Auburn University student Matt Lee was in class just days ago. More recently he's been sizing up Grand Lake O' the Cherokees and most importantly, the competition he'll face in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. Though he admitted to being more nervous than he's ever been before a tournament, he played a cool character at registration. Here's Matt Lee's version of registration for the Bassmaster Classic.
Lee chats it up with John Crews before registration gets underway. From his demeanor, you'd never know that he was feeling more pressure than he's ever felt in his short career.
Every angler was willing to offer Lee advice. Here Bobby Lane discusses Grand Lake with Lee. Though he was outwardly collected, Lee admitted to being a ball of nerves.
The heavy hitters of Team Tundra - Terry Scroggins, Kevin VanDam and Gerald Swindle - ambush Lee in a good-spirited ribbing about hole jumping, his height and the pressure that Lee knows he faces. Every angler Lee has come across has treated him with the same respect they'd like to see. It's the camaraderie that Lee has enjoyed the most thus far. "The coolest thing yet was going to eat Mexican food with Jason Quinn and Greg Hackney. They're two of the best guys on tour, and no one can tell a story like Greg," Lee says. "They're awesome; everyone's been great."
Lee checks in with B.A.S.S. staffer Danette Jackson. "Just a year ago, I was hunting these guys down for their autographs, and now I'm telling them I'm going to finish one place ahead of them! Walking in here [to registration] scares the heck outta me, but I'm just trying to play it cool," he says.
"Let me get next to KVD!" Lee said to Kevin VanDam. "How do I be like you? I want to know!" he said half jokingly. "I'll tell you what, you've just got to go out there and enjoy the heck out of it," VanDam says. "It's the Bassmaster Classic, and qualifying is a big deal. You won't ever fish another tournament like the Classic."
Lee shuffles through the line and gathers goodies that sponsors provide. "I'm really trying to brush the pressure off and go with the flow," he says. "I've just got to fish how I know. The Classic is so special that I thought that I had to find a perfect kind of fishing spot to win the Classic, but I've realized that I'm much better off doing what I know how to do best."
"I'll sign next to the Angler of the Year," Lee says as he autographs photo frames next to Brent Chapman. "So far, this experience has been so great that I'm already planning on how to get back. I've got the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Opens next year along with another season of Carhartt College B.A.S.S. Series, and now that I'm here I know it'll change how I fish the Opens. Rather than fish for money and a good finish, I'm gunning to win."
Will this be his in five short days? Time will tell. Lee acknowledges that fishing at this level is mostly a mental game. "When you're speculating what weight daily bags you need to have to do well, then KVD comes along and says that your ideal guess had better be your worst day, that can get to you," he says. "But I'm trying my best not to get worked up about the weight of the situation."
Here Matt Lee listens to tournament director Trip Weldon talk about the rules, but is still at ease enough to flash a glance at the camera. "My best case scenario is having two good days then going into the final day in the Top 8," he says. "You don't want to be leading, because the pressure would be immense, but you want to be in a position to win. Worst case is catching 12 pounds a day and not making any sort of challenge. War Eagle!"
