CHICAGO, Ill. - Forty-six of the world's best anglers will invade the Windy City for the 30th BASS Masters Classic July 20-22 including some of professional fishing's biggest names - Rick Clunn, Kevin VanDam, Davy Hite, Gary Klein, Larry Nixon, George Cochran, just to name a few.
Also included in that Classic lineup is the 27-year-old Top 150 rookie who managed to out-fish every one of them during the 1999-2000 season and shocked the fishing world by winning the B.A.S.S. Angler-of-the-Year title. Chances are you would not have recognized the name Tim Horton a year ago. And chances are, he has become a household name by dominating his more seasoned fellow pros.
The significance of Horton's accomplishment breaks down this way: The first freshman to win the prestigious title. The first pro in B.A.S.S. history to wrap up Angler-of-the-Year honors with one tournament remaining. Qualifying for a record four top-10 finals in the seven Top 150 events. A mere ounce short of qualifying for a fifth Top 150 finals in the last tournament of the year. A seasonal scorecard that reads like fiction - first, fourth, fifth, sixth, 11th, 24th and 38th - on the toughest, most competitive tournament trail in the country. In the process, he pocketed a cool $169,300. And in his wake, he left such well-known and more seasoned pros as VanDam, Nixon and Reese more than 50 points behind.
"Do I know what I did?" Horton repeats the question, laughing. "I think the magnitude now that I'm getting a lot of calls from the press is getting a little clearer. I'm starting to see from everybody else's perspective how big a deal it is. It is starting to sink in.
"As far as being a rookie and winning Angler of the Year in just six tournaments, yeah, it even amazes me that it happened that way. You know, things fell into place for me this year with every tournament. I think when good things happen and you start getting confident, things just flow a lot better. And that's how every tournament went for me this year.
"I really felt like I was on a roll or in a zone. When you get in that zone, you get a sense of confidence that either opens your mind up more or makes things just click easier. You have confidence in what you're doing and you stay with it until it works. There's something that happens that's unexplainable because I know it can go the other way if you don't have confidence. Your mind just isn't clear, and you're running around and not sticking with things. You're switching up too fast to where everything just becomes a panic, chaotic tournament for you. When you get in that zone, though, everything flows more smoothly and you don't feel rushed."
Horton's two strengths as a fisherman - born from his days of guiding on the Tennessee River impoundments - are at both ends of the strategic spectrum. His ability to interpret electronics and precisely probe deeper offshore structure provided him with sixth- and first-place finishes in the first three Top 150 events. And his nerves-of-steel ability to match wits with visible bass paid off to the tune of 22nd -, fourth- and fifth- place showings in the spring when the fish were spawning.
Despite his success, the blonde, baby-faced reigning Angler of the Year does not have any apparent ego problems.
"I want people in the fishing world to know that I'm just a humble guy who isn't going to change," he said. "And I want them to know how much I appreciate the older pros because when I was 12 or 13 years old, they made it so exciting for me. That's what gave me the drive and ambition to want to go out and do this for a living. I want these guys to know how much respect I have for them, and how they still beat us all the time out here, too."
"It was a pretty neat competition with (Michael) Iaconelli, Skeet (Reese), Larry Nixon and Kevin (VanDam) for Angler of the Year. They really pushed me all season long."
Away from the competition, Horton and wife Melanie experienced the birth of their first child (Lauren Bailee), born unexpectedly as the proud papa shared in the delivery via telephone from the Lake Seminole Top 150. And the sudden financial security has enabled Melanie to quit her job and travel more with her husband.
"Three or four years ago, I couldn't have accomplished this because of the pressure involved in winning Angler of the Year," Horton said. "I think maybe during that time I went through a maturing process. I guess even having a baby helped me this year because it took my mind off of the pressure."
Horton is excited about heading for Chicago and his chances of further shocking the bass world by winning the most important title in the sport.
"I can't wait for the Classic," he said. "I think having the Classic in Chicago is going to be great."
During the week of July 17-22, the Windy City will be the site of the biggest celebration of the sport of fishing. On Wednesday, Jackson Lake Park will be the site of the Kids Klassic contest (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and a Meet the Pros Autograph session (8 a.m. to 11 p.m.).
McCormick Center will host the highly popular Classic Outdoor Show, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors annually. This year's show is being held in conjunction with American Sportfishing Association's annual ICAST trade show - meaning that Classic visitors will enjoy a rare opportunity to get a glimpse at all of the new fishing and boating products that will go on the market in 2001.
For the second consecutive year, local and visiting fishing fans will also be treated to an extra day of show attendance on Sunday after the Classic competition has concluded. The show opens on Thursday and runs through Sunday.
Soldier Field will host the three daily weigh-ins, which will include the award-winning laser-light show that will crown the new Classic champion on Saturday. Also, the annual CASTINGKIDS national finals, sponsored by Chevy Trucks and Zebco, will be held in Soldier Field on Friday.
In addition, country music star Trisha Yearwood will perform a free concert immediately after the 2000 Classic champion is crowned.