You DO need a weatherman to see which way the wind blows

By Greg Huff -- "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast host

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." 

-- Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues"

Steve Carrell played a weatherman in "Anchorman."

Obviously, Bob Dylan never fished a bass tournament.

If he had, he certainly never would have penned the above line. For tournament fishermen, a good weatherman -- one who can forecast weather events accurately -- is an absolute necessity. It's also a boon for fantasy fishing players.

So it helps to consult a bonafide meteorologist before you lock your fantasy fishing roster -- and one that's a bass fisherman to boot. Someone like "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast's resident weatherman, Tony Barlow, formerly a meteorologist at KELO-TV in Sioux Falls, SD, and now running his own venture at www.weathertheoutdoors.com.

Each week on the last day before rosters lock, Barlow appears on "Fantasy Fishing Insider" to give a customized weather forecast for the week's tournament. And by "customized," I mean tailor-made by a bass fishermen, forbass fishermen about how the weather at the tournament venue will likely affect bass fishing.

That's a pretty sharp tool for helping set your fantasy fishing roster -- if his forecasts are accurate. Let's check the podcast tape and check Barlow's custom Bassmaster Classic forecast for Day 1 and compare it to how we now know which way the wind blowed on Friday.

"We're going to be see temperatures warming up a little bit over the next couple days … likely into the 70s and 80s," Barlow said Wednesday in our podcast interview.

That happened.

"The weather is weird here -- it's going to be record highs the day before the tournament," Bassmasters TV host Tommy Sanders reported Thursday on bassmaster.com.

Barlow forecasted also that those high temps would then suddenly plummet -- a dreaded cold front was bearing down on Shreveport.

"A pretty decent cold front streams right on through for Day 1 of the tournament. …" Barlow told me on the podcast Wednesday.

"From Thursday to Friday, going into the first day of the event, we're looking at a 20-degree temperature drop. … From a high in the mid 80s to high in the mid 60s. It's going to get cool. … Certainly cooler than they're used to [in Louisiana this time of year] and I'm sure it will throw off any fish patterns that guys have set up here [in practice] as temperatures have been climbing. It's definitely a major curveball."

That happened too.

"After days of unseasonably warm weather, Friday dawned at the Red River South Marina with air temperatures of about 50 degrees," Deb Johnson reported Friday morning at bassmaster.com

And that weather's effect on the bite?
 
Barlow predicted "there might be a little window there early Friday where guys can get on some big fish."
 
Nailed it.
 
Bassmaster.com writer Kyle Carter reported this in the Day 1 Classic live blog:
 

"We’re about to hit a window that will probably give us the best fishing this three-day tournament is going to offer. It’s the perfect storm: water is warm from the warm front, mud is moving south from the cold front, guys are figuring it out as the day goes on, and weather will get into the 60s in the next hour or so. The last five hours of today is going to be really interesting. This might be the only day where these guys get warm, clear(ish) water."

And BassGold's Jay Kumar reported on yesterday on bassmaster.com's live feed from the Classic War Room that the best hour Friday for number of catches was 10:30 to 11:30 and the best hour for quality catches was 11:30 to 12:30.

So, what did Barlow forecast for today and tomorrow? Here are some highlights from our podcast interview:
 
1. Temps, conditions will stabilize
 
"It does look like it stays pretty stable as we go through the tournament, so if guys can get on some fish … Friday and Saturday, they might set themselves up to kind of figure out a pattern by Sunday."

2. Daytime highs in the 60s
 
"Lows are going to be in the 30s -- mid to upper 30s. And daytime highs in the mid-60s.

3. High, bluebird skies, no wind, no rain
 
"Lots of sunshine -- so it looks like we should have pretty bright skies."

"Winds do die down into Saturday and Sunday."

"Typically, when you have cooler air, it doesn't have quite as much moisture. …"

"I was thinking [last week] they might get hit with a real soaker over the weekend, but it looks [now] like weather will be pretty [dry]."

4. Water temps not likely to reach 60 again
 
"I think they may get [to 60] Thursday, with temperatures really warming up as we lead into the event. … Maybe early Friday morning there may be some fish up shallow before they realize that it's cooler."

"Clear skies lead to very cool nights as well, which is what we're going to be seeing. … With temperatures in the mid-30s, water temperatures are going to be dropping pretty quickly as well. …

"When you have the sunshine up during the day that can do a fair job of keeping at least the surface water temperatures a little warmer. It's when we lose that sun -- lose that solar presence overnight. … It really allows the water temperatures to drop."

Today's local, national forecast
As the sun rose at about 6;45 a.m. today, the Weather Underground temperature reading for Shreveport was 33.8 degrees, with clear skies and no wind. The wunderground.com forecast for today calls for partly cloudy skies, a high of 63, and winds less than 5 mph. The barometric pressure is falling slightly.

Here is Shreveport TV station KSLA-12's weather forecast for today.


Sunday's Weather Underground forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, a high of 63 and South-South East winds of 5- to 10 mph.

One Classic competitor that might want to take note of the forecast -- and believe it -- is Gerald Swindle, who appears to have gone into Day 1 of competition thinking he, like Bob Dylan, DIDN'T need a weatherman to tell him which way the wind blows.

"He was giving it pretty good to the local weather guy down there in Shreveport," Barlow said, referencing a video on bssmaster.com. "I think he's in a bit of denial. … He wasn't believing the forecast -- that temperatures were going to cool off. We'll see where that gets him."

Swindle on Friday weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces of bass, putting him in 40th place out of 49 anglers, 9 pounds and 1 ounce behind leader Keith Poche.

"I always say it's hard to trust a weatherman," Barlow said. "But the minute you bet against us, we'll bite ya."

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Bass Utopia contributor "Web Guy Greg" Huff interviewed Tony Barlow, Greg Hackney and Keith Alan for our "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast. You can listen to the interview here or in the player below.

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A "Wacky" cliche?

By Carl Spande -- Bass Utopia Contributor

This past weekend, I was fortunate to catch open-water winter largemouths, a rarity in Minnesota. I won't disclose the location, but you already knew that. How often does a bass fisherman relinquish his favorite honey holes? 


The author with a nice catch

What I can tell you is how I caught them -- on a  wacky-rigged Tonka Tackle Dead Stick.

The wacky rig is one of the most simplistic set-ups in bass fishing. It is literally using a hook to bisect the middle of a plastic worm. One of the most effective ways to fish this bait is to just let the worm fall on slack line. The action is subtle and enticing.

Typically, I use 6-8 lbs fluorocarbon line to make the presentation as natural as possible. This past weekend, I bulked up to 15-lb. test, as the fish proved that my 6-lb. line was a bit skimpy.

This weekend brought up an interesting topic of conversation regarding fishing lures. Is there a bait or presentation out there that you will not use because you feel it is too cliche?

As an example, my buddy Dan smirked when I mentioned that I was planning on throwing the wacky rig if the fishing got tough. In fact, I was confident that I would be making casts with this set-up at some point, so I had a rod pre-rigged for just the right time. After prodding Dan a bit about his smirk, we came to the conclusion that some baits reek of simplicity and ease of use. This in turn leads some anglers to disregard certain presentations, in my opinion, because they don't want to seem elementary. Or, they want to be creative, innovative, and technical with their lure choices. 

So how do we make a worm on a hook creative? How can we modify a spinnerbait to gain the extra edge? How can we feel comfortable as anglers and competitors casting the simple lures, when we are always trying to find the latest and greatest, new high-tech lure? 

I believe that all lures can be modified to create a unique presentation each day on the water. For example, the placement of the hook on a wacky rig directly affects the direction and rate of fall of the worm. We can change the type of worm we use: floating, sinking, large, small. Colors, scents, and dyes can all play a very important role in finding the pattern that takes home the cash.

The bottom line -- we always fish to catch big fish. Whether you catch them on an Alabama Rig, swimbait, or Tonka Tackle Dead Stick, who cares? The only thing that matters is what you bring to the weigh in tent.

The next time you rummage through your tackle box and are thinking of what bait to try next, pick the one that you have discarded as the inglorious fish catcher. The one you put away after you bought that $20 dog-walking lure. The one that calls your name and catches your eye every time you glance past it, recalling that one big fish you will always remember. 


Pick that lure and hold on -- I sure did.  

*   *   *

Carl Spande can be contacted on his website, BassMN.com

How high's the water, Mama?

River level, flow, remain unanswered questions heading into Bassmaster Classic

By Greg Huff -- "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast host

How high's the water, Mama?

Like Johhny Cash, Bassmaster Classic anglers are asking the same question this weekend -- and will be up through Thursday morning when they first launch in competition.

The blog author reflected in a Johnny Cash poster. Steven Wolfe photo.

While the Man In Black queried his own mother in the classic song "Five Feet High and Rising," Classic anglers -- Fishermen in Rainsuits -- directed their questions at Mother Nature in the first two days of practice. 

Water levels on the Classic playing field, Red River pools 3, 4 and 5 near Shreveport, LA, is a crucial -- but unknown -- factor heading into the so-called Super Bowl of bass fishing. As of 10 p.m. Saturday, about 1.29 inches of rain had fallen in the Shreveport area, according to Weather Underground.

Rain in and around Shreveport, "should stir the pot and make it fun for everybody," 2008 Classic Champion Alton Jones reported earlier this week on his Facebook page. Higher and muddier, the Red is "a different river" now than when Skeet Reese won the 2009 Classic on it in 2009.

Just how different it will be by the first competition day is the $64,000 question -- or rather the $500,000 question, considering the cash prize for winning the Classic. Read more here about how water level and clarity could cause the river fish smaller this year than it did in 2009.

Lock of the week
While Mother Nature will have much to say about how high's the water, man will have a say too. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers controls the river level through a system of locks and dams. So although heavy rains can swell the river in one pool, Corps officials can decide to let some of that water down into a lower pool. Those decisions can affect a Classic competitor's game-plan.

Rapidly fluctuating water levels often scatter bass, whereas stable water and slowly rising or falling water makes bass easier to locate. As of 11 p.m. Saturday night, the river stage was 16.84 feet, the flow 29.6 kcfs (thousand cubic feet per second), as reported on this website. River-level forecasts through Thursday morning at that website predict little change in stage or flow. According to the Corps, the Red River rose only 0.01 feet 11 p.m. Friday and 11 p.m. Saturday.

That, however, can change.

How high's the water, Mama?

Ask me again tomorrow.


* * *
Bass Utopia contributor "Web Guy Greg" Huff interviewed Alton Jones and Edwin Evers for our "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast. You can listen to the interview here or in the player below.

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Rain Saturday had Classic anglers seeking hot spots and dry clothes

By Greg Huff -- "Fantasy Fishing Insider" Podcast Host

In Bassmaster Classic practice, an angler's top priority is finding spots likely to hold fish for the three competition days. On Saturday, some anglers paused to locate something else -- dry clothes.

"Came in, ate lunch, dried off, warmed up, and now I'm headed back out!" Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year Ott Defoe posted on his Facebook page Saturday at about 3:30 p.m.

A couple hours earlier, 2010 and 2011 Angler of the Year runner-up Edwin Evers posted similarly on his Facebook page.

Edwin Evers: 2009 Bassmaster file photo.

"Poured rain here all morning! I got so soaked that I had to go in and change shoes and all! It's finally stopped and I'm back out looking for the winning fish!"

DeFoe had already alerted his Facebook fans about the rain in Shreveport early Saturday.

"It is raining cats and dogs this morning!" He posted. "Every ounce of me wants to stay in the bed but I'll be leaving this warm dry place soon."

By 10 p.m. Saturday, about 1.29 inches of rain had fallen in the Shreveport area, according to Weather Underground.

The heavy rain made for a "rough day," DeFoe said in his post Saturday evening. Still, he caught a few fish, he said, and "found a couple areas that seem to have some fish in them." None, however, "were quite picture worthy though." Yesterday he posted a photo of a largemouth he caught in practice.

The Saturday-night Weather Underground forecast for Shreveport called for overcast skies with more rain, a low of 39 degrees, 5- to 15-mph NNE winds shifting to the west after midnight. The chance of rain was 100% with rainfall amounts near 0.8 in. possible. The Sunday forecast is for partly cloudy skies, a high of 61 and winds from the north at 5 to 10 mph.

Although DeFoe reported that "the weather is supposed to be good from here on out," several Shreveport-area forecasts call for more rain on Monday and Tuesday. That precipitation appears likely to wane by Thursday, the first day of competition, and last through Saturday.

Better weather, DeFoe said, would "help on all fronts," but he wondered how Saturday's heavy rain would affect the overall river level. Rain or shine though, he will resume "trying to find the mother load" on Sunday.

Evers, DeFoe: 2011 Bassmaster file photo.

If current forecasts prove accurate, Classic competitors could weigh their biggest bags on Thursday. Wednesday and Thursday's highs are forecast to be in the low 70s, the highest temps in recent weeks by almost 10 degrees. That bump could be just what the bass need to nudge them up from pre-spawn staging areas toward their beds.

The bass might retreat to those same pre-spawn areas just as quickly, however, as Saturday's Weather Underground forecast calls for Friday and Saturday temps to fall back to the low 60s. Or, the bass could remain in pre-spawn mode all week, never making much of a move. The moon next week will be new, a phase that doesn't trigger bass to spawn nearly as much as does a full-moon phase.

Sunday will be the third of three "un-official" Classic practice days. The river will will be off-limits to competitors on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday is the official practice day. Classic competition begins Thursday morning and ends late Saturday afternoon.

Here's Sunday's weather forecast from Shreveport TV station KSLA:



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Bass Utopia contributor "Web Guy Greg" Huff interviewed Alton Jones and Edwin Evers for our "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast. You can listen to the interview here or in the player below.

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Jones, Defoe among Classic competitors posting practice reports via social media (update)

Weather reports are the Facebook topic du jour

By Greg Huff -- "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast host

Timmy Horton's tweet this morning set the scene for the second day of Bassmaster Classic practice:

"Good morning from the Red River. …100 mph rain suit day."

Ott DeFoe posted this Classic-practice photo Friday night on Facebook.

The weatherunderground.com forecast for Shreveport today calls for a 100% chance of rain -- "thunderstorms and rain showers, then rain showers in the afternoon." The forecast calls for as much as 1.3 inches of rain, a high temperature is 54 and NE winds from 5 to 10 mph.

Rain and its effect on the Red River's water level and clarity is the top social-media topic heading into the Classic practice period. 2008 Classic Champion Alton Jones was among the first 2012 competitors to report publicly on water conditions, posting on his Facebook page on Wednesday that the Red "seems to be living up to its' name . . . RED. And it is raining too, so we're likely to get a little bit more water. Should stir the pot and make it fun for everybody."

A high, muddy Red River will make for a much different Bassmaster Classic than the event Skeet Reese won in 2009. The good news is that higher water will make some backwater areas more accessible. The bad news is that an influx of rain runoff from feeder creeks will muddy up the river and reduce the amount of much-sought-after clear water.

"If that continues, the Red won't fish quite as big as it did in 2009," two-time Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year runner-up Edwin Evers said in a recent "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast, "because clear water is pushed back into smaller areas."

At about 1 p.m. this afternoon, Evers posted on his Facebook page about today's heavy rain:

"Poured rain here all morning! I got so soaked that I had to go in and change shoes and all! It's finally stopped and I'm back out looking for the winning fish!"

Jones reported on his Facebook page Friday night that the Red is "a different river than when we were here back in 2009." Several of his productive spots from that Classic, in which he finished 14th, "are silted over now and not fishable." His goal for the practice period is to find enough spots for "one good tournament day." Late on Friday afternoon, he said, he found "a pretty good spot" and got about 15 bites.

"No hooks, but a couple were good fish," Jones said. "I'm heading a different direction tomorrow."

On Thursday, Jones offered additional insight into his practice game-plan, noting that he'll have 10 rods rigged and on the boat deck.

"Now it's all about making sure that I'm covering lots of water in all the right places," he wrote on his Facebook wall. "My goal is to find about 3 different schools of bass, 1 for each day of the Classic."

He posted on Tuesday that his boat is "loaded to the gills" with tackle, but after practice he'll know better what he'll need in competition and will "cull out a few lures."

Although Jones is the most prolific Facebook poster of all Bassmaster Elite Series pros, he was not alone in using social media to update bass-fishing fans on Classic preparations.

Defending Classic champion and reigning Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam took to Facebook at about 10 p.m. last night to comment on a forecast for one to three inches of rain.

"That will change things," he told his 25,851 Facebook fans.

And although he did not specifically mention his physical fitness following hernia surgery in January, he said after his first day of practice that "it felt great to be back out on the water today." From the water that morning waiting for the sun to come up, he posted that has been "preparing for awhile" and was "ready to get started."

Most -- if not all -- of that preparation was done virtually. As per usual, KVD did not spend any time pre-practicing on the Classic fishery.

Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year Ott Defoe took to Facebook late last night, posting both a practice report and a photo.

"This was one of the few decent fish of my first day of practice for the Classic," he reported. "It was a ok day overall. I've got a few more places to look at tomorrow then I'll have it narrowed down."

Early this morning, DeFoe posted about the heavy rainfall in the Shreveport area:

"It is raining cats and dogs this morning! Every ounce of me wants to stay in the bed but I'll be leaving this warm dry place soon."

Andrew Upshaw, who earned the first-ever Classic qualifying berth from the College B.A.S.S. circuit, also posted a report on his Facebook page Friday night.

"One day of practice under my belt, thanks for all the support and good luck wishes, looks like its gonna be interesting," he said.

"Interesting" seems to be the trending buzz-word coming out of Shreveport. Does that mean difficult? Or are the pros already beginning to sandbag?

Jared Lintner, competing in his third Classic, posted this somewhat cryptic message on his Facebook page last night:

"First day on Red River... was interesting. 1 down, 2 more to go."

And Elite Series sophomore Brandon Palaniuk, competing in his second Classic, posted this message this morning:

"Day 2 of practice: Flash flood warnings/High Winds! This could get interesting."

Lintner hasn’t been to a Classic since he finished 20th at Lake Hartwell in 2008. He was 19th the year before on Lay Lake.

Prior to his rookie Elite Series season, Palaniuk placed 4th in his first-ever Classic, having qualified through the Federation Nation route.

Dustin Wilks, competing in his sixth Classic, posted to his Facebook page yesterday, but mentioned not underwater fauna but airborne wildlife:

"Enjoying the Pelicans on the Red River!" He said.

In Wilks' last Classic appearance, 2009, he placed 44th. His best Classic finish was 16th in 1999.

Gerald Swindle, competing in his 12th Classic, also posted to his Facebook page a reference to the weather forecast for today:

"Looks like we are gonna get wet tomorrow."

Wet conditions are likely to continue through the night. This is the weatherunderground.com forecast for Saturday night:

"Mostly cloudy with rain in the evening, then partly cloudy with a chance of rain. Low of 41F. Winds from the North at 5-15 mph. Chance of rain 60% with rainfall amounts near 0.5 in. possible."

Today is the second of three days of "un-official" Classic practice days. The river will go off-limits on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday is the official practice day. Classic competition begins Thursday morning and ends late Saturday afternoon.

Where to find 'em on Facebook

By our research, the following Bassmaster Classic competitors communicate with their fans through Facebook fan or public personal pages. (Note: If we've missed anyone, post a comment below and we will update our list)

KVD

Mike Iaconelli

Alton Jones

David Walker

Ott DeFoe

Gerald Swindle

Brandon Palaniuk

Edwin Evers

Dustin Wilks

Andrew Upshaw

Takahiro Omori

Bobby Lane

Keith Poche

Marty Robinson

Jared Lintner

Elite Tweeps

Edwin Evers
Mike Iaconelli
Timmy Horton
David Walker
Brandon Palaniuk
Brent Chapman
John Crews
Shaw Grigsby 
Randy Howell 
Alton Jones
Chris Lane
Keith Poche
Gerald Swindle

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Bass Utopia contributor "Web Guy Greg" Huff interviewed Alton Jones and Edwin Evers for our "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast. You can listen to the interview here or in the player below.

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Alton Jones Bassmaster Classic Preview: Red River "fits my strengths' in late February (Updated)

By Greg Huff -- Bass Utopia Contributor

Having fallen back to the pack after leading the 2011 Angler of the Year race early and not qualifying for the Elite Series' post-season derby, Alton Jones last summer was focused squarely on his next tournament -- never mind that it was seven months in the future.

Alton Jones. 2009 Bassmaster file photo.

"Right now, my sights are really set on the Bassmaster Classic," he said in July, while working in the Ardent booth at the ICAST trade show in Las Vegas. "I'll be doing a lot of preparation this fall for that event."

The Red River, site of the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, has "an abundance of fish and an abundance of visual cover to pitch at and throw spinnerbaits around and whatever," Jones said. "So, I like it."

The Red "fits my strengths," Jones said, especially in late February. "Because its going to be a backwater, shallow-water spring-time, early pre-spawn deal." Also, "it's close enough to my house, that I'll get a chance to spend some time there this winter."

Jones wrote in his Bassmaster.com column, "Alton's Angle," that he scouted the Red in early December, shortly before it officially went off-limits for Classic competitors. He said then that he probably would not even take a rod out of the locker; that he would be mostly searching for "that little hidden place that may give up a few fish that contribute to a win."

Today, he can launch onto the Red for the first time since then, with the Classic "unofficial" practice period now open. The first order of business will be to determine if the river will likely to fish similarly or significantly differently than it did in the 2009 Classic, in which Jones weighed a 20-pound-plus bag on Day 3 to finish 14th.

"I learned a lot about the fishery [in 2009]," Jones said. "I learned that it's a lot better fishery than what I had judged it going into that practice."

Going into practice this year, the Red appears to be higher and muddier than it was in the 2009 Classic.

"We drove over the bridge on the way into town, and it became obvious why it’s called the Red River: it’s raining and it’s red and it’s running," he wrote in his April 15 Bassmaster.com column. "In the 2009 Classic, the water was low … . Now, though, it’s getting back to normal level and it should stay this way. … So, it should fish differently."

With factors considerably different than they were in the 2009 Classic and Jones' December scouting trip, the task at hand now is culling from those experiences what translates to prevailing conditions and forming a game-plan.

"You can’t rest on what you learned when you were here last because the conditions are so different," he wrote Wednesday in his column, "guys are going to have to go out and learn how to catch these fish."

With a $500,000 prize on the line and the esteem and media attention a Classic win bring, anglers fish the Classic to win perhaps more so than any other tournament. No Angler of the Year points are awarded for a decent finish and second place pays way less than first-place.

Still, a strong showing in the Classic can give an angler momentum going into a new season; momentum that can propel them into a great season and a run at Angler of the Year. After finishing 14th in the 2009 Classic, Jones finished 6th in AOY points, behind winner Kevin Van Dam, Skeet Reese, Tommy Biffle, Mike Iaconelli and Randy Howell.

A Classic win can do the same thing. KVD has won the Classic and Angler of the Year the last two years. After Jones won the 2008 Classic on Lake Hartwell, he finished 5th in the AOY race.

That's not to say, however, that a Classic win or high finish is a mandatory to jump start a good season. Jones did not qualify for the 2011 Classic, but took an early lead in that year's AOY race after scoring top 12s in the first three events. He eventually fell back to the pack and finished 9th.

"Overall, when I look back at it, it was a great year," Jones said. "Any time you can notch a top-10 performance on the Elite Series Angler of the Year Race, you've got to feel good about it."

That said, he still burns to win.

"Now, I'm never satisfied, you know, unless I'm number one, I'm not satisfied," he said. "But it is what it is and it kind of motivates me for next year."

Next year starts today.

Update
Alton Jones posted this Red River report on his Facebook page today:  Practice Day 1 is in the books now. It's a different river than when we were here back in 2009. There are several places that I fished last time that are silted over now and not fishable. But I've got to remember my practice goal -- each day of practice find enough for 1 good tournament day. And late this afternoon, I found a pretty good spot and had about 15 bites. No hooks, but a couple were good fish. I'm heading a different direction tomorrow.

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Bass Utopia contributor "Web Guy Greg" Huff interviewed Alton Jones for our "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast. You can listen to the interview here or in the player below.

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Evers expecting more current, dirtier water than in 2009 Classic

Bassmaster File Photo. Used with permission.

By Edwin Evers -- As told to Greg Huff

I'm trying a different strategy leading into the 2012 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River -- no pre-practice.

I've pre-practiced for every Classic I've ever been to and I haven't won one yet, so this year, I won't begin developing a game-plan until the first day of official practice. 

I finished 5th on the Red River in the 2009 Classic that Skeet Reese won. It's a place I've fished quite a few times and I like it a lot and feel really comfortable there.

The river in 2009 was as clean as it could possibly be. Shreveport hadn't had much rain, so it was low and really clear. It doesn't get any better than what we had then. Conditions this year, however, will likely be different.

We've already got a lot more rain, so the river's quite a bit higher than it was when we were there in 2009. So I expect there to be quite a bit more current and probably dirtier water than we had then. I don't know that yet for a fact, but looking at the river gauges online, there's definitely a lot more water going through the river right now than when we were there in 2009. If that continues, the Red won't fish quite as big as it did in 2009, because clear water is pushed back into smaller areas.

Whether I'll fish in Pool 4 or 5 remains to be seen. I've got four days of practice and I'm going to fish both pools in those four days. And that's going to be a telling tale, trying to figure it out. I don't have any pre-conceived notions. Once I get there and look it over, I'll hopefully get a better grasp of what's going on.

"Fantasy Fishing Insider" asked me to name some competitors -- other than KVD -- that might make good additions to your fantasy fishing rosters. There's a number of guys that are definitely capable of winning this that have had success on the Red River before.

I think Greg Hackney will be really good, with the knowledge he has of that place. Mike Iaconelli did really well there last time we were there. Brandon Palaniuk's showing that he's a really good angler and he won a Federation event there. And Alton Jones had a 20-pound bag there last time we were there too.

It's a neat place to fish. I was in third after the second day in 2009 and without a doubt felt like I was on the fish to win it. I just struggled that final day. I think I ended up losing by three pounds. And I had a monster on in the final three minutes of the tournament -- a giant on a stump. But it came off.

I catch that fish, and it would have been a whole different Classic. But it is what it is and Skeet won it. I'm looking forward to getting back down there.

Editor's note: Bass Utopia contributor "Web Guy Greg" Huff interviewed Edwin Evers on Feb. 8 for our "Fantasy Fishing Insider" podcast. You can listen to the interview here or in the player below.

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Central Open Rookie Douglas Picks Up Points, Confidence in Lake Lewisville Grind

By Greg Huff -- Bass Utopia Contributor

Josh Douglas (right). Screengrab courtesy Rich Lindgren.

It was just like he'd seen it in his mind's eye -- a Bassmaster Central Open rookie named Josh was sitting in the weigh-in "hot seat" on Day 3 with a chance to win thousands of dollars and a ticket to the Bassmaster Classic.

Except for one important detail -- it was Arizonan Josh Bertrand in the hot seat. Minnesota angler Josh Douglas, on the other hand, was seated at the wheel of his pick-up, towing his Ranger boat home from Texas' Lake Lewisville, where he finished in 68th place in his first Bassmaster Open.

Still, all things considered, Douglas was not too disappointed with his finish in what was arguably the most challenging Bassmaster Open in recent memory -- perhaps ever. In a derby plagued by cold fronts, strong winds and the killer combination of high, cold, muddy water, only three anglers kept the skunk out of the boat on every day they competed -- 5th-place finisher and Elite Series pro Mike McClelland, 7th-place finisher Shawn Temple and the eventual champion, Elite Series pro Brent Chapman, who defeated Betrand in a five-hour tie-breaker fish-off Sunday.

"My mentality went from trying to win it, to trying to get a check, to trying to get in the top 50, to now I just want to get a bite and I'm going to go from there," Douglas said on the eve of the first day of the tournament.

In two days of competition, he weighed a 1-pound, 5-ounce bass and a 2-8.

"Toughest fishing I've ever encountered, probably in my life, or close to it," Douglas said by phone on Saturday, while driving home to Minnesota.

Still, he earned 112 points toward his dream to fish in the Bassmaster Elite Series (the top point winners in the Bassmaster Open circuits are extended Elite Series invites), and finished ahead of several Elite Series sticks, including 4-time Bassmaster Classic Champion Rick Clunn, who did not weigh a single bass in the tournament.

"I fared well against a lot of my idols. …" Douglas said.

Elite Series pro Scott Rook tied for 112th, weighing a 1-pound, 8-ounce bass on Day 1, then zeroing on Day 2.

Elite Series pros Clark Reehm, Bradley Roy and Brian Snowden zeroed on both Thursday and Friday.

"It was a grind," Douglas says. "Everyone's in the same boat and I know its tough on everybody. ...

"It's really hard when you're not getting any bites, but it's better than sitting at home on the couch and not fishing," he said further. "A bite like that means its anybody's ballgame."

Several anglers that weighed good bags on Day 1 blanked on Day 2.

"You gotta look at that when you grade yourself," he said.

Josh Douglas (right). Screengrab courtesy Rich Lindgren.

Although Douglas finished 28 places out of the money, his 3-pound,13-ounce total weight was only 2 pounds, 9 ounces lighter than the last paid place, 40th. That's only one bite away from a check, two bites away from a top-12 finish. Several anglers that earned checks zeroed at least one day, having built a lead on the first day, when the weather -- while still bad -- was better than on Day 2.

"It's tough knowing that I only needed one more bite to cash a check," Douglas said. "If i could catch two more, I could've got into the top 12. … If you got fish, it seems you got pretty good ones."

Four in the top 12 blanked on two days -- runner-up Betrand, Brad Lankford (4th), Tommy Jonovich (9th) and Billy McCaghren (10th).

"If you would have told me before that you would only need nine pounds to cash a check, I would have said 'Sign me up, I can catch nine pounds,'" Douglas said. "But it was 5,000 casts per bite."

Douglas appreciates "grinder tournaments," but said the muddy, cold water really "messed up" Lewisville's bass. Not to mention that most visible cover was a foot underwater following recent rains that raised the lake level about five to six feet to nearly full pool.

"Muddy water and warm temperatures is not the worst thing in the world, especially for a guy like me that likes to flip. …" Douglas said. "The problem is that there was really nothing in the water for a guy to flip to -- or very minimal, because everything is still down a foot. … And then the [water] temperature really dropped down."

"High muddy and cold water [made] for a very tough fishery on a lake that already has a record of being tough even when its good," he said further.

In practice, Douglas said, he "threw the kitchen sink" at Lake Lewisville.

"I've tried it all -- from real deep to ultra-shallow and everything in between," he said.

Douglas caught his 1-pound, 5-ounce, Day 1 bass on a Carolina rig. He caught his 2-pound, 8-ounce, Day 2 bass early on a dark chatterbait.

"I thought I was kinda in good position" at that point, he said. When he couldn't get another bite on the Chatterbait, he switched to an all-black spinnerbait that had garnered some attention from the Lewisville bass in practice.

"But I couldn't get 'em to bite it in the tournament," he said.

With the water so muddy, Douglas decided reaction baits were better bets than bottom baits.

"Chatterbaits ruled the roost," he said.

He saw a lot of people throwing crankbaits also, he said.

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"Web Guy Greg" Huff, is host of "Fantasy Fishing Insider," a free iTunes podcast that features bass fishing tips and tactics and Fantasy Fishing roster advice for the Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW tours. He is following Josh Douglas' rookie season in the Bassmaster Central Opens and documenting his quest to make the leap from local and regional success to bass fishing's top level.

Chapman Wins Central Open Fish-Off, Qualifies for 2013 Classic

LEWISVILLE, Texas –  Fittingly for stingy Lewisville Lake, the fish-off Sunday came down to one bite. Brent Chapman got it, Josh Bertrand never did.

Chapman. James Overstreet B.A.S.S photo.

Chapman caught a 6-pound, 5-ounce largemouth to capture the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open title in extra innings after the two anglers tied for the lead on Day 3 and had to go into a tie-breaker fish-off on Sunday. On Feb. 11. 

On Saturday, Elite Series pro Chapman weighed in three keepers, and Bertrand brought one fish to the scales. The anglers finished tied for first with 20 pounds, 9 ounces. The fish-off, from 7 a.m. to noon CST on Sunday, was the decider.

The tournament victory came with a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Chapman’s home water: Grand Lake in Oklahoma. The pressure is off for this year’s Elite Series, provided Chapman fishes the remaining two Central Open events.

“This is a big weight off my shoulders,” Chapman said. “First, this tournament is over. The bigger reason is that I made the Classic and finally got another win.”

The clinching bass very nearly never made it into the boat. Chapman was fishing a small creek that had warm water from a discharge running into the back of it. When he arrived Sunday morning, the current had disappeared, and the water was in the high 40s, a severe temperature drop.

“I didn’t know what to think,” Chapman said. “I honestly thought if there wasn’t water generation back there, it would be shot. I decided I had to at least make a pass and give it a try. After fishing for a short while without a bite, I remembered my partner a few days ago caught one on a wacky rig. On my third cast, I caught that one.”

When he first set the hook, he thought the fish might have been a catfish or a drum by the way it was staying down. As it got closer to the boat, however, he realized just how big of a bass he had hooked.

“If it had been the Elite Series without a net, I probably wouldn’t have caught that fish,” Chapman said. “I got that fish in the boat and the hook fell out of its mouth. If I wasn’t able to use a net, that fish would have gotten off.”

The 23-year-old Bertrand was gracious in defeat, enjoying every minute of the excitement, but ready to get on the road home.

“Surprisingly, I’m happy that he won with a good fish like that,” Bertrand said. “It was an exciting day. Obviously, I am disappointed I didn’t make it to the Classic, but a second-place finish on unfamiliar water is still an accomplishment.”

After a huge first day, during which Bertrand caught 18 pounds on an umbrella rig, his catch tapered off significantly. The dam area that proved to be so productive on Day One got swamped by heavy north winds the next two days. Though he was able to get there again today, the water temperature had dropped and it didn’t produce.

“With that big bag the first day, it’s been a stressful week, so I’m glad I’ll be able to relax on the way home,” said Bertrand, who hails from Arizona. “My goal is still to qualify for the Elite Series. I don’t know if it will happen this year or in 10 years, but I’m going to keep trying.

2012 Bassmaster Open Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Mercury, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2012 Bassmaster Open Supporting Sponsors: BoatUS Angler, BOOYAH Bait Company, Humminbird, Luck “E” Strike, Minn Kota, Power-Pole

About B.A.S.S.

For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, College B.A.S.S., B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

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Article and images courtesy Bassmaster Media. Used with Permission. Edited and posted by "Web Guy Greg" Huff, host of "Fantasy Fishing Insider," a free iTunes podcast that features bass fishing tips and tactics and Fantasy Fishing roster advice for the Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW tours.