Behind the scenes at the 50th annual Bassmaster Classic

GAME ON

Our first stop was near a bridge where Gussy had done reasonably well in pre-fish. Unfortunately, there were a few crappie fishermen on the spot, as well as a handful of local bass anglers, and one was fishing right where Gussy had caught his biggest bass. Gussy threw an assortment of crankbaits, swimbaits and jerkbaits around the whole area without any hits. He also tossed a drop shot around the actual bridge abutments, but to no avail, so he motored away.

We then drove 25 miles up the lake, with the wind and waves pounding, and the temperature sitting not much above the freezing mark. As I told Outdoor Journal Radio’s Angelo Viola the next day while doing my live interview from Birmingham, I was colder that morning than any day I’ve spent on the ice back home this whole winter!