BASS to Return to Alabama for 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason

BASS will return to Alabama, site of the 40th Bassmaster Classic and the state in which BASS was founded more than 40 years ago, for the second Bassmaster Elite Series postseason.

Toyota Trucks Championship Week is set for July 24-31 and will be played out once again on two productive Alabama fisheries. The first leg, the July 24-25 Trophy Chase, returns to Lake Jordan out of Wetumpka. The finale, the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph, is slated for July 30-31 on the Alabama River from Montgomery.

With the Bassmaster Classic this week in Birmingham and on Lay Lake, Alabama has hosted 11 Classic events. The 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series season, which starts March 11 with the Duel in the Delta out of Stockton, Calif., will culminate with the two-event postseason in July.

Coontail Grass Made Beeswax Creek Special

Jeff Kriet says coontail grass was key to success of Beeswax Creek. (Photo courtesy of BASS)

Prior to the Classic I went on record with my prediction that the tournament would be won by targeting Lay Lake’s famous Coosa Spots with jigs.  As I watched the Classic coverage on TV, no one was more surprised than me as one largemouth after another was lifted over gunnels with lipless crankbaits hooked in their mouths.

Don’t get me wrong—the Rat-L-Trap type lures are no secret to fishermen on the the Coosa River chain.  Everyone knows you can catch a limit of quality fish with one before you go look for your kicker fish.    But after you get your limit you are supposed to put the trap down and go for the quality bite.  That is just the way it is done.  Nineteen plus pound sacks are not traditionally caught on lipless crankbaits alone on these Coosa River lakes.  That type of success is supposed to be reserved for legendary grass lakes like Guntersville and Sam Rayburn.

Lay Lake is full of lure snagging vegetation we call “bank grass”.  Fishing a trap on the outside edge of bank grass can be effective, but it is not in the same league as fishing over milfoil and hydrilla.  Without milfoil and hydrilla present, I was somewhat surprised when KVD busted a 19-08 sack on Day 1 with his famous Red Eye Shad.

Everyone knows that to catch big largemouth you have to tick the traps over the top of the milfoil and hydrilla.  We don’t have grass like that on Lay Lake…or so I thought.

Final Thoughts on the Classic

UPDATES

As mentioned on episode three of our podcast, The Armchair Anglers will not be providing updates for the Bassmaster Classic.  Our commentary will return next week.  For immediate coverage I refer you to our blogroll down the right hand column, and of course Bassmaster.com .

BFHOF

Last night I ( Bo ), attended the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet.  That event exceeded my expectations.  I was surprised by the number of Classic Competitors who took the time to attend on the eve of their final Classic practice.  It was great to see them show respect for the industry pioneers that came before them.

SHOW BAMA CLASS

With the cold water temps,  fast current,  and muddy water, Lay Lake might fish smaller than usual even with this small field.  This is going to be hard on the spectators as well as the anglers.  No matter how frustrating the current is, I challenge my fellow Alabamians to be courteous to these Classic Competitors and give them the space they need to do their jobs.

Basically, there are some short pockets and creeks that you will not be able to follow them in to without effecting their fishing.  You will have to watch someone else or wait in the mouth for them to return.

WILSONVILLE STEAM PLANT

I will be curious to see which anglers argue over the Wilsonville Steam Plant first.  I hope the Elites leave that area for one of the Federation anglers.  I hope the Federation anglers are able to hold their ground and don’t get bullied by the more seasoned pros.  It is something to keep an eye on.

Everyone have fun!

Bo visits a different podcast

Armchair Angler Bo Crawford dropped in for a small segment of episode 212 of the  WeatherBrains Netcast last night.  He talked about how this cold weather will effect the fish during the Bassmaster Classic.  WeatherBrains is a podcast targeted to an audience of weather nerds.  Their weekly panel consist of well credentialed, highly recognized meteorologists.  Bo’s segment is about 50 minutes in if you want to skip the weather shop talk.  But there is a huge crossover between fishing nerds and weather nerds, so you might find the entire episode interesting.

Great Fishing Weather!

Tomorrow is the first day of practice for the Classic competitors.

• Water temp=Cold
• Water Quality=Muddy
• Current = Strong
• Air Temp = Even Colder.

Here is what Alabama Power says about the current:

Don’t drink the Kool-Aid

Here comes the Kool-Aid.  Trey Reid wrote this Classic Chill article for Bassmaster.com.  It is an excellent article, but you had better factor in the BS factor before you buy 100% in to the pros’ pity party.

As I said in our last podcast, don’t totally buy-in to the pre-tournament blues.  The people actually competing in the tournament will ham it up between now and the first weigh-in.  “You might win this with 36 lbs”–Not.  Worst case scenario is mid 40s.

Yes, I will eat giant crow if I am wrong.

TV’s “Deadliest Catch” Captain Phil Harris Dies – ABC News

Captain Phil Harris dies at age 53. (Photo courtesy of Discovery)

via TV’s “Deadliest Catch” Captain Phil Harris Dies – ABC News.

VOTE! What do you think about the Red River cancellation?

Related Articles:

• FLW Tour Red River – Was Canceling the Right Decision? By: Bass Pundit
• Safety should have been the Pro’s Responsibility at the FLW Red River Event By: bocraw

Safety should have been the Pros’ Responsibility at the FLW Red River Event

David Dudley strongly believed conditions were unsafe to fish. (Photo courtesy of Rob Newell, FLW Outdoors)

Two articles this morning from the Shreveport Times indicate that canceling the Red River event was hardly a “no-brainer” decision.  The articles indicate that Chad Mogenthaler and David Dudley led a group of about 100 anglers that were in favor of canceling the event.  Apparently the group was so adamant and vocal that they left Charlie Evans with no choice but to cancel.  Here are links to the articles:

• Red River FLW tour event cancelled
• Some FLW anglers are sipping whine

Part of the allure of the sport is that it pits man against nature.  Anglers are challenged to catch fish in conditions that the typical recreational angler would never fish in.  Anyone who has fished a tournament in less than perfect conditions recognizes the extremes these anglers go through to catch those little green fish.  We admire their grit.  We admire their determination.

For the real fan of the sport, tournaments with tough conditions are the most exciting to watch.

David Dudley and company put the FLW leadership on the spot and left them with no choice but to cancel the event due to liability reasons.  The FLW’s hand was forced due to co-angler safety.  It is a shame.

The Armchair Anglers are Tweeting

The Armchair Anglers are now tweeting.