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Powroznik and “The Paperboy” Preview the Bassmaster Classic
Quantum pro Jacob Powroznik is a seasoned pro fishing in his fourth Bassmaster Classic, and he made a serious run at winning the Classic here on Lake Hartwell in 2015. Much the opposite, 19-year old Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Champ, Jacob “The Paperboy” Foutz is fishing his very first Classic.
Despite their contrasting levels of experience, both anglers graciously took a moment to discuss their stress levels, lures that will be used, lake conditions, and more.
Q: What’s your biggest concern or source of stress right now?
Powroznik: Trying to catch a 5-pounder, because a 5-pounder is a game changer here, and so far in practice I haven’t had my hands on one that big.
Foutz: The randomness of the bite. I’ve had bites in 6” of water, and I’ve had bites in 30-feet of water, but I’ve not seen a real defined pattern yet.
Q: What do you like best about Lake Hartwell?
Powroznik: It reminds me of Buggs Island Lake back home with all its red clay points and shoreline, and bass relate really well to that red clay at this time of year.
Foutz: It’s a really diverse fishery. You can fish deep near the dam, or run up the two rivers and fish shallow if you want.
Q: A lot of people say this Classic is anybody’s ballgame to win. Do you agree with that?
Powroznik: Yep, absolutely. Somebody is going to win this Classic that has absolutely no idea they’re going to win it right now.
Foutz: I agree with that. With water levels rising the fish have spread out more, and it’s a real possibility that somebody could stumble into the winning school of fish that may not be expecting to right now.
Q: What four lures can fans at home expect to see Bassmaster Classic competitors casting this week on Lake Hartwell?
Powroznik: Jerkbaits, Shaky Heads, a jig, and a crankbait that will run about 4-feet deep like a Livingston 2.0.
Foutz: Jig, Shaky Head, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits.
Q: How much weight will an angler have to average each day to leave this Classic with a Top 10 finish?
Powroznik: 13 pounds a day should get a Top 10 here.
Foutz: I’d say between 12 and 14 pounds a day.
Strike King Classic Competitors
Collierville, Tenn. (Mar. 12, 2018) – The GEICO Bassmaster Classic returns to Lake Hartwell in Greenville, SC this Friday marking the third Classic to be held there since 2008. The 52-angler field will be vying for the 48th title of “Bassmaster Classic Champion” when the scales settle at the TD Convention Center on Sunday evening. Of the 52 anglers competing for this prestigious title that is accompanied by a nice payday of $300,000, 7 of them are Strike King anglers.
Keith Combs of Huntington, TX is making his 7th appearance.
Mark Davis from Mt. Ida, AR is making his 2oth appearance and has 1 win.
Todd Faircloth hails from Jasper, TX and is competing in his 16th Classic.
Greg Hackney of Gonzales, LA will make his 15th Classic appearance.
Jordan Lee from Vinemont, AL is competing in his 4th Classic as last year’s Champion.
Matt Lee is also from Vinemont, AL and will be a 2nd time Classic qualifier.
Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, MI is competing in his 27th Classic and boasts 4 wins.
Please make sure to stop by our booth (#3218) at the TD Convention Center and meet several of the Strike King pros and get great deals on Strike King apparel!
6 Bassmaster Classic Questions with Casey Ashley
The Basssmaster Classic returns to Casey Ashley’s home waters of Lake Hartwell this week where he won the 2015 Classic, and the easy-going country boy with a thousand dollar smile was kind enough to invite us into his home for a brief conversation just days before bass fishing’s biggest event.
Q: How are you doing this week before the Classic, as compared to where your head and heart were a few days before the 2015 Classic?
Casey: “Well, I’d like to tell you I’m more relaxed, but that really isn’t the case, because all the variables I didn’t want to happen like rising water, a lot of warm weather last month, and warmer water temperatures, have all happened, so the fish are kind of in an in-between state and it’s gonna be a grind.”
Q: Speaking of that 2015 Classic, it’s well-known that your dad, Danny made the winning lure. Your dad is also a really good angler. If we granted him a spot as a competitor in this year’s Classic, how do you think he’d perform against the best anglers in the world?
Casey: “He probably wouldn’t do too good (grinning), because the fish are in an in-between state versus schooled-up and on specific spots he knows well. Last month’s warm weather pulled the fish up shallow, then it got cold again, but the bass never fully returned to deep water.”
Q: Speaking of deeper water, in your best estimation what percentage of all the bass weighed-in this week will come from water deeper than 10-feet?
Casey: I’d guess about 65% will be caught from deeper than 10-feet of water.
Q: If you could sneak a peek into the rod lockers of all the 2018 Bassmaster Classic competitors, what four lures do you think you’d see the most?
Casey: Jerkbait, ½ ounce jig, Shaky Head, and a Shad Rap.
Q: What might surprise fans most about this Classic?
Casey: Probably the amount of change and fluctuation they’re going to see in the names on the leaderboard, because being consistent in this tournament for three straight days is going to be super challenging.
Q: You’re a music man. You said that country music group, Alabama’s song “Why Lady Why” had a big influence on your 2015 Bassmaster Classic win. Are there any songs that are influencing you this week?
Casey: “No, not really. I’m a big fan of Chris Stapleton. His song “Broken Halos” is a great one. But I love listening to a lot of country music songs that never even made it on the radio.”
GEICO Rewind from Lake Lanier
FLW Tour pro James Niggemeyer breaks down his performance last week at Lake Lanier.
Follow James on his Facebook page.
Lee Brothers Prepare to Compete in Their First Bassmaster Classic Together
Seconds after Jordan Lee was crowned Bassmaster Classic Champion inside Houston’s Minute Maid Park, his slightly older professional bass angling brother Matt, rushed from the bleachers to the stage to provide a congratulatory bear hug.
Fair to say, the Lee Brothers can be as different as spinning reels and baitcasters. Matt has an engineer’s mind, Jordan majored in marketing. Matt analyzes everything, and Jordan just goes with the flow.
But ever since they were teens fishing around the protected cove of Lake Guntersville Yacht Club, they’ve fostered dreams of someday fishing in the Bassmaster Classic together.
And next week … they will. In fact, they’ll become only the fourth pair of brothers to fish a Classic together in the event’s prestigious 48-year history.
We caught up with them separately to test the waters of their thoughts leading into bass fishing’s biggest event on Lake Hartwell March 16 -18.
Q: If we’d have stopped you on Auburn’s famed Toomer’s Corner during your college days, and told you that in 2018 you’d be fishing in the Bassmaster Classic with your brother – what would you have said?
Matt: “I didn’t doubt that Jordan and I would get a chance to fish the Classic together, it was more a mater of how long we’d have to wait. Before I won the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship, I figured I’d have to get a job and save enough money to fish professionally. But fortunately, I started fishing professionally right out of college. I’d like to see us finish first and second this year – but preferably I get the win – since Jordan won it last year.”
Jordan: “I would have said that’s what the plan is. Fishing is something we’re both really passionate about, and I think we both knew we would be together in the Classic at some point.”
Q: Without peeking in your brother’s rod locker, what two lures can you just about guarantee us he’s taking to Lake Hartwell?
Matt: Maybe a Jordan Lee Comeback Jig if he’s really optimistic, and a dropshot, as much as he’d rather not dropshot, he knows it’s deadly.
Jordan: I’ll bet he’s packing swimbaits and wacky worms – For Sure!
Q: What do you believe will be the biggest challenge at the Bassmaster Classic?
Matt: “Weather and changing conditions like rising or falling water. There’s a good chance somebody could really find the fish in practice, but conditions will change and they’ll struggle in the tournament, or vice versa, somebody may struggle in practice, but a major change in conditions could turn in their favor.”
Jordan: “Well, the Classic as a whole is a challenge. I know I’ll have to dig deep to block everything out and focus on the fishing. And since I’ve never fished a tournament on Hartwell, and it’s a pretty big lake, I’ll have to focus even more.”
Q: Do you foresee yourself using more Quantum spinning reels or baitcasting reels in this event?
Matt: “Probably spinning tackle just because I have the utmost confidence in its ability to get bites. I’m guessing I’ll lean heavily on a size 30 Quantum Smoke S3 spinning reel at Hartwell.”
Jordan: “It really depends on the water color. Hartwell is generally pretty clear, which leads to a lot of spinning tackle, but with all the recent rains it could be off colored, meaning I’ll use baitcasting more – so probably a mix of both spinning and baitcasting.”
Q: Jump ahead 30 years from now in your mind and tell us how you hope fishing fans will think of the Lee Brothers in the year 2048.
Matt: “I hope we’re both thought of as anglers who are respected and talented, and made a positive impact on fishing both on and off the water. Sure, I’d love to see us both have dominating careers in the years ahead, but there are a lot more important things in life that I want to accompany that – like being likeable and well-respected.”
Jordan: “I hope we’re thought of as brothers that had fun, and got the younger generation excited about fishing. I know fishing kept me out of trouble when I was younger, and to get high school anglers involved in our sport is what it’s all about for me. I get the most joy from young anglers telling me that my brother and I are the reason they got into bass fishing. That’s so rewarding!”