The Bassmaster Classic’s move to June might mean less weight on the scales, but it will help all involved stay in the black.
In chess, castling is a move switching a rook with the king, and B.A.S.S. did something akin by exchanging the Pickwick Lake Elite Series event with the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. The king of bass fishing events on Lake Ray Roberts and its huge expo in Fort Worth are now scheduled for June 11-13.
The move was necessary due to the continued health concerns of COVID-19, and it might create better attendance, although the catching might not be as good.
“I think as far as the fan participation goes, it will probably be better than it’s ever been,” nine-time Classic qualifier Matt Herren said. “Hopefully, we’ll be through with this COVID scare, and everybody’s life will get back to normal. Most of the kids will be out of school, so I think the attendance numbers will be great.”
The Bassmaster Classic Expo, to be held at Will Rogers Memorial Center, is a key component as fishing’s largest consumer show. With 200-plus exhibitors, the Expo boosts Classic week’s economic impact to the host community. Last year’s well-attended Expo helped create a $35.9 million windfall for Birmingham, Ala.
Herren, who won the 2016 Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Ray Roberts, said the competition will be like a chess match.
“The lake’s going to fish a whole lot smaller than it would have if we fished it in March,” the Alabamian said on the last leg of a 4,600-mile loop to Oregon and back. “It will be more of an offshore summertime deal. It will be fairly warm, and it’s going to group some fish up, but it’s also going to group the fishermen up.”
Fort Worth’s Chris Zaldain is going opposite, saying the field might be able to spread out. He said one has to confer with dates in the big book of bass fishing to get a feel for what might happen, though much depends on spring weather. Ray Roberts, with 29,000 surface acres, isn’t a numbers lake, but it does have size, and time of year will take away the super fat spawning fish.
“If we had it in March, I guarantee we would see at least two over 10 pounders — maybe close to a 35-plus bag,” Zaldain said looking at past events. “Whatever date with a three in front of it, there’s always 10-plus pounders weighed in. And in those team tournaments, there’s always 30-plus bags.
“We’re going to miss out on that, but there will be more opportunity for guys to mix it up. In my opinion, there’s still going to be some shallow fish relating to a shad spawn, bluegill spawn. It’s going to fish bigger. There’s still going to be a lot more to do. Half fishing off the bank, half off, whereas in March, 95% of the guys would have been on the bank.”
Herren won the TTBC five years ago in May, reporting that high water after drought had grouped bass up shallow in the willows, but he had to alter his plan quickly.
“They started pulling water and fish started leaving,” he said. “I caught them transitioning out. I just happened to figure out where they were going.”
With a kicker around 5 1/2 pounds, Herren had 17-4 on the final day in his winning total of 51-12 over three days. Zaldain had big bass of the event, a 7-12, to win a Toyota Tundra. The heaviest bag was 22 pounds.
“I think they’re going to be some big bags caught in June,” Herren said. “The lake has a history of putting out some extremely large fish, but it’s not a big numbers lake. Seven, eight, nine, 10 bites is a big day. If guys find the right groups, you could see some ridiculous weights caught.”
Herren, getting better every day after shoulder surgery six weeks ago, predicts 20-pound bags every day with a few anglers cracking bags closing in on 30 pounds.
“It’s going to be interesting. It’s not a big lake. It’s going to fish small. It’s going to be a chess match,” he said. “Everybody is going to have to figure out a little something different to give you a chance to win.”
Zaldain again refers back to the “bass fishing book,” but says Ray Roberts requires an audible.
“The number six in front of that date, that means the fish are off the bank,” he said, “but on a place like Ray Roberts, there are so many shallow targets, so much standing timber in pockets and points. And those trees are thick enough to provide shade for 7- or 8-pounders.”
While the move might decrease weights on Ray Roberts, fishing Pickwick in March will alter tactics and should increase weights, Zaldain said.
“Pickwick is a Tennessee River lake; it’s known for ledge fishing,” he said. “Going from June to March, it’s the complete opposite. It went from a big worm and big crankbait bite off the bank to a shallow winding or flipping type bite, when we went to prespawn. That switch, you’re going to see the weights 2 to 3 pounds heavier on average.”
Zaldain recently moved within the Metroplex, cutting his drive to Ray Roberts in half to 45 minutes. He’s the closest qualifier to the lake, but with all the region’s fisheries, he’s not spent that much time there — yet.
“I’m trying not to claim the home-lake thing because I don’t want that home-lake curse,” he joked. “Now that we’re 45 minutes away, essentially it’s my home lake, but I’m not that familiar with it. I don’t even know the names of the arms. And I want to keep it that way. I want it to be fresh.”
Zaldain said the date switch will give him more time to explore before the Classic’s April 5 off limits. While he’s not the Ray Roberts know-it-all, he does know the standing timber aides angling by hampering lake traffic.
“The typical summertime recreation lake around the county in the South, it’s hard to get around in June. Not the case on Ray Roberts,” he said. “The lower end is pretty much wide open. It’s not as treacherous to get around. Ray Roberts isn’t known as a skiing or recreation lake because there are hazards around.”
Herren still believes warmer weather will create more on-the-water galleries.
“It’s going to be a good venue. It’s going to be great as far as media goes, great for fans, a lot of spectator boats,” he said. “And they’ll be able to see a bunch of us ‘cause it ain’t going to fish big.’”
The 16th Elites Series season gets under way with two events in February, then Pickwick in March before two tournaments in April and May leading into the Classic. Zaldain likes the castle move as it’s given him more opportunity to scout.
“I kind of welcome the chance. I am the closest Classic contender, so I will be doing my homework,” he said. “I guess my goal is to learn the names of all the arms.”