Few Banking On Practice Findings Holding Up

By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor

If Friday, Saturday and Sunday didn't yield much in the way of confidence in a certain area of Lake Hartwell, the last chance to try to get some positive momentum going will arrive tomorrow.

Wednesday represents the final opportunity for the 52 competitors in the Bassmaster Classic to get their house in order before the curtain goes up early Friday morning.

This won't be a safe light-to-dusk sort of practice day, though. Tournament officials treat it as a dress rehearsal for day 1 with boats heading out in the official launch order and arriving back to the check-in point at the prescribed time. The field is split into two flights, 26 boats in each. Reigning Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk will be the first away from the dock (today and Friday). Luke Clausen, competing in his first Classic since winning it in 2006, will be boat number 52.

The official practice day has different value to different competitors. Some utilize it to confirm what they found last weekend or expand on something they're hopeful will still be available Friday. Others will still be trying to identify a spot or pattern they can at least start with once things get going. One thing's for sure this week: The patterns that were evident last weekend may not even come into play come tournament time.

BassFan posed a series of questions to 10 Classic competitors as they prepare for the last practice day in an attempt to determine whether they thought they could contend for the title based on what they found during official practice, or whether they'll need to stumble across something Wednesday or, perhaps, during the tournament to have a chance.

Among the themes that arose were many will be paying close attention to the water temperatures and hope the clear, sun-splashed days during the middle of the week get the fish back in the mood to head shallow.

Russ Lane - Not Feeling Pressure
> Rate your practice on a scale of 1 to 10 - "5. It wasn't a 10 and it's not a 1. There's no way to rate my practice because I'm trying to get familiar with areas they might show up in. If it were a points tournament, I might practice a little different and find some keeper spots, but that's not how this one is supposed to go."

> What do you see as the biggest wild card or X-factor in the tournament? - "I don't want to say."

> If you could have one wish for the final practice day, what would it be? - "That it's not as cold as it's forecast to be."

> Describe your emotions about the event right now- nervous? Excited? Rather be at home? - "I'm pretty laid back about it. Usually, in Classics I get worked up and press harder. I'm not really feeling that this week. Nobody expects me to win this tournament. Even B.A.S.S. put 1,000-to-1 odds on me to win. Heck, I don't even think they gave me odds. There's no pressure. I'm just going to do what I do and grind it out and see what happens."

> In terms of day 1, what's your goal? - "Five 4-pounders in the box."

Bradley Roy - Hoping to Expand
> Rate your practice on a scale of 1 to 10 - "Probably a 5. My decision-making has been pretty good, but I don't feel like I found what I need to. Maybe I have. I found some stuff that looks good, but not all of it."

> What do you see as the biggest wild card or X-factor in the tournament? - "The weather. We can look at the forecast, but if we get a few warm days these fish are on the verge of making a big push to the bank. If it stays cool, who knows."

> If you could have one wish for the final practice day, what would it be? - "I've dialed into an area, but I'm trying to figure out a way to get a better bite. I'd like to be able find out if I put this bait in my hand I'll catch a better one. If I can figure that out, I'll be happy."

> Describe your emotions about the event right now- nervous? Excited? Rather be at home? - "It's the Classic. Whether you catch 'em or not, just being here is a great big deal. I'm excited. I'm playing all the scenarios out in my head to get into a position where something cool could happen."

> In terms of day 1, what's your goal? - "Just to survive and feel the event out. It's the time of year where fishing is changing daily and seeing if what I found is any good or has changed."

Matt Lee - Sweet Spot Tough to Find
> Rate your practice on a scale of 1 to 10 - "If you didn't find schools of 4-pounders, (it wasn't good). You fish the Classic to win it. It's not a normal tournament. You're looking for the most special spot on the lake and it's only 70,000 acres. It's pretty tough to find. Anything less than that, you feel defeated. Other than that, you go out and catch some fish like everyone else. I'll give myself a 5. I caught some, but I'm not dialed in. I really didn't find anything too special. They're so spread out with the high water. You can catch fish in 40 feet up to 3 feet, largemouth and spots, so that makes it tough to get dialed in on one thing."

> What do you see as the biggest wild card or X-factor in the tournament? - "Who's going to find the fish coming to them. Whether it gets cold and they're coming to them or it warms up and they're coming to them. Maybe it's something where they don't know they're coming to them yet. Practice is so spread out and so far away from the tournament that on day 1 (of practice), you might've found the winning fish and there not be a bass there next Friday."

> If you could have one wish for the final practice day, what would it be? - "I'm not really going out with the mindset of finding a new pattern. I'll be testing what I found. I fished the dam and 10 miles up (river). You can catch 15 pounds doing any of it or 9 pounds so you try to narrow it down."

> Describe your emotions about the event right now - nervous? Excited? Rather be at home? - "I'm not really nervous. You get dulled down when you fish so many tournaments against these guys. It feels good to be here, but it's go, go, go and you don't have time to sit back and soak it in. There are no points or pay cut, but it's the most important tournament of the year. With a little ease it puts added pressure on you. It's super exciting. I just want to weigh in an 8-pounder if I can't win - you know, do something cool."

> In terms of day 1, what's your goal? - "To borrow a line from Jesse Wiggins, 'To have 5-pounders gaggin' on it.'"

David Walker - Hope It Warms Up
> Rate your practice on a scale of 1 to 10 - "It was fine for any normal tournament, but here all you can do is win. It's a unique event. As far as a winning practice, it was a 3."

> What do you see as the biggest wild card or X factor in the tournament? - "Change, because this time of year, things are very subject to change. I think there will be guys who did great this weekend who won't do great next weekend and guys who didn't do so well this weekend that will go well when the tournament rolls around. That's what I'm hoping for."

> If you could have one wish for the final practice day, what would it be? - "I hope it won't keep raining but it might as well so it'll dirty it up a little bit. I would like to see a warming trend because I'm sure it's still fishing to some offshore guys' strengths."

> Describe your emotions about the event right now- nervous? Excited? Rather be at home? - "I'm guardedly optimistic. You always have to feel good about the Classic no matter how practice went. Things are going to change. This is my favorite tournament, always has been."

> In terms of day 1, what's your goal? - "I'd like to have a good start. It doesn't have to be the best start, but I want to get in a good position. I don't want to be 43rd after day 1. Lakes like this are tougher to gain ground on because it's not a place to catch a couple 7s. You're better off if you're a couple pounds out of it. At least then it's very doable."

Clifford Pirch - Largemouths Are Target
> Rate your practice on a scale of 1 to 10 - "Maybe 6. I'm happy with it."

> What do you see as the biggest wild card or X factor in the tournament? - "Whether you're able to catch largemouth. They're just a little bit bigger, but the spots are easier to catch."

> If you could have one wish for the final practice day, what would it be? - "Just nice weather. I'm tired of being wet."

> Describe your emotions about the event right now- nervous? Excited? Rather be at home? - "I'm happy to be at Hartwell. I enjoy it here. It's a neat place. It's definitely one I'm glad I'm in. It'll be how well you fish next weekend. The last few days don't mean a lot other than putting the work in."

> In terms of day 1, what's your goal? - "I'd like to be in it, right there with the leaders."

James Elam - Still Looking for Clues
> Rate your practice on a scale of 1 to 10 - "It's been decent. I'd rate it a 6 or 7, but I've treated it differently and I'm going to need to do some work on the last day to figure some things out. It seems like we're in a two-week cold front and it's really weird right now. It has the fish in a funk. Everything's been so random and weird for me."

> What do you see as the biggest wild card or X-factor in the tournament? - "Whether you can find some big spots and win off that or good largemouth to win it. It's hard to do either one right now. Sometimes it takes a mix, but it can be done with one or the other."

> If you could have one wish for the final practice day, what would it be? - "I'd like to go find a good early place where I can catch a mess of spots to get started and keep practicing as the day develops. We're going to get some warm weather during the tournament so it could break loose. The guy who wins might not necessarily have the best practice and lets things develop in front of him."

> Describe your emotions about the event right now - nervous? Excited? Rather be at home? - "I usually don't get nervous unless I have a shot to win and I don't feel like that. Last year, on day 1 I did well and then I got nervous. It is a little more nerve-wracking than a normal tournament. I'm excited, but I'm trying to stay on an even keel."

> In terms of day 1, what's your goal? - "I'm going to fish another new area and try to figure out a home run swing. I'll pick a different area between everything and pick it apart and see what I can find and hopefully find a few more schools of fish. I'll try to catch them as good as I can early and prepare myself to do well the rest of the tournament."

Hank Cherry - Found Some Puzzle Pieces
> Rate your practice on a scale of 1 to 10 - "I'd say a 7. The first day was really unproductive because I chased a lot of ghosts based on the water level and where I'm used to finding them. The next two days were pretty productive, though. They're not in the big groups and they're constantly moving and that's a problem."

> What do you see as the biggest wild card or X factor in the tournament? - "I think the weather Saturday will be an X factor. They're calling for rain and clouds and that should help fishing tremendously."

> If you could have one wish for the final practice day, what would it be? - "My game plan for Wednesday is to go do something I haven't done yet. I feel like I have most of the puzzle, but I keep thinking I'm missing a piece."

> Describe your emotions about the event right now- nervous? Excited? Rather be at home? - "I'm excited. I'm fishing close to home, which is good for me. It's a lake I know a lot about, but I'm afraid I might know too much, but I feel like I got that out of the way (Friday). After that, I tried to figure where they are and where they're going."

> In terms of day 1, what's your goal? - "I don't think I have a specific goal, but my target for this whole thing is to fish clean."

Marty Giddens - Hope It Gets Better
> Rate your practice on a scale of 1 to 10 - "It was a 2. It wasn't good. The first day was okay, but the last two sucked. I caught a couple on day 1, but nothing big so I tried to expand. There are not a lot of fish that are easy to catch to me. Hopefully, I'll find them Friday."

> What do you see as the biggest wild card or X factor in the tournament? - "Fish moving up or a topwater bite that starts working. If it warms up like it's predicted to, things could really change."

> If you could have one wish for the final practice day, what would it be? - "Just to find something consistent. I'm not talking about huge fish, but something you know you can rely on."

> Describe your emotions about the event right now- nervous? Excited? Rather be at home? - "I'm a little nervous. I'd hate to get here and fall on my face. It's fishing. It can turn around in one cast."

> In terms of day 1, what's your goal? - "I'd love to be in the teens weight wise and not shoot myself out of it that first day."

Luke Clausen - Real Practice Starts Friday
> Rate your practice on a scale of 1 to 10 - "Probably about a 6. Even if I'd have caught them good, I know things are going to change. I spent time looking for glory, but I know it's going to come down to decisions I'll make Friday through Sunday. With practice a week ahead of time, you have to keep an open mind. You're trying to anticipate what's going on, but at the same time, you don't even want to think about it because you can get spun out. We have a major weather change coming Thursday so it'll be like starting over come Friday."

> What do you see as the biggest wild card or X factor in the tournament? - "Everybody has the warming trend on their mind and are they going to move shallow. Can they catch 'em on docks or out of the bank grass or will it happen in dirty water? We don't know. Everybody has an idea and maybe nothing will happen. Maybe it'll stay the same."

> If you could have one wish for the final practice day, what would it be? - "I wish I could find a giant school of big bass in 40 feet that aren't going anywhere. As long as they're not stripers."

> Describe your emotions about the event right now- nervous? Excited? Rather be at home? - "I'm really kind of numb. It's been 12 years since I've fished a Classic and I'm really coming at it like it's another tournament. I'm going to go fish and see how it goes. I hope to do the right things on the days that matter. It's the biggest one of the year, but it's probably one of the easier ones to win because it's three days and you're up against only 51 other guys. I probably won't try that hard until Friday."

> In terms of day 1, what's your goal? - "Just surviving and catching at least 15 (pounds). You need at least 15 to keep yourself in the game. We'd all like to catch 20, but if you catch less than 15, it becomes harder. I think 17 to 18 a day will win and a big bag here is 20 so if you screw up and catch 11, you've probably shot yourself in the foot. The big goal is you hope to learn enough to run with something for the next couple days."

Seth Feider - Plenty To Throw At
> Rate your practice on a scale of 1 to 10 - "It was a 7 or 8, not necessarily because I caught a bunch of big ones, but because I like the way the lake is setting up. I like the water color and it's high and it's a target-rich environment with the bank grass and wood and docks. I like the looks of it, but I haven't caught them that good."

> What do you see as the biggest wild card or X factor in the tournament? - "The weather will force you to adjust a lot. Looking at the forecast, it's supposed to get crazy warm so things could really start developing during the tournament. You could see a topwater bite by Sunday."

> If you could have one wish for the final practice day, what would it be? - "I just hope the water temperature doesn't drop too much."

> Describe your emotions about the event right now- nervous? Excited? Rather be at home? - "I'm excited for sure. I'm not too nervous. There's no place I'd rather be. I'm just glad I don't have to work the Expo."

> In terms of day 1, what's your goal? - "20 pounds every day. That's the goal. I haven't seen anything so far that indicates I can catch 20, but I think it'll take high teens to win each day."