By Lynn Burkhead
OSG Senior Digital Editor

Overnight thunderstorms dampened the pre-dawn gathering of anglers, B.A.S.S. officials and fans as day 2 of the 51st Bassmaster Classic prepared to begin at Lake Ray Roberts on Saturday morning.

But on Friday’s opening day of competition, the thunder had already occurred as enthusiastic crowds gathered to watch their favorite anglers launch from the Ray Roberts State Park Isle du Bois Unit near Pilot Point.

At what is undoubtedly the largest outdoor recreation gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep across the U.S. in March 2020, it was obvious on Friday that bass fishing fans were ready to see their sport return full-bore to the stage as the various venues in North Texas were crowded with fans wanting to get a glimpse of their favorite fisherman, get an autograph, take a selfie, buy some new gear and soak in all things bass fishing.

While Saturday morning brought rain, thunder, and wind, the scene 24 hours earlier was quite different as a warm, overcast morning greeted fans. B.A.S.S. emcee and Outdoor Channel TV show host Dave Mercer did his best to wake up the crowd that some estimated at between 1,000 and 2,000.

After months of COVID-19 uncertainty and a postponement of the 2021 event from its original mid-March dates until mid-June, Mercer said the crowd and its energy was inspiring.

“The thunder of B.A.S.S. nation is back,” said the longtime host of the Facts of Fishing television program. “I think it’s incredible for the first day of the Classic. I don’t know if anyone knew (what to expect). With everything that has gone on, you go into this Classic thinking ‘I wonder what it will be?’

"But the one thing we’ve always known is that it is in Texas, man. And not just when we’re in Texas, but when we get close to Texas, like Shreveport (La.) or anywhere like that, you get giant crowds and man, they didn’t let us down here today.”

Mercer noted that bass fishing fans are a special group since they often can’t show up and watch their favorite anglers in close proximity as they compete in an event that has been described as the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing.”

“This is an incredible crowd and they’re showing up here to just watch guys idle away from the dock and just to (be able) to cheer for these guys,” he said. “And that’s what makes this sport so rare, if you ask me. A lot of sports, they’ve got spectators around them all the time. These guys, they only get a few moments of that absolute thunder. I mean, sure, there are some spectators on the water at these events. But to get applause like this, to (the anglers), it feels like you’re a race car driver.”

After a year of lockdowns, business closures and a stoppage of fans gathering at American sporting events, Mercer stood shin-deep in the floodwaters of the rain-swollen lake that spills into Denton, Cooke, and Grayson counties just to the north of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. And as he watched the countdown clock held in front of him by B.A.S.S. official Lisa Talmadge, he roared his trademark phrases that helped whip the pre-dawn gathering into a frenzy.

“Yeah, I try to get everyone else excited because I am naturally excited about this,” he said, before adding with a laugh that it would be hard to imagine someone not being giddy at the Bassmaster Classic.

“If you’re not excited about this, you should probably try lawn darts or something.”

When the countdown clock hit triple zeroes, Mercer gave the microphone up as America’s national anthem was sung and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz gave an opening invocation. After the solemn moments of respect, faith, and patriotism, Mercer turned up the volume and did what he does best, even if he had to get his feet wet to do so as he sent out reigning B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Clark Wendlandt, defending Classic champion Hank Cherry and 52 others hoping to win bass fishing’s biggest derby.

“Yeah, I’ve had to wade through water at some other events, but this is the first time I’ve had to do this at the Bassmaster Classic,” said Mercer. “Hopefully, this will be the last time I have to do it.”

Once the opening salvo was fired at the Classic on Friday morning, Mercer began to turn his attention to a day full of duties that included commentating on live-streaming coverage of the event as even bigger crowds gathered at the Bassmaster Classic Expo at Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Later in the day, Mercer slipped over to Dickies Arena, where the Classic weigh-ins are being conducted. And after he changed clothes and made sure his socks and shoes were dry, Mercer said it was all about the story unfolding at this North Texas water body as the Lone Star State hosts the Classic for the third time.

“That’s what it has always been about here, just telling the story,” he said. “We don’t try to drive it any particular way and this event is a great example. Everybody thought for this one that when the date was moved, it was going to be all offshore. There were a lot of preconceived notions about (Ray Roberts), but this lake is fishing a lot different now than it traditionally does at this time of year. As an announcer, I’m excited to see what stories unfold (here), really.”

While holding court on Friday evening at the arena – a relatively new venue that Mercer describes as one of the best facilities that he’s seen in his career with B.A.S.S. – the Canada resident kept what was a typically sparse first day weigh-in crowd stirred up as the DFW Metroplex rush hour took place outside.
One by one, in a process that took more than two hours to complete, the 54 anglers came to the stage after weighing their fish at Ray Roberts and then bringing up to two “show fish” to the stage in Cowtown.

At the conclusion of the weigh-in, Steve Kennedy was the day-1 leader as he rode an opening-hour frenzy to a five-fish total weighing 23 pounds even. Close behind were fishing Patrick Walters in 2nd place at 22-07 and defending champ Hank Cherry in 3rd with 20-04.

Mercer says it’s just a love of fishing that started as a young kid that fuels him.

“My prep work for this started when I was 6 years old, to be honest,” said Mercer. “I take some notes before the event, but I don’t spend a whole lot of time doing that because I’m obsessed with this.”

“It’s the best feeling in the world – it’s the Bassmaster Classic."