Harmony in Houston - Bassmaster

Before the fishing begins at the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICKâS Sporting Goods, there are a lot of things competitors must do prior to the first day of competion. Among those is attending angler meetings and having photos taken for Bassmaster television.

Keith Combs and the rest of the field had to take their turn in front of the lights.

And there were more waiting in the wings.

When the photos were finished, several contenders who will have Bassmaster LIVE cameras on them on Day 1 were asked to sit down for pre-tournament interviews.

Between photo shoots there were interviews from Bassmaster writers, one of them being Craig Lamb, shown here interviewing Mike Iaconelli.

There is little time to rest during Classic week, but Jacob Powroznik figured out how to squeeze in a little relaxation time during the busy day.

Two of his competitors, Jason Williamson and Gerald Swindle, made sure Powroznik’s rest was short-lived.

Dean Rojas found time to sign a tournament jersey for a foundation he supports…

…near a view of Minute Maid Park, site of the 2017 Bassmaster Classic weigh-ins.

Yamaha’s Dave Ittner with two of his Yamaha pros, Mike Iaconelli and Classic rookie Will Hardy.

Shaw Grigsby was the first in line at registration.

Official registration was also the place where every competing angler was given bags of gifts from Bassmaster presenting sponsors. The first stop was Triton Boats…

…then Mercury…

…where Shaw Grigsby has his photo taken by Senior Tournament Director Chris Bowes.

Further down the line everybody stopped to receive gifts from Power-Pole…

…then to Skeeter and Yamaha.

There’s always memorabilia for competitors to sign at the Classic, such as the cowboy hat Casey Ashley is signing.

Skeet Reese signed the cowboy hat, too, then gave it a try.

Triton pro Boyd Duckett picked up a new Triton logo life jacket and pants…

…while Yamaha pro Alton Jones was collecting some Yamaha logo merchandise.

After they stopped to visit all the sponsors, James Elam sat down on the floor…

…and went through all their gift bags, checking out what they held.

Cliff Crochet shows us how weighted down each angler was after making the rounds.

No, it’s not Hank Williams Jr.; it’s the 2016 Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Gerald Swindle.

After receiving all their sponsor S.W.A.G., there was a few minutes to visit before the final angler briefing began.

When you entered the room where the briefing was held, the first thing you noticed was bass fishing’s biggest prize on display.

And one of the 52 men seated here will hold it up and become the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic champion.

It is considered by most contenders to be bad luck to touch the trophy until it is earned.

A much larger version of this banner honoring Edwin Evers’ 2016 Classic win will be hoisted and on display, not only during this Classic, but for every Classic held from here on out.

B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon calls the final briefing to order.

Takahiro Omori holds his copies of all the briefing sheets, parking passes, etc., that every angler was given.

The Classic contenders begin to settle into their seats…

…as B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin congratulates them for qualifying for the 2017 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

As the room began to quiet down and it was time to get down to business, the following are some of the things we noticed: First, Shaw Grigsby smiling while looking at a photo he had taken earlier of the Classic trophy.

And then how quickly the Classic contenders began to put on more of a game face.

Just moments before this photo was taken, there was plenty of laughing and joking and general conversation, but Steve Kennedy and the rest of the contenders in the room had changed.

We saw it in the face of Dave Lefebre…

… and former Classic champions Alton Jones and Randy Howell. And in the face of a Classic rookie, Wil Hardy…

…and Jesse Wiggins. Both Wil Hardy and Jesse Wiggins are Bassmaster Open champions, but this is different. This is bass fishing’s biggest stage.

It was hard not to think of the pride of a father sitting by a son fishing his first Classic. And how starting on Friday, Alton Jones and Alton Jones Jr. will compete against one another.

When Sunday comes, will the trophy be held by a man that has never won a Bassmaster Classic, a man such as Andy Montgomery?

Or former Carhartt Bassmaster College National Champion, Jordan Lee?

It’s always possible the trophy could be held high by a contender few have thought of, much less put on their Fantasy Fishing teams.

Or will Lake Conroe be the sight of where a contender such as Hank Cherry or Aaron Martens could finally exorcise the demons of brutal second place finishes.

Bass fishing history shows us any man in the field is capable of winning a Bassmaster Classic.

It can be won by a steady journeyman such as Bill Lowen or Matt Herren…

…or, of course, by four-time Classic Champion Kevin VanDam.

Greg Hackney can and has won on bass fishing’s biggest stages. A Classic win would build on his legacy as one of the best of all time.

The same could be said for Skeet Reese.

In the meantime, there is an immense pressure building between now and the final result on Sunday.

And until then, we cannot know if our new Classic champion is a contender that has been there, done that – or one beginning his own legacy.