Palaniuk has an open mind

Brandon Palaniuk thinks it will take an open mind to win the Bassmaster Classic, after seeing the Red River in today's practice. "The river is changing quickly, and I think the fish are changing just as quickly," Palaniuk said. "I think it's going to be that way all week. Every day there's going to be some kind of change you have to make." Palaniuk found some shallow backwater that was seven degrees warmer than it was on Sunday. "You can feel the heat from the sun," he said. "I was amazed how fast it has warmed some of this shallow water. And the wind today has muddied up a few of these areas."

Tough on Robinson’s

Marty Robinson used Wednesday as proof that he found a better place to fish last weekend. He was hoping to add another hot spot Wednesday, one that was a little closer to the Red River South Marina launch site, but that didn't happen. "There's not much to report today," Robinson said. "I've caught one, about two pounds. "The water temperature is up a little today. A lot of the backwater areas have muddied up. The few where you've got decent water, there's a lot of pressure on the fish."

College plan

As the first ever College BASS representative in the Bassmaster Classic, Andrew Upshaw is the youngest angler in the 49-man field. But he's got the confidence of a Classic veteran. At noon Wednesday, Upshaw said, "I'm about to be off the water. I've got one more spot I want to hit before I go in." Upshaw has a lot of experience on the Red River, especially for someone so young, and he thinks that local knowledge might pay off this week. "It's helped knowing those little spots that fish get in here," Upshaw said. "They are places where a guy might make two or three flips and move on. I know I can make 50 flips in there and catch one." Upshaw pretty much has his game plan set for the opening day of the Classic Friday. "I'm going to hit two places the first day," he said. "I've got a spot where I think I can catch a couple of big ones early, then I'm going to spend the rest of the day in another spot."

Bass Pods

Dennis Tietje of Roanoke, La., fished on the Elite Series last year, but he's taking a medical leave this season after undergoing back surgery. That doesn't mean he's lost interest in what's happening on the Red River this week. Tietje called photographer James Overstreet to get an update on today's practice and offered an interesting observation about the fishing here at this time of year. "You can fish and fish without getting bit, then you might find 40 of them," Tietje said. "They run in pods."

Ike’s running over….

Photographer James Overstreet and I are positioned in the pinch point of a popular backwater area, which shall remain nameless. We've talked with about a dozen Bassmaster Classic competitors this morning, either on their way in here or on the way out. But no one has roared into this stump-filled shallow water like our last visitor. Overstreet reached for his 300-millimeter lens as we watched the approach, then said, "I guarantee you that's (Mike) Iaconelli, without even looking." Ike had backed it down to idling speed when he went past us, smiled and said, "We've run over some s*** today." No doubt, Mike, no doubt.

Davy Hite on winning a Classic

Davy Hite has a special affinity for Louisiana. Like every one else he wants to win this event.

Alvin the Alligator makes an appearance

In Pennsylvania they have Punxsutawney Phil as their harbinger of spring. In Louisiana (and I am making this up) it's Alvin Alligator.

Kriet a little frustrated, just a little

At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jeff Kriet hadn't seen much to get excited about. In fact, he thought the bass fishing was better here Sunday than it had been so far today. "I did hit one little stretch where I thought I'd catch 'em," Kriet said. "I got two bites where I thought I'd get 10." Kriet, however, was far from discouraged, saying, "I think we're going to catch 'em (in the Classic)." That's the feeling you get from a lot of these anglers: With a few more degrees in the water temperature and a few more hours to figure out what the fish are going, then the Red River will break loose. But it's holding tight right now.

VanDam on Wes Miller

Kevin VanDam is not above joking around with reporters and cameramen. We had a chance to catch up to him yesterday while he was in the middle of some television interviews.

Crews wants it warmer

John Crews was fishing 56-degree water Wednesday morning, and he wasn't too happy about it. "I was wanting it to be a little bit warmer, but we've still got this afternoon and tomorrow," said Crews, just before the sun broke through the clouds. Today is crucial for Crews, who said he hadn't yet formed any kind of game plan for the Classic. "I'm trying to get a pulse on what the fish are doing today at this water temperature," Crews said. "Then I'll kind of gauge what to do Friday based on what I figure out today."