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Ride along with Knoxville area native and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Card for a tour of the waters of the 2019 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Launching point is Concord Park, located about mid-lake on Fort Loudon Reservoir. Card lives nearby in west Knoxville. “I’ve fished here since I got my driver’s license.” Card eventually graduated from the University of Kentucky and was president of the Wildcats bass fishing team from 2004-09. He was the first B.A.S.S. college angler to qualify for the Elite Series.
Photo: Craig Lamb
First stop is the mouth of Poland Creek. “There are weekly wildcat-type tournaments here so it’s a very popular area with a high population of fish.” Next stop is the boat ramp where those tournaments have launches and weigh-ins.
Photo: Craig Lamb
“A lot of guys will be throwing crankbaits along shoreline riprap, which is a textbook pattern here in March.”
Photo: Craig Lamb
“Crawfish is a primary bass forage in our lakes so red patterned, flat sided crankbaits are great for covering water.” Card’s choice is the Yo-Zuri Hardcore Shadcrank 2+ with a tight wobble that makes it an ideal crawfish imitator in cold water.
Photo: Craig Lamb
“Riprap and culverts, which provide ambush points for the bass as the bait flushes out, are even better with dingy water after a rain.”
Photo: Craig Lamb
“The sun warms the rocks, which in turn attracts bait and the bass. Making long casts is a must, and the Yo-Zuri Magnetic Weight Transfer system does the trick.”
Photo: Craig Lamb
After a short run Card stops in Lackey Creek, a major tributary of the lake. “It’s really diverse with habitat. Laydowns, rocky banks, private docks and a marina. Everything you could ever want.” Including plentiful targets for pitching and flipping at shoreline wood. In the background is Louisville Landing Marina.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Louisville Landing, located in the back of Lackey Creek, has plenty of boat slips, large and small, for tossing lures.
Photo: Craig Lamb
True to Card’s description the Louisville Road bridge over the creek, located adjacent to the marina, adds even more variety to Lackey Creek.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Another primary tributary is the Little River, the largest on the lake. “A lot of quality fish will get caught here. There are many channel swings bordered by flats that are loaded with stumps and brush.” All the makings of a textbook migration route, transition areas included, for largemouth.
Photo: Craig Lamb
“Nearer the mouth the channel gets deeper and swings near rocky bluffs that are great during spring for transition fish.”
Photo: Craig Lamb
Another stop is made at one of the hundreds of lakeside homes with private boat docks. Many like this lot are setup for cooking, entertaining and taking in the view.
Photo: Craig Lamb
This spread even has comfy chairs lined up for taking in the river. Or maybe even a front row seat for watching the Classic anglers catch bass from the dock.
Photo: Craig Lamb
“This is prime habitat on the main lake. These are transition areas where rocks mix with clay banks that are ideal for smallmouth.”
Photo: Craig Lamb
Moving on and closer to downtown Knoxville. Behold Villa Collina, at 40,000 square feet the largest home in the entire state, not to mention on the lake. It’s up for sale, too, for $15 million. Perfect place to throw a Bassmaster LIVE watch party.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Not far away the lake transitions into what are the headwaters of the Tennessee River. Welcome to downtown Knoxville, host city for the 49th Classic.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Located on the banks of the river is the University of Tennessee campus with an enrollment of around 28,000 students. Lots of sports are played here. What comes to mind are SEC football and basketball.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Thompson-Boling Arena is home to the University of Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball team, the Lady Vols women’s basketball team and the Vols volleyball programs.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Thompson-Boling is the third largest on-campus basketball arena in the country. The 21,678-seat venue also hosts concerts, commencement ceremonies and soon, a world championship bass fishing weigh-in.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Adjacent to Thompson-Boling (visible at left) is Neyland Stadium, home field and venue for the Tennessee Vols football team. To the right is the Sunsphere built for the 1982 World’s Fair, which is now part of the newly renovated World’s Fair Exhibition Hall. It will host the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, which also includes the Knoxville Convention Center.
Photo: Craig Lamb
On the riverbank is Neyland Stadium, at 102,455 seats the fifth largest stadium in the nation. Shields Watkins Field, with its signature orange-and-white checkerboard patterned end zones, was originally constructed in 1921.
Photo: Craig Lamb
The video board towering over the south end zone of Neyland Stadium might appear tiny from the middle of the Tennessee River, but it is not. The 4,580-square foot viewing area is necessary so all inside the stadium can see replays and highlights.
Photo: Craig Lamb
On the backside of the screen are three UT greats: Former coach Gen. Robert Neyland, flanked on the left by Vols Al Wilson and Jason Witten at right. He went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys and ranks second in all-time receptions and receiving yards by an NFL tight end. Wilson played on the Vols 1998 NCAA National Championship team, then eight seasons for the Denver Broncos.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Upstream from campus is the Henley Street Bridge, one of four vehicle bridges crossing the river in the downtown area. Nearby are the takeoff venue, an iconic waterfront restaurant, and the Classic launch ramp.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Volunteer Landing Park borders Neyland Drive. Here you will find the Classic contenders taking off each morning of the tournament. The linear park features a long walkway for spectators to view the launch.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Here is what will be center stage of the takeoff. This vantage point will provide a full view of all the boats and the anglers.
Photo: Craig Lamb
The city park connects to a greenway system that provides easy access to downtown Knoxville.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Adjacent to the park is Calhoun’s on the River, a popular eatery on football weekends, and destined to become a favorite of Classic fans for its location directly on the water.
Photo: Craig Lamb
The restaurant opened in 1988 and is known for its award-winning barbecue.
Photo: Craig Lamb
You can see the river from most anywhere inside the restaurant.
Photo: Craig Lamb
The bar is a welcoming place to take in the restaurant, enjoy the food and get a glimpse of the river.
Photo: Craig Lamb
On football weekends there is very little parking available, not on land but on the river, where the Vol Navy docks for the games.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Outside is a large patio that is adjacent to the Volunteer Landing Park.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Yet another view of Volunteer Landing Park, which will be packed with Classic fans.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Next door is Volunteer Landing Marina, where many houseboats and yachts dock all year. The marina is also home to the Vol Navy.
Photo: Craig Lamb
This houseboat likely belongs in the Vol Navy, which dates back to the 1960s.
Photo: Craig Lamb
On any given home game Saturday, the Vol Navy is a fleet of boats that on average number from 150 to 200 boats, mostly houseboats like this, yachts and runabouts. The Vol Navy is part of the unique atmosphere of the football games.
Photo: Craig Lamb
The tour is about over and it’s time to head back to Concord Park.
Photo: Craig Lamb
At the opposite end is Fort Loudoun Dam, the uppermost of the Tennessee Valley Authority Dams on the Tennessee River, which winds 652 miles from Knoxville, into northern Alabama, and back up to West Tennessee and into Kentucky Lake. The dam is 122 feet high and stretches 4,190 feet across the river. To the right is the lock chamber that provides navigation into Watts Bar Lake.
Photo: Craig Lamb
