Classic Gear
Mighty Lake Michigan has chewed up and spit out more trolling motors than anglers care to think about. During this years' Classic however, contenders need not worry about the ferocity of the Great Lake because they will be using Motorguide's Tour Edition 107-pound thrust, 36-volt trolling motor. The motor utilizes three batteries to ensure a day full of performance in the toughest of situations and a reliable "pull-pull," two-cable steering system. The contenders noted the motor performed flawlessly during the practice day, making the Motorguide Tour Edition a contender in its own right.
Ranger Boats, longtime sponsor of the BASS Masters Classic, once again rises to a challenge set by the world championship of bass fishing - tackling Lake Michigan. After the official practice day the anglers all agreed that the opponent they were facing was not each other, but a massive body of water that can look like an ocean when the wind blows steadily from the north. "During practice the wind hasn't really been a factor, even though we've seen three-foot rollers," said Classic contender Mark Pack of Texas. "The deep hull of these Ranger boats handles this rough water like it's nothing. The overall weight of the boat also makes it much more stable in rough conditions - which allows you to fish while other guys have to head back to the ramp," Pack continued.
Pro's Predictions
When asked about his outlook on winning the Classic, Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas said, "I'm still searching like everyone else. I imagine though, if someone catches 11 to 13 pounds a day with a 15-pound stringer to boot, he'll have a great chance at winning this thing."
Lendell Martin, Nacogdoches, offered a tough outlook. "I imagine the tournament will be won with smallmouth. But if the water doesn't clear up a little bit they will be harder to catch since they rely heavily on sight for feeding. If the wind kicks up and forces everyone to stay in the river it could make for some small catches. We are at the mercy of Mother Nature."
Kevin VanDam from Kalamazoo, Michigan, is a well-known smallmouth angler and is favored to win. "I didn't talk to anyone before coming to Chicago because I didn't want any preconceived notions about how to fish this body of water. So it's basically going to be a crapshoot for me. I'm going to fish a primary pattern I believe in, switching to a secondary one if necessary, and hope for the best."
So the question remains, are the pros really having a hard time with finding the fish, or are they wearing their best gameface? We're about to find out!