It’s not the Bassmaster Classic, but this week’s BASSfest on Kentucky Lake has kind of a mini Classic feel. If last year was any indication of what anglers and fans can expect, then I’d say we’re all in for a great time.
For one thing, this is a major connection point for fans of the sport. A lot of fishing tackle manufacturers, as well as companies from outside the industry will be there to show off their products. This is a good opportunity to check out some of the items that can improve your fishing experience.
Fans will also have the opportunity to meet some of their favorite pros and learn from the various seminars that these anglers will present during the off day. I’m looking for a great turnout because we’re going to an area with tons of bass fans, so this should be an exciting event at every level.
On the competition side, the big difference for us anglers is that last year, BASSfest didn’t count for points in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race. We all got the same amount, so it was a shootout with everyone fishing for first place.
Last year felt like the Classic format. You were fishing to win, so if you went for it and came up short, there was nothing to lose – at least in terms of the season-long picture.
But this year is different because BASSfest will count for points. Guys who are up there in the points want to stay there, and guys at the bottom want to turn their season around at this event. So, you’re fishing for points, as well as money.
Personally, I’ve been looking forward to this event for a long time; mostly because of the fishing. Last year’s BASSfest on Lake Chickamauga was a lot of fun, but I think if you ask most bass anglers in the country what they consider to be the country’s best lake for offshore fishing, most would say Kentucky Lake.
What I like about this event is that it’s the midpoint of the season, so you kind of have that second half mentality. I’m focused and committed in every event I fish in a season, but this transitional point just seems to make me push harder to finish strong.
Also, I like that BASSfest starts the season’s offshore swing. I’ve fished shallow for most of the first half of the year, but I’ve put away those flipping sticks and I’ll be concentrating on the deep water bite this week.
This tournament will require a different approach than the others we’ve fished so far. But that’s fresh and exciting. Add to that the enjoyable atmosphere surrounding BASSfest and I’m carrying plenty of motivation into this tournament.
It helps that I feel good about my season heading into the second half. I’ve had a couple of really good tournaments with a couple of Top 12 finishes, and I’ve had a couple of finishes that weren’t so great.
Overall, I’m where I want to be. I’m in the Top 20 for Angler of the Year, and I’ll take that anytime – especially with the Classic coming to Grand Lake in 2016.
It’s been an up-and-down season so far, but the good thing is we have so many events left. The guys in the Top 10 aren’t guaranteed a Classic berth and the guys at the other end of the points still have an opportunity to earn their spot. We’re by no means locked in or locked out.
I think you’ll see a few guys do well at BASSfest by fishing shallow, but Kentucky Lake’s ledges have a national reputation for a reason. I think the majority of good bags will come from offshore.
Even though shallow water flipping is my strength, I feel very comfortable with the offshore fishing. Coming off a second-place finish at a mostly offshore tournament – the Toyota Texas Bass Classic – I feel like I’m bringing the right momentum and focus into BASSfest.
I don’t want to jinx myself, but I’ve had some success on Kentucky Lake in the past, so that makes me feel even better about this week’s event. Whenever you go to a lake where you’ve had some good experience, you’re more relaxed because you know what to expect. You’re familiar with which areas get a lot of pressure and which ones get overlooked.
As far as baits go, the ledge game has grown over the years. I suspect a Bomber Fat Free Shad and a YUM Ribbontail could be productive, but it’s no longer just about a crank and worm. Today’s ledge fishing really lets a guy fish to his strength – whether he wants to drag something or fish moving baits.
Every year, it seems like when we go to a lake like this, something new comes out – either a new bait, or a technique that we’ve forgotten about. It’ll be interesting to see what BASSfest produces.
I think that whatever guys throw, being comfortable with your electronics, trusting what the graph shows you and being able to translate what’s on your screen will be an important part of this event.
Finding fish will be such a big element of Kentucky Lake success that I won’t make a lot of casts in practice. I’ll do a lot of idling and looking. If I find a school, I’ll just mark it and then come back during the tournament and really see what’s there.
The goal is to find something by yourself, but those fish on Kentucky Lake can get into pretty big schools. So, I think you might see a lot of guys fishing together. You’ll also see guys fishing alone. I’ve seen it work out both ways.
Overall, I’m expecting some big bags. Whether they’re on the bank, or in 40 feet of water, these guys are gonna catch ‘em.
