Classic pro Brent Long recalls one catch that had him completely fooled for a while.
While fishing a lipless crankbait in Lake Wylie, he hooked a bait container that had him yelling for the net.
"I hooked it on the lip so that the open end was coming toward me," the South Carolina angler said. "And it was fighting as it came through the water. I fought it all the way to the boat and told my partner to get the net. It pulled good."
Duckett Wins One for the Home State
There have been 37 Bassmaster Classics held in 17 different states, but no angler had ever successfully jumped the psychological hurdles necessary to win the world-championship event in their homestate, until now.
Several came close -- Woo Daves in three Richmond, Va., Classics (1988-90); Dalton Bobo in Alabama in 1997; David Fritts in North Carolina in 1995; and Paul Chamblee in 1975 in North Carolina.
Boyd Duckett of Demopolis, Ala., accomplished the feat this past weekend with a timely, late-catch bass weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces on Alabama's Lay Lake that gave him a 6-ounce victory over Skeet Reese.
The record-breaking accomplishment was not lost on him.
"I'm so proud I brought the Classic title to my home state," he said. "There were a lot of good Alabama anglers in this tournament and I feel fortunate to be the one that did this.
"It makes this even more special."
There were nine Alabamians in Classic XXXVIII which was tied for the largest state contingent with Texas.
DAWSON HONORED
James (Pooley) Dawson, a fixture on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail for more than 30 years, was honored with a lifetime achievement award Saturday at the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame banquet in Birmingham, Ala.
Dawson, who was attending his 35th Classic, worked in the tournament department for three decades before retiring. He came out of retirement last year to work as a logistics coordinator for the BASS Communications Department.
VANDAM'S CAUSE
Kevin VanDam's 17th consecutive Classic was perhaps his most special.
While on the Classic stage at the end of the second round, KVD pointed toward an audience member and said, "This one's for you." He was acknowledging David Martin, a Michigan friend who was attending his fifth trip to the Classic.
But, this Classic was different for Martin, who was badly injured in a car accident seven months ago in Kalamazoo. Martin spent three weeks in a coma after the accident and now is a quadriplegic due to injuries sustained in the accident. During his recovery, his goal was to be able to travel to Birmingham for Classic XXXVII.
"This is a family that can tell you what true love is all about," VanDam said in regards to Martin, his wife and three children. "I'd like nothing more than to win this for Dave. It would make it, by far, the most special event of my career."
DID YOU KNOW?
Kevin VanDam owns the longest consecutive Classic streak at 17. But he has a way to go to match the record - Rick Clunn holds the record with 28.
THEY SAID IT
"To actually sit in that boat and have all those people cheer for me ... I don't know, it might be weeks before it sinks in." WBT Champion Pam Martin-Wells on winning the WBT Championship before the Classic crowd inside the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.