Aussies go to Guntersville

Drew McGrath and Lauren Kelly of the Australia B.A.S.S. Nation got to go fishing American-style with Elite Series pro Kevin Hawk.

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Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kevin Hawk took Drew McGrath and Lauren Kelly of the Australia B.A.S.S. Nation out for a day on Lake Guntersville.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kevin Hawk took Drew McGrath and Lauren Kelly of the Australia B.A.S.S. Nation out for a day on Lake Guntersville.
Hawk and McGrath start talking ... just to get used to each other's accents. McGrath is the founder and president of Australia's first-ever B.A.S.S. Nation chapter, and it just came into existence two years ago.
Hawk and McGrath start talking … just to get used to each other’s accents. McGrath is the founder and president of Australia’s first-ever B.A.S.S. Nation chapter, and it just came into existence two years ago.
It was a beautiful fall day, and we weren't the only ones out enjoying the water.
It was a beautiful fall day, and we weren’t the only ones out enjoying the water.
When we first take off, everyone dons their
When we first take off, everyone dons their “sunnies” — that’s Australian for sunglasses.
McGrath describes the Australian bass to Hawk. Australia doesn't have largemouth or smallmouth, and McGrath has caught very few (and very small) largemouth in his limited visits to the United States. Australian bass look more like largemouth but fight like smallmouth, said McGrath.
McGrath describes the Australian bass to Hawk. Australia doesn’t have largemouth or smallmouth, and McGrath has caught very few (and very small) largemouth in his limited visits to the United States. Australian bass look more like largemouth but fight like smallmouth, said McGrath.
It was partly cloudy and in the mid-60s.
It was partly cloudy and in the mid-60s.
McGrath and Kelly both want to up their largemouth game ...
McGrath and Kelly both want to up their largemouth game …
... and Hawk has just the plan to do it.
… and Hawk has just the plan to do it.
<p>Guntersville has been pretty tough recently, explains Hawk, but he knows a few good areas we should try. He takes anglers to Guntersville through <a href=
Guntersville has been pretty tough recently, explains Hawk, but he knows a few good areas we should try. He takes anglers to Guntersville through his guide service when he wants a big bite; he takes them to Smith Lake when he wants a sure bite.
Kelly always has her camera at hand, as the official photographer for the Australia B.A.S.S. Nation.
Kelly always has her camera at hand, as the official photographer for the Australia B.A.S.S. Nation.
We're going to start right here, says Hawk ...
We’re going to start right here, says Hawk …
... explaining to McGrath that the bass should be hiding in the mats here.
… explaining to McGrath that the bass should be hiding in the mats here.
These two get to work ...
These two get to work …
... and here's what lurks beneath.
… and here’s what lurks beneath.
Hawk rigs up a swim jig for Kelly.
Hawk rigs up a swim jig for Kelly.
He opts for a white 4x4 swim jig ...
He opts for a white 4×4 swim jig …
... with a Yamamoto swimbait trailer.
… with a Yamamoto swimbait trailer.
Almost ready ...
Almost ready …
... here we go!
… here we go!
Kelly gets her line in the water.
Kelly gets her line in the water.
Pretty soon, Hawk gets the first in the boat!
Pretty soon, Hawk gets the first in the boat!
Hawk says when he's fun fishing with friends, they play Bingo Bingo Bongo. The guy with the first fish gets the Bingo, the guy with the most fish gets the other Bingo, and the one with the biggest gets the Bongo.
Hawk says when he’s fun fishing with friends, they play Bingo Bingo Bongo. The guy with the first fish gets the Bingo, the guy with the most fish gets the other Bingo, and the one with the biggest gets the Bongo.
Hawk gets the first Bingo.
Hawk gets the first Bingo.
Back at it, and catching lots of what Kelly calls
Back at it, and catching lots of what Kelly calls “grass fish.”
Is this a grass fish or a real fish?
Is this a grass fish or a real fish?
It's a real one, and it's McGrath's!
It’s a real one, and it’s McGrath’s!
Hawk pulls it in for him, and ...
Hawk pulls it in for him, and …
... McGrath is as proud as he can be!
… McGrath is as proud as he can be!
Kelly is fishless but not worried. She says she's having
Kelly is fishless but not worried. She says she’s having “heaps of fun,” one of the Australian phrases I learned.
But one that every loves to say to Australians --
But one that every loves to say to Australians — “let’s go put our shrimp on the barbie!” — is not one. “We don’t even call them shrimp, we call them prawns,” she says.
No, don't eat it, Drew! All this prawns talk must be making him hungry.
No, don’t eat it, Drew! All this prawns talk must be making him hungry.
Hawk asks McGrath about some other phrases ...
Hawk asks McGrath about some other phrases …
... and McGrath and Kelly crack us up with some others.
… and McGrath and Kelly crack us up with some others.
“This afternoon” is actually “this arvo” in Australian.
If you need a drink, you go to the bottle-o -- the liquor store.
If you need a drink, you go to the bottle-o — the liquor store.
Need gasoline? (Actually, petrol ...) Go to the servo -- the service station.
Need gasoline? (Actually, petrol …) Go to the servo — the service station.
Hawk makes a move a couple miles down and shows us which direction to cast -- toward the mats.
Hawk makes a move a couple miles down and shows us which direction to cast — toward the mats.
Kelly makes a cast ...
Kelly makes a cast …
... but we don't stay there long.
… but we don’t stay there long.
Hawk takes us to another spot ...
Hawk takes us to another spot …
... that is immediately productive.
… that is immediately productive.
Hawk begins to pull this one in, ...
Hawk begins to pull this one in, …
... but it's not huge.
… but it’s not huge.
McGrath thinks to himself,
McGrath thinks to himself, “I can catch one bigger than that.”
Hawk and I show McGrath how to make a fish look bigger in photos.
Hawk and I show McGrath how to make a fish look bigger in photos.
And McGrath has one!
And McGrath has one!
Smallie but a goodie.
Smallie but a goodie.
And it's followed by another ...
And it’s followed by another …
... and this one looks even better.
… and this one looks even better.
Kelly and I give some oohs and ahhs, while McGrath has trouble masking his excitement.
Kelly and I give some oohs and ahhs, while McGrath has trouble masking his excitement.
He takes it from Hawk and, with his very best Australian accent in full force, yells ...
He takes it from Hawk and, with his very best Australian accent in full force, yells …
“That’s a cracker!”
Cracker means
Cracker means “big one.”
And it was a big one, weighing about 5 pounds. With two fish each, McGrath and Hawk tied for the second Bingo. And with the biggest, McGrath earned the Bongo.
And it was a big one, weighing about 5 pounds. With two fish each, McGrath and Hawk tied for the second Bingo. And with the biggest, McGrath earned the Bongo.
It was McGrath's biggest largemouth ever. He worked a mention of this fish into every conversation for the rest of the day and, donning his best Dixie accent, said
It was McGrath’s biggest largemouth ever. He worked a mention of this fish into every conversation for the rest of the day and, donning his best Dixie accent, said “I caught a 5-pounder!” multiple times.
Kelly and I just caught lots of grass fish.
Kelly and I just caught lots of grass fish.
We capped off the day with some good sushi in Guntersville, and McGrath and Kelly enjoyed their ride in the big Toyota truck.
We capped off the day with some good sushi in Guntersville, and McGrath and Kelly enjoyed their ride in the big Toyota truck. “We just don’t have trucks this big in Australia.”
The next day, the Aussies came by the B.A.S.S. headquarters in Birmingham. And no one can resist picking up the Bassmaster Classic trophy when they come into the office.
The next day, the Aussies came by the B.A.S.S. headquarters in Birmingham. And no one can resist picking up the Bassmaster Classic trophy when they come into the office.
The B.A.S.S. Nation leaders stop by to see the B.A.S.S. Nation team at the headquarters office. All of them, including McGrath and Kelly, had just gotten back from the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in Monroe, La.
The B.A.S.S. Nation leaders stop by to see the B.A.S.S. Nation team at the headquarters office. All of them, including McGrath and Kelly, had just gotten back from the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in Monroe, La.
From left are Hank Weldon, manager of B.A.S.S. youth; Jon Stewart, director of the B.A.S.S. Nation; Kelly and McGrath; and Emily Hand, B.A.S.S. Nation coordinator.
From left are Hank Weldon, manager of B.A.S.S. youth; Jon Stewart, director of the B.A.S.S. Nation; Kelly and McGrath; and Emily Hand, B.A.S.S. Nation coordinator.
One last stop in the B.A.S.S. office. The pair are now safely back home in Brisbane, Australia. Thank you, Drew and Lauren, for bringing B.A.S.S. to Australia. G'day, mates!
One last stop in the B.A.S.S. office. The pair are now safely back home in Brisbane, Australia. Thank you, Drew and Lauren, for bringing B.A.S.S. to Australia. G’day, mates!