Fishing News - 7/20/00
BASS Masters Classic Report
From BASS
The 2009 Bassmasters Classic is [link url=http://fishing.about.com/od/bassfishing/a/bassclassichub.htm]Feb. 20-22 on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La[/link].
Day One Story
MAXFIELD ASSUME EARLY CLASSIC LEAD
South Carolina Pro Tops Tight-Knit Field
CHICAGO, July 20 - It took Carl Maxfield several years and considerable
effort to qualify for the prestigious BASS Masters Classic and the South
Carolina pro is making the best of his first opportunity. Maxfield plied
the waters of the Calumet River to catch a five- bass limit weighing 10
pounds, 1 ounce to take a slim first-round lead in the Chicago Classic.
Maxfield, who has finished as the odd-man out on the Classic qualifying
list an agonizing five times, holds a 1-ounce lead over California's Aaron
Martens. Michael Iaconelli of New Jersey and Texan Jay Yelas are tied for
third with 9-14, followed by four-time Classic winner Rick Clunn of
Missouri with 9-5.
It is a tight-knit field with less than 3 pounds separating the top 20 pros.
Maxfield, 47, competing in his first Classic, put himself in prime position
to make a run at the $100,000 top prize and the most important title in
competitive fishing. "I'm really tickled with what I caught and to be in
this position," he said. "I caught 18 fish total and was fortunate to catch
some good ones."
Most of those bass and all of Maxfield's keeper-sized largemouths came from
a single spot in the river - a small, wind-laden point of a break wall. His
success came on small jigs, tubes and lizards fished on 10-pound test line.
"If the wind changes, I won't even go back there tomorrow," Maxfield said.
"I had one little key area and the wind on that spot made the fish
aggressive. If the wind changes, I have a couple of other spots where I
hope I can catch fish."
Maxfield, who has never won a national tournament, was asked if he felt any
pressure as the early Classic leader. "I try to look at this as just
another tournament," he replied. "Yeah, I know it's the BASS Masters
Classic, the Super Bowl of fishing and all that. But when they call your
boat number for the take-off, it's just you and the fish. You had better
forget about all of the hoopla when you're doing it or you will forget why
you're there."
Martens, 27, culled through 35 bass to bring his five best to the scales.
He fished among an estimated 30 boats in the Calumet River, but was unfazed
by fishing in a crowd.
"That's California fishing," Martens said. "It's right up my alley -
fishing in a crowd, around a lot of pressure, light-line finesse fishing."
The Classic continues Friday and Saturday.
The 32-year-old BASSMASTER Tournament Trail is the oldest and most
prestigious bass fishing tournament circuit in the country. It has set the
standard for credibility, professionalism and sportsmanship for more than
three decades.Day one standings.
Sponsors of the 30th BASS Masters Classic: Ranger Boats, RangerTrail
Trailers, Mercury Outboards, Chevrolet Trucks, ACDelco Voyager Batteries,
Worldwaters.com, Humminbird/Zercom electronics, Pennzoil Marine, Flowmaster
Exhaust Systems, First USA Visa Card, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Gore-Tex
Outerwear, GMAC Insurance, State of Illinois, City of Chicago, and the Bass
Anglers Sportsman Society.
B.A.S.S. Web site: http://www.bassmaster.com.
