Anglers in Venice wait on warming

VENICE, La. Wait with fingers crossed. That's the mantra most anglers fishing Venice are living by as they launch for the second day of official Classic practice. With the time already invested in scouting and fishing that far from the launch, all the anglers can do is hope the water warms up enough to get the bass active.

Tackling the marsh

VENICE, La. On the first day of practice for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic, at least a dozen competitors were launching from Venice Marina, a good two hour boat ride from New Orleans.

The easy, sexy and surprising picks

Predications on who will be the Bassmaster Classic champion are a dime a dozen. Every newspaper article or website having anything to do with the outdoors has a guess from people who think they know the winner.

Stinks to be stuck

VENICE, La. It plain stinks to be stuck out in the middle of the marsh with no one around for miles, but for at least five of the anglers fishing out of the Venice area, beaching the boat was a fact of life on the first day of official practice.

We need licensing in Florida!

Wow! Talk about biting the hand that feeds you?! Here in Florida Senator Joe Negron (R-Palm City) has filled SB 744 which would eliminate the need for freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses in Florida. Doesn't he know that license sales fund fisheries conservation? Hasn't he ever heard of Wallop-Breaux or Dingell-Johnson?

Classic starts Friday with first practice

VENICE, La. For many fans, the Classic starts February 18, when they will pack the arena to see the Day One weigh-in, but for the 50 qualifiers, the Classic begins tomorrow. Friday is the first of three grueling days of practice, a time when the Classic will likely be won or lost.

Rookies and the Classic

Rookies have been a part of the Bassmaster Classic since the very beginning -- 1971, when all the anglers were rookies. In 2011, there will be 15 Classic rookies competing. It seems like a big number, but it's actually quite average.

B.A.S.S. Membership Swag

Join B.A.S.S

Membership Includes 1 Year Bassmaster Magazine, Plus $50 in free gear.