bassmaster classic

Dock Talk: Classic edition

Classic practice is broken up across multiple days. How do the pros manage the limited time?

Posted on
Photography by
Andy Crawford
Captions by
Craig Lamb
Welcome to Dock Talk, the Bassmaster Classic Edition, where we are at Wolf Creek Park in Grove, Okla., on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. Photo: Craig Lamb
The Wednesday official practice day is more like a walk-through for the anglers and B.A.S.S. staff. Everything gets fine-tuned for the official start on Friday of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey. Photo: Craig Lamb
Sunday was the final day of what is unofficially called a practice period. Monday was an off day, with the Classic pros checking into the hotel headquarters in Tulsa. Tuesday was reserved for video interviews, registration and the angler meeting. Thursday will be Media Day as in no fishing. 
That begs the question. How do the pros treat the on/off/on again time on the water, especially on Wednesday? And what did they find out? Like they say on a news channel. We report. You decide. 
Hank Cherry
“I’m paying attention to where the fish are moving while not catching anything that would matter. But I still try to catch some males in different places to see how far they are coming along. The object is to be ready Friday in knowing where they are going and go from there.”
“There are so many species of fish out in the lake: carp, catfish, white bass, crappie. I don’t know how the guys fishing out on the lake will be able to stay out there for three days and sort through all that.”
“I tell people fishing the Classic is like playing in the MLB Home Run Derby. When it’s your time you try to hit it out of the park. Nobody cares who finished second or third.”
Justin Barnes 
“Today I went out looking for new water. I didn’t want to catch fish I’ve already found.”
“The lake changes every day before Friday. What you found then could be a bust by then.”
“It’s more about thinking about where the fish are going, not where they are on any given day during the practice period.”
Cody Huff
“It’s going to be different because of springtime. Everything is changing.”
“Wednesday was about going to find a new bite; a new pattern and I tried several new things today because I had the time. I also tested a few of my areas.”
“I use Classic practice to get a general feel, an idea, of what and where the fish might be on Friday and go from there.”
John Cox
“I got out there today and there but we only have an eight-hour day on the Wednesday practice.”
“I got something going, tried to expand on it and finally got my second bite about 30 minutes ago.”
“Classic practice is like that, but you can rebound on Friday when it matters most.” 
Will Davis
“The way I normally approach a practice is start at the creek mouths and go in to find where the bass are on the prespawn migration.”
“This week was different. You might find something good and then it changes the next day, and then we have an off day.” 
“It is the Classic though and that’s part of it. You are given a lot of challenges and try to make the most of the opportunities.” 
Cory Johnston
“It’s tricky because with this week we’ve had drastic temperature changes between nights and days.”
“This week is different with that practice schedule. You don’t depend on what you found and instead just fish instincts and what they are telling you.” 
“It really is a guessing game. You’ve got to keep an open mind and let the fish tell you what to do, and not go into Friday with a preconceived game plan you think will be solid.”
Patrick Walters
“It’s springtime, March and what I do is find a general area. The fish are in transition and on the move, and you’re not going to be doing the same thing twice.”
“I go back to that area during the tournament and break it down. You might be catching prespawners on crankbaits in creeks, and by the tournament catching them on docks skipping jigs.”
“In springtime, and with a practice broken up and extended like this, you’ve got to start big and then drill down on the winning areas.” 
Joey Nania
“I felt good about my first day and then we had the days off. Today I did not fish anything I practiced last week. I didn’t want to get it in my head that might work. I had a decent day.”
“The time management of the Classic is a different ballgame. We can let the fish rest. We hit them hard and then let them rest. Now we let them rest again, and think everyone was out there shaking off fish, just checking things.”
“I try and keep an open mind during Classic practice, not get overly confident in an area until I can prove it might work on Friday.” 
Matt Arey
“When practice gets extended and broken up in the spring the biggest factor is trying to figure out where the fish are headed.”
“You are trying to stay ahead of them and get new ideas on where they are going, how to catch them”
“And which sections are going to go off first, offer up the best quality of fish you need to win the Classic.”
Carl Jocumsen
“We are fortunate that fishing conditions are more consistent, but it is the time of year when the fish are wanting to change, to move shallow and spawn.”
“It’s one of the challenges of Classic week. What you found five days ago can be long gone by Friday.”
“Wednesday is a last chance to fine-tune what you’ve found or search for new water.” 
Greg Hackney
“The biggest thing is to never get locked into anything.”
“You just use the practice days in the Classic to get you started in the right direction. You can’t lock into a bite like you would in a regular event.”
“It’s a changing time of the year. Change means keeping up with it and thinking ahead of where the fish will be when the game begins.” 
Jeff Gustafson
“It’s really a guessing game up until Friday when it’s game time. You can get tuned up on general patterns and areas, but when the game starts you try to fish the conditions then.  
“My plan is to strategize in my mind what parts of the lake will be in play on Friday. And then let the fish tell me what to do.”
“You can plan ahead and develop multiple patterns in any other tournament except the Classic in spring. The bass are on the move and your mind needs to keep up with them.” 

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