite that he said might have been due to bass feeding on blueback herring.

“I honestly don’t know what they were doing,” he said. “I got really lucky and found a place that had a bunch of fish in it. It was an early-morning deal. I caught them every cast.”

Like Christie, Evers caught his biggest fish — two largemouth that each weighed 4-10 — in the afternoon hours.

“Those fish came around 12:30 or 1 o’clock,” he said. “It made for a better day than I thought I was going to have. I thought I was going to catch 16 or 17 pounds and maybe get a couple of big bites to push that up — and that’s what happened.”

The last time these two anglers waged a close battle in a Classic was 2016 on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in their home state. Back then, Christie led the first two days, only to see Evers overcome him with a giant catch on the final day.

With two days left to fish on Hartwell, there are several other anglers who are within excellent striking distance of the $300,000 first-place prize, including reigning Classic champion Jordan Lee of Alabama.

Lee, who raised the Classic trophy last year on Lake Conroe in Texas after struggling the first day, had a solid opening round on Hartwell, bringing in five bass that weighed 18-10.

“It was fun to come out and have a good start for a change, especially when you consider that I wasn’t really on anything in practice,” Lee said. “I fished a lot of boat docks today, and that’s what I really like to do. I didn’t get many bites, but I caught a few big ones.”

California angler Brent Ehrler is in fourth with 17-8, followed by Tennessee’s Ott DeFoe (16-8) and yet another Oklahoma pro, James Elam (16-7).

Alabama angler Mark Daniels Jr. took the lead in the race for Berkley Big Bass with a largemouth that weighed 6-11.

Lake Hartwell produced excellent numbers of fish, with only one of the 52 anglers in the field failing to land a five-bass limit. Only four anglers finished below the 10-pound mark, and it took 13-9 to get into 25th place.

The tournament will resume Saturday with Law Enforcement and First Responders Appreciation Day, with takeoff scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing and Event Center in Anderson, S.C. Doors open for daily weigh-ins 3:15 p.m. at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in downtown Greenville.

The Classic Outdoors Expo presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in the TD Convention Center. Just outside the Center is the Get Hooked on Fishing presented by Toyota and Shakespeare, an interactive exhibit for youngsters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All activities are free to the public.

For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.

2018 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods 3/16-3/18
Lake Hartwell, Greenville SC.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 20-14 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-14
2. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 19-09 0
Day 1: 5 19-09
3. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 5 18-10 0
Day 1: 5 18-10
4. Brent Ehrler Redlands, CA 5 17-08 0
Day 1: 5 17-08
5. Ott DeFoe Blaine, TN 5 16-08 0
Day 1: 5 16-08
6. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 16-07 0
Day 1: 5 16-07
7. Jacob Wheeler Harrison, TN 5 16-01 0
Day 1: 5 16-01
8. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 5 15-14 0
Day 1: 5 15-14
9. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 15-13 0
Day 1: 5 15-13
10. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 15-12 0
Day 1: 5 15-12
11. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 5 15-05 0
Day 1: 5 15-05
11. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 15-05 0
Day 1: 5 15-05
13. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 15-04 0
Day 1: 5 15-04
14. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 15-00 0
Day 1: 5 15-00
15. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-09
16. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 14-07 0
Day 1: 5 14-07
17. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-02
18. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 5 14-01 0
Day 1: 5 14-01
19. Ryan Butler Blue Eye, MO 5 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 14-00
19. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 5 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 14-00
21. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 13-13 0
Day 1: 5 13-13
22. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 13-12 0
Day 1: 5 13-12
23. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 13-11 0
Day 1: 5 13-11
24. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 13-10 0
Day 1: 5 13-10
25. Josh Bertrand San Tan Valley, AZ 5 13-09 0
Day 1: 5 13-09
26. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 13-07 0
Day 1: 5 13-07
27. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-00
28. Mike McClelland Bentonville, AR 5 12-15 0
Day 1: 5 12-15
29. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14
30. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 12-11 0
Day 1: 5 12-11
31. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 5 12-10 0
Day 1: 5 12-10
32. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 12-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-08
33. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 12-03 0
Day 1: 5 12-03
34. John Cox Debary, FL 5 12-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-02
34. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 12-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-02
36. Stanley Sypeck Jr Sugarloaf, PA 5 12-01 0
Day 1: 5 12-01
36. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 12-01 0
Day 1: 5 12-01
38. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 11-15
39. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 11-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-08
40. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 11-07 0
Day 1: 5 11-07
41. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 11-05 0
Day 1: 5 11-05
42. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 11-02 0
Day 1: 5 11-02
43. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 11-00 0
Day 1: 5 11-00
44. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 5 10-14 0
Day 1: 5 10-14
45. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13
46. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-09
47. Luke Gritter Otsego, MI 5 10-05 0
Day 1: 5 10-05
48. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 10-02 0
Day 1: 5 10-02
49. Marty Giddens Cropwell, AL 5 09-08 0
Day 1: 5 09-08
50. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 08-02 0
Day 1: 5 08-02
51. Carl Svebek III Siloam Springs, AR 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 5 08-00
52. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 51 255 684-12
———————————-
51 255 684-12

SPEED AND EFFICIENCY ON DISPLAY AT THE BASSMASTER CLASSIC

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March 16, 2018

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SPEED AND EFFICIENCY ON DISPLAY AT THE BASSMASTER CLASSIC

PLANO PROS HITTING THE WATER AT LAKE HARTWELL

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Greenville, SC (March 16, 2018) – This weekend some of the world’s best professional bass anglers return to Lake Hartwell and Greenville, South Carolina for the Geico Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, March 16th through 18th. Plano – the iconic brand synonymous with tackle-storage efficiency – proudly sponsors a pair of outstanding Bassmaster Elite Series anglers including last year’s Bassmaster Classic champ Jordan Lee and four-time Classic winner, Kevin VanDam.

VanDam’s legacy in the bass fishing world is full of accolades, including being named the Elite Series Angler of the Year an incredible seven times. This year’s Classic marks KVD’s 27th shot at the title and he put the magnitude of the event in perspective earlier this week. “It’s the Super Bowl for us. It’s everything you work for all year long… to be there. We put as much game-planning into this – to win it – as anything we do. It’s by far the biggest event in the bass fishing world.”

Lake Hartwell is a 56,000-acre Savanah River impoundment. It’s the kind of water bass anglers dream of and it’s also a darn nice place to live if you’re a bass, too. The lake features abundant structure throughout the plentiful bays, coves, points, creek channels and islands. From shallow flats with a myriad of different cover types to steep rocky ledges, this vast body of water provides a perfect setting for the biggest showdown in professional fishing.

One of the elder statesmen on the tournament trail, Kevin VanDam is the angling pride of Michigan, but has wide-ranging experience throughout the country that serves him well, regardless of where he competes. His versatility as an angler always sets the bar high for his fellow competitors, year after year.

“The Bassmaster Classic is definitely the epitome of living your dream. There are guys who have qualified through the Federation and the opens or through college to get to the biggest event in the sport. This is my 27th Classic and it’s still a privilege to be here,” VanDam explains. “And you kinda have to pinch yourself every day… man I get to make a living fishing. I love my job.”

Jordan Lee hails from the heart of Alabama’s prolific bass country, just up the road from the hallowed waters of Lake Guntersville. This year marks his fourth time competing in the Classic. Lee proved to fishing mortals everywhere that even a young angler can win the biggest tournament of them all when he bested the rest of the field at last year’s Bassmaster Classic at Lake Conroe with a three-day total weight of 56-10.

When somebody reminded Lee that he was like a rock star in bass country, he said, “I know. It’s crazy. We don’t do much, we just catch bass”. Maybe so, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anglers that catch bass better.

The fan-favorite Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods will again be held in the 250,000-square-foot TD Convention Center in Greenville, South Carolina. The Expo gets better every year and regularly draws 100 thousand attendees or more. The Plano booth will be full of action with daily pro-staff seminars and giveaways, a training center for the often imitated; never duplicated, Plano StowAway utility boxes, as well as a host of different promotions and giveaways including Spin the Wheel and Minnow Races.

The tournament startred Friday at 8am ET. Take off will be at Eastern Green Pond Landing and Event Center in Anderson, SC. Weigh-ins are scheduled to begin about 4:30pm ET Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will occur at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in downtown Greenville. The Bassmaster Classic will be televised on ESPN2 and streamed live at B.A.S.S. Live Streaming.

Plano wishes their dynamic duo the best of luck this season and a safe and exciting weekend to all the competitors and fans!

Wisconsin rod-builders introduce pro-inspired Mojo Bass Power Shake for plus-size shaky-heads

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March 16, 2018

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Mojo Working at Bassmaster Classic

Wisconsin rod-builders introduce pro-inspired Mojo Bass Power Shake for plus-size shaky-heads

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Park Falls, WI (March 16, 2018) – In 1957, Mississippi bluesman Muddy Waters popularized Preston “Red” Foster’s “Got My Mojo Working” — a tune that eventually found its way onto the set lists of Elvis Presley, B.B. King, The Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton, Widespread Panic, and countless others. In 2004, Muddy Waters’ rendition was canonized in Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Five years later, in 2009, St. Croix Rod introduced the Mojo Bass rod series, which, like the song, achieved instant notoriety. Similar to the influence Muddy Waters’ raw rumble had on popular culture, St. Croix’s Mojo Bass brought authenticity, artistry, high performance, and high value to bass anglers of all walks.

Almost 10 years later, Mojo Bass now comprises 27 technique-specific bass rods with talisman-like qualities for putting fish in the boat. Now meet the newest Mojo Bass member, the Power Shake rod (MJS73MHF), a magic wand built around 28-year-old BASS Elite pro Jesse Wiggins’ unique plus-size shaky-head technique.

“When I throw shaky-head jigs, I shake ‘em a lot,” says Wiggins. “Some guys will use a baitcasting rod when they go with a bigger bait, but I can still shake ‘em a lot easier with a spinning rod, whether I’m fishing in three feet or 25 feet. When I’m on a lake like Guntersville or Pickwick, I’m fishing ¼- to ½-ounce shaky-heads with five-, six-, seven-, or eight-inch worms, often with bulky bodies, so you really need a longer and more powerful heavy-power rod to set the hook.”

But Wiggins wasn’t happy with off-the-rack rods. “I was looking for the perfect combination of power, sensitivity, length, and something that I could fish comfortably all day, not a 2 X 4. So, I got together with St. Croix — it was a no-brainer.”

Much like tales of engineering marvels hatched on barroom napkins, the seed for the Mojo Bass Power Shake was planted when Wiggins met Jason Brunner, Director of Engineering, St. Croix Rod, at ICAST 2017.

“Whenever you’re building a rod to pro specs, one of the difficulties can be getting the angler and engineers speaking the same language,” says Brunner. “But Jesse was articulate and specific about what he wanted — in the simplest terms, a spinning rod with a combination of medium-power butt section and medium-heavy tip section in the 7’ 3” length. I knew it would be a challenging blank to create, but our team is always up for a challenge. Honestly, the biggest hurdle was convincing Jesse not to settle with any of our prototypes until it was exactly the rod he imagined. It took five generations, but we nailed it.”

Since soaking that first shaky-head jig with the finalized Mojo Bass Power Shake MJS73MHF, the normally game-faced Wiggins has been all smiles — not only with the rod’s performance—but also product positioning.

“I’ve always liked the Mojo Bass line. They’re rods for the everyday angler. I see them everywhere; everybody’s fishing them because they’re great rods. So, it was an obvious choice to make my rod Mojo Bass. I’m using this rod every day, and I want every bass angler out there to be able to do the same. I really like that St. Croix’s Mojo Bass lets an angler build an arsenal of technique-specific casting, spinning, and glass casting rods on a realistic budget.”

So how does the Mojo Bass Power Shake fish?

“It’s great for making super long casts. Even when fishing deep, I can feel the bait, bottom, and bites really well — and I can pick up a lot of slack right quick. Same goes for when you’re fishing a place like the Tennessee River and current gets your line really moving. You’ve got heavier power, plenty of backbone, great hook-setting, and the fast action allows for accurate casts, too,” says Wiggins.

Following a complete redesign in 2016, technique-specific Mojo Bass rods now feature advanced SCIII graphite and IPC® mandrel technology for stunning performance at an unbelievable value. The MJS73MHF features the same winning proprietary St. Croix technologies found in other Mojo Bass models, including premium, high-modulus SCIII graphite, Kigan Master Hand 3D guides with slim, strong aluminum-oxide rings and black frames, Fuji® DPS reel seat with black hood, split-grip/premium-grade cork handle, Kigan hook-keeper, and two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish.

All Mojo Bass rods boast a 5-year warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service. Retails at $140.

Mojo Bass Power Shake (MJS73MHF) Features:

Integrated Poly Curve® (IPC®) mandrel technology
Premium, high-modulus SCIII graphite
Kigan Master Hand 3D guides with slim, strong aluminum-oxide rings and black frames
Fuji® DPS reel seat with black hood
Split-grip/premium-grade cork handle
Kigan hook-keeper
Two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish
5-year warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service
Designed in Park Falls, WI and handcrafted in Fresnillo, Mexico

#stcroixrods

How To Fish A Small Crankbait For Early Spring Bass

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March 16, 2018

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How To Fish A Small Crankbait For Early Spring Bass

Tying on a small crankbait for a youngster or beginner angler is a good way to keep them preoccupied catching plenty of bass. But that same small crankbait can also work for you when conditions are tough in late winter and early spring.

Crankbaits in the 1/4-ounce size or smaller produce plenty of keeper size bass in the spring, but I have also caught quality bass on the small lures, such as a 6-pounder I caught in March that was the big bass of a club tournament I fished at Lake of the Ozarks. The small lure will trick bass anytime during late winter and early spring, but it is especially effective when bass start receiving heavy fishing pressure from spring tournaments.

Small Crankbait Versatility

The versatility of these smaller crankbaits allows you to catch bass in a wide array of conditions for various waterways. The wide depth range of these small crankbaits lets you run the lures less than 1 foot deep without it turning sideways or getting stuck on the bottom. The lures also can run down to 6 feet deep to bang into the rocks where bass hold in late winter and early spring.

When crawfish start getting active early in spring, select small crankbaits in crawfish colors such as dark red with an orange bell and run the lures along chunk rock banks. A fire tiger hue works best when cranking downsized baits in stained to muddy water.

Small Crankbait Retrieves

Water conditions dictate the type of retrieve you should use for downsized crankbaits. When the water is murky and cool in the late winter/early spring, try a slow to medium retrieve. If the bite is tough, bring the lure out to a 4- or 5-foot depth and just give it a break in the retrieve. When you stop the lure, the buoyancy of the crankbait will cause the lure to back up into the face of any bass following it. The muddier the water is, bass seem to attack that fire tiger color better as the crankbait starts rising.

A steady retrieve with an occasional twitch of the rod tip works best for running downsized crankbaits in clear water.

Smaller crankbaits can be tougher to cast—especially into the wind—but I still prefer to throw these lures on baitcasting tackle. I use a 7-foot casting rod with a light-action tip and a baitcast reel spooled with 8- or 10-pound test monofilament.

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Oklahoma Anglers Lead The Way After Bassmaster Classic’s First Round On Lake Hartwell

SPEED AND EFFICIENCY ON DISPLAY AT THE BASSMASTER CLASSIC

Wisconsin rod-builders introduce pro-inspired Mojo Bass Power Shake for plus-size shaky-heads

How To Fish A Small Crankbait For Early Spring Bass

How To Fish A Small Crankbait For Early Spring Bass

Small Crankbait Versatility

Small Crankbait Retrieves

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