Behind The Scenes
When spectators arrive at the BASS Masters Classic weigh-in, they are afforded a show of Super Bowl proportions. Before the smoke and laser lights surround the boat and truck rigs being used for the competition, a full day's (and night's) work has already happened. Here's a quick glimpse behind the scenes:
The competitors are caravaned to the launch site at 5 a.m. Three flights of anglers take off for their respective fishing locations. The fishermen must be back to the dock at their assigned times, and the boats are placed on the trailer by 2 p.m. After the boats are trailered, ice is placed in the livewells to keep the water cool during transportation, and the oxygen level is checked to make sure the fish stay in optimal conditions.
When the boats arrive backstage at the weigh-in site, they are hand-washed and spit-shined, along with the tow vehicle. As the anglers proceed, a weigh-in slip is made for the official records, sponsors promotional items are placed on the front deck, and the fishermen drive to the stage.
After the fish are weighed, they are placed in a live-release truck located immediately backstage and returned to the Delta. The boat/truck rigs are returned to the boatyard and are inspected by technicians that fix any problems that may have arisen. The batteries are then hooked-up to chargers and a fuel truck refills all the gas tanks. Then the cycle is repeated.
Factoid:
The best finish Kevin VanDam has ever posted at a Classic was 5th Place in 1993. VanDam caught 38 pounds, 3 ounces of bass on Alabama's Lake Logan Martin. Mark Davis won that year.
Strong Arm Of The Public:
The BASS Masters Classic Outdoor Show, which continues until Saturday at 10:00 p.m. at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, has something for everybody. It will pay to visit one booth in particular.
The folks at Armstrong Industrial Hand Tools are giving the general public a chance to flex their muscles. The challenge? Grab one end of one of their new Geared Combination Wrench, and yank. The person that generates the most torque (yanks the hardest), which is displayed to passers-by, is going to win a $5,000-set of Armstrong tools. The top five are going to have a pull-off on stage during tomorrow's Pre-Weigh-In Extravaganza.
Quote Of The Day:
"I wasn't born in Texas, but I got there as soon as I could! I wouldn't live anywhere else. It's a great spawning ground for bass fishermen." -- Jay Yelas, Classic Contender