I had a special bond with Lake St. Clair prior to the final regular-season event of the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series, but now that relationship has grown even tighter. For the second time now, I can thank this lake for sending me to the GEICO Bassmaster Classic in my home state.
I’ve told this story before, but St. Clair was where I won the Bassmaster Open event that sent me to my first Classic – the 2013 event on Grand Lake. It’s kind of nostalgic that my seventh-place finish at last week’s Plano Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair ensured me a place in the Classic field when it returns to Grand in 2016.
I have to say that this was the tremendous relief and emotional boost I’ve needed. This has been a stressful season – mostly in a good way, because my goal was always to get to the Classic.
Before St. Clair, I had two other Top 12 finishes, but I was never a lock for the Classic. Because of that, I always fell back to the conservative mindset. I tried to fish safe and make sure I didn’t do anything stupid and ruin my chances of qualifying.
It’s one of those things that wear on you.
Now, with my St. Clair finish locking me in for the Classic, it’s like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders. My wife even said I’m in a better mood.
Looking back on the tournament, I can see that my progression in the standings had a definite change in my perspective and the way I fished. When the tournament started, I knew I was on the Classic bubble. I was in, but a bad finish on St. Clair could’ve changed that.
For the first two days, I fished conservatively. I stayed in St. Clair and fished a spot in 17 feet of water that I had found in practice. The spot didn’t have a lot of big ones, but I caught a good number of 3 1/2- to 4-pounders on a dropshot with a YUM Warning Shot in the Morning Dawn and Ox Blood colors.
I never found any areas in practice where I thought I could win, but I felt comfortable that I could do well here without risking my Classic objective.
That was a good call and after placing 31st on the second day, I did some figuring and knew that I was in good shape for my Classic qualification. So I decided it was time to fish more aggressively.
On Day 3, right off the bat, I caught a 3 1/2-pounder. When I caught that fish, I told my marshal, “I’m done with this place. These fish aren’t going to help me.”
I just went fishing in the middle of the lake and found a really good 2-acre area in 19 feet of water. There weren’t any giants there, but for the rest of the tournament, I had the place all to myself.
On Day 3, I caught 75-100 fish and 40-50 on Sunday. It was just a fun time fishing.
I told my Marshal at the end of Day 3, “I probably don’t have enough to win, but I’d like to make the Top 12.”
When I weighed in, I took the 12th-place spot but there were several guys behind me. You start thinking that you probably won’t make the cut, but I stayed in 12th and made it to the final day.
That was just a rewarding feeling. And to go fishing knowing you’re guaranteed a spot in the Classic makes for an enjoyable day.
On that final day, I was so comfortable I sat down and had a lunch break. That’s first time I’ve ever done that all season.
For one, it had been a long week. The water was rough in practice and I was physically tired. So I took a little break and ate an apple, a granola bar, a Payday candy bar – I ate everything I could find in my boat.
I may have even eaten a few of those Warning Shots.
That was one of the most enjoyable days of tournament fishing I’ve had in a long time. But now, I have to focus on the Toyota Angler of the Year Championship coming up mid-month on Sturgeon Bay.
I think that one’s just going to be a fun smallmouth trip. It’s numerically impossible for me to win AOY, but I can’t fall out of the Classic field. That means I can just fish loose, fish to win and try to finish as high as I can in the AOY points.
And after that – deer season.
I ordered a new bow during my drive home from St. Clair.