Photo gallery: Strategies for a Red River Classic win

Winning a Bassmaster Classic is a complex feat but a handful of strategies are employed by all Classic champs and sometimes one single choice stand outs as key to their win.

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<p>  </p> <p> One of the secrets to winning on the stingy Red River is locating the right spot, as 1997 Federation Nation Champion Dalton Bobo did.</p>
 

One of the secrets to winning on the stingy Red River is locating the right spot, as 1997 Federation Nation Champion Dalton Bobo did.

<p>  </p> <p> Finding some low-pressure backwater proved to be key for Chad Brauer, who blew away the field with a 56-14 win on the Red at the 2010 Central Open.</p>
 

Finding some low-pressure backwater proved to be key for Chad Brauer, who blew away the field with a 56-14 win on the Red at the 2010 Central Open.

<p>  </p> <p> Most of the Classic leaders, like Jeff Kriet, fished in diminutive Beeswax Creek at Alabama’s Lay Lake in 2010, which featured the only coontail moss to be found.</p>
 

Most of the Classic leaders, like Jeff Kriet, fished in diminutive Beeswax Creek at Alabama’s Lay Lake in 2010, which featured the only coontail moss to be found.

<p> Russ Lane hauls in a keeper in Beeswax Creek. The pressure was on as conditions stayed crowded there.</p>
Russ Lane hauls in a keeper in Beeswax Creek. The pressure was on as conditions stayed crowded there.
<p>  </p> <p> To add to the pressure, Kevin VanDam puts on a show for the competitors fishing close by on Beeswax.</p>
 

To add to the pressure, Kevin VanDam puts on a show for the competitors fishing close by on Beeswax.

<p> Lake Cataouatche in 2011 was a similar story, with anglers like KVD and Scott Rook bumping boats in an otherwise vast Louisiana Delta.</p>
Lake Cataouatche in 2011 was a similar story, with anglers like KVD and Scott Rook bumping boats in an otherwise vast Louisiana Delta.
<p> Aaron Martens puts a little pressure on KVD at Lake Cataouatche.</p>
Aaron Martens puts a little pressure on KVD at Lake Cataouatche.
<p>  </p> <p> It’s important for anglers to make their presence known in desirable areas early on, as Skeet Reese did in 2009.</p>
 

It’s important for anglers to make their presence known in desirable areas early on, as Skeet Reese did in 2009.

<p>  </p> <p> Randy Howell fished the same bank as Reese in 2009, but when cold weather pushed the fish to one key stretch, Reese was waiting to intercept them.</p>
 

Randy Howell fished the same bank as Reese in 2009, but when cold weather pushed the fish to one key stretch, Reese was waiting to intercept them.

<p> Replenishment is key: Kevin VanDam and the rest of Lake Cataouatche crowd proved that last year  -- their area was only starting to get hot during the official practice period, but it improved steadily on each competition day.</p>
Replenishment is key: Kevin VanDam and the rest of Lake Cataouatche crowd proved that last year  — their area was only starting to get hot during the official practice period, but it improved steadily on each competition day.
<p> The Red River isn’t known for clear water and resulting visible beds like this one, found in the Harris Chain of Lakes at the 2011 Sunshine Showdown. When it gets an influx of water, it flows hard and dirty, and It’s particularly tough on the Florida Strain largemouths that are necessary to put together a 20-pound bag.</p>
The Red River isn’t known for clear water and resulting visible beds like this one, found in the Harris Chain of Lakes at the 2011 Sunshine Showdown. When it gets an influx of water, it flows hard and dirty, and It’s particularly tough on the Florida Strain largemouths that are necessary to put together a 20-pound bag.
<p>  </p> <p> Shaw Grigsby won the Sunshine Showdown sightfishing; on the Red, clear water will be at a premium and if the river’s running high an already crowded field will likely have to share less water with more anglers.</p>
 

Shaw Grigsby won the Sunshine Showdown sightfishing; on the Red, clear water will be at a premium and if the river’s running high an already crowded field will likely have to share less water with more anglers.

<p> Anticipating Mother Nature is another factor. Luke Clausen, the 2006 champ, spent part of the last day of the tournament fishing through thunderstorms.</p>
Anticipating Mother Nature is another factor. Luke Clausen, the 2006 champ, spent part of the last day of the tournament fishing through thunderstorms.
<p>  </p> <p> Warmth can create dicey fishing conditions. Derek Remitz makes the most of it on the final day of the 2011 Classic, where it was warm enough at 8:30 a.m. to comfortably wear shorts.</p>
 

Warmth can create dicey fishing conditions. Derek Remitz makes the most of it on the final day of the 2011 Classic, where it was warm enough at 8:30 a.m. to comfortably wear shorts.

<p>  </p> <p> Dealing with locks could affect the outcome of the Classic. Waiting to lock through resulted in a late penalty for Denny Brauer at the 2011 Diamond Drive, narrowing his win over Aaron Martens, who chose not to.</p>
 

Dealing with locks could affect the outcome of the Classic. Waiting to lock through resulted in a late penalty for Denny Brauer at the 2011 Diamond Drive, narrowing his win over Aaron Martens, who chose not to.

<p>  </p> <p> Bill Lowen took his chances running to Pool Three during the 2009 Classic on the Red River.</p>
 

Bill Lowen took his chances running to Pool Three during the 2009 Classic on the Red River.

<p>  </p> <p> This will be the last B.A.S.S. tour-level tournament in which anglers will be allowed to change up their boats, as Steve Kennedy did in 2009 to navigate the shallow waters of the Red River.</p>
 

This will be the last B.A.S.S. tour-level tournament in which anglers will be allowed to change up their boats, as Steve Kennedy did in 2009 to navigate the shallow waters of the Red River.

<p>  </p> <p> Kelly Jordon keeps it a stones’ throw away from a particularly nasty stump field on the Red. Obstacles in the water and equipment issues can plague even the most experienced anglers.</p>
 

Kelly Jordon keeps it a stones’ throw away from a particularly nasty stump field on the Red. Obstacles in the water and equipment issues can plague even the most experienced anglers.