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."

Walker working on a plan

David Walker started the day with a new prop on his outboard motor. The new wore off it pretty quick. Walker was leaving one of his first fishing spots when his prop thumped a stump. "It bent one of the ears back," Walker said. "I had to change it out." Walker was in a popular backwater area at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, but he didn't seem to mind the crowd. "If you get the right plan in an area this big, there won't be enough boats in here to stop it," Walker said. But he hadn't figured out the right plan yet. "I think the conditions are really good," Walker said, "but the fish don't act like it. I'm surprised. I think this is ideal. This is the best chance to catch your biggest fish. The bass are pre-spawn; they are as heavy as they are going to be all year. "It's muddy, it's shallow, it's cold, I like it."

DeFoe is “hunkering down”

Ott DeFoe mentioned Tuesday about having to find a few places to "hunker down" on the Red River for this event. "You can't do a bunch of running around," DeFoe said. "This isn't a place where you fish one place for an hour, then run somewhere else and fish for 30 minutes, then run some place else." But you really can't appreciate those remarks until you take a boat ride into the Red River backwaters. There are plenty of visible tree stumps, but there are just as many or more just under the water surface. There's a definite mud line you cross as you ride the stumps into the clearer backwaters. But there's no way to get there quickly. It's like a slow motion bumper car ride. Only after one of these boating adventures can you understand the importance of "hunker down" places. "You're going to have to really pick it apart," DeFoe said. "Go through it with one bait, then go back through it with another bait, then go back again with another bait." Having a dozen places that are holding fish simply won't do you any good here. "You're only going to be able to fish two, three at the most," DeFoe said.

Swindle on dirty water and weather

We had the opportunity to sit with Swindle yesterday and he explained a little of his game plan with us.