Geico Bassmaster Classic

[hoosierbass07]

I was hoping Mike Iaconelli would win.  If Iaconelli did not win I was pulling for Aaron Martens, KVD, Greg Hackney and Ott DeFoe and Randy Howell.  The only person I didn't want to see win was John Crews Jr. 

 I don't know much about Howell (except he won the Classic) but he seems like a really nice guy.   Edwin Evers seems like a really nice guy too so good for him.  

 Why should KVD try anymore?  His name is in every Walmart and sporting goods store and magazine in the U.S.  What's left for him to do?  He does seem to crush the competition more times than not on MLF.  

[BaitMonkey1984]

4 hours ago, hoosierbass07 said:

I was hoping Mike Iaconelli would win.  If Iaconelli did not win I was pulling for Aaron Martens, KVD, Greg Hackney and Ott DeFoe and Randy Howell.  The only person I didn't want to see win was John Crews Jr. 

 I don't know much about Howell (except he won the Classic) but he seems like a really nice guy.   Edwin Evers seems like a really nice guy too so good for him.  

 Why should KVD try anymore?  His name is in every Walmart and sporting goods store and magazine in the U.S.  What's left for him to do?  He does seem to crush the competition more times than not on MLF.  

Why the hate for Crews? Who is by the way very good friends with Ike.

[Ersteman]

9 hours ago, hoosierbass07 said:

Edwin Evers from Oklahoma = won the BassMaster Classic in Oklahoma. 

Casey Ashley from South Carolina = one the BassMaster Classic in South Carolina. 

Randy Howell from Alabama = won the BassMaster Classic in Alabama. 

What's the deal?  

Also, why isn't this thing on TV live?  Instead we have to wait a month or more to see it on ESPN.  Surely one of the outdoor hunting/fishing networks would be willing to show it live over the weekend.  BassMaster needs to ditch ESPN. 

Well, I heard Ashley planted brush piles and fished them in the 2015 Classic.  Also heard Evers planted brush piles in Grand.  I understand it's legal.  I don't think it should be legal.  Whether he actually fished them or not is another question.  If someone could verify or refute this statement, I would appreciate it.  I read articles and watched a lot of the classic online, so my memory is failing me as to the source of the "planting brush piles" statement.  If the winners are planting brush piles, pretty soon everyone is going to be doing it.  

[Meldawg]

37 minutes ago, Ersteman said:

Well, I heard Ashley planted brush piles and fished them in the 2015 Classic.  Also heard Evers planted brush piles in Grand.  I understand it's legal.  I don't think it should be legal.  Whether he actually fished them or not is another question.  If someone could verify or refute this statement, I would appreciate it.  I read articles and watched a lot of the classic online, so my memory is failing me as to the source of the "planting brush piles" statement.  If the winners are planting brush piles, pretty soon everyone is going to be doing it.  

I heard that Evers did plant brush piles, but wasnt able to use them during this tourney. The water had fluctuated so much that he had to change plans. The area he fished the last two days he hadnt visited in the last two years.

I am not clear on the rule of planting the brush piles either, but it seems that it is open for anyone to do not just the locals.

[WIGuide]

5 hours ago, hoosierbass07 said:

 Why should KVD try anymore?  His name is in every Walmart and sporting goods store and magazine in the U.S.  What's left for him to do?  He does seem to crush the competition more times than not on MLF.  

Because being a competitor is in his blood. He is driven to win and if he doesn't it burns him up inside. He does have an impressive legacy and I'm sure he still has goals of his own. 

I find all this KVD hate quite funny. He's not done. You need to remember that this is the Bassmaster Classic. You don't fish to get a check because everyone gets one, or fish to try to make the super 6, you fish TO WIN! They aren't basing their decisions on the safe choice and instead are going for broke. When they do that they either knock it out of the park (like Evers did the final day) or they fall flat on their face.

45 minutes ago, Ersteman said:

Well, I heard Ashley planted brush piles and fished them in the 2015 Classic.  Also heard Evers planted brush piles in Grand.  I understand it's legal.  I don't think it should be legal.  Whether he actually fished them or not is another question.  If someone could verify or refute this statement, I would appreciate it.  I read articles and watched a lot of the classic online, so my memory is failing me as to the source of the "planting brush piles" statement.  If the winners are planting brush piles, pretty soon everyone is going to be doing it.  

Evers did plant brush but like Meldawg said, he couldn't use any of it because conditions changed. Anyone is free to do it before cutoff so I really don't see any harm in it. If everyone is free to do it, and it does nothing but help the fishery. Also, if you've planted any brush piles before, you know that the percentage of return on them isn't very high. You can drop 10 piles on spots that "should be great" and probably 1 of every 10 or so will end up holding fish if that. 

[stkbassn]

15 hours ago, flyfisher said:

I don't believe that is possible....that is one cast every 12 seconds on average.

I think he is done...he has fallen off the past few years and hasn't made the comeback everyone was talking about. 

 Done and KVD can't be put in the same sentence until he retires from the sport. Does he know this or did someone forget to tell him? ha! Even the best doesn't make the top ten every time or it would be a pretty boring sport ..in fact the same is true in all sports. Fishing is so incredibly tough at that level. Congrats to Edwin who is a tremendous fisherman and a guy that I really like. Is he the best of the best? Well, I think he is one of the best but there are so many you can mention in the "best" category. It's who's best on the day at that level. KVD didn't make it, okay.  Is he done? 100% no.

[Deleted account]

KVD is a has been one trick pony....Ya'll InterWeb fishing experts is funny...

[Gundog]

My opinion on KVD is he probably spends more time these days doing seminars, consulting with tackle manufactures, endorsing products, and other obligations that are more about his name and prior success at fishing than he spends time fishing and learning new techniques. If he never wins another tournament he will still make lots of money. His current performance on the tournament trail is a result of his fame. There are only so many hours in a day and his are probably taken up with things other than preparing for the next lake. I like the Tiger Woods analogy and believe that this is probably part of the problem as well. Fishing, like golf, is a solo sport where preparation is everything. 

[blckshirt98]

I'm being critical of KVD but I don't hate the guy at all.  He's actually one of my favorite pros, I try to watch as much video of him as I can find and in all of his interviews and video clips he is genuine and humble.  Also by all accounts, anyone who has been fortunate enough to meet him in person, he's the same way in person and just a good guy all around.

Part of me being critical is I'd like to see him make the last day of tournaments more so I can see more coverage of him.  The way he explains crankbait turn-and-burn fishing I'd like to see him have the same success and hear his thoughts when dropshotting, or throwing a weightless senko, or using a mag spoon, etc.

[livemusic]

KVD has an amazing track record. And wow, is he visible. I bet he makes tons of money from endorsements. The Tiger Woods analogy is apropos. I always said Tiger Woods had the best celebrity name ever. Kevin Van Dam's name is not as good as Tiger Woods but it also has a very catchy ring to it.

[MassBass]

So whats the lure this year? a green/orange jig?

[bassguytom]

Congratulations to Evers. KVD always does well in MLF. I love that show it seems and feels like I could compete Better in that  then the Bass Masters. If my brother was in the MLF he would win he catches dinks by the 100's! He knows most of them by name also! 

[hoosierbass07]

Just now, BaitMonkey1984 said:

Why the hate for Crews? Who is by the way very good friends with Ike.

 

   I've seen him on fishing shows the past few years pushing his giant crankbaits that I think are lame.  If you like them, fine.  But I don't like them.  

[blckshirt98]

You can't really fault anglers for pushing their sponsors/companies since very few(none?) of them make enough off tournament winnings alone to make a living.  Crews is always pushing his Spro cranks and Missile baits, just like Grigsby is always pushing Strike King, KVD with Quantum, etc, but I still find these guys helpful and informative and likable. 

[gardnerjigman]

9 hours ago, Ersteman said:

Well, I heard Ashley planted brush piles and fished them in the 2015 Classic.  Also heard Evers planted brush piles in Grand.  I understand it's legal.  I don't think it should be legal.  Whether he actually fished them or not is another question.  If someone could verify or refute this statement, I would appreciate it.  I read articles and watched a lot of the classic online, so my memory is failing me as to the source of the "planting brush piles" statement.  If the winners are planting brush piles, pretty soon everyone is going to be doing it.  

Lord... here we go...

[Molay1292]

21 hours ago, flyfisher said:

I always viewed him as a one trick pony, albeit a very good one trick.  Maybe that trick has gone sour....

What was his trick in your opinion?

[Jrob78]

18 hours ago, gulfcaptain said:

But I don't see him being done although I do see upcoming pro's and others that have resurfaced putting the pressure on the old guards of the Elite series.  

This 100%!

It's not that guys like KVD have lost their edge, it's just that the whole field is good now.  Every guy in the Elite Series can fish and can win.  Electronics have evened things out a lot too.

It really makes the accomplishments of guys like Edwin Evers, Aaron Martens, Chris Lane and Todd Faircloth even more amazing.  Those guys have managed to win multiple events over the last few years, Evers and Martens twice in the same year.

[gulfcaptain]

Beware of Brent Ehrler.  He dominated a lot of the FLW and last year being his first year he will be a force in the Elite series (believe he won rookie of the year too).  The man knows his electrionics and can fish just about any way he needs to put fish in the boat and I'm betting he will win a tournament this year and be in contention for AOY at the end.  And if Jacob Wheeler....better yet WHEN Jacob Wheeler gets to the Elite series he will also be one that WILL be one to watch.  So many upcoming sticks just waiting in the wings.  It's like Jrob78 said the whole field is just that good now.

[flyfisher]

2 hours ago, Molay1292 said:

What was his trick in your opinion?

Pretty much what has already been said.  He is a speed/power fisherman and it hasn't worked for him as of late.  I am sure he can fish other techniques as anyone with his level of skill can do but that doesn't mean he will or want to do it.  He kind of is a victim of his own success too. I am sure he has more obligations than most and that has to take a toll on you mentally which makes it even harder to keep your edge, which we all know is super important in any type of competitive endeavor.

[Molay1292]

3 hours ago, flyfisher said:

Pretty much what has already been said.  He is a speed/power fisherman and it hasn't worked for him as of late.  I am sure he can fish other techniques as anyone with his level of skill can do but that doesn't mean he will or want to do it.  He kind of is a victim of his own success too. I am sure he has more obligations than most and that has to take a toll on you mentally which makes it even harder to keep your edge, which we all know is super important in any type of competitive endeavor.

It is an interesting theory.  I am left wondering why his style was good for multiple AOY and Classic wins, but he rarely finishes in the top 10 lately.   Seems that being a victim of his own success may be a bigger part of the picture than some of us realize.

 

[blckshirt98]

1 hour ago, Molay1292 said:

It is an interesting theory.  I am left wondering why his style was good for multiple AOY and Classic wins, but he rarely finishes in the top 10 lately.   Seems that being a victim of his own success may be a bigger part of the picture than some of us realize.

 

I'm more curious about bag sizes of when KVD was winning vs his bag sizes now.  Are his bag weights consistent with what he was catching back then, and it's just that the rest of field has gotten better at fishing for those 6-7 big bites?

[Bluebasser86]

On 3/7/2016 at 10:39 PM, Turkey sandwich said:

The water was much more clear up there, no?

Yes it was. Our cabin was in Honey Creek and the water had 8-10 inches of visibility. Never saw the dam because I heard it was dirtier than that but we launched from Cowskin in the Elk on Saturday and there was at least 3' of visibility, clear enough to fish a jerkbait (which didn't matter because they wouldn't touch them). You could see the lake coming to life more and more every day. I had a feeling that someone was going to pop a good bag, but I wouldn't have ever guessed it would be almost 30 pounds on the last day. 

[BaitMonkey1984]

On March 7, 2016 at 3:22 PM, hoosierbass07 said:

 

   I've seen him on fishing shows the past few years pushing his giant crankbaits that I think are lame.  If you like them, fine.  But I don't like them.  

If you don't like his products that is fine. But, to fault someone for pushing their product c'mon. Look at everyones jerseys they are all pushing some product, it is the name of the game. I like many of the anglers including Crews. He is very knowable about baits, hence the success of his Missle baits, and he is still an interesting dude, a somewhat toned down Ike. BTW love IKE too. Plus, last year he raised so much awareness and money for Autism, which is something I have never seen done in BASS prior. Im not saying you gotta like the guy, but don't hate him for peddling his wares, everyone does it. 

[RB 77]

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if KVD not only wins another tournament/s, but another classic and AOY as well. Like others have said when the conditions "set up" for his style of run and gun fishing it would be foolish to bet against him. I really think its a matter of him setting the bar so high while he was on a roll racking up Classics and AOY's that anything less than that stellar clip will pale in comparison to his previous accomplishments.

[Logan S]

What a great Classic!  Evers is my favorite pro so I was happy to see him pull out that amazing final day victory.  

Can't help but laugh at those who think KVD is washed up, won't win anything but prespawn events, or is a 1-trick pony....KVD can put the beat down on the Elite field with any technique.  As recently as last year he got 2nd at Bassfest on KY Lake where he caught half his fish on a texas-rigged worm in a post-spawn/summer event.  The previous Bassfest on Chickamauga he also got 2nd, where he caught most of his fish on either a 3/4 oz jig or a texas rigged worm...Also post-spawn/summetime.  He won on Smith Moutain Lake using primarily a shakey head and tube.  He got 2nd (and probably would have won if not for boat trouble on one day) at Dardanelle by flipping the entire tournament.  He won the 2001 Classic by primarily flipping a jig, but also used a creature bait.  I'm sure there are tons of other examples but those are the ones I remember clearly.  

The guy can do it all.  It was a big deal that he missed the 2015 Classic, but don't forget that IF the first Bassfest event counted for points (like it did this year) he likely would have made it in with that 2nd place finish...I don't think we'd be talking about his slump nearly as much if that happened.