The anglers live farther away from Shreveport-Bossier City, La., host cities for the Feb. 24-26 Classic, than any other qualifier. Even Jared Lintner and Ish Monroe, 1,800-plus miles from their homes in California, or John Diaco, who lives 1,700 miles away in New Hampshire, could not claim bragging rights for most miles traveled.
Polfer and Palaniuk know from experience how a cross-country trip can threaten performance. That’s one reason Polfer arrived in Louisiana last Wednesday. Palaniuk traveled south last month.
“It’s a long haul for both of us,” said Polfer, a 29-year-old Classic rookie who is 1,872 miles from home in Nampa, Idaho. Palaniuk’s hometown of Rathdrum is a few miles shy of 2,100 from Shreveport.
“I didn’t want to deal with the stress of trying to get down here in possible bad weather,” said Palaniuk, 24, who qualified for Classic 2012 in his rookie year as a Bassmaster Elite Series pro. “I wanted to get here, then be able to concentrate on my bass fishing.”
Palaniuk hit the road in mid-January. His first stop was Kilgore, Texas, to pick up his new Skeeter. He hauled the boat to central Florida to compete in the Bassmaster Southern Open. Next he let someone else pilot the boat: He took a cruise with his family. After that R&R, he headed to Grand Lake near Tulsa, Okla., to look at the 2013 Bassmaster Classic site. He was back in Texas by mid-February for his boat-wrap appointment.
Likewise, Polfer picked up his new Skeeter in Texas and had it and his truck wrapped there. He then headed to north-central Louisiana and the Ouachita River, a fishery he knows well. It’s where he earned his Classic berth last November as the Western Division champ of the 2011 B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship.
“I came back here to break in the boat and get comfortable with it, and to relax for the Classic,” he said.
Wednesday he’ll drive to Texas to pick up his buddy Palaniuk, whose truck will be in the wrap shop. Then, just for fun, they will probably fish small lakes near Shreveport, Polfer said. Friday evening after the first Classic practice day on the Red River, Polfer plans to give Palaniuk a lift back to Texas to pick up his truck. They’ll return immediately to Shreveport, where they’re bunking in together during practice.
Despite last-minute tasks, both Polfer and Palaniuk said they feel prepared to fight for the prestigious Classic crown and its $500,000 first-place check. Thanks to early travel that reduced stress, they are physically ready. Thanks to scouting trips a few months ago, they feel set mentally.
Polfer said his confidence level has been high since his seven-day scouting trip in December, just before the Red River was declared off limits to Classic competitors until this weekend’s practice period.
“I feel better coming into the Bassmaster Classic than I’ve felt going into any tournament,” he said.
Palaniuk, who scouted the Red River in November, will be making his second consecutive Classic appearance. He qualified the first time as the 2010 Federation Nation champ. This year, he’s not “the Federation rookie,” but a Bassmaster Elite Series qualifier. A fact that might help him: His Federation title came on the Red River.
What’s this repeat qualifier most looking forward to?
“The first step onto the stage, on the first day,” he said. “It’s a feeling you can’t get anywhere else. It’s such an accomplishment to get there, and that first step finally makes it feel real.”
Bassmaster Classic trivia: The fishing world is anticipating the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 24-26 on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. Here’s some trivia that may or may not play into the competition, but is fun to toss out at any gathering of anglers:
A redemption wish, a positive memory: Michael Iaconelli lost the 2009 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River to Skeet Reese by 11 ounces. Ten years earlier as an amateur, Iaconelli won the 1999 B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship on the Red River by 10 ounces.
Experience helps: Of the 49 qualifiers for 2012, less than half are repeaters from Classic 2009, also on the Red. Twenty-two have the advantage of a Red River Classic experience. Twenty-seven may have competed at some point on the Red, but not in a Classic.
Relief plus momentum: Two 2012 Classic competitors, Chris Lane and Brent Chapman, have secured 2013 Classic entries by winning a 2012 Bassmaster Open event.
Achilles’ heel?: Kevin VanDam, defending champ and owner of four Classic trophies including the past two, had hernia surgery during the off season.
A well-spent youth: Classic rookie Keith Poche’s address is in Alabama, but he grew up in central Louisiana fishing the Red River and other backwaters. He started off his 2012 season strong by placing 12th in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida.
New sponsor deals for 2012 Bassmaster Classic competitors: Josh Polfer, a B.A.S.S. Federation Nation qualifier from Nampa, Idaho, wrapped both his vehicle and boat. His primary wrap sponsors are his employer in Idaho, Hayden Homes, and Skeeter, Yamaha Pro Fishing and Dry Creek Outfitters. He has several secondary sponsors.
“It’s exciting to have a wrap on both my truck and boat,” Polfer said. “Each one of my sponsors has stepped up to help me this past year through all the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events that led to the Classic.”
Brandon Palaniuk’s new boat wrap is “a mix,” he said. Yamaha Pro Fishing and Skeeter are his main wrap sponsors, followed by Abu-Garcia and Rapala in terms of prominence on the design. Palaniuk, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Rathdrum, Idaho, also plans to debut a new truck wrap at the Classic.
Elite pro John Crews of Salem, Va., has a new design that showcases his new company, Missile Baits. He also retained SPRO as a major wrap sponsor.
Fletcher Shryock, a Classic and Elite Series rookie from Newcomerstown, Ohio, has joined the Berkley team, along with fellow Elite rookies Brandon Card of Caryville, Tenn., and Michael Simonton of Fremont, Ohio.
Oklahoma anglers win Luck “E” Strike Heavyweight bonuses: Brad Lankford of Wagoner, Okla., bagged 18 pounds and 1 ounce on Day 1 to take home a $250 Bass Pro Shops gift certificate, courtesy of Luck “E” Strike, in last week’s Bassmaster Central Open. Lankford had the largest sack of bass within the pro division over three days of competition. His 18-1 put him in the lead after one day. He ended in fourth place.
In the co-angler division, another Oklahoma angler was the bonus winner. Brent Haggard of Gans, Okla., brought in 8 pounds, 12 ounces on Day 2 to wrap up the Luck “E” Strike Heavyweight Award worth a $250 gift certificate. He placed third overall in the co-angler competition.
In Chapman’s words: “I’m ready to win again.” So said Brent Chapman moments before he beat Josh Bertrand in a Feb. 12 fish-off at the Bassmaster Central Open on Texas’ Lake Lewisville. Chapman had last won a Bassmaster event in 2005.
“What an awesome way to start the year. Wow.” What Chapman said after he learned his one fish-off bass — a hefty 6 pound, 5 ounces — cleanly cut a fishless Bertrand out of the winner’s circle.