Most any everyday angler or fan of the sport would tell you that if given the opportunity, they would love to have a shot at going to the Classic. Right now, there are only a handful of ways to fish in the sport’s Super Bowl: either qualify through the top tier by way of the Elite Series, make it through the Opens, manage to grind your way through the Weekend Series, or take one of five slots offered via the Federation Nation.
This week in Birmingham, 50 of the nation’s finest bass fishermen have converged on Lay Lake with hopes that they’ll ultimately walk off the stage Sunday as the newly crowned 2007 Classic Champion. The field represents a sample of every qualification venue – Pros and Joes alike will compete side-by-side for three days starting Friday.
A large contingency of them will, of course, head out to southwest Texas for the regular season’s opener at Lake Amistad in Del Rio, Texas after this event. A much smaller slice of the competition will be back at their respective places of work come Monday morning. To a man, however, each will share in the same goal and desire this week – to win the Classic.
That’s the beauty of this sport, and truly the most incredible thing about it from a competitor’s perspective. There’s little-to-no chance you could ever sit behind the wheel of a NASCAR and vie for the checkered flag at Daytona. It’s almost impossible to hope that an average 40-something year old guy could lace up a pair of cleats and hope to score the winning touchdown in an NFL game. But it is entirely possible for anyone with a rod and reel to fish in the Classic.
Oklahoma’s Royce Dennington is proof positive that a weekend angler (and middle-school science teacher) can compete with the biggest names of the sport. He’s one of five Federation Nation qualifiers here this week, and, should he win come Sunday, will be only the second of his kind (Bryan Kerchel in 1994) to do so.
“There are a lot of things that went right for me to make it to this point over the year,” Dennington allowed. “Were it not for the four-ounces I won by due to a dead-fish penalty in the Divisional, it’s over.”
Dennington admits that it’s not too hard to get a bit star-struck, but contends that at the end of the day he’s just going fishing…plus, like everyone else this week, he’s just been too busy to get worked up. “I really haven’t had a lot of time to get too amped up about actually being in the Classic,” he explained.
“About the only thing that’s thrown me is being in the boat yard. My boat’s parked between Edwin Evers and Denny Brauer. It didn’t take me but a little while to get adjusted to that – I’m really a low-key person anyway.”
Dennington might be among the minority of rookies when it comes to his ability to focus on the fish and not the hoopla. In speaking to many of the pros – guys who have been here multiple times over the years – they revealed it’s difficult not to get sucked into the Classic-week festivities. “It’s a huge production, and it just gets bigger every year,” 17-time Classic qualifier and two-time champion Kevin VanDam said.
“You have to be able to separate yourself from the fishing side of the week and all of the outside pressure that’s going on around you if you want to stay focused.”
Staying focused on the fishing is often times easier said than done. Sure, you can compartmentalize, or chose to put all of your energy into what lays in store once you’re one the water; however, keep in mind that Classic week – as opposed to any other tournament of the year – allows for the smallest amount of practice for the biggest reward. |
|
|
Official practice began last week – only three days, which was a change from years past. Anglers then cycle through press meetings, banquets, and more meetings with only one day of practice thrown in. Sure…focus on the fishing, right? Keep in mind too, that the weather has done a complete 180 – it was cold and nasty, and now it’s bright and warm. So, basically, the only meaningful practice occurred Wednesday for most.
All of the week’s hustle and bustle still doesn’t remove the burning desire for each of the field’s contestants to hit the water Friday. The mood in the press room Thursday among all of the pros was that it’s, “Game On!”
Aaron Martens, eight-time Classic qualifier and 2002 Classic runner-up on Lay Lake, likely captured the field’s sentiments best. “This tournament – for a lot of reasons – is the most emotional one of the year,” he explained. “All the work, all the anticipation, and everything that it means to your career all boils down to three days. It just hits you hard when you’re on the water for the first time Friday.”
Without a doubt, Angler of the Year means the world to every pro here, but a Classic victory – aside from the financial windfall a win would create – means everything. As Mike Wurm explained, a career can be boiled down to how many Classics an angler has won. “An NFL team can win the most games in a season and make it the Super Bowl, but without a win, it means nothing,” he said.
“It’s the Bassmaster’s Classic – it’s been a dream of every single angler in this room to be able to say they’re the Classic champ.”
Media
Day Quotes:
Royce Dennington
“It’s finally time to fish- When I’m on the water all I think about is the fish. What they want and how can I catch them? Now it is time go.”
Todd Faircloth
“I don’t think it (Classic) can be won with spotted bass only. It will take a combination of largemouths and spots to finish high this week. The water is warming fast and the big fish are moving up.”
Tommy Biffle
“To win the AOY, you have to beat these guys all year long. The Classic will be won with three days of fishing. AOY is the real deal.”
Mike McClelland
Classic, no doubt. At this point in my career, a Classic win would do more than the AOY title.”
Jeff Kreit
The Classic means more to angler financially. AOY will give you validation, but a Classic title is where the money is at.”
Aaron Martens
“This is a war. The emotions are so high this week and it hits you hard. I’ve come close now it’s time to win.”
Russ Lane
It could get ugly out there. The fish are ready to move up and you will see some big weights come in. The fish are going to bite.”
|
