SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. — On Friday, Classic rookie and B.A.S.S. Federation Nation qualifier Josh Polfer of Nampa, Idaho, appeared to be calm, waiting in his boat in the staging area outside the CenturyLink Center. He was methodically clearing the deck of tackle and clutter to be ready for his first trip into the Bassmaster Classic arena.
A reporter requested an interview. He sat down and fielded the questions like a pro.
“I have around 12 pounds,” he guessed before weigh-in. “Obviously you can’t win this the first day, but you can lose it. All I can ask for is to be in the hunt.”
He was hoping for less wind on Saturday. And he’s hoping a trolling motor fix will ensure he doesn’t lose fishing time again.
Polfer said he caught about 25 fish on Friday, all on two spinning rods rigged with two different lures. That’s all he had on his deck all day, he said, and perhaps two will be all he’ll break out for Saturday.
Polfer ended Day 1 riding the cutline to advance to Sunday’s finale: He was tied at 11-3 with Stephen Browning for 25th place. Of the six Federation Nation qualifiers, only Jamie Horton of Centreville, Ala., outfished Polfer on Friday. Horton, the 2011 B.A.S.S. Federation Nation champ who is fishing his second Classic, was in ninth place after the first day.