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Pace likes Grand's pattern potential

Pace likes Grand's pattern potential

Cliff Pace is coming off a strong Bassmaster Elite Series season during which he notched three Top-12 finishes, including back-to-back runner-up placements at Toledo Bend and the Mississippi River. He finished 18th in Toyota Tundra B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year (AOY) points and secured a berth in the Bassmaster Classic at Grand Lake in February. It’ll be his fifth career Classic and second time competing at Grand (he finished 93rd in the 2007 Elite Series event there).

Shortly after Thanksgiving this year, the Mississippi angler made a scouting trip to Oklahoma to get his bearings on the lake and what could potentially be going on there once February rolls around. He didn’t fish a whole lot – maybe 2 hours over the course of 3 days – but he thinks Grand is one of the best pattern lakes around.

Here’s his take on his scouting excursion and what he thinks the Classic competitors will find once they return in Februrary:

“I expect Grand to change a lot between now and February and it’s really going to depend on what the weather is throughout the off-limits period as to what stage the fish are going to be in. I don’t think it’ll be a spawning deal, but it could be a very strong pre-spawn deal or it could be a full-blown winter pattern. It just depends on what Mother Nature gives us to play with over the next 60 days.

“I don’t think it ever hurts you to spend time on a body of water. People say that you can practice too much and there is some truth to that. I don’t think it was time wasted by any means, but I think the lake is going to change. Regardless, I think you’re going to have to figure it out the week of the tournament because it’s anybody’s guess as to what kind of weather we’re going to have.

“The one thing I like about how Grand lays out is it’s going to be a pattern lake, especially if we have a warmer winter. I think it’ll be pattern fishing and I don’t think someone will win it off of one spot. If we have a real cold winter and the fish stay in a winter pattern and are more bunched up out deeper, then a guy could win it off one spot. I’d rather have it be warmer so the fish are a little shallower and more spread out and have it be a pattern deal.

“Pre-spawn is one of those times of the year that if you get the right thing in your hand it’s really all you need. Those 3 practice days before the tournament will be very important and that’s one thing some guys aren’t looking at. Those 3 days could be a blizzard and you might not get to do all of the things you’re thinking you’ll be able to.”

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