It’s hard to quantify who has the most desire to win this derby, the guy who has made 10 Classics (Ish Monroe) or the guy who has made three (Jacob Powroznik).
Making the GEICO Bassmaster Classic is certainly one of the top goals for every Elite angler. There’s a lot that comes with fishing the Super Bowl of bass fishing– the prestige, a minimum of a $10,000 check, and sponsor incentives.
Both of today’s finalists have been Classic-making-machines. Ish Monroe made two Classics before becoming one of the original Elites, and eight Classic since then. His first was in 2003, then 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2017 in Houston.
Jacob Powroznik joined the Elite Series in 2014 and has made the Classic every year since then, in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Last night he told us he probably wouldn’t sleep much.
So which guy wants it more? I have no idea. But it’s clear both want it bad.