TULSA, Okla. — A funny thing happened to Texas pro Ben Milliken during takeoff for Thursday’s opening round of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.
Something he never expected, really.
When it came time to the leave the dock for most important tournament he’s qualified for so far in his young career, Milliken was…calm.
“I thought I would be a lot more nervous, but for some reason I had zero nerves going into the day — and I don’t really know why,” said Milliken, who qualified for the Classic by winning last year’s St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by SEVIIN on Toledo Bend Reservoir. “For some reason, I was like ‘Cool, let’s just go fishing.’”
Milliken had a so-so day on the water as a fickle Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees surrendered only five bass that weighed 12 pounds to land him in a tie for 45th place with Kentucky angler Matt Messer. But more important than his finish, was his start.
Now that he’s experienced the chaos of the Classic, he’ll never be a “Classic rookie” again.
The 34-year-old social media sensation, who qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series by finishing eighth in the Tackle Warehouse EQs Division of the Opens, said all the help he got from B.A.S.S. helped make his first Classic experience easier — along with his familiarity with being in front of a crowd.
Milliken has more than 1 million followers across his many social media platforms, and was as well-known as many current Elites before he started his first Elite season last month. He opened the 2024 season with a fifth-place finish at Toledo Bend and an eighth-place finish at Lake Fork.
“It was so much work just getting here, getting the family here and setting up all of the arrangements,” Milliken said. “All the preparation and map study that goes into a tournament like this was exhausting. But by the time I got here, I was like, ‘Let’s do it.’
“I’m plenty familiar with being in front of a crowd. So, when I got here, it was just a fishing tournament and I was ready to go.”
Though he hopes to catch more fish on Day 2 to make the Top 25 and qualify for the Championship Sunday cut, he says his Classic experience has been incredible.
“Everyone has been so professional,” Milliken said. “I’ve been amazed with the amount help there is and volunteers hooking everything up. It’s just been awesome.”
