It’s been almost two months since Hank Cherry was showered with confetti following his wire-to-wire win in the 2020 Bassmaster Classic. Anyone who follows professional bass fishing knows that hoisting the giant trophy will change any angler’s life forever.
But no one could have expected how Cherry’s life — and the lives of millions of other Americans — would change in the month following his triumph in Birmingham.
Sure, there have been plenty of media and sponsor obligations to attend to, which Cherry has done cheerfully. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of “Bassmaster Classic Champion” has been largely laid aside as Cherry has taken on the role of homeschool teacher, chef and other now-essential functions in much the same way millions of others across the country have done.
While he’s waiting for the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series to resume, Cherry took the time to talk with Abu Garcia about life in the era of coronavirus and to share some insights into some key gear selections that propelled him to a Classic win.
AG: First things first, how’s the arm you injured during the Classic?
HC: I went to the doctor and was told there was nothing structurally wrong with it. I got two injections to help with the inflammation. It’s still sore; I’m wearing a brace on it to relieve some of the pressure. I’ve been doing some light rehab work on it, some stretching, and icing it at night. I’m going to have an MRI done on it after this virus thing is over. Hospitals aren’t really the place to be right now if you don’t have to be there.
AG: Aside from staying home to help flatten the curve, what have you been up to since the Classic ended?
HC: The month or so since the Classic ended has been largely spent on the telephone: interview, podcast, interview, podcast — at least two a day, every day. It’s great to talk to people, but I wish we were fishing tournaments. The big part of what people have warned me about, the demands on your time and things like that, will happen once we get back on the road.
AG: Let’s talk our favorite social-distancing activity: fishing. It’s been a month or so, could you remind us what your four primary baits were during the Classic?
HC: Jig, jerkbait, crankbait and a bladed jig.
AG: What was your preferred set up for crankbaits?
HC: I used a 7-foot medium (Abu Garcia) Veracity rod and a Revo STX 6.6:1 spooled with 12-pound-test Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon. I like my squarebill rods a little heavier than most people. The reel is ultra-reliable and has the perfect speed for cranking rocks with the type of bait I was throwing. I made long casts down the rocks to get the bait as deep as possible. I beefed up with the hooks with some No. 3 Fusion19 medium-shank extra-wide gap treble hooks that helped a little with extra weight. The idea was to hit the rocks jetting out of the causeway in 8 to 9 feet of water.
AG: You had quite a bit of success with a bladed jig. What was that setup like?
HC: I used a 7-foot, 4-inch medium-heavy, moderate fast Abu Garcia Veracity rod and a Revo STX 7.3:1 reel with 20-pound-test Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon. I wasn’t sure if this would be the right rod at first, but I was very happy with the action when fish would bite and the rod would load up. It’s very sensitive, but also very powerful at the same time. The reel can take up line fast if a fish hits it at the end of a cast. It’s also super smooth if you’re trying to throw around targets. The trick with this was to hit the grass but keep the bait clean.
AG: What made the difference on the jerkbait bite?
HC: I was using a 6-foot, 10-inch medium-light Veracity with a Revo STX reel (6.6:1) spooled with 15-pound-test Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon. This is the best rod for a jerkbait. Being it’s a medium-light, it kind of acts like a moderate action, which is what you really want with a jerkbait. It has a good tip for sensitivity and plenty of back section to get the fish to the boat. The 7.3:1 picks up line perfectly for my style of jerkbait fishing. Not to mention it casts very easily and holds up to all the conditions. Once I pair this rod and reel together, a jerkbait is all that gets tied on them. The idea was to fool suspended bass that were targeting schools of gizzard shad in the causeway.
AG: We saw you had a modern classic Abu Garcia rod on the front deck with a jig tied on.
HC: That was a 7-foot, 6-inch Fantasista Regista heavy with an 8.1:1 EXD reel. I spooled 20-pound-test Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon on the reel. This is my go-to for jig fishing. The rod isn’t being made anymore, but it’s one of my favorites. It has a great action for skipping with the EXD reel, which is super smooth—plus it has the power to get the fish out and away from hazards. I paired the jig with a PowerBait MaxScent Chunk because the fish would bite it and wouldn’t let it go. The idea with this setup was to catch fish staging around shallow dock poles and floats.
AG: Like so many other American families right now, everyone in your family is home every day. What has sheltering in place been like in the Cherry home?
HC: My wife is working so I’m getting to spend a lot of time with the kids during the day. Things have been about as normal as they can be, I guess. Both kids do their schoolwork every day and have Zoom meetings with their class once a week. I’m having to redo things I haven’t done in forever, like fractions, history, all that. But it’s been really neat to sit back and watch them work and learn new things. They are so much more advanced than I was at their age. They can definitely do things I couldn’t do.
AG: How are your children handling social distancing?
HC: We keep them as busy and occupied as we can. They aren’t quite old enough to understand everything that’s going on right now. But the kids have become a lot closer in the last month. It’s been pretty neat to watch. The usual fighting and bickering that goes on between siblings is pretty much gone. It’s like they’re becoming best buds overnight.
AG: What’s the best way to keep your children busy?
HC: Playing H-O-R-S-E, Four Square, taking the dogs on walks, hitting baseballs into the screen. Been doing some crappie fishing, too, and spending some family time on the boat. I’m just enjoying time with them right now. Once the season starts back, it’s going to get crazy again.
AG: Any other unexpected benefits coming out of the current shelter-in-place situation?
HC: I’ve learned a lot about myself, a lot about my wife, my kids. I’ve learned a lot about the having patience side of things. I’ve learned more about what you can take together as a family unit. We can get through this. We can get through anything. This will wind up being good for the kids. When the kids go out after this, they will appreciate being out more. I’ve been doing a lot more grilling, too since we can’t go out to eat anyways. It’s just another way of spending quality time together as a family. I’m generally not home much this time of year so we are going to make the most of this time while we can.
AG: Finally, we want to know about your TV viewing of late. Have you been binge-watching Tiger King of any other shows while life is shutdown?
HC: Not really. I’ve been filling my time with a Rubik’s Cube. It’s one of the best things there is for being mentally fit.
Hank Cherry profile
Hometown: Lincolnton, N.C.
Age: 46
Elite Series Seasons: 8
Career Wins: 3
Career Highlights: 2020 Bassmaster Classic winner; 2013 Elite Series Rookie of the Year
Combined Career Earnings: $1.064 million