By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor
Jonathon VanDam remembers the tackle box. Still has it somewhere back home.
For Brandon Card, it was all about seeing one of his fishing idols (Takahiro Omori) win in person.
Cliff Prince will never forget the emotion of being in the stands 2 years ago when Kevin VanDam hoisted the trophy.
For everyone in the Bassmaster Classic field, there’s always that one moment or experience that flipped the switch and set the course for them to get to this point, but for the nine Elite Series anglers making their Classic debut this week, those memories are a little more vivid now. Tomorrow, they’ll come full circle back to their childhoods when watching “The Bassmasters” on television was appointment viewing in their households or the day the new issue of Bassmaster Magazine would arrive would be like Christmas morning.
“On Sundays, when we got home from church, we didn’t watch football,” said West Virginia native Jeremy Starks. “We watched fishing shows.”
Just the mere mention of the words “The Classic” around any of these guys and it’s apparent what the experience of getting here has meant to them. Some grew up in families with ties to the pro fishing ranks while others could only read about their heroes in the pages of Bassmaster every month.
Asked if the gravity of the moment has set in yet, several mentioned the production walk-through at the BOK Center Thursday morning was when the reality began to take root.
“I’m trying to treat it just like any other tournament and not get too wound up about it,” Casey Scanlon said Thursday as he worked on tackle at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds. “It’s definitely more of a production than I though it would be. After seeing that big stage that we get to walk across tomorrow, it’s pretty exciting. It’s a really cool show that they’re going to put on. I’m just trying to keep my nerves as low-key as possible.”
That may be easier said than done as the atmosphere and stakes come more into focus on the morning of day 1. BassFan caught with the nine rookies at media day to get their first Classic recollections and what it means to them to competing in the sport’s premier event.
Brandon Card
“I started watching the Bassmsater TV show when I was real young, but the one I remember getting fired up about was when Denny Brauer won at High Rock. I was 12 and I was like, ‘This is awesome,’ watching him flip those laydowns. From that time on, I always had a dream to fish the Classic.
“It’s just one of those deals where it’s always been out there in the distance and it’s been cool to watch. Now, I’m partaking in it. It hasn’t really sunk it yet. It’s like it’s happening, but it’s not really.”
Casey Scanlon
“I remember watching every single one of them on TV and reading Bassmaster Magazine. In 4th or 5th grade during our reading time, I used to get in trouble for not having a book and reading the magazine.
“I’ve always been a fan and watched all of the Classics I could. The one I do remember when Denny (Brauer) won (at High Rock) just because he’s a Lake of the Ozarks guy.”
Hank Cherry
“I’ve never been to a Classic. I’ve watched them on TV, but never been to one. I told myself years ago that if I’m not fishing in it I’m not going. All these years later, here I am. I found out today Boyd Duckett said the same thing and then he won it so maybe I can keep the trend going.
Hank Cherry said he wasn't going to attend a Classic until he qualified to compete in one.
“I’ve been asked every day and I think I can catch fish. Do I think I can win? As a competitor, yeah, maybe I can win. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could win. Things have to happen. I’m fishing against the best in the world. If I go out here and bomb, there are people around here that probably expect that. If I go out there and put on a good show, I could open some doors for myself and just getting into professional fishing, that’s what I need to do.”
Jason Christie
“It’s probably just the TV shows. My family didn’t travel to the Classic. As a kid, you might miss supper every now and then or you might miss something else, but you did not miss watch fishing on TV, period, especially the Classic.
“Having friends of my family that were fishing in a lot of them, it really hit home. Guys from around here like Tommy Biffle and Jimmy Houston, they grew up fishing with my family so knowing somebody personally that was in the Classic and that you’re rooting for gave you a different idea of the Classic than a normal fisherman or spectator would have.”
Jeremy Starks
“My first memory was when Stanley Mitchell won. I was really young and I remember how cool it was in the magazine seeing someone that young winning the Classic.
“Until we went into the arena and did the TV walk-through, it didn’t really feel any different from an Elite event. Now, that you’ve seen the stage and all of that, it makes a lot bigger impression on you. It’s something you want to be a part of more than once.”
Jonathon VanDam
“My first real memory was 1993 In Birmingham because I won this giant tackle box at the outdoor show. I was proud of that tackle box and I carried that thing around all over the expo and hotel. My parents said I wouldn’t let it leave my sight.
“I don’t really know if it’s sunk in yet. Until today, I guess it is when I’m rigging tackle. Doing the walk-through and seeing the stage (at the BOK Center), I was like, ‘Damn.’”
Nate Wellman
“I’ve watched every Classic for 20 years. That’s what really started my love and passion for tournament fishing. That’s what brought me all the way here. What really started it was watching Roland Martin win a tournament on TV and how he thanked all of his sponsors and how grateful he was to be able to fish for a living. I was 9 years old and I looked at my dad and I said, ‘If I can fish for the rest of my life, sign me up. I want that job.’
Cliff Prince remembers the energy in the arena when he watched Kevin VanDam win his last Classic 2 years ago.
“When we did the walk-through at the BOK Center and they showed us what they’re going to put up on the screen, it about put tears in my eyes. It started to set in that I’m really actually here and tomorrow, I really get to go fish the Classic. My memories have only just started.”
Yusuke Miyazaki
“This is my dream come true. I remember watching Rick Clunn and Larry Nixon won. I’ve been watching Bassmaster on TV since I was a kid. After that, a lot of Japanese companies brought those guys and others like Shaw (Grigsby), Ken Cook, Guido Hibdon and Jay Yelas over to Japan and that’s where I met them. That’s when I wanted to become a pro like them.
“My first dream has come true to become a professional bass fisherman. My next dream is to win an Elite Series event or make it to the Classic. Those were the goals I’ve had for the last 10 years so another dream has come true now. The next step is to win an Elite event or – why not – the Bassmaster Classic.”
Cliff Prince
“The one that really sticks out was the last one I went to when Kevin VanDam won. I was sitting in the stands and I saw all of the emotion and the excitement. It brings it all back (sitting here). It’s pretty emotional to think I’m here now. It’s always been just a dream.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to be here, but I’m here to win, too. When I originally started the Southern Opens about 4 years ago, I never intended to try to qualify for the Elites. It just kind of happened and when it did, I was like, ‘Man, I have an opportunity here so let’s see where it goes.’”
