2013 Bassmaster Classic

[gripnrip]

Is anyone making the trip to Oklahoma for the Classic?

[Goose21]

One day I will....can't wait anyway

[bknap]

I wish someday it is driving distance for me!

[gripnrip]

You aren't that far Goose21! I have to say it is a dream come true that the Classic is in my backyard. I have dreamed of making the trip to other Classic's but it just didn't work out. I look to volunteer through the B.A.S.S. nation. A member of our club is on the board to help to recruit volunteer's from the community. I will be taking off from work to attend everything I can. I am counting down the days!

[11justin22]

I will its super close!

[Bluebasser86]

Already have the place to stay. I'll be there with my brother in law and a friend of mine. None of us have ever been to a big tournament so we're all really excited!

[Quillback]

I plan to visit on one of the days, just haven't decided which one yet.

[gripnrip]

Awesome. If you need any recommendations on anything just ask on here on PM me. I have lived in this area my whole life.

[Quillback]

From the ODFW site:

Dec. 8, 2012

A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

Bassmaster Classic on its way to Oklahoma, along with new facilities at Grand Lake

The Bassmaster Classic is like a Super Bowl or World Series for fishing, and the event is headed to Oklahoma this winter.

Grand Lake of the Cherokees will host the Bassmaster Classic fishing tournament Feb. 22-24, 2013. The event is expected to draw 70,000 visitors and account for more than 20,000 hotel nights in the region. Even more important, the event is expected to pump $24 million dollars into the economy of Tulsa, Grove and other communities around Grand Lake.

At its December meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission heard a presentation on the upcoming Classic. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will be involved in the event by helping with the live release of fish back into Grand Lake following each weigh-in, through booth participation at the event expo, as well as through an extensive project to help the host community of Grove to develop world class fishing, boating and tournament facilities on the lake.

With over 15 hours of national media attention on ESPN and ESPN2, the Classic will be an enormous asset to the local economies and to the promotion of fishing in Oklahoma, according to officials with the Wildlife Department. Weigh-ins will be held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, which will be filled with an estimated 15,000-18,000 spectators at each of three different weigh-in events. The winner of the Classic takes home $500,000 in prize money plus inevitable sponsorships and the most coveted prize in competitive bass fishing.

"It really is the top prize in professional bass fishing," said Gene Gilliland, assistant chief of fisheries for the Wildlife Department. "It's easily the biggest fishing event that will ever come to Oklahoma."

While expressing the magnitude of the event, Gilliland also noted that the Classic represents a tremendous opportunity for developing the region further for recreational use by anglers and boaters.

"The Bassmaster Classic is going to be a starting point for a lot of things that will be happening in the Grand Lake area and 'Green Country' in general," Gilliland said. "As big as Grand Lake is and as popular as it is, it doesn't really have big-time boat launching facilities. The City of Grove has stepped up and is cooperating with us and some other partners to try to make that possible, not only for the Bassmaster Classic, but for the future."

Wolf Creek Park in Grove is being renovated to provide six boat ramp lanes, parking for up to 300, restrooms, pavilions, a drive-through weigh-in station, courtesy docks and more. The two-phase project will result in a multi-million dollar, first-class facility for the public to use.

"This facility being built at Grand Lake is not just for the big level tournaments," Gilliland said. "But the City of Grove is trying to make something that the local fishermen can use so that they have some nicer facilities to be able to do some of their weigh-ins."

Over the course of the two-phase project, the Wildlife Department will contribute about $3 million, which will be combined with several million dollars provided by the City of Grove, Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Grand River Dam Authority - which owns the lake. The second phase of the project could include other partners as well.

"It's a big deal," Gilliland said. "I'm hoping that the folks at Lake Eufaula and at Lake Texoma and Ft. Gibson and some of our other major reservoirs get really jealous about seeing all this, because we'd like to do this same kind of project at those lakes and put in some really first-class facilities at other places around the state."

A recent episode of the Wildlife Department's Outdoor Oklahoma TV show featuring the upcoming Bassmaster Classic can be viewed on the Outdoor Oklahoma Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/outdooroklahoma.

[SDoolittle]

Gripnrip, where do you live? I'm originally from Chelsea, and I'll be back for the Classic. Also, when did they change the launch site? For months, they've been saying Disney, and now they're saying Grove.

[gripnrip]

Owasso. Yeah they are building parking lots and all sorts of stuff. I haven't been up there to see but they say construction is right on schedule. An FLW main event is coming to the same launch area June 6-9. It will be a tournament mecca now!

[Mobydick]

Just for fun, here is what I think:

- Some anglers will make the short 15 to 17 min run to the Bernice area. Some will make the 27 to 29 min run down to the lower arm, the one that goes left if your standing on the dam looking up the lake. But, I also think a few will go to the Dilar Cove/Honey Creek Park area.

- I think the main pattern in the Bernice and Dilar Cove areas will be a swim-jig around offshore structure/cover, and swim-jigs, square-bills, and soft jerkbaits fished from shore out to about 12-14 ft.

- I think the main pattern in that lower arm will be an A-rig style bait fished slow over/around offshore structure/cover, with anglers switching to a crankbait off and on. There are a lot of docks, so i'm sure there will be a few guys fishing those. I think the bait of choice there will be a light flipping jig with a bulky trailer to present a very slow fall, being fished on the sides of the docks towards the main lake, with those anglers switching to a c-rigged soft jerkbait off and on.

I also think the 500 yd stretch of bank right in front of Lookout Point will be a key stop for those running to the lower arm.

That is just my thoughts....

[Sam]

Grip, I have attended only one Classic and it was another site-T-A-S-T-I-C!

Bring a shopping bag to carry all freebies.

You will meet the movers and shakers in the bass fishing world.

You can walk up to a pro and get a photo taken or an autograph so bring your fishing cap for signatures and your Kodak camera.

I hope to attend another one on the east coast in the future.

It is worth every penny to attend.

GO TO THE CLASSIC AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

[jbsoonerfan]

I plan on going. Trying to get some friends to tag along, but it looks like a solo trip. It's only 3 hours away, so I may as well go.

I still regret not going to the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills. Don't want to let this one pass by.

[gripnrip]

jbsoonerfan I made the Open back then too. I only live 15 minutes from the BOK center and about an hour from Grand Lake. I can't wait!

[bighed]

My son and I will be there.  This will be our 6th year attending.  It falls on his birthday and we look forward to going all year!  We're staying at the lake this year and plan to chase the anglers around the lake one day and spend a day or two at the expo. 

[etommy28]

Ill be there, working with Stick Jacket and one or two other companies.

[gripnrip]

This will be my first one. I've always wanted to go.  

 

I told the wife I didn't want anything for Christmas because I wanted money to spend at the expo.  She put one gift under the tree for me anyways.  Soooooo I'll be spending a few bucks there I'm sure!