KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – This Matt Robertson kid is a go-getter. And he’s no kid either.
Robertson, 32, is the Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-Off winner. He went big on the Harris Chain to win and is living large at the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, his first.
At Tuesday’s registration, he promptly walked up and introduced himself to Davy Hite and myself, finishing by saying that he was going to win this Classic.
Moments before Justin Lucas gave his speech as 2018 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year at Wednesday’s Night of Champions, Robertson drew eyes when he arrived in his stylish attire with wife, Kassie.
He said his coat was made of “Siberian mountain goat,” and he donned a beaver pelt lid and sunglasses to bring some swag to the shindig. Kid Rock, eat your heart out – resembles him a bit, don’t he? (Gerald Swindle was also somewhat fashion forward in pink Chuck Taylor shoes and pink vest and tie.)
Robertson, who busted 31 pounds, 15 ounces to win the Classic Fish-Off last December, spoke as boldly as he dressed.
“You know what they say, buddy, country boy from Kentucky, hey, I’ve got to dress to impress. First class while cash lasts.”
OK, Matt, how is your fishing going here on the Tennessee River?
“Pretty good, actually.”
What weight do you think it will take to win?
“I hope whatever I catch, buddy.”
This kid’s got style, too
Another style award goes to 14-year-old Trey McKinney of Marion, Ill., who won the 2018 Bassmaster Junior Championship team.
His white dinner coat, bowtie and pocket square were right out of an old Fred Astaire movie. (Look him up). On Classic night, the B.A.S.S. champions on all levels were recognized, starting with defending Classic champ Jordan Lee.
“This is quite crazy,” McKinney said of rubbing elbows with the likes of Lee, Lucas and Mike Iaconelli, who took a couple photos with McKinney. “I talked to Jordan Lee. He was just telling me good luck.”
Like most of the Classic competitors dining at The Foundry, McKinney was young when he got hooked on fishing at 7.
“We have a two-acre pond, and I loved it, loved it, loved it,” he said. “Then my dad knew somebody he hunted with. They had a little 16-foot john boat, and he took me to the lake the first time. I caught one about 3 pounds, and I was hooked.
“As we went on and I fell in love with it more, I really wanted to fish the lake. So we got a 16-foot Triton john boat and we started fishing some church tournaments.”
His parents, Rick and Kim, run a western store in Marion, about two hours southeast of St. Louis. McKinney attended a Classic a few years ago – he couldn’t recall which one – but this memory will be special. He hopes to continue his early success in fishing.
“I’d like to take it as far as I can,” he said. “I would love to fish this one day.”
Tennessee, Tennessee, ain’t no place I’d rather be
Those lyrics from the Grateful Dead song “Tennessee Jed” could be sung by all the Classic competitors, but being in his home state means more to Ott DeFoe – he can sleep in his own bed.
Living up the Holston River in Blaine, DeFoe is the closest of the 52 anglers to the Classic venues in Knoxville at around 20 miles.
Wesley Strader is one of the four anglers enjoying a home-state Classic. His home in Spring City, Tenn., is about an hour away.
Jacob Wheeler, who moved from Indiana to Harrison, Tenn., is next closest, about a half hour farther away than Strader. Brandon Lester is the farthest of the Tennesseans, living about 3 and a half hours away in Fayetteville.
Jake Whitaker of Fairview, N.C., is actually closer to Knoxville than Lester at 2 hours, 10 minutes, and Bradley Roy of Lancaster, Ky., had to drive less than 3 hours.
Jacopo Gallelli is this year’s long-distance award winner, being 4,785 miles from home in Firenze, Italy. From the B.A.S.S. Nation, Gallelli is the first Classic qualifier from his country. He didn’t actually have to come that far this week. He’s fishing in the U.S. this season, but said he makes it home every three months or so.
Fresh-faced newlyweds
You never know who you’re going to run into during Classic week, like Elite Series angler Hunter Shyrock and his new bride, Felicia.
Married last weekend, there were just walking down into our hotel as we were leaving for Classic Night. She said she’s happy to spend some of their honeymoon at the Classic – Hunter just wishes he were fishing it.
Congratulations, kids!