This year’s BASSfest should be interesting. It’ll be some of the toughest fishing we’ve seen in years, but on the positive side, it’ll also be one of the best times we’ve had in years. If you stop and think about it, that’s not a bad combination.
I hadn’t seen Lake Texoma in forever. Well, I’ll tell you when it was. It was back when George Cochran won the 1993-1994 Oklahoma Invitational. That’s over 20 years. I decided I should at least look at it before we fished it so I drove around it before the Toledo Bend tournament. It wasn’t pretty.
If I remember right, they said it was up about 8 feet over normal pool. And, it was muddy — real red — and nasty looking. The Red River lived up to its name this year. That’s going to cause it to fish even smaller than normal. It may be 75,000 acres at normal pool, but a lot of it is just plain, ordinary banks and long stretches with no cover at all. The bass are always concentrated.
No matter about all that, however, some of the guys will catch them. They always do. In fact, I’m guessing there’ll be a lot of bass caught. Somebody will win, too. I guarantee it!
The weigh-in should be nice. I’m told it’s in town. I like weigh-ins, always have. There’s a sense of excitement about them. Only a few people behind the scenes know who’s got what in their livewell so the fans show genuine excitement when their favorite angler is on stage.
Beyond the actual fishing there’ll be all kinds of stuff for the fans to see and do. If you’re going to attend, I suggest you check the schedule of events so you don’t miss anything.
One of the things that I think is really good is the seminar program. It starts on Saturday morning and features seminars and informational presentations put on by the anglers as well as the B.A.S.S. people.
The reason I think this is so good is because it’ll give our fans a chance to get information from guys who know what they’re talking about. If you have a technique or a subject that you’d like more information about, this is the place to start. Somebody will know what you’re talking about and be able to point you in the right direction.
When you’re not at the seminars you might want to wander around the place. Most of the major manufacturers will have a booth there. And, there’s a lot of free stuff being given away. That might sound a little crass but, hey, free is good.
BASSFest is more than a fishing tournament. It’s an event. If there’s a way for you to take advantage of it, you should. Let’s tell it like it is: The tough fishing doesn’t bother you if you’re a fan.
One last thing: I’ve had several people inquire about my health. Thanks to the Lord and good doctors I can report that everything is just fine. Thank you for asking.