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Bassmaster Classic Returns To Grand Lake Of The Cherokees
Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., will be one of three home-state anglers competing in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro scheduled for March 4-6 out of Tulsa, Okla. This will be Christie’s second time to fish the Classic on his home waters of Grand Lake, and he says he’s trying to feed off the energy of the pressure he feels. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
TULSA, Okla. — It would be easy for Jason Christie to sugarcoat things.
He could say it’s just another tournament, and he’ll approach it like he has the other 40 he’s fished with B.A.S.S. He could say he’s not feeling any additional pressure as one of the hometown favorites.
But this is the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
It’s the Super Bowl of professional bass fishing, and he understands the opportunity that lies ahead.
“I can honestly say I’m feeling it a little bit,” said Christie, an Oklahoma native who lives just an hour from Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, where the 46th renewal of the iconic event will take place.
“It’s hard not to feel some pressure when you’re hearing it so much from everybody. But I’m trying to turn it into a positive thing and feed off all of the energy.”
Competition days will be Friday through Sunday with daily take-offs at 7 a.m. CT from the Hard Rock Dock at the Wolf Creek Ramp launch site in Grove and daily weigh-ins at 3:15 p.m. at the BOK Center in Tulsa. The winning angler will earn $300,000 and a 50-pound trophy that is easily the most coveted in the sport.
The 55 competitors will find Grand Lake slightly above full pool. It’ll be quite the contrast to 2013, when the Classic was held on a drought-stricken Grand that was a couple of feet low.
The anglers can also expect warmer weather during this trip to Oklahoma, with forecasts calling for daytime temperatures in the 60s for all three competition days. The temperature at takeoff for the opening round of the 2013 event was 19 degrees — a record low for the Classic at the time.
“I think they could hold the Classic on Grand 100 years in a row and not have better weather than what we’re supposed to have this year,” said James Elam, a Tulsa resident who is also considered by many to be one of the favorites.
“We’ve had a little bit of a cold front come through lately, but it’s the first one we’ve had in a while. I don’t think you could ask for it to be any better.”
As for what to expect from the lake itself, Christie said he has no clue.
“This is a lake I’m plenty familiar with and a time of year when I really like being on that lake,” Christie said. “But to be brutally honest, I have no idea what to expect. I’ve been fishing other lakes, and the fish have just been upside down.
“The one thing I do know about Grand is that it’s slammed full of fish. They could be caught anywhere.”
Christie finished seventh the last time the Classic was held on Grand, but he was more than 11 pounds off the weight of champion Cliff Pace. He believes his knowledge of the lake may have actually hurt him in that event, and he’s taking a different approach this time.
“In that Classic, I thought I was on a good pattern,” Christie said. “Then when it didn’t go the way I expected it to go early, I started fishing ‘history.’ I started fishing places that I hadn’t fished in practice, hadn’t fished in years.
“I don’t want to do that this time. I want to go in fresh and figure out what’s going on now.”
The Classic often draws a crowd of spectator boats manned by avid fans who follow the anglers in hopes of seeing the action as it unfolds. Christie has been considered one of the favorites since Grand was announced as the Classic site last year, and he expects to have a large gallery with him wherever he goes.
He says he’ll consider a big crowd a sign that he’s doing well. But the possibility of having a large gallery behind him may change the way he plans for the tournament.
“The last time we had the Classic there, the number of spectator boats kind of caught me by surprise,” Christie said. “It may force me to do some things differently. But it’s a good sign that we’re growing the sport — and if we get to a point where people don’t want to watch me, it’ll probably mean I’m not catching any fish.”
As a first-time Classic qualifier, Elam said he doesn’t really know what to expect from a crowd standpoint.
“I know there’s nothing like the Classic, and it’s something I’ve never dealt with before,” said Elam, who enters the event as one of the hottest anglers in the sport after four straight Top 10 finishes in 2015.
“I know it could affect me, depending on how I decide to fish. If you fish down a bank and a big crowd gets behind you and drifts in on that bank, it might make it hard to fish back down that same bank again.
“But a good crowd is definitely a good sign that you’re catching fish.”
For those who can’t be out on the water, fans can watch all of the action as the tournament leaders catch bass in real time on the exclusive Classic LIVE program on Bassmaster.com beginning at 7:30 a.m. each day of competition. Watch hosts Tommy Sanders and Mark Zona, along with guest host Davy Hite, as they provide analysis and live updates streamed from the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo.
2016 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: GEICO
2016 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsors: GoPro
2016 Bassmaster Classic Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2016 Bassmaster Classic Premier Sponsors: GoPro, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley
2016 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presenting Sponsor: DICK’S Sporting Goods
2016 Bassmaster Classic Local Partners: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa, Visit Tulsa, Tulsa Regional Chamber, Grand Lake Association
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
University Of Louisiana-Monroe Jumps Out To Early Lead In College Series Regional
Tyler Stewart (left) and Nick Joiner of the University of Louisiana-Monroe weighed in 17 pounds, 9 ounces to take lead Thursday in the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops held on the Atchafalaya Basin out of Houma, La. Photo by Ronnie MooreBassmaster
HOUMA, La. — Tyler Stewart and Nick Joiner of the University of Louisiana-Monroe set the bar high on the opening day of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops on the Atchafalaya Basin when they brought 17 pounds, 9 ounces to the scales. The team takes a lead of more than 4 pounds into the second competition day Friday.
Only six teams managed to boat five-bass limits in the double-digit weight class, indicating how difficult the Atchafalaya Basin fishery is proving to be.
Ever-changing weather and water conditions aren’t helping. Most of the Atchafalaya Basin was producing good catches during the college anglers’ recent scouting trips, but high winds and an influx of rain has pushed muddy water into areas that previously were clear.
Stewart and Joiner were fortunate to find protected areas to fish, and they had the spot all to themselves.
“Our areas have stayed clear despite the wind we have faced this week,” Stewart said. “I don’t know if we can catch 17 pounds again, but the area we are fishing should stay stable.”
The ULM teammates were shocked that no one else fished around them on the first day, but they are certainly glad to be alone in their areas.
While the majority of the 65-team field caught primarily small bass throughout the day, Stewart and Joiner found the key to heavier fish.
Confident in their catch, the ULM team quit fishing 45 minutes early to minimize the risk of checking in late and incurring penalties.
Their closest pursuer is the team of Zach Ziober and Dakota Ebare from Tarleton State University out of Stephenville, Texas. The pair weighed in 13 pounds, 3 ounces Thursday. Their catch was anchored by a 5-pound largemouth.
The Tarleton State teammates shared fishing areas with other anglers on Thursday, but they claimed an advantage by fishing differently from the others.
“We saw a decent amount of boats in our area today,” Ziober said. “I just think they were fishing too fast. We decided to slow down and fish for less bites, but be patient knowing that big ones may come our way.”
Ziober and Ebare boated eight bass on the opening day, but only six of those were keepers. They lost several bass that would have increased their first-day weight.
“Losing fish happens,” Ebare said. ”We need to land every one for the rest of the tournament.”
The only fear the duo has is the wind direction and how that can affect the clarity of the water in their fishing area. If they have a north wind then their area will clear up and it could get even better, but a southwest wind could muddy up the water and force them to call an audible.
“If we get the correct wind then we will be fine,” Ebare said. “If we get the wrong wind, then our audible means a long run to another one of our areas.”
The rest of the Top 5 includes the teams of Matthew Benoits and Matthew Leblanc of Nicholls State and Travis Harriman and Chaz Miller of the University of Arkansas, tied with 12 pounds, and Jeremy Cooper and Zachary McDill of the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-Crossett (UAM-CTC) with 11-12.
After Friday’s competition day the field is cut to the Top 20. The Top 13 teams at the conclusion of the event Saturday earn invitations to the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. CT from Bayou Black Marina, and the weigh-in will be held back at the mark at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s championship weigh-in is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Nicholls State Unversity.
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: GoPro, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Truck Caps, Costa, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rapala, Shell Rotella, Shimano, ABU Garcia
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central
2/25/2016 – 2/27/2016 Atchafalaya Basin – Bayou Black Marina – Houma, LA
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 1
Name # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz
1 Tyler Stewart – Nick Joiner La Monroe 5 5 17- 9 5 5 17- 9
2 Zach Ziober – Dakota Ebare Tarleton State University 5 5 13- 3 5 5 13- 3
3 Matthew Benoits – Matthew Leblanc Nicholls State 5 5 12- 0 5 5 12- 0
3 Travis Harriman – Chaz Miller University of Arkansas 5 5 12- 0 5 5 12- 0
5 Jeremy Cooper – Zachary McDill UAM-CTC 5 5 11-12 5 5 11-12
6 Marcus Kliebert – Francis Robichaux Nicholls State 5 5 10-12 5 5 10-12
7 Tyler Rivet – Jess Robertson Nicholls State University 5 5 9-13 5 5 9-13
8 John Authement – Cameron Naquin Nicholls State 5 5 9- 7 5 5 9- 7
8 Adam Burkett – Christian Brown LSU Shreveport 5 5 9- 7 5 5 9- 7
10 Ty Hibbs – Matthew Waguespack Nicholls State 5 5 9- 6 5 5 9- 6
11 Josh Bensema – Tyler Anderson Texas A&M University 5 5 9- 2 5 5 9- 2
12 Gunner Durrett – Austin Watkins LA Tech 5 5 9- 0 5 5 9- 0
13 Bradley Fleming – Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 5 5 8-14 5 5 8-14
14 JP Kimbrough – Jared Rascoe LSU Shreveport 5 5 8-13 5 5 8-13
15 Brennan Fertig – Evan Cook Texas A&M University 5 5 8-11 5 5 8-11
16 Jackson Blackett – Austin Joiner La Monroe 4 4 8- 7 4 4 8- 7
17 Zack Remedies – Matt Glad LSU 5 5 8- 5 5 5 8- 5
18 Trent Newman – Nathan Wood Dallas Baptist University 5 5 8- 4 5 5 8- 4
18 Brandon Simoneaux – Colby Ogden Lamar University 5 5 8- 4 5 5 8- 4
20 Cody Metzger – Micheal King Northeastern State University 5 5 8- 1 5 5 8- 1
21 Colten Hutson – Easton Ramsey University of Central Oklahoma 5 5 7-12 5 5 7-12
22 Dakota Cline – Lawson Priess Stephen F Austin University 3 3 7-12 3 3 7-12
23 Hunter Prestenback – Breagan Liner Nicholls State 5 5 7-10 5 5 7-10
24 Jordan Ogle – Chase Arthur Arkansas Tech University 4 4 7-10 4 4 7-10
25 Tanner Crim – Zach Montalvo Tarleton State University 5 5 7- 9 5 5 7- 9
26 Jared Bourgeois – Parker White LSU 5 5 7- 8 5 5 7- 8
26 Adam Forester – Scott McClellan LA Tech 5 5 7- 8 5 5 7- 8
28 Austyn Fowler – Zach Hurst Tarleton State University 3 3 7- 2 3 3 7- 2
29 Allyson Marcel – Tori LeBeau Nicholls State University 5 5 6-15 5 5 6-15
30 Clayton Godfrey – John-Michael Brattlof Stephen F Austin State University 4 4 6-14 4 4 6-14
31 Justin Cooper – John Ledet Northwestern State University 5 5 6-13 5 5 6-13
32 Jacob Fournier – Jared Bascle Nicholls State 5 5 6-11 5 5 6-11
32 Cameron Gautreau – Andrew Tucker Nicholls State 5 5 6-11 5 5 6-11
34 Dakota Sparks – Levi Sharp LSU 5 5 6- 6 5 5 6- 6
35 Michael Mata – Dax Baker Arkansas Tech University 4 4 6- 3 4 4 6- 3
35 Carson Smith – Malcolm Love Northeastern State University 4 4 6- 3 4 4 6- 3
37 Hutton Leppert – Scott Fair Northwestern State University 5 5 6- 0 5 5 6- 0
37 Jose Palma – Andrew Madison University of Central Oklahoma 5 5 6- 0 5 5 6- 0
39 Jacob Caballero – Thomas Legendre Nicholls State 4 4 5-15 4 4 5-15
40 Tyler Woods – Robert Tweed Stephen F Austin State University 4 4 5- 9 4 4 5- 9
41 Hunter Freeman – Tyler Craig La Monroe 4 3 5- 9 4 3 5- 9
42 Ronnie Gray – Ladd Owens Arkansas Tech University 5 5 5- 3 5 5 5- 3
43 Aaron Belgard – Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 4 4 5- 1 4 4 5- 1
44 Stetson Overton – Justin Seeton Tarleton State University 4 4 4- 7 4 4 4- 7
45 Reed Foster – Zackery Hines Dallas Baptist University 4 4 4- 6 4 4 4- 6
46 Wyatt Frankens – Hunter Price Stephen F Austin University 4 4 4- 4 4 4 4- 4
47 Andre Adams – Dustin Robicheaux UL LaFayette 3 3 4- 4 3 3 4- 4
48 Darrell Henson Jr. – Brent Rome Jr LSU 3 3 4- 0 3 3 4- 0
49 Jed Hebert – Austin Hebert University of Louisiana LaFayette 2 2 3-11 2 2 3-11
50 Alex Schieman – Garrett Reynolds Georgia College 1 1 3- 7 1 1 3- 7
51 Devine Deramus – Jeff Ramsey LSU Shreveport 2 2 3- 4 2 2 3- 4
51 Tyler Wilk – Brennan Soileau LA Tech 2 2 3- 4 2 2 3- 4
53 Brandon Midkiff – Tommy Wendling Lamar University 2 2 2-12 2 2 2-12
54 Spencer Lambert – Luke Oneal La Monroe 2 2 2- 3 2 2 2- 3
54 Alex Murray – Alex Felder Southeastern Louisiana University 2 2 2- 3 2 2 2- 3
56 Cameron DeBorde – Cameron Simmons Oklahoma State University 2 2 2- 1 2 2 2- 1
56 Mitchell Decker – Chris Bradley Southwestern Oklahoma State University 2 2 2- 1 2 2 2- 1
58 Dalton Warrington – Collin McFeeters Southwestern Oklahoma State University 1 1 1-13 1 1 1-13
59 Alex Lamabe – Logan Abshire University of Louisiana LaFayette 1 1 1-12 1 1 1-12
60 Damon Martin – Maverick Jaggers UAM-CTC 1 1 1- 8 1 1 1- 8
61 Blake Crabb – Matthew Williams Texas A&M Corpus Christi 1 1 1- 3 1 1 1- 3
62 Phillip Borel – Dustin Nash Northwestern State University 1 1 1- 0 1 1 1- 0
63 Bret Boyd – Ryan Tassin UAM-CTC 1 1 0-14 1 1 0-14
63 Gavin Goolsby – Andrew Cumberland Nicholls State 1 1 0-14 1 1 0-14
65 Colt Benedict – Chase Winston Dallas Baptist University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Alec Castonguay – Garret Whitley Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Cody Finkbeiner – Taylor Barton Stephen F Austin University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Garrett Goettee – Grant Pietsch Texas A&M University at Galveston 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Gregory Green – Thomas Merchant Northwestern State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Cain Hamous – Lane Possoit Northwestern State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Zachary Harrell – Conley Harris UAM-CTC 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Brandon Johnson – Thomas Soileau La Monroe 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Jay Lawson – Matthew Anthony Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Mitchell Mayard – Owen Richard LSU 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Tyler Moses – Justin Terrell LA Tech 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Daniel Ortego – Justin Mann University of Louisiana LaFayette 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Oaklin Spier – Sawyer Evans Southeastern Louisiana University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 TJ Tucker – Hampton Hasek Arkansas Tech University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Chris Zins – Nick Gill University of Central Oklahoma 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASS Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz
1 Zach Ziober – Dakota Ebare Grapevine, TX 5- 6
TOTALS Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 244 243 408-13 32
2 0 0 0- 0 0
BASS EAST LIVE FROM TULSA
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Project T 2016 EPISODE 8 TATULA CT,TATULA CT TYPE-R Pros point of view”
Daiwa has done it again, introducing the new Tatula CT. As if the Tatula wasn’t good enough, the design team at Daiwa took it to the next level with the new CT models. A smaller, lighter version that still features the T-Wing system. If your looking for the perfect low profile reel this is the one for you.
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Shryock Brothers Untapped Episode 4: Snow Birds
Every year we get fortunate enough to spend some time in Florida during the winter months and get out of the snow. We try to take every advantage of it too!
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