Click here to continue
The light shined brightly on Charlie Hartley during the 2008 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell. He set the fishing world on fire when he led after Day 1.
Photo: Bassmaster Media
Hartley, from Grove City, Ohio, had come close several times but has never won a B.A.S.S. event since the first of his 198 entries in 1993.
Photo: Bassmaster Media
Hartley stood in second place after three days on the Potomac in the 2007 Capitol Clash, but fell to sixth on the final day.
Photo: Bassmaster Media
By finishing in the top three in points in the Southern Open series with Todd Auten and Bobby Lane, Hartley qualified for his first and only Classic.
Photo: Bassmaster Media
Hartley made the most of it on Day 1, bringing 21 pounds, 1 ounce to the scales. The weight propelled him to first place, ounces ahead of Scott Rook and Kevin VanDam.
Photo: Bassmaster Media
“When they told me I was leading the Bassmasters Classic,” he said, “it was the most exciting words I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Photo: Bassmaster Media
The experience was exhilarating, Hartley said, “There were 15,000 people who stood up on their feet and screamed like I was a rock star.”
Photo: Bassmaster Media
Hartley acknowledges the crowd as he heads to the Greenville, S.C., stage on Day 2 of the Classic, somewhat apprehensive as his catch was not what he had hoped.
Photo: Bassmaster Media
He weighed 13-12 on Day 2 and fell to second behind eventual winner Alton Jones. “I thought I had blown it the second day, but when I got in Davy Hite said you’re still right there. I was only a pound and a half out of the lead heading out the last day.”
Photo: Bassmaster Media
A perpetual underdog, Hartley’s run had fans excited and other anglers not in the hunt said they were pulling for him.
Photo: Bassmaster Media
The magic was nowhere to be found on Day 3 as Hartley caught only two fish for 3-5 and fell to 15th place.
Photo: Bassmaster Media
Hartley, here with some nice fish during last year’s BASSfest, said he jokes with a buddy that he wishes he never led the Classic. “And he laughs, ‘Like hell you don’t!’ It was a really great week for me.”
Photo: Bassmaster Media
