Justin Lucas Wins 2018 BASS Elite Angler of the Year!

James Elam Wins Event
BASS PRESS RELEASE

A dream come true for the whole Lucas clan.
(Photo: BASS)

By the time Justin Lucas made it to the stage during Sunday’s final weigh-in for the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship at Lake Chatuge, Georgia, the drama was all but gone.
 
Lucas came into the event with an eight-point lead in the AOY season standings — and after solid catches on Thursday and Friday, he had stretched that lead to an almost-insurmountable 47 points. Plus, his closest competition in the race, Arizona angler Josh Bertrand, decided not to fish Sunday because his wife is expected to deliver their second child any time now back home.
 
It eliminated all the suspense, but that suited Lucas just fine.
 
The California native turned Alabama resident caught five bass that weighed only 11 pounds, 14 ounces Sunday. But his three-day weight of 39-0 was more than enough to give him the AOY title and the biggest accomplishment of his young, flourishing career.
 
“I wanted this so badly,” Lucas said. “The build-up to this tournament affected every part of my life. I haven’t been sleeping because I would wake up in the middle of the night thinking about my game plan for this week. I’ve told my family and friends just to bear with me for a few more days, and everything would be okay — and now it’s all good.”
 
The gravity of the award hit Lucas and moved him to tears on stage.
 
“You think about the guys who’ve won this title — Gerald Swindle, Kevin VanDam — it’s unbelievable,” he said. “I’m the 23rd guy who’s ever won this in the 50-year history of B.A.S.S., and that’s humbling.”
 

2018 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell Day 2: Christie Leads with 37-04!

Christie leads Evers by 5!

By Bryan Brasher

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Jason Christie ready for Day 3 and the win.
(Photo: BASS)

Once again, Jason Christie is on the verge of winning the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
 
And once again, his good friend — and occasional nemesis — Edwin Evers, has a chance to take it away from him.
 
The Oklahoma anglers occupied the Top 2 spots in the standings for the second straight day at Lake Hartwell, and they will lead the remaining 23 anglers into Championship Sunday with a chance to win the $300,000 first-place prize and the most coveted trophy in professional bass fishing.
 
Christie caught 16-6 during Saturday’s second round to push his two-day total to a tournament-best 37-4. Evers had a much tougher day than he did on Friday, landing only 13-0. But he remained in second place with a two-day mark of 32-9.
 
“It was the same deal today where you just had to weed through them until you found a good one,” said Christie, who also led the first two days of the 2016 Classic on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, only to lose the title to Evers on the final day. “I had a chance to have a really good day, but I lost some fish. I don’t know if it was the lightning we had this morning or if the water’s clearing up or what, but they’re biting funny.”
 
Those funny bites led to some ragged hook sets that cost Christie on several occasions.
 
“I lost a 5-pounder and a 3- or 3 1/2-pounder,” said Christie, who won the GEICO Everyday Leader Award of $2,500 for the second straight day. “I also broke one off that was my fault. I hit a cable on one cast, and I didn’t retie. Then later on, I broke one off setting the hook.
 
“I caught a 4-pounder on my last cast, but I’m not getting enough of those kinds of bites. I can’t afford to booger those up when I get them.”
 

2018 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell Day 1: Mid-Morning Report.

Morning blitz shorter than expected

By Luigi De Rose

Elam fishing almost by himself in a creek and in the lead.
(Photo: BASS)

Anglers are using a variety of techniques on the first morning of the 2018 Bassmaster Classic at Lake Hartwell. Many tried for the herring bite in the low light of the early morning but few really hammered the magnum spotted bass. 

A few to watch are: Edwin Evers, James Elam, Kevin Van Dam and Ike.

Evers

Evers caught bass after bass about an hour ago and jumped up the leader board. It is speculated that he caught several limits all from one place without moving. Not just one location but one spot with his poles down. 

Elam 

Is way up a creek and fishing for largemouths and doing well. If the weather continues to warm up, the worry for many spotted bass anglers is that the largemouth might becoming shallower and more likely to bite. Locals will tell you the spots are the real player but a few big largemouth go a very long way. 

KVD

He is deep cranking and catching big largemouth. He is working on larger bass than numbers of bass. He is fishing the mid-to-lower section of the lake which is historically a very good place to fish. It is better know for spotted bass but if KVD can catch big green bass with several good spots he will be a killer. 

IKE

He has a cove loaded with spotted bass. He did well in the morning and got a good limit quickly. Now he is targeting brush and specific spots and catching individual bass but they are fairly large.   

2017 BASS Elite Toledo Bend Day 2: Hartman Takes Lead with 39-01lbs!

Hartman hooks Toledo Bend
By Bryan Brasher
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Hartman one of few to sack good limit. (Photo: BASS)

Where Jamie Hartman comes from, the largemouth bass spawn only lasts about two weeks.
So, when the New York resident pre-fished Toledo Bend Reservoir back in February and saw lots of bass already on the beds, he just assumed the spawn would be long done by the time he returned for this week's Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend presented by Econo Lodge.
He was wrong, but he wasn't too stubborn to admit it.
After starting the week in deeper water, Hartman adjusted and has put together a two-day total of 39 pounds, 1 ounce to lead the event. While much of the 110-angler field struggled during post-front conditions Friday, Hartman caught a five-bass limit that weighed 15-12.
"I had a terrible, terrible practice this week," Hartman said. "I'm not familiar with these southern waters, where the spawn just lasts for months, obviously.
"I pre-fished here for 2 1/2 weeks in February and saw two big waves of fish go in and out. I spent all of that time graphing deeper spots where I thought postspawn fish would be, and it just hasn't happened yet."

Pre-2016 Bassmaster Classic Predictions with Casey Ashley

Ashley offers his wisdom.

By Luigi De Rose

Casey Ashley will be trying his best to capture
Classic 2016. 

The 2016 Bassmaster Classic is a week away and everyone who loves bass fishing will be focused on Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees. This year’s event is a few weeks later than in the past. The push to have the tournament in March was to avoid extreme weather like the deep freeze that gripped last year’s event. For the anglers and on-the-water spectators, warmer weather will make for more enjoyable days. March is prime time for pre-spawn fishing and if the temps spikes, a mass migration to the shallows could be possible.

IBASSIN.com contacted Casey Ashley, the 2015 Classic champ, for his perspective on how this year’s Classic will unfold.

IBASSIN

Thanks for chat with us. What’s your early prediction on the Classic?

Casey

Hi, pleasure to talk fishing with you.  So much has happened this year with the flood and a mild winter, Grand Lake might not be fishing like it has in the past. I expect it will be much different than the last Classic we had here. The Classic that Cliff Pace won, the lake was cold and clear which made it perfect for a jerkbait and jig. 

IBASSIN

Which baits should be most prominent during this Classic?

Casey

That is hard to narrow down. A jerkbait and even a Road Runner should be good especially if the bass are around schools of bait. A jig will be very strong. Grand Lake is a very good jig lake. But, if we see a few warm days a shallow crankbait bite might be on.

IBASSIN

What problems are you worried about or needing to plan around?