Kevin VanDam

Worst weather ever won’t hinder bass fishing

February 22, 2008
(bassmaster.com, February 22, 2008)

ANDERSON, S.C. — As two-time Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin VanDam puts it, “The fish are already wet.” VanDam, competing in his 18th consecutive Classic, said Thursday’s weather is undoubtedly the worst in the 38-year history of the event. But it is more apt to make the fishing better rather than put a damper on opening day.

“Today is going to be game day,” said the two-time Classic champion. “We should smash them today.”

As proof of that, Bobby Lane had a five-bass limit in his boat in the first 45 minutes Thursday morning.

“Fish bite on days like today,” VanDam said. “In low-light conditions bass have an advantage over their prey species. They’re going to feed today. Low pressure triggers bass activity.”

Although he’s fishing in his first Bassmaster Classic, and at age 24 he’s the youngest competitor in the 50-angler field, Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C., has the most experience fishing on Lake Hartwell.

And he’s experienced worse days weather-wise on Lake Hartwell than Thursday.

“I’ve been here before when it was snowing in December,” Ashley said.

What was the temperature that day?

“Eighteen degrees,” Ashley said so quickly that it was obvious the day was fresh in his memory, even though it happened when he was 15 years old. “We caught ‘em good.

“It’s prime today, if a guy gets in the right spot at the right time.”

This is only the third Classic held in February. From the first Classic in 1971 until the 36th in 2005, the events were held in the months of July, August, September, October and November. Even on those November Classic days, the coldest temperatures were in the 70s.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/classic/news/story?id=3258285

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