2014 TOP BASS Classic Pre-tournament Interviews with Jarrod Dean and Mike Williams

Hard times might fall on Classic competitors.

By Luigi De Rose

Boats are fueled and rods are rigged for a two-day slugfest called the TOP BASS Classic. For 75 teams, September 6^th and 7^th, is battle time. Accolades, money and a lot of bragging rights are all on the line  this weekend. By the end of the tournament, Angler of the Year, Team of the Year and Classic Champs will all be decided.  It will be a go-for-broke event like no other.

Jarrod Dean and his Punisher jigs will be hunting for a Classic win.
(Photos: Jeff English)

We tracked down two of the most dominant anglers on the TOP BASS tour to get their perspective on the event. Each has a strong tournament career and the skill to win this event.

“Buddy, fishing has been terrible!” announces tournament star Jarrod Dean. Jarrod is one half of the legendary duo of Dean and Cocks. Dean and his partner Gerard Cocks have numerous wins on this chain of lakes including a win this June.

Their Classic pre-fish has been spotty at best. “Today (Thursday) our biggest was maybe 3 ½ pounds while Gerard caught more than 21 pounds last Saturday. He wasn’t even fishing our best stuff but that was last weekend.” reflects Dean. 

“We’re expecting a 10 degrees drop in the weather. Today (Thursday night) is 29C and Sunday it is forecasted to hit to 20C." explains Dean “it might affect the shallow bass but not the deeper ones.”  Jarrod expects the winning two-day weight to be right at 34 pounds.

The last few days, southern Ontario has experienced summer’s last big heat wave. It is currently 29C but with the heavy humidity it feels like a sticky 40C. Weather is always a factor but its influence is difficult to determine.

Jarrod speculates that the best teams will have a mix of smallmouth and largemouth. It won’t be total smallmouth domination but there will be a few big smallmouth bass caught.

Mike is ready to add another Angler of the Year
award to his trophy room.

Another solid tournament angler and Tri-Lakes ace is Mike Williams of Curve Lake.  Williams was the 2012 and 2013 TOP BASS Angler of the Year and is currently leading this year’s race. A high finish here will seal a hat-trick.  

“Fishing should be difficult just like it has been during the pre-practice.” determines Mike. A hometown favourite and local guide might offer him some advantages. He is planning on fishing a variety of spots. He is expecting to fish the conditions as they happen. Mike is expecting to amass a tournament creel with a single bass here and there. Mike Williams also feels that 34 pounds will be enough to capture the win this weekend.

Regardless of who is victorious, they will have earned it. No win comes easy in early September on Tri-Lakes.

Stay tune all weekend as IBASSIN.com will be bringing you the action as it happens.