ANDERSON, S.C. – And then there were six.
The field of 329 anglers that began the Bassmaster Team Championship Wednesday on Lake Hartwell has been whittled to a half dozen men. They are from different places, and are different ages with different occupations.
But they have at least one thing in common, and that’s a burning desire to compete in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, which will be held March 6-8 on Lake Guntersville and in Birmingham, Ala.
One of them is going to earn that chance on Saturday when the Classic Fish-Off is complete here on Hartwell.
A total of 165 tandems from 30 different states, as well as South Africa and Canada, fished for two days in the team portion of this championship. The two men on each of the Top 3 teams had their weights zeroed as they advanced to the Classic Fish-Off which began Friday at 7:15 a.m. from Green Pond Landing. They’ll weigh-in at 3:15 p.m. and then they’ll do it all over again on Saturday.
The angler with the heaviest two-day total in the fish-off will earn the 53rd and final berth in the biggest fishing tournament on the planet, where fame and fortune await the winner. The 2020 Bassmaster Classic will be the 50th anniversary of the event, so it’s going to be an historic happening, too.
No pressure, right?
Let’s meet the six anglers who are vying for a spot in the Classic!
BROCK REINKEMEYER
AGE: 27
HOMETOWN: Lone Jack, Mo.
OCCUPATION: Electrician, carpenter
BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Joe Bass
HOME BODY OF WATER: Truman Lake
BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: 7 ½ pounds
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Flipping
IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “I’d be fishing on the Ozarks.”
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “No idea.”
WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?: “One of us (teammate Brad Jelinek or I) is going to the Classic.”
BRAD JELINEK
AGE: 25
HOMETOWN: Warsaw, Mo.
OCCUPATION: Fishing guide
BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Joe Bass
HOME BODY OF WATER: Truman Lake
BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: Somewhere between 7 and 8 pounds
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Flipping
IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “I’d be fishing.”
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “A bunch of baby diapers and some formula, because we have a baby coming in a month.”
WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?: “One of us is going to the Classic.”
KC CHOOSAKUL
AGE: 50
HOMETOWN: Sanford, N.C.
OCCUPATION: Carolina Bass Challenge
BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Boat mechanic, boating center owner
HOME BODY OF WATER: “We go everywhere, but if I had to pick one in Carolina, I’d say Kerr Lake.”
BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: About 10 pounds, 5 ounces
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Crankbaits
IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “Working at the boating center.”
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “I hope I get to go to the Bassmaster Classic.”
WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: “If the weather stays the same for us, we should be OK.”
TIMOTHY PENHOLLOW
AGE: 52
HOMETOWN: Mebane, N.C.
OCCUPATION: Sales manager for a service company
BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Carolina Bass Challenge
HOME BODY OF WATER: Kerr Lake
BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: 11 pounds
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Finesse fishing
IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “Probably doing something with my two granddaughters or hanging out with my wife.”
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “Maybe now I’ll be getting something good!”
WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?: “I think we’re going to be cold and wet and everyone is going to be catching them. It’s going to be fun.”
TIMOTHY TAYLOR
AGE: 48
HOMETOWN: Nixa, Mo.
OCCUPATION: Life safety inspector for Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo.
BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Ozark Mountain Team Trail
HOME BODY OF WATER: Table Rock Lake
BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: 10 pounds
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Light line finesse
IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “Spending time with my wife and daughter.”
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “With the success we’ve had today, I’d like to fly my wife to Colorado to see our new grandbaby.”
WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?: “Just a clean, good tournament. I want all the contenders to be safe and everyone going home to be safe, too.”
JOSH BUSBY
AGE: 36
HOMETOWN: Rogersville, Mo.
OCCUPATION: Senior food scientist at Dairy Farmers of America
BASS CLUB/TEAM TRAIL: Ozark Mountain Team Trail
HOME BODY OF WATER: Table Rock Lake
BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: 9 pounds
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Power fishing
IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?: “I’d be fishing or be in a deer blind.”
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS?: “Tell my wife and tell my dad I want a Tackle Warehouse gift card.”
WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?: “I think it’s going to be crazy with the wet and cold weather. I think we dialed in something today, but other people did too. The conditions are going to help everyone tomorrow.”