Brent Ehrler was eating a bit of barbecue in the media room – not much, probably why he keeps so svelte.
Asked if he recalled Martin Short’s oddball, ill-prepared interviewer Jiminy Glick, the Day 2 leader of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods nodded affirmatively as he chewed.
In this reporter’s best Glick voice, he was asked, “So, how do you catch the fishies?” It’d been a long day and a giddy goofiness had taken hold.
Ehrler smiled, as he cut off another small slice of brisket, then laughed when queried.
“Are they as slimy as they say? — Oh, do you get to eat them?”
Glick would often go into his Hollywood interviews displaying a similar attention span and an affinity for food.
Ehrler didn’t mind. Might have even enjoyed a lighter moment in the mayhem that is the Classic. He was serious as the top 6 heading into Championship Sunday fielded questions in the interview room. Ehrler might be fishing in only his second Classic, but he’s seasoned. He had much success on the FLW Tour, including one Cup title in 10 appearances.
“I didn’t just jump at the chance … to fish the Bassmaster Classic,” he said at the time. “I took the time to investigate the benefits to me, my sponsors and planning future business decisions. Everything leaned toward B.A.S.S.”
Yeah, and the hope of winning a Classic. Ehrler, who failed in 2013 then qualified for the Elites the following year through the Opens, earned Rookie of the Year and made the Classic after his first full Elite season. At Tulsa last year, he finished 13th.
Last year, he needed a third-place finish on the Potomac and a second in the AOY Championship to earn a spot here in Houston, where he goes out today with a 2-pound, 3-ounce lead over Dave Lefebre, who made the FLW-B.A.S.S. move last year.
Lefebre is one scary angler, especially in Texas. He’s won a Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Conroe and was fifth in another. Last year in the TTBC on Lake Ray Roberts, Lefebre finished fifth but had the winning fish on the line. He appeared confident in the media room.
Speaking of confident, defending Classic champ Edwin Evers said he definitely has another comeback win in him.
“Yeah, I can do it again,” he said, showing a newfound openness.
Evers busted a huge bag of 29-3 on the final day to overtake Jason Christie and win on Grand Lake last year. They say after winning one, you want another, and Evers, only 4-3 back of Ehrler, thinks he’s up to the challenge.
Just a bit farther behind are two young anglers. James Elam, in his second Classic, is 5-7 back of Ehrler, and Classic rookie Bradley Roy is another two ounces behind Elam.
Michael Iaconelli, who “Never Gave Up” in winning the 2003 title, has to make up 5-12. Then there’s a shark swimming behind all of them. Kevin VanDam, he of a record-tying four Classic wins, is circling in seventh place, 7-1 off Ehrler’s pace.
What a mix of tried and true and bold and new.
Before this lil’ ole derby here got started, the competitors said Lake Conroe has the monsters where 10 could be gained. There hasn’t been one above Ehrler’s Day 1 23-3, but again talk turned toward what a bag approaching 30 pounds would mean today.
Buckle up. Let’s get this thing going, I cannot wait to see what happens today.