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Walker Helps Pull Man from Chilly Lake Hartwell
GREENVILLE, S.C. (Feb. 17) — The winner of this week’s GEICO Bassmaster Classic is likely to become a hero to fishing fans, but Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat angler David Walker is already a hero, at least to one lucky man. read more…
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McClelland Gunning to Win GEICO Bassmaster Classic
GREENVILLE, S.C. (Feb. 17) — Simply getting in the field for the GEICO Bassmaster Classic this weekend on Lake Hartwell is a goal for many professional anglers.
“It is the biggest tournament of the year,” Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat angler Mike McClelland said. “It’s the one you get jazzed up for when the tournament season starts. It’s the goal you set every year: To try to make sure you qualify for the Classic. To be fishing my 10th Classic is super exciting.” read more…
Walker: GEICO Bassmaster Classic is the Tournament to Win
GREENVILLE, S.C. (Feb. 17) — For Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat angler David Walker, winning the GEICO Bassmaster Classic can make a professional angler’s career.
“Tournaments come and go, but Classics are ones where if you can put together three good days, you can make a career out of it,” Walker said. “A Classic trophy carries clout that no other event that we have does.
“The argument is between Angler of the Year and the Classic trophy, and guys know it’s harder to win the Angler of the Year than it is the Classic because you’ve got to put together a whole season.
“But winning the GEICO Bassmaster Classic, if you look down the list of names who have won it, it’s all names that you’re familiar with and it’s because they won it.”
This weekend’s Classic, held on Lake Hartwell, is also different from other tournaments because it’s all about winning.
“This is the event you spend all year sweating over a lost fish there, points here, what place I’m in there,” Walker said. “It’s all about getting to this one tournament. And once you finally get here, all you’ve got to do is win it, so you fish it differently.
“Finishing ninth in the Classic might be all right but it’s kind of meaningless. There’s first and then there’s everybody else.”
That Ricky Bobby-like attitude usually creates a competitive atmosphere, but this year’s Classic brings additional pressure in the form of cool weather. When the three-day tournament starts Friday, temperatures are forecast to be below freezing. Saturday and Sunday will be warmer, but rain and snow are forecast Saturday with rain Sunday.
“The biggest thing is you’ve got to dress for it,” Walker said. “This is another example of having equipment that helps you do what it is you do. You’ve got to be able to be dressed warmly and still be able to fish.”
No one will have an advantage in such cold weather, he said.
“When it’s this cold, what’s kind of unique is you don’t have a lot of experience in this type of cold,” Walker said. “You really don’t have a lot to fall back on. It does really level the playing field.”
Even anglers from colder northern states who are used to lower temperatures don’t fish in this type of weather.
“If they do, they’re drilling a hole,” Walker said.
Follow David on his Facebook page.
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Icemaster Classic?
Click on the photo to begin photo gallery.
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- Aaron Martens posted, “At the start of practice today it was a chilly 23 degrees out.” Photo by Aaron
- Ike says “What? Icicles at the Bassmaster Classic? Now this is going to be a cold tournament!” Photo by Mike Iaconelli
- Skeet’s thoughts, “This photo was from yesterday. From the looks of it today we might be setting records this week, but not for fishing. It looks like it could be the coldest Classic week ever! I might be breaking ice with my Ranger, wonder if Mercury makes an ice auger?” Photo Skeet Reese
- Randall Tharp posted, “Good morning from Lake Hartwell SC” Photo Randall Tharp
- Brett Hite from the camp ground, “It’s a great day in the campground getting ready for the Bassmaster Classic” Photo Brett Hite
- Photo by Brett Hite
- Photo by Brett Hite
- Photo by Brett Hite
- Photo by Brett Hite
- Swindle’s Ready – Photo by Gerald Swindle
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