Meet the Classic Fish-Off competitors

ANDERSON, S.C. – And then there were six.

The field of 329 anglers that began the Bassmaster Team Championship Wednesday on Lake Hartwell has been whittled to a half dozen men. They are from different places, and are different ages with different occupations.

But they have at least one thing in common, and that’s a burning desire to compete in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, which will be held March 6-8 on Lake Guntersville and in Birmingham, Ala. 

One of them is going to earn that chance on Saturday when the Classic Fish-Off is complete here on Hartwell.

A total of 165 tandems from 30 different states, as well as South Africa and Canada, fished for two days in the team portion of this championship. The two men on each of the Top 3 teams had their weights zeroed as they advanced to the Classic Fish-Off which began Friday at 7:15 a.m. from Green Pond Landing. They’ll weigh-in at 3:15 p.m. and then they’ll do it all over again on Saturday.

The angler with the heaviest two-day total in the fish-off will earn the 53rd and final berth in the biggest fishing tournament on the planet, where fame and fortune await the winner. The 2020 Bassmaster Classic will be the 50th anniversary of the event, so it’s going to be an historic happening, too.

No pressure, right?

Let’s meet the six anglers who are vying for a spot in the Classic!

BROCK REINKEMEYER

AGE: 27

HOMETOWN: Lone Jack, Mo. 

OCCUPATION: Electrician, carpenter

BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Joe Bass

HOME BODY OF WATER: Truman Lake

BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: 7 ½ pounds

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Flipping

IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “I’d be fishing on the Ozarks.”

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “No idea.”

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?: “One of us (teammate Brad Jelinek or I) is going to the Classic.”

BRAD JELINEK

AGE: 25

HOMETOWN: Warsaw, Mo. 

OCCUPATION: Fishing guide

BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Joe Bass

HOME BODY OF WATER: Truman Lake

BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: Somewhere between 7 and 8 pounds

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Flipping

IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “I’d be fishing.”

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “A bunch of baby diapers and some formula, because we have a baby coming in a month.” 

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?: “One of us is going to the Classic.”

KC CHOOSAKUL

AGE: 50

HOMETOWN: Sanford, N.C.

OCCUPATION: Carolina Bass Challenge

BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Boat mechanic, boating center owner

HOME BODY OF WATER: “We go everywhere, but if I had to pick one in Carolina, I’d say Kerr Lake.” 

BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: About 10 pounds, 5 ounces 

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Crankbaits

IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “Working at the boating center.”

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “I hope I get to go to the Bassmaster Classic.”

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: “If the weather stays the same for us, we should be OK.”

TIMOTHY PENHOLLOW

AGE: 52

HOMETOWN: Mebane, N.C. 

OCCUPATION: Sales manager for a service company

BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Carolina Bass Challenge

HOME BODY OF WATER: Kerr Lake

BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: 11 pounds

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Finesse fishing

IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “Probably doing something with my two granddaughters or hanging out with my wife.”

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “Maybe now I’ll be getting something good!”

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?: “I think we’re going to be cold and wet and everyone is going to be catching them. It’s going to be fun.” 

TIMOTHY TAYLOR 

AGE: 48

HOMETOWN: Nixa, Mo. 

OCCUPATION: Life safety inspector for Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. 

BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Ozark Mountain Team Trail

HOME BODY OF WATER: Table Rock Lake

BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: 10 pounds

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Light line finesse

IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “Spending time with my wife and daughter.”

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “With the success we’ve had today, I’d like to fly my wife to Colorado to see our new grandbaby.”

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?: “Just a clean, good tournament. I want all the contenders to be safe and everyone going home to be safe, too.” 

JOSH BUSBY

AGE: 36

HOMETOWN: Rogersville, Mo. 

OCCUPATION: Senior food scientist at Dairy Farmers of America

BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Ozark Mountain Team Trail

HOME BODY OF WATER: Table Rock Lake

BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: 9 pounds

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Power fishing

IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “I’d be fishing or be in a deer blind.”

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “Tell my wife and tell my dad I want a Tackle Warehouse gift card.”

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?: “I think it’s going to be crazy with the wet and cold weather. I think we dialed in something today, but other people did too. The conditions are going to help everyone tomorrow.”