GREENSBORO, N.C., August 7, 1998 - The last time Denny Brauer competed in the BASS Masters Classic world championship bass fishing tournament on North Carolina's High Rock Lake, he caught just one bass in three days and finished dead last. At that time in 1994, the Missouri pro called it "the most frustrating week of my career."
Fast-forward ahead to 1998 and the 28th annual Classic on High Rock Lake near Greensboro. This time, Brauer finds himself in the Classic lead entering Saturday's final round and poised to win the one major title that has escaped him during his illustrious career.
On Friday, Brauer climbed from eighth place to first with a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 14 ounces. His two-day total of 29-15 gives him a 14-ounce lead over first-round leader and two-time Classic champion George Cochran of Arkansas. His big catch was anchored by a 7-pound, 6-ounce largemouth that proved to be the largest of Friday's action.
Classic rookie Mike Reynolds of California is third with 26-11, followed by Texan Zell Rowland (25-2) and Tommy Biffle of Oklahoma (24-4).
"I had a tremendous day," said Brauer, whose career highlights include 10 B.A.S.S. tournament victories, 16 Classic appearances, one B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year title and more than $1 million in career earnings. "When you catch a 7-pound, 6-ounce fish in the first five minutes, you know it's going to be a good day. I had my limit by 8:25 (a.m.).
"I have no idea of what tomorrow will bring. I hope it's a repeat of this morning. You can fish a lot more efficiently when you get off to a good start like that. But I feel good about the area I'm fishing because of what happened this morning."
Although he wouldn't divulge his strategy for High Rock, Brauer, 49, is perhaps the country's best-known shallow-water angler who specializes in flipping and pitching. Brauer has been on a roll at the conclusion of the 1997-98 season, winning two of the final three Top 100 tournaments and narrowly missing another Angler of the Year award.
Cochran, 48, had another solid catch (11-14) Friday, but came up one bass short of a limit. And that is what saddled him behind Brauer. "I had a shot at a limit, but I lost one fish," said Cochran, who is competing in his 16th Classic. "I caught a lot of fish today. I threw back nine non-keepers."
Reynolds, a 32-year-old part-time truck driver from Modesto, Calif., is a third shallow-water expert vying for the Classic crown. His four-bass catch weighing 15-12 put him in prime position to win the sport's most important title in his first Classic appearance. "I fished real hard for those four bass, put them all in the boat and, fortunately, they were all good fish," he said.
Classic XXVIII concludes Saturday with the 3:00 p.m. EDT weigh-in festivities at the Greensboro Coliseum. Country music singer Tracy Byrd will host the event along with two-time Classic champion and TV fishing show star Hank Parker, MegaBucks winner Fish Fishburne and radio personality Don Day. Mark Chesnutt will provide part of the pre-show entertainment. The event is expected to attract more than 120,000 fans from throughout the nation and reporters from as far away as Germany, Japan, Portugal, Italy and Spain.