The 2008 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina was the first exercise in how the Classic would perform in extreme cold weather.
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The previous two winter Classics had been held in Florida and Alabama, where a chill filled the air, but that was nothing like the snow that greeted anglers on Day 1.
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Despite the spitting snow and below-freezing temperatures, it didn’t matter to the throngs of spectators who showed up each day to watch the heroes of the sport take off.
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They lined the ramps.
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They lined the banks and the hills.
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And packed the docks.
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Waiting for the anglers to pass.
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The day began with cold runs down the lake and helicopters overhead.
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While cold would start the day, a little-known angler would capture the imagination of fishing fans all over the world by the day’s end.
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Charlie Hartley, one of the least-likely contenders, weighed in the heaviest bag of the event at 21 pounds, 1 ounce.
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And quickly became an overnight sensation.
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He caught his weight flipping docks. It was not only the heaviest weight of the day, but the biggest sack of the event.
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His Day 1 lead thrust him into the limelight, creating fans who were rooting for the underdog.
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Hartley, all of the sudden, was in demand.
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The next morning, even more spectators rolled out to see a little-known angler battle in the ultimate David-versus-Goliath contest.
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Fans were eager to get close to him.
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Interestingly, Day 2 would begin with a fog delay that forced Trip Weldon to hitch a periodic ride out to the lake with Stephen Browning.
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By the time the day started, all eyes were on Charlie Hartley.
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Hartley wouldn’t disappoint.
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Catching fish for the spectators.
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Day 2, though, would eventually belong to Alton Jones. Jones put together a day that took him from 10th place to the lead on the strength of an 18 pound, 11 ounce stringer.
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Chasing closely behind him was Hartley, who dropped well off the pace.
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Followed by Cliff Pace, who had quietly stayed near the top of the leaderboard.
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The other competitors hadn’t given up, including Scott Rook.
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Rook was second on Day 1, but faltered on Day 2.
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Bobby Lane was fishing his first Classic.
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He won the Rookie of the Year title that year.
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By Day 3, the attention had shifted to who could pass Jones. Hartley had faltered.
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Cliff Pace, though, had been strong all week.
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Pace was the first angler to catch a limit every morning of the event.
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All he needed was the right bite to overtake Jones.
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Jones had a good start, though.
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He caught three keepers early in the day.
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But by midday he was struggling, while other anglers were making a move.
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Jones would make a key move late in the day.
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That move would pay big dividends.
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It allowed him to catch the final two fish of his limit.
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At the weigh in, the Super Six was a who’s who of Elite anglers.
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Headliners like Kevin VanDam and Michael Iaconelli, would be followed by eventual champions Jones and Pace, along with Jeff Kriet, who would make another run at the title in 2010. And, of course, Hartley.
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After half of the six had weighed, VanDam was in the lead. Pace knocked him out, showing an uncharacteristic flare of emotion.
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Next came Hartley.
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Hartley would fall well short, coming in 15th place overall.
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Jones was confident as he entered the stage.
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You could almost see the resolve on Pace’s face at the scales.
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Even before the weight was announced, Jones knew he had it.
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He gave a quick walk about the stage, fish in hand, while Boyd Duckett waited to hand him the trophy.
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A few moments later, the fireworks began.
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The ticker-tape was thick.
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And the smile obvious.
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A quick champion’s lap around the arena and Jones had officially won one of the more interesting Classics.
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