Classic

[Feathers and Fins]

Old poop lol, ok im 43 and not a grandfather yet ( and for my boys lives better not be made one till im 50 ) I was just taught fair play and respect.

If I had one lake outside of the Ozarks it would be THE BIG O!!!! For species, Ive caught Bass, Catfish, Perch, Snook, Tarpon and a Bullshark all in one day on it. Pretty impressive place. But been there done that and I actually prefer the Ozark Lakes over all the others I have fished.

[Goose21]

Couldnt have said it better myself regarding Evers. Good commentary here.

[Champ188]

Agreed in full on Grand ... what a great fishery. Donna and I have been over there 8-10 days in the past 6 weeks. We are fishing BFL there on March 9 and I made a point to learn more about the area between Honey Creek and the dam. We will practice two more days the Thurs-Fri before the derby but I wanted to get the bulk of my looking done before the Classic circus got here. Even though I live less than an hour from there and have fished Grand a lot over the past 10 years, I just have to say wow. That is one healthy, fertile fishery. So much fun to fish. If you are not getting bit, you are for sure doing the WRONG thing because there is ALWAYS a way to catch em on Grand. Bird Watcher, I wish I was like you and lived even closer.

As a newspaper sports and outdoors writer for 15 years before moving into management and giving up all the fun stuff, I was in the press corps for quite a few Bassmaster Classics in the 1980s and 90s. Bill is spot on in saying there has never been one anywhere near like this one. Every year, the on-the-water entourage of idiots grows larger and more disrespectful. I don't care what you think of tournament fishing, these guys are out there trying to carve out a living in a way that few people have the gonads to try. Get the heck out of their way for a couple of days and let them have a fair shot at it. And BASS has just rolled out the red carpet for these numbnuts with Basstraks. Believe this ... BASS doesn't give a popcorn toot about their anglers anymore ... it's ALL about making the fans happy.

Word was the dadgum water patrol had to come out and help move the "fans" back so Jason Christie could fish yesterday. That's just sad.

OK, I'm done railing. Donna and I are going to Beaver to try and find some fish for a derby next weekend. High blue and no wind predicted. Should be a challenge.

[Bill Babler]

Of course everything I thought would happen last night is not happening. KVD is on entirely different water as well as JVD. You don't win 4 Classics by being dumb. I underestimated him big time. "Bet that has been said before." Cherry is pounding the same water he was on yesterday.

Christie and McCelland are on new water and the entire bunch that went up the rivers are in the mid-lake to lower lack section with them and the floatilla.

7:45 Just as I say that KVD moves back over to the exact location he fished all day yesterday. HUMM!! We'll see.

[Feathers and Fins]

Champ i wish I could be on Beaver today it was the Plan but got called into work today so im going tomorrow, There be Walleye needing a steam bath lol. But I bet i catch a bunch of bass tomorrow if the winds not bad ill post pics to make the derby players drool lol.

But no BASS is smart, making the fans happy is what makes them money, that is a sport much like any other where if the fans are not supporting it and happy it wont be there anymore so they have to keep up with the times and keep the fans and members happy. The anglers better learn to deal with it! If nothing it makes them have ot be even better and have a good well thought out game plan.

You know I use to tourney fish and Hate to say it but Ive seen tourney anglers that i wish I had a torpedo on the boat to send their way, fans might get over excited and get to close but ive seen more tourney and derby anglers that are just flat out rude and disrespectful and ( its my living ) is the worse excuse for that behavior in the world. We have had this conversation on here before so i doubt it will change much and will get worse from all parties. But after the last year and some of my run-ins with (money anglers) I will never again give them any ground if im fishing a spot. Those days are over and done with on my part, if im fishing a area and they cut in to it im not backing off and the simpel reason is THEY should have and easily could see a person fishing the area and gave them the respect they scream they want. I wont go in an area someone is working out of respect but no way im giving up an area anymore either.

[Quillback]

I was over at the Classic Expo yesterday with Jeb, they had monitors set up throughout the expo showing the leaderboard and the Trax deal. I mentioned to Jeb that there's going to be people all over those spots where the pros are, and those spots are going to get pounded during the tournament and afterwards.

The Expo was definitely worth visiting, had long conversations with Gary Loomis, Gary Dobyns and a Shimano rep about rods. If you want to look at bass boats, most of the major players are there with all their models. Lots of outboards to look at, quite a few lure manufacturers. Spent about 4 hours there and that was enough, walked away with a bag full of stuff.

[Bill Babler]

Well, for sure you don't want me picking your lottery ticket numbers on a powerball, but if things whould have gone as I thought I would have been pretty close on some guys. Just thought the locals in the derby would catch them a little better.

The jig is the deal early and the guys throwing the stickbait from start to finish struggled abit this morning. Ike is gona be hard to beat. Going by Basstrakk, which was not close on some but right on the money on others. I had Pace with 15 pounds today Cherry and Carter about where I thought with 10 or 12 pounds.

I just knew KVD and JVD were going to struggle, and hind site is 20/20 but I called it. I still thought KVD could get 16 to 18.

Also thought someone would come from middle of the pack today and they have. in Lane and Palaniuk.

Still I do not believe anyone outside of the top 10 after the first day has ever won a Classic. I can stand corrected if there has been one.

Boy the local boys in Biffle, McCellend, Evers, and Christie had to work today. My deal had them lapping the field, but that is why you weigh-em.

We'll see how close the BassTrakk is today. Those guys might have gotten a dose yesterday and not been totally forthright today. Would not blame them.

Evers probably has 20 pounds.

One of the Blogs said lots of people were slinging stickbaits on Cherry's and VanDams junk. "Really."

Looked to me like the crowds were way to close and put to much prussure on the water on a very hard day. Got to feel all that boat traffic and wakes did not help on little iota.

[Feathers and Fins]

we talked about that, and knew there would be a lot of people throwing baits where the pro's were, see it on beaver at the FLW. What has shocked me is it seems no one has gone in Duck Creek. Either its the dead zone or the Hybrids are in there thick and they are waisting time on them, ive seen that happen on Grand a few times.

Local guys Curse no other words for that.

[Bill Babler]

Yesterday it took 45 minutes to get this deal started. Why would you make those guys sit there with their fish for that length of time. Today is going the same way. Why in the world would you not start all the prelims at 3;30 or 4 oclock and be ready as soon as the fisherman get there. Just boggles my mind.

Really so much BS that it totally ruins it for me.

Weigh the Friggin Fish.

[Feathers and Fins]

Agreed, Im just curious if all the delay is for tape for the rebroadcast on ESPN later. seems like they are killing a ton of time for no reason.