LAY LAKE 2007 37th ANNUAL BASSMASTERS CLASSIC
ONE WEEK UNTIL BLAST OFF!
By Reed Montgomery
A full field consisting of 50 of the worlds best bass anglers will compete for three days of stiff competition, starting one week from today (February 16 ), on Alabama's Lay Lake in the 37th Annual Bassmasters Classic.
This world renowned event is scheduled to be held February 23-25 out of Paradise Point Marina (205) 669-1515 at the mid portion of Lay Lake's 50 mile long Impoundment. Weigh ins will be held each evening starting at 3 P.M. Central time at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center.
Its going to be a very interesting Bassmasters Classic with the weather paying a huge role in this late winter fishing scene. Practice days this week showed anglers pounded by high winds with air temperatures in the 20's in the morning and not even reaching 45 degrees each day.
"Just miserable" were the words of many of these qualified 2007 Classic competitors, many of which struggled to even get a bite during several days of practice. So who are the chosen favorites? Why would any particular angler have an advantage over the rest of the Bassmasters Classic field?
Lets look at some of this years Classic competitors and see why each one should have a chance at winning the $500,000 first place prize and a years worth of fame and glory in the fishing world.
But first the weather...just in time, for all that will change! Next weeks warming trend with predicted lows in the 40's and highs near the mid 60's will take place around mid week. Maybe it will be just in time to see Lay Lake's bass respond!
This warming trend could bring up the lakes water temps each day of the Classic, peaking by the last day Sunday, February 25. You may see water temps go from the current water temps of mid 40's up into the mid 50's, inducing Lay Lakes bass to feed prior to their annual prespawn activities. Classic competitors that make the right decision each day will advance to the last days 25 man field cut.
To start with Luke Clausen, last years Classic Winner will not be fishing this years classic. Neither will Jay Yelas previous 2002 Lay Lake Classic Champion.
Rick Morris 2006 Classic competitor from Virginia ran 94 miles round trip in last years Lake Toho, Florida Bassmaster's Classic. It paid off, he placed second with 51 pounds, only 5 pounds out of first place. But he did not make this years Classic.
Ron Shuffield placed third in last years 2006 Classic with 47 pounds and 14 ounces. He is always a threat and due for a Classic win with many years of Classic experience and placing in the top10 on many occasions. But maybe next year, for he did not make this years Classic either.
But there are two anglers that made last years 2006 Bassmasters Classic top 5 field, that will be returning to fish in this years 2007 Lay Lake Bassmasters Classic.
Terry Scroggins
This well known Classic angler from Florida was right at home in last years Lake Toho Classic, placing fourth with 46 pounds and 8 ounces. He may be right at home fishing Lay Lake's shallow, weedy waters.
Kevin Van Dam
This world known bass angler from Michigan has placed in past Bassmasters Classics Top 5 many times and he won a previous Bassmasters Classic. Kevin Van Dam is always a threat to win any Bassmasters Classic. He placed fifth in last years 2006 Lake Toho Classic, bringing in a last day charge for the Classic title with a huge sack of bass weighing over 19 pounds.
Michael Iaconelli
Talk about Classic contenders ups and downs and 34 year old past Classic Champion Michael Iaconelli from New Jersey always comes to mind. After getting 51st, (last place) due to an angler disqualification in the last years Lake Toho 2006 Bassmaster Classic, he had some ground to make up. And he did. Winning the next Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament on Guntersville in April of 2006 was a great come back. He topped that feat off with making it to "Angler of the Year" for 2006. Michael placed 38th in the 2006 Lay Lake Classic
So how about those Alabama Classic contenders?
Steve Kennedy
Steve Kennedy a 34 year old angler from Auburn, Alabama is fishing in his first Bassmasters Classic. He has never fished a B.A.S.S. tournament in Birmingham. However as rookie of the year in FLW Outdoors and placing in the money many times recently on that trail, he is on a roll and fired up for a chance at winning this years Bassmasters Classic.
Timmy Horton
Timmy Horton a previous Bassmasters Angler of the Year is from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He is 34 years old and has fished in 7 previous Bassmasters Classics. In 2006 he had 4 top ten finishes on the Bassmaster Trail. His best Classic finish was placing 10th in the 2005 Pittsburgh Bassmaster Classic. He placed 18th in the 2002 Lay Lake Bassmaster Classic. He is due for a Classic win.
Aaron Martens
Aaron Martens a 34 year old angler and previous Bassmaster Angler of the Year. He was fishing professionally for years in California before moving to Alabama. He is fishing his 8 th Bassmasters Classic and can really taste victory for many reasons. Mainly, because he has placed second three times in previous Bassmasters Classics, one of which was second place to Jay Yelas in the 2002 Bassmasters Classic on Lay Lake. He placed 17th at Lake Toho 2006 Bassmasters Classic.
Boyd Duckett
This 46 year old angler from Demopolis, Alabama has not fished a previous Bassmaster Classic. He has made his way to this years 2007 Bassmaster Classic by fishing in only 3 Bassmaster Opens Series Tournaments.
Gerald Swindle
This previous Bassmaster Angler of the Year is from Hayden, Alabama. Although he does not frequent Lay Lake he does know how to fish it. He has three-second place finishes on the Bassmaster Trails and 7 Bassmaster Classic appearances.
Randy Howell
Randy Howell from Springville, Alabama, is 34 years old. He is fishing his 6 th Bassmasters Classic. Randy has earned over a half million dollars fishing Bassmaster Trails for years. He has won one Bassmaster tournament and placed second one time, with 15 top ten finishes. He knows Lay Lake and is due for a Classic Win. He placed 34th in the 2002 Lay Lake Bassmaster Classic and 36 at Lake Toho 2006 Classic.
Russ Lane
This 34 year old Prattville, Alabama angler is fishing his second Bassmaster Classic. He placed 21st in the 2004 North Carolina Bassmasters Classic. He is the chosen one to win, knowing Lay Lakes waters perhaps better than any other 2007 Classic contender.
Lee Bailey
Lee Bailey from Boaz, Alabama is fishing his 3rd Bassmasters Classic. He placed 43rd in the 2003 New Orleans Bassmasters Classic and placed 37th in the 2004 North Carolina Bassmaster Classic.
Veterans?
So what about those veteran Bassmasters Classic qualifiers, some anglers that have fished over 20 Bassmasters Classics without a win?
Gary Klein
This 49 year old veteran angler from Texas is fishing in his 25th Bassmaster Classic. He has never won a Classic but has plenty of near misses, placing second one time and placing fourth three times. He placed 44th in the 2004 Lay Lake Classic. His best Classic finish in Alabama was 6th place at the 1992 Logan Martin Lake Bassmasters Classic. He is long overdue for a Classic win and may be the man to watch in this years 2007 Lay Lake Bassmasters Classic.
Rick Clunn
This 60 year old 4 time Classic Champion (1976,1977,1984 and1990) is fishing his 30th Bassmasters Classic. Voted the best professional angler in the world Rick Clunn is always one to watch to possibly win a Classic. He placed 9th in the first Lay Lake Bassmasters Classic in 1996. He finished 4th place in the 2000 Chicago Classic. He placed 21 st at last years 2006 Lake Toho, Florida Bassmasters Classic, bringing in a 10 pound plus bass.
Zell Rowland
This 49 year old professional angler from Texas can say one thing many anglers cannot say. He has never had a real job, only fished all his life. He has fished the Bassmaster Tour for over 13 years. This is his 19th Classic appearance. He won the 2006 Bassmaster Tour tournament on Guntersville Lake with 87 pounds of bass. He won the Alabama Invitational in 1991 on Guntersville Lake also. Zells best Bassmasters Classic finish was in New Orleans in the 2003 Bassmasters Classic. He is long overdue for a Classic win.
So who is considered the odd man out although he has accomplished winning a previous Bassmaster Classic?
Takahiro Omori
Takahiro Omori from Japan won the 2004 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Wylie, N.C. He finished 6th in the 2006 Guntersville Lake Elite Series tournament. Other Classic finishes show 27th place in 1992, 29th place in 1993, 37th place in 1997, 26th in 2001, 56th in 2003, and 35th place in the Pittsburgh Classic in 2005. He likes finesse fishing and this may just be his way out in this 2007 Lay Lake Bassmasters Classic.
Bass Federation Anglers
Its about time some Bassmaster Federation angler won a Bassmaster Classic. It has only been accomplished by one Federation angler Bryan Kerchal.
Royce Dennington
This 38 year old Federation angler form Oklahoma won the Bassmaster Federation Championship to secure his berth in this years Bassmaster Classic.
Terry Mcwilliams
This 57 year old Indiana angler qualified by winning the Bassmaster Federation Northern Division Championship Tournament.
Brent Long
This 36 year old angler from North Carolina qualified for this years 2007 Lay Lake Bassmasters Classic by winning the Federation Southern Division championship. He loves fishing jigs and should do well in this late winter Classic tournament, when jigs are great lure choices.
Kevin Waterman
This 41 year old Federation angler form Maryland qualified by winning the Federation Mid Atlantic Division championship.
Chris Novack
This 43 year old Connecticut angler won the Eastern Division Federation championship and he loves to finesse fish with small worms. He should do well in this Classic.
Shigeru Tsukiyama
Another angler from Japan hoping to get fame and fortune by winning this years 2007 Bassmasters Classic. He won the Bassmasters Federation Western Division Championship.
Many other well know Classic contenders and some that are not so well known, could possibly win this years Bassmaster Classic as well. There are many other favorites for this 2007 Lay Lake Bassmasters Classic any of which could win. The rest of the filed includes,
Ishama Monroe
Ish Monroe, a 32 year old Californian, is the only African American Professional angler in this years 2007 Lay Lake Bassmaster Classic. He previously won the 2006 Bassmaster Bush Shootout at Lake Amistad, Texas with a whopping 104 pounds of bass. He also won the Bassmasters Shootout at Grapevine Lake, Texas. He placed his best Classic finish at Lake Toho, Fl. in 2006 with 15th place.
Other 2007 Lay Lake Classic Contenders that could be a 2007 Bassmasters Classic Champion;
Dean Rojas
Kevin Worth
Skeet Reese
Edwin Evers
Tommy Biffle
Kelly Jordan
Greg Hackney
Jason Quinn
Denny Brauer
Alton Jones
John Murry
Jared Lintner
Peter Thliveros
John Crews
Matt Reed
Mike McClelland
Todd Faircloth
Mike Wurm
Bill Lowen
Jeff Reynolds
Mark Tucker
Terry Scroggins
Jeff Kriet
Derek Remitz
Sam Lashee
James Charlesworth
James Niggemeyer
Tom Hamlin
Royce Dennington
Brent Long
Terry McWilliams
Chris Novack
Russell Cowell
So there you have it!
I guess we will have to just wait and see who wins this years 2007 Lay Lake Bassmasters Classic. Make plans to be there!
This report provided by;
Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" With Reed Montgomery Radio Show
"6 Years on the Radio / Jan 2005"
Birmingham, Alabama
Call Reeds Guide Service...First! (205) 787-5133
"Over 40 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
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