You can see some stories coming from a mile away. The stage is set and the drama is already in place; only the waiting remains. Here are a full baker's dozen of those stories, just waiting to play out — one way or another — in 2013. We'll be watching. What about you?
13. Matt Lee
He defeated his brother in the College B.A.S.S. Bassmaster Classic bracket to earn his place in fishing's greatest tournament. Now all he has to do to make his mark is win. Lee probably has the chops to take home the hardware — almost all of the competitors do — but the odds are heavily against him since he's never fished a tournament anything like this big before. Can the Auburn alum do it? The bass fishing world will be watching.
12. B.J. Haseotes
After qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series on the strength of his 2009 Bassmaster Opens performance, Haseotes fished just one year before taking a hardship exemption. His daughter, Evi, was born with overwhelming health issues and passed away early in 2012. He's back this year and hoping to make a name for himself as a B.A.S.S. pro.
11. Byron Velvick
Major neck surgery has kept Byron Velvick competing the last couple of years, but the same surgery has served up its challenges, too. The former star of "The Bachelor" has found the road back to be painful — literally — and it's taking a toll on his fishing. Velvick was making great strides in his career, including back-to-back Classic qualifications in 2009 and 2010, but he missed every Elite cut in 2012. Can he return to form this year?
10. Brandon Palaniuk
To paraphrase Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "And when he was good, he was very, very good/But when he was bad, he was horrid." That describes Palaniuk's 2012 Elite season to perfection. He was either very, very good (like his win on Bull Shoals or his second place finish on Lake Michigan) or he was horrid (three finishes of 67th or worse). Will the real Brandon Palaniuk please stand up?
9. Boyd Duckett
After winning his debut Bassmaster Classic in 2007 and qualifying for the next four with relative ease, Duckett slipped and missed the big dance in 2012. He would have missed again this year but for some late season heroics, winning the final Elite event of 2012. He recently sold his lucrative tank leasing business to focus on fishing and his business interests there. Now he oversees his own tournament and television effort (Major League Fishing) and a tackle company (Duckett Fishing). With so many distractions, can he keep his own tournament efforts on track?
8. Kevin VanDam
No one but KVD can finish seventh in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race and call it a "bad" year, but that's just how it is after winning four consecutive AOY titles. VanDam would love to make a run at Roland Martin's nine AOYs (he's two behind), and if he wins this year he'll become the oldest AOY in history at nearly 46. Just how much gas is left in a tank that seems to burn only the highest grade jet fuel?
7. Michael Iaconelli
Iaconelli last won a tournament in 2006, last made a serious run at AOY in 2009 and last made an Elite top 12 cut in 2011. If he were Austin Powers, he'd be looking for his missing mojo right about now. On the other hand, since his AOY season of 2006, he's gotten remarried, had a couple of kids, hosted some great television fishing shows and started Bass University. He's living the good life, but has he lost the edge that makes him Ike?
6. Brandon Card
Card made the first cut in all five Elite events his rookie season and was poised to make a run at AOY. Then the wheels came off. He missed the cut in his final three events, though he was able to hang onto the Rookie of the Year title. Will the ROY curse claim another victim or can Card bounce back with a strong 2013?
5. Brent Chapman
Something clicked for Chapman in 2012 and he had the season of a lifetime, winning a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open, an Elite event and the Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. Maybe it was getting his Classic qualification out of the way early with the Open win. Maybe it was not having to fish for a check. Maybe it was something else. Whatever it was, fans will be watching closely this year to see if his run continues.
4. The Elite rookies
Nine anglers hit the Elite Series this year as rookies, and they're an impressive group. One (Kevin Hawk, pictured here) has already won an FLW championship. Another (Jason Christie) won two Opens last year. A third (Clifford Pirch) has won two U.S. Opens. And the others (Josh Bertrand, Hank Cherry, Jason Elam, Kelley Jaye, Chad Pipkens and Chip Porche) are all extremely talented. This rookie class should be as strong as the 2011 group that sent four qualifiers to the Bassmaster Classic.
3. Jason Christie
He won two Bassmaster Opens in 2012 and will be fishing his first Bassmaster Classic in February. He's on everyone's short list of Classic contenders because he lives near Grand Lake and has done very well there over the years, but Classic rookies are notoriously unpredictable and local favorites almost always bomb. Christie will grab a lot of the spotlight in the world championship and in his rookie season on the Elite Series.
2. Falcon Lake
Falcon broke all the records in 2008, starting with Paul Elias' 132 pounds, 8 ounces over four days with a five bass limit. The Elite Series is going back this year, and everyone will be watching to see what Falcon can do as an encore? Is Elias' record in jeopardy? How many anglers will break the century mark? Is Falcon really the best bass lake in the world? We'll find out in March.
1. Ott DeFoe
DeFoe followed up his Rookie of the Year season with a second place in the Angler of the Year race — the first ROY in Elite history to move up rather than down in his sophomore year. If he moves up one more place, that would make him AOY in 2013. No one doubts his skills at this point, but will he make the jump this year? Inquiring minds want to know.
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