This is the biggest week in bass fishing. We’ve always said the Bassmaster Classic is the Super Bowl of our sport, and it’s true. This event is like nothing else.
When you qualify for this event, you have to wait all the way from the fall until March before it actually happens. That means you have a lot of time to think about it, dream about it and prepare for it.
Once it gets here, it comes and goes so quickly you have to do everything you can to maximize your performance, because you don’t get many opportunities to change your life in bass fishing.
Winning the Classic is the only thing that can make a big-time difference in your career. That’s why it’s so important to do all that you can to put yourself in position to win.
The Classic’s impact can vary based on how established an angler is or what type of personality they have. For me, I had fished professionally for 20 years, I had good sponsors and a good following, so it took my career to five more levels.
That accomplishment opened the door to a lot of opportunities. You get invited to places fishermen don’t normally get invited to, and you get to speak at places where fishermen don’t usually get to speak.
Also, people put you on a whole different pay level. Prior to a Classic win, you struggle all your life as an angler to add value to companies and make people understand your worth. Then, when you win that Classic, all of a sudden, you don’t have to justify your worth anymore.
For the younger anglers, like Justin Hamner last year, winning the Classic puts you on the map and makes everybody in the sport know who you are. So, it can go either way, depending on the angler’s age, but it can change your life big-time.
Prior to my Classic win in 2014, I was I was already doing a lot of ministry and speaking in churches and at men’s events. Winning the Classic gave me a bigger platform to do more of that.
Also, on the fishing seminar side, you get a lot of invitations from outdoor promoters. For that year following your Classic win, you wave the Bassmaster flag and everyone wants a piece of you. That’s why it’s so important to capitalize on what a Classic win brings.
For me, the Classic provided longevity because we worked hard to make the most of it. We did it right that first year, and every following year, it brought a residual benefit by keeping me on that same level with lots of opportunities, plenty of work and plenty of sponsors.
I’ve been blessed ever since it happened 11 years ago.
As for Classic week, it’s definitely a demanding schedule. I see some guys get aggravated with all the pressure, and they try to isolate themselves. You can’t do that. You’ve got to get out there and enjoy it while you have the chance.
When it comes to the competition, it’s the biggest event of your life, but you still have to just catch one fish at a time.
In my case, winning the Classic allowed me the opportunity to return to the Bassmaster Elite Series this year through the Legends Invitation. Now that I’m back, the fire burns hotter than ever before. I want to do all I can to keep myself relevant and get back to the biggest event in bass fishing.
