Check out this photo of the Classic take-off ramp covered in snow this morning. Hopefully, it won’t look like that on February 24. I had enough cold and snow at last year’s Classic in Oklahoma to last me for a while.
You guys who live in real snow country can go ahead and laugh — loud and hard. I know this is not your definition of snow. Nevertheless, it looks like snow to me.
I also want to extend my sympathies to Cliff Pace, his family and his sponsors. A freak accident resulting in a broken leg is the sort of thing that could happen to any of us. As a former Classic champ, I understand his emotions. Other than winning the event, there’s nothing exactly like launching your boat that first morning as last year’s Classic champion. He’ll miss that, and it has to hurt.
It sounds like it was a bad break. We’re all hoping for a full recovery, and we’re all hoping that he’ll be back on the water competing as soon as possible. No one needs, or deserves, that sort of thing. It’s a tough deal, all the way around.
As for B.A.S.S., they did the right thing. Nothing else needs to be said.
I also want to congratulate Van Soles on his win at Toho. It’s good to see a Lakeland Bassmasters member on his way to a Classic. Well done, Van!
On another subject, it looks like I have an early number for the Classic launch. I’ve been asked if that’s a good thing. You know, does your launch position really matter? The honest answer to that is that we’ll have to wait and see. I’ll let you know after the final weigh-in.
Here’s the thing — it might help if you have one sweet spot that you want to hit early and quick. So, in that sense, it could matter. But, whatever good it does you on the first day is wiped out the second day. In the end, it’s all about catching the fish, and to do that you have to adapt to changing pressure and changing conditions. There’s no magic formula.
Another thing I want to mention is the weather. We’ve had two or three really nasty cold snaps here in January. That’s not what I would call a good thing but I don’t think they’ll make any difference in the fishing during the Classic. The fish here are used to changing weather and temperatures in January and February.
Today is an excellent example of what I’m talking about. It’s really cold and snowy but by this weekend it’s supposed to be around 60 degrees. The bass are just like us. They learn to live with it even though they may not like it.
Other than what I’ve just said, there isn’t much going on right now. It’s a waiting game until we start the Classic. I am spending some time putting together my tackle and making sure everything is the way it needs to be for the big event. Preparation is the key to success.
Next week we’ll talk about the mental side of fishing a GEICO Bassmaster Classic.
Chris Lane’s column appears weekly on Bassmaster.com. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook or visit his website, www.chrislanefishing.com.