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Last Man Standing
July 31, 2001 - New Orleans - Thirty years ago, 24 fishermen participated in
the first BASS Masters Classic(r) on Nevada's Lake Mead. One
is still casting for the title.
Roland Martin, celebrating his 23rd Classic
appearance, is the only participant in this year's Classic that
fished in the Mead event - the tournament that spawned the bass
fishing industry. "Oh, how times have changed!" mentions
Martin.
"That first Classic we only had 12
boats for practice day because the second boat shipment was late.
So, two competitors were paired together for practice,"
Martin remembers. "I was paired with Bob Ponds and we caught
the fool out of 'em with a spinnerbait. The boats arrived that
night and Bob gave that spinnerbait to Bobby Murray - and he
beat us with it!" Martin said.
Martin's best finish in a Classic to date
was his second place finish in 1980. As far as his chances at
the title this year - he feels confident. "I'm on some pretty
good fish. Some guys are going to bring in 15-pound stringers
. . . I just hope I'm one of them!"
A League Of Their Own
As trends in the outboard industry go,
power is good - but power and efficiency is better. If this is
the case, Yamaha Marine rates "best" with the introduction
of the world's first four-stroke V6 outboard motor. The F225
and F200 have created a new category of outboard power.
With Yamaha's F225 and F200, anglers can
enjoy the power and performance of a V6 in combination with the
impressive range, quiet operation and increased fuel efficiency
of four-stroke engines. The new engines also erase the need for
two-stroke-engine oil to be added to the gas - eliminating operating
expense while adding onboard storage space.
The new motors sport a long list of features,
including an alternator and a noise-reduction system. The F225
and F200 will be available for model year 2002.
Q&A
Dave Precht, Editor BASSMASTER(r) Magazine:
"After fishing 28 consecutive BASS
Master Classics, how do you stay motivated to continue fishing
at an elite level?"
Rick Clunn, Four-time Classic Champion:
"To be honest with you, that's the
most difficult thing I face - but this year is easy. The fact
that ESPN is involved definitely motivates me. I think this is
a great opportunity for professional fishermen to showcase our
sport."
A New Trail
One of the most spectacular sights of the
BASS Masters Classic is watching 45 truck/boat rigs file out
of the boat yard in the morning's darkness, headed to the launch
site. The lead vehicle is the beginning of more than two miles
of boat/truck combinations. The caravan is a massive undertaking.
This year all boats are being towed by Trailblazers - Chevrolet's
newest addition to the SUV genre.
The Trailblazer is smaller than the Yukon,
but definitely not an econo-sized offering. A Vortec 16 provides
the SUV with V8-like performance and 6-cylinder efficiency. The
ease with which the 20-foot, fully rigged Classic boats (not
a light load) have been yanked around New Orleans is a testament
to the power of the Trailblazer.
ImPressive
Today was the final practice day for the
Classic contenders before actual competition begins on Thursday.
In addition to practice for the pros, media angler's joined the
contenders to compete in a big-fish competition. This year's
champion is the Louisiana Sportsman's Andy Crawford. Crawford
caught a 3-pound, 10-ounce largemouth for the win.
Quote Of The Day
"During practice I found myself guilty
of making a classic mistake: I tried to cover an immense amount
of water in a small amount of time and ended up not learning
anything about the conditions of the fishery. On Thursday, I'm
definitely going to fish my select areas more thoroughly."
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