Almost a week to the minute after capturing fishing’s biggest title in record fashion, Jordan Lee joked that not much has changed in his life, it was the “same old, same old,” except for “a couple hundred phone calls.”
Lee has had enough time to realize his name will go on the Classic trophy with 37 others who have won. He is in an exclusive club of Bassmaster Classic champions and will forever be linked to the championship.
“It’s pretty crazy. It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “I’ve really, really been beside myself just thinking about that.”
It’s almost all been good, he said, except having to deal with a cyber thief who accessed his debit card account. Not much was taken, but it was probably good he had yet to deposit his $300,000 first-place winnings from the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
That was the first B.A.S.S. victory for the 25-year-old from Grant, Ala., who in the process nearly doubled his career earnings. In the past week, he’s done photo shoots, radio shows, phone interviews galore, got in a little pre-practice fishing at Sam Rayburn between calls and spent time at a charity fishing event.
“It’s been really awesome, it’s just been a lot at once. Besides that, it’s been good,” he said, adding he’s gotten words of wisdom from previous Classic champs. “They gave me some advice and told me to call them if I need them, which I’m sure I will. Everybody’s been helpful. I’m just trying to take it all it.”
With not much time between the Classic and this week’s Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend presented by Econo Lodge, Lee didn’t get everything accomplished on a growing to-do list. He’s been practicing since Monday for Thursday’s first day of competition, and he sounded anxious to get back on the water and concentrate on fishing.
“I’m ready to start this tournament, then I’ll be able to take care of more. I haven’t been able to go home,” Lee said. “This week, it’s been a busy week. Things can wait until next week.”
Besides setting Classic records in coming back from 15th place and 13 pounds, 14 ounces down, Lee has been on somewhat of a hot streak. He hasn’t missed a cut in 11 events, since Bull Shoals/Norfork, and that’s included six Top 12 finishes.
The victory has Lee already qualified for next year’s Classic, so that begs the question if it will have any effect on how he approaches the rest of the schedule this year.
“I really don’t know. It’s just been so crazy. I haven’t had much time to plan,” he said. “I feel like it’s going to be a good year. It’s a good feeling. Usually you’ve been in an event and (think) I gotta catch this next fish. You’re not thinking points, but you’re thinking about cashing checks.
“You always want to make the cut. I still want to make every cut. You still have that in the back of your mind – ‘I’m in the Classic, I can take a couple gambles.’ But I probably wouldn’t. Going into a practice or a tournament, you definitely want to show up the rest of the year. You don’t want to be taking all kinds of risks.”
Lee stands 13th in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points after two events, 42 points behind leader Ott DeFoe. Hoping to leave more of a mark, you can bet Lee will move forward calmly, coolly, assessing the risk/reward at every turn this season.
LEE BROS. REPRESENT AUBURN
Jordan and brother, Matt, hobnobbed with NFL players at the Brian Robison Reel ‘Em In tournament on Sam Rayburn over the weekend.
Robison, who is from near Houston, appeared on Bassmaster LIVE during the Classic there. He invited down a number of his Minnesota Vikings teammates to the charity event — Adrian Peterson was among the contingent – and some other players who bass fish like Willie Young of the Chicago Bears attended.
“I knew Brian, Willie, a couple other guys,” Lee said. “I got to meet some other football players. It’s just a cool event, helped out Brian and his foundation. Anytime you can do something like that, I try to take advantage of it. You never know who you are going to meet. It’s kind of a win, win.”
Asked if there were any players who attended Auburn, his alma mater, Lee said no.
“Me and Matty were holding down for all the Auburn crew,” he said.
WIGGINS THRILLED FOR, ENVIOUS OF LEE
“Dude, there ain’t nobody that works more than you do. You deserve every minute of it. It’s awesome, you just won $300,000,’” Jesse Wiggins said he told Lee after his victory lap around Minute Maid Park.
Wiggins, who finished 33rd in Houston, stuck around to celebrate with the Lees, but the festivities served to light a fire under the Elite rookie. Wiggins grew up about 10 miles from the Lees in central Alabama, fished with and against them and now rooms with them in the Opens and Elites.
Wiggins was a bundle of nervous energy when he learned Jordan had a chance to win the Classic, then he was among his biggest supporters afterward.
“I just wanted to be a part of this,” he said. “I’m so happy for him, but I’m a bit jealous. I want to beat him in the next tournament, but I have so much respect for him winning. It just lights a fire. Like, I want to do that. When he was holding that trophy, the smoke going, I was like, I may not ever lose another tournament.”
Seeing his friend win made Wiggins realize it’s possible he could win. Wiggins, 27, has had his own early success, winning two Opens to qualify for two Classics then vying for the title in his first Elite at Cherokee. He owes a bit of gratitude to the Lees for befriending and taking him in.
“They’re my friends. They’re the only guys I knew out here, was him and Matt,” Wiggins said “They’ve kind of let me just come into their little circle, let me room with them, I’m just honored to be a part of it.”
Wiggins won the season opening Southern Open on the Harris Chain while sleeping on the floor in the Lees’ hotel room, and he borrowed Matt Lee’s boat for the final day because it had Power-Poles.
“They had some beds,” Wiggins said, “and I was like, ‘Ya’ll care if I sleep on ya’ll’s floor,’ and they said, ‘C’mon.’”
Wiggins is considered a top candidate for Rookie of the Year, and he holds much respect for how Jordan Lee has acted coolly. Jordan celebrated his win but is usually a quiet presence among the Elites.
“Because he’s always thinking about one thing – catching fish, same way I am,” Wiggins said. “It’s just the way he is. He’s just a calm customer. He does his job and shows them at the scales. He does his talking with his fish, which you got to have a lot of respect for somebody like that.
“The dude can just flat out catch them. He’s got instincts. You always talk about instincts. Nobody knows exactly what that is, but it’s that little it that makes you catch them better than anybody else. Whatever that it is to catch fish, he’s got it plus another it.”