2013 BASSMASTER CLASSIC Interview PART 2: Cliff Pace's Classic Winning Strategies

Cliff Pace working on a limit.
(Photo: James Overstreet, BASS)

By Luigi De Rose

Part two of the interview with Cliff Pace, recently crowned 2013 BASSMASTER CLASSIC Champion, we chatted more on tackle, fishing conditions and strategy.  Cliff had laser beam focus throughout the entire three day tournament. He adjusted exceptionally well considering the weather fluctuated from freezing air temps with snow to balmy.  Cliff led the entire tournament and landed two of the heaviest creels of the Classic. By the commencement of the final day, Pace held a six pound lead. Most considered the tournament his to lose.  
(click here for PART ONE of the interview)

IBASSIN

Take the readers through Day 1 and 2.

Cliff Pace

Both days the strategy was almost the same but the bass bit differently on each day. The mornings were cold so I started deep. The deeper areas were best in the morning. My shallower areas got progressively better in the afternoon. That’s when the jerk bait bite was better. I feel those areas improved because the shad moved up in the water column later in the day. That made a difference how I targeted the bass.

The Chronarch proved itself all week.

First thing, I used was a 1/2oz V& M football jig. The jig was dressed with a V& M Twin Tail trailer. I would dye the pumpkin trailer orange to make it more appealing.  It was best for the deeper spots. The bass were holding off the main lake, mostly secondary points in the 10 to 25 foot range. They just were not in one specific depth. I had to determine where they were throughout each day. Usually, I would stick to the jig until 10am.

For the jig, I used a Shimano 7’ 2” Crucial rod in heavy power teamed with a Shimano 200 E Chronarch reel spooled with 15lb test Hi-Seas Fluorocarbon line.

IBASSIN

What type of structure did you focus on?

Cliff Pace

Let me explain what I mean. On the secondary points, there were flatter sections with one deep sloping spot.  The deeper areas, steeper sections, were right on the end of the point. It would fall into much deeper water than the surrounding area. The sections off either side of the point had a gradual taper. These sections were shallower than right off the point. The bass would reposition around each of these areas throughout the tournament day.