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Great Classic as always and yuge congrats to Gussy! His fishing info plus 5 Qs with him, and the rest of the baits of the Classic, in this one. Back to the "normal" Blaster and some cool stuff fo sho in the next one!
Btw this is how it gets done in the media room at el Classico:
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Big thanks to the anglers and the folks who caught me doing my job – let's go!
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If your email program cuts off the bottom of the email click "View this email in your browser" up top to see the whole thing. Sorry bout that – email programs keep changing stuff.
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How Jeff Gustafson Canadianized the Classic
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Here's the deal: Pretty much everyone fishing that Classic was competing against Gussy. They all thought he was going to catch those bigger smallmouths like he did at the TN River Elite in early March 2021 and would be the one to beat. And they were right. But Gussy didn't do it exactly like he did it the last time.
For starters, this time he had forward-facing sonar, not just 2D like last time. Second, he hardly fished where he won it in '21. Here's how he did it, and huge congrats to Gussy for being the first Canadian and the second person not from the US (Takahiro Omori in 2004 was first) to win the biggest tourney in fishing. #stout
Going in and practice
> "Obviously I saw the potential of the smallmouth bite the last time we were there. Going [to the Classic] I was 100% I was gonna fish for smallmouths. It's the Classic [an all or nothing deal].
> "When I got there [for practice], the canal where I caught them all the last time was pretty loaded, probably more fish there than [in 2021]. But it was getting pounded by everybody. Locals were pounding it – there was a 100-boat tournament at the canal the weekend before....
> "The 2nd day of practice it was getting fished way too hard. The fish were there but they were too hard to catch. I said, 'The tournament is not gonna get won in this spot.'
> "The 3rd day I went a little farther down in Tellico and ended up finding the 2 places where I caught all my fish. One was a bit of rock on a ledge, other was a point with a little bit of rock on it.
> "There's not very much rock out there. You could idle around for an hour and not see anything. I found a something a little different on the bottom...I think that's why no one else got on it – it was pretty hard to find.
> "In this place all the smallmouths are glued to the bottom – that's what probably saved [his spots from being found]. I learned that the last time we were there: If you saw something on side imaging that looked interesting, you would have to drop a bait down...if fish were there they would show themselves really quick....
> "I caught a few fish on other places as well. If I had one more fresh spot for [day 3], it probably would've made my life easier, but I was never able to find another one.
> "Most of the fish were around 28', but I caught fish from 22' to 32'."
Tournament
> "Day 1 I started in the canal. I just figured that if I could take a couple fish out of there over the 3 days, it would help me a little bit. I caught a 17.75-incher right away [min size was 18"]. Then I hooked a keeper and went to boat-flip it and it pulled off. Obviously I wasn't happy – that was the first one I hooked. It ended up being the only fish I lost that I saw the whole event.
> "The first school I found, I caught that 18 lbs in less than half an hour. It happened pretty quick – they were eager to bite. After the 5th one, I pulled the trolling motor up. I spent a lot of the first day looking for new spots and never really found anything good.
> "Day 2 I started there and caught 2 off of it, then I went to my second spot and caught 3 fish there. I spent a chunk of the second day looking for new stuff, but I never found anything....
> "On the way back I caught a 3.5 and culled 2.5 in the canal. That was an important fish: If I didn't catch it, it would've been a lot closer than it was.
> "Day 3 was tough.... I didn't really stray from my program, and I never went more than 10 minutes without working on a fish. They were there but they were just super hard to catch. I think it was a combination of the pressure, the weather – flat and sunny...just getting warmer and the fish were starting to leave...it just seemed like they were lazy. Just very hard to catch.
> "It wasn't like there were no fish left on these areas and I was just aimlessly hoping for a miracle. I had a lot of bad thoughts – should I do this or should I do that – going through my head, but I'm glad it worked out. I caught that 2nd fish late and obviously I needed it.
> "I definitely considered doing other things, especially in the afternoon, to try to catch a few. But I didn't have a good backup plan or largemouth plan. I just had what I had and it worked out."
Winning baits
> 4" Z-Man Scented Jerk Shadz (smelt color) on a 3/8-oz Bass Tactics Smeltinator Jighead (has a Gammy hook). "3/8 was good because I wanted a heavy jig to get down to the fish I see on my screen quick, and also if I was fishing vertically it was a lot easier to keep it under the trolling motor.
> "I had all 3 [Jerk Shadz] sizes rigged up. I caught 1-2 on a 3.75. If the tournament was the weekend before, I probably would've been done in 20 minutes every day. They were snapping [in the colder water in practice, which is why then he] was using a 5-inch bait."
> 7' 3" M G. Loomis NRX+ 872 Spin Rod, Shimano Stella Reel (3000), 10-lb PowerPro Braid (yellow, the color he always uses) to 10-lb Shimano Mastiff fluoro (new line).
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Electronics
> "Humminbird Mega Live obviously. Anyone that was watching saw how I was using that to see the fish, to keep my bait above the fish, and to just know when one was coming to check out my bait. I couldn't do what I was doing without it."
Humminbird SI (and I think 360?) was key for finding the deep rock.
More
> "You want to keep [the bait] above them. They can see it from a lot farther away than you think. If you can make them swim a little bit – if they work for it – they tend to bite it more often.
> "I missed a lot of bites on days 2 and 3 because they were bumping the bait and not getting it good."
Shout-outs
> "A lot of friends and family came down for the event. It's a project for everybody up north to get to Knoxville, and we had friends from AZ and FL that came.
> "...everybody that was at the event. The arena was packed. It sure felt awesome to have everyone there cheering....
> "Also B.A.S.S. – we get the rockstar treatment [during Classic] week. Everything is totally top notch."
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Dave Mercer definitely has the best nickname for Gussy, but Gussy got 'er done and used the Smeltinator so:
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1. When's the last time you won a tournament with 2 fish on the last day?
> "I can't say I've ever won a tournament without having a limit on the last day. I did not even think I had a chance coming back [on day 3] – the boat ride home was horrible. The worst feeling ever.
> "I couldn't believe it ended the way it did. Looking at all the past Classics, somebody always catches them big on the last day."
2. Usually the guy leading the Classic on day 1 doesn't win, and for sure anyone who only catches 2 fish on the last day doesn't win. How does it feel to overcome both of those deals?
> "Yeah...I probably burned up all my luck for the year this weekend, but I'm good with it."
[Lol heck yeah mang! 🍀]
3. Is the Canadian bassin' invasion of the United States now complete or are there further plans?
> "We're coming to take more trophies north of the border still."
[You hear that US peeps? Go up there and get some trophies back! Just watch out for these guys:]
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😆 🇨🇦
4. Are you now more famous in Canada than [insert some hockey dude here]?
> "Uh no, definitely not."
5. The word "moping" sounds a little depressing and you're not that kinda guy. Got another word for it?
> "If Ron Lindner didn't coin the term I would probably find another word for it, but he's a legend for me and that's what it will always be for me."
Bonus Q: Be honest – during a tough winter, have you ever shot a yak in your yard because you couldn't make it to the grocery store?
> "I've shot some ruffed grouse in my yard before and ate them for dinner, and I've gone and caught walleyes a 5-minute snowmobile ride from my house because it was quicker than going into town to get something for dinner."
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Disclaimers for all 55 of these:
- This tournament was a few-fish grind, so lotsa guys fished a deck's worth of baits. I asked for the ONE best bait they fished – except for David Mullins, who didn't weigh a fish. The guys got so few bites that sometimes it was a tough call which bait was the best for 'em.
- Any mistakes are 100% mine (was typing fast), apologies for 'em. If anything is wrong, please lmk.
2nd: Bryan Schmitt
> Missile Mini Magic Worm (gp, and looks like the full-size one too) with a Floatzilla, 1/4-oz shakey head and 1/4-oz 1st Gen Jaw Dropper Head, 10-lb P-line braid to 12-lb P-Line fluoro, Fitzgerald Stunner Spin Reel, Fitzgerald Shakey Head Spin Rod.
> 2-8', scattered wood on flats.
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3rd: Scott Canterbury
> 1/2-oz Dirty Jigs Matt Herren Flippin' Jig with various plastics (both gp – "I actually had 2 rods rigged with same jig/different trailer), BaitFuel added to all, 20-lb P-Line 100% Fluoro, Ardent Apex Grande Reel (7.3), 7' 6" Halo KS II Elite Rod.
> "Anything in less than 5'."
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4th: Drew Benton
> 1/2-oz Nichols Pulsator Spinnerbait (white/chart, #5 single gold CO gold) with a Big Bite Pro Swimmer (white), 20-lb Seaguar InvizX fluoro, 7' 2" H Phenix M1 Rod.
> Wood in 5' or less.
> Also fished a Big Bite Scentsation Slim Minnow on a 3/8-oz Dirty Jigs Guppy Head.
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5th: John Cox
> Frittside 5 crankbait (KY blue and ghost morning dawn). "Might have slipped the Clickin' version in a few times to get them a different sound." 15-lb Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, Abu REVO Winch Reel (5.4), 7' 6" MH Abu Pro Series John Cox Cranking Rod.
> 1-3', "anything and everything in that depth range – laydowns, sticks, rocks, trash in the water, you name it I ran the Frittside by it."
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6th: Brandon Lester
> 1/4-oz lipless crankbait (shad), 12-lb Vicious Pro Elite Fluoro, 7:1 reel, 6' 10" M Mustad Instinct Bandon Lester signature Rod.
> Backs of pockets, 1-3'.
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7th: Jay Przekurat
> 3/8-oz Strike King Structure Jig and Strike King Menace (both blue craw), 20-lb Seaguar AbrazX fluoro, Lew's Custom Pro Reel, 7' Lew's Pro Ti Rod.
> Isolated wood, 2-4', off the bank was key.
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8th: Brandon Cobb
> Yo-Zuri 3DR-X SR (ghost sexy shad), 10-lb Yo-Zuri T7 Fluoro, Ark G7 Reel, 6' 11" Ark Cobb Series Century Rod.
> Chatterbait (white) with a Zoom Z-Craw (white), 20-lb Yo-Zuri T7 Fluoro, same reel, 7' 1" Ark Cobb Series Buzz Burner Rod.
> Buzzbait as well. "All 3 were really about equal. Bigger fish on buzzbait, but limits on Chatterbait and crankbait."
> "Shallow anything, less than 3'."
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9th: Jacob Powroznik
> 3/8-oz Buckeye Finesse Jig and chunk (both gp), 20-lb Hi-Seas fluoro, Quantum Smoke Reel (8:1), 7' 6" MH Quantum Rod.
> Mostly docks and pontoons, 1-6'.
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10th: Greg Hackney
> 4.75 and 5.75 Strike King Rage Swimmers (ghost shad and ice), 1/2-oz Strike King Flat Head Head, 20-lb Gamma Fluoro, Lew's BB1 Pro Reel (6.5), 7' 6" Lew's Greg Hackney signature Flip/Pitch Stick.
> Current blowouts in 6'.
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All the baits of the rest of the Classic field
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21st: Tyler Rivet
> Xcite XB-1 Squarebill (fire craw), 15-lb P-Line Tactical Fluoro, Shimano SLX Reel, 6' 9" M F5 Rod.
> Scoped suspended fish in 2-16'.
22nd: Austin Felix
> Smallmouth – Damiki rig: Z-Man Jerk Shadz (shad), 3/8-oz Smeltinator Jighead, 13-lb Sunline Defier Braid to 8-lb Sunline Sniper, Shimano Vanford Reel (2500), 7' 2" ML Airrus Rod. Rock bars to 25' deep.
> Largemouth – Rapala DT6 (brown craw), 12-lb Sunline Sniper, Shimano Curado 150 Reel, 7' 2" M Airrus Rod. Main lake bars and points.
23rd: Louis Monetti
> 3/8- and 1/2-oz Strike King Tungsten Thunder Cricket (white) with a Strike King Blade Minnow (white), 17-lb Strike King Contra Fluoro, Lew's Tournament Pro Reel, 7' 3" MH Lew's Pro Series Andy Montgomery Bladed Jig Rod.
> Docks and rocks, 5-8'.
24th: JT Thompkins
> 1/2-oz Outkast Tackle Cage Feider Jig (money craw) with a Strike King Rage Bug (gp).
> 1/2-oz Strike King Tungsten Thunder Cricket (white) with a Strike King Z Too (white).
> 7' 4" MH Lew's KVD Rod, Lew's HyperMag Reel (8.1), 20-lb fluoro.
> Wood and docks, 5' or shallower.
25th: Matt Arey
> 1/2-oz jig (gp) and craw (gp), 17-lb P-line Tactical Fluoro, Lew's Elite-Ti Reel (7:1), 7' 4" Lew's Elite Rod.
> Docks and wood in 2-6'.
26th: Keith Poche
> 3" Berkely Pit Boss (gp), 3/0 Berkley Fusion19 HD EWG Hook, 3/16-oz, 20-lb Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, Abu Zenon X Reel, 7' 6" H Fenwick Elite Rod.
> Wood and rock in stained water, 0-2'.
27th: KJ Queen
> Jenko CD7 crankbait (KY gold), 12-lb Strike King Contra fluoro, Lew's Custom Pro Reel, 7' 1" MH Jenko DCVR High Roller Rod.
> Bluff walls and banks, 6-8'.
28th: Patrick Walters
> Prototype Rapala jerkbait (pro blue), 12-lb Sufix Advance Fluoro, Daiwa Tatula SV TW Reel, 6' 10" Daiwa Tatula Elite Patrick Walters Jerkbait Rod.
> Secondary points in pockets from 5' to the bank.
29th: Taku Ito
> Mittel Crank (brown), 14-lb Seaguar Tatsu fluoro, Shimano Calcutta Conquest Reel, 6' 6" ML Nories Roadrunner Rod.
> Rock in 8'.
30th: Stetson Blaylock
> Bladed jig (white) with Fluke-style trailer (white), 15-lb Seaguar InvizX fluoro, 6.6 Academy H2OX Evo Reel, 7' 1" M Mod H2OX Evo Rod.
> "Dirt shallow, any target."
31st: Chris Johnston
> 1/2-oz flipping jig with a Zoom Salty Chunk (gp), 22-lb Seaguar Tatsu fluoro, Daiwa Tatula Elite Pitch/Flip Reel, 7' 5" MH Daiwa Tatula Elite Cory Johnston Rod.
> Laydowns, 5' or less.
32nd: Luke Palmer
> Norman Speed N (red craw), 14-lb Sunline Sniper fluoro, 7' Falcon Cara Cranking Rod.
> 2-6', rock and wood.
33rd: Scott Martin
> Balsa squarebill (chart/black back), 17-lb fluoro, Shimano Metanium Reel, 6' 10" Favorite Cranking Stick.
> 1-3' under docks.
34th: Seth Feider
> 1/2-oz BassMan Spinnerbait (Feider shad) with a Z-Man Slim Swimz (white), 20-lb Sufix Advance Fluoro, Daiwa Zillion Reel (7:1), 7' 1" MH Daiwa Kage Rod.
> Shallow wood, 1-2'.
35th: Tristan McCormick
> 1/2-oz Strike King Thunder Cricket (white) with a Strike King Baby Menace (white), Lew's BB1 Pro Reel (7.5), 7' 3" MH Lew's Team Series Andy Montgomery Bladed Jig Rod.
> Docks, 3-5'.
36th: Cody Huff
> Rapala OG Rocco (copper green shad), 12-lb Sunline Sniper, Bass Pro Johnny Morris Platinum Reel, 7' 2" M Bass Pro Signature Series Rod.
> Wood, 0-4'.
37th: Chris Zaldain
> 7" Bass Mafia Daingerous Swimbait (albino), 17-lb Seaguar InvizX fluoro, 13 Fishing Concept A3 Reel, 7' 4" H 13 Fishing Muse Rod.
> Wind-blown channel-swing banks and rocky bluff walls, less than 4'.
38th: Casey Smith
> Smallmouths: Yo-Zuri Rattlin Vibe lipless (red craw), 15-lb Seaguar InvizX fluoro, Daiwa SV Reel, 744 Douglas XMatrix Rod. Isolated rock on flat points, 1'.
> Largemouths: 3/8-oz Z-Man JackHammer (spot remover) with a Yamamoto Zako (white), 17-lb Seaguar InvizX fluoro, 715 Douglas Rod. Dirty water in the backs of creeks, 1-3'.
39th: Carl Jocumsen
> 1/2-oz Molix GT Football Jig (gp) with an X-Zone Muscle Back Craw, 16-lb Sunline Shooter fluoro, Shimano Bantam Reel, 7' 6" M Millerods JigFreaK Rod.
> Skipping docks.
40th: Will Davis Jr
> 1/2-oz Davis Baits Wood Jig (spring craw) with a Big Bite Fighting Frog (gp), 20-lb Seaguar Red Label Fluoro, Daiwa Tatula Elite Reel, 7' 1" H MMA Rod.
> Docks in 6' and the corners of bluff walls – corners with a shelf.
41st: Keith Combs
> Strike King 1.5 squarebill (TN shad 2.0) 12-lb Seaguar InvizX fluoro, Shimano Metanium MGL Reel, Shimano Expride Rod. Channel swing banks.
> 1/2-oz Strike King Tungsten Thunder Cricket (chart/white) with a 4" Strike King Swim'n Caffeine Shad (pearl), 17-lb Seaguar InvizX fluoro, Shimano Curado DC 150 Reel, same rod. Shallow wood.
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42nd: Drew Cook
> SPRO McStick Jerkbait (Spro blue, Gamakatsu G-Finesse trebles), 12-lb Sunline Sniper Fluoro, "unnamed reel," Dobyns Champion XP 705 CB Rod. Roadbed in 7-12'.
> Big Bite Quarantine Craw (tilapia), 4/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook, 1/4-oz weight, 20-lb Sunline Shooter Fluoro, "unnamed reel," Dobyns Champion Extreme 744 Rod. Wood and docks in 1-4'.
43rd: Shane LeHew
> Berkley Frittside (ghost morning dawn), 10-lb Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, Abu Zenon X Reel, Abu Pro Series Shane LeHew Light Crankbait Rod.
> Docks, 2-4'.
44th: Gerald Swindle
> 3/8-oz Buckeye Ballin' Out Jig (gp) with a Zoom Super Chunk Jr (gp), 16-lb Sunline fluoro, 13 Fishing Inception G2 Reel (6.8), 7' 4" 13 Fishing Meta Series Gerald Swindle signature Rod.
> Maine lake docks, 6-10'.
45th: Kenta Kimura
> Prototype Deps Evoke Vibe (red craw), X-Braid Olltolos Fluoro, Abu Zenon Beast Reel (Japan only), prototype 7' MH rod.
> Gravel points, 1-3'.
46th: Buddy Gross
> Evergreen CR6 Crankbait (shad), 15-lb P-Line fluoro, Daiwa Tatula SV Reel, 7' 3" MH Fitzgerald All Purpose Rod.
> Shallow brush.
47th: Marc Frazier
> Ned rig: SPRO Sakura Worm (gp), 1/4-oz mushroom head, 8-lb Sunline Sniper, Abu Zenon Spin Reel, 7' M Abu Fantasista X Rod.
> Docks in 8'.
48th: Brandon Palaniuk
> Megabass IXI Shad Type 3 (red crawfish), 12-lb Seaguar Tatsu fluoro, Daiwa Zillion SV Reel, Alpha Angler Rebound Rod.
> 3-6', isolated rock.
49th: Chad Pipkens
> Jerkbait (shad), 12-lb Sunline Sniper, Abu REVO MGX Reel, 6' 10" Swate Black Label Rod.
> 4-6' – gravel points, flats.
50th: Wil Dieffenbauch
> Bandit 200 Series crank (mistake), 10-lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid Line, Dobyns 704 CB Glass Rod.
> Rock in creeks, 4-6'.
51st: Cliff Pirch
> 1/2-oz flipping jig (gp/brown) with a Big Bite Ramtail (AL craw), 65-lb braid to 20-lb fluoro leader, 7' 11" Phenix Super Flipper Rod.
> 1-5', rocks and laydowns.
52nd: Cooper Gallant
> Shimano World Crank (red), 12-lb fluoro, Shimano Bantam Reel (7:1), 7' M G. Loomis IMX Pro Rod.
> Hard bottom in 1-3'.
53rd: Pat Schlapper
> Cotton Cordell Super Spot (chrome/blue back), 14-lb Sunline Sniper, 7' M F St Croix Legend Xtreme Rod.
> 1-3', backs of pockets.
54th: Collin Smith
> 3/8-oz jig (gp orange) with a Zoom Super Chunk (gp), 18-lb Sunline Shooter, Ark G5 Reel (7.1), 7' 3" Mag MH Ark Invoker Rod.
> "Certain rock transitions" and wood, less than 5'.
55th: David Mullins
He didn't weigh a fish so I didn't ask him.
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best (sometimes worst) and funniest stuff in bassin', hand-picked by me – Jay Kumar. I started BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a bunch more in bassin'. The Blaster is the #2 daily read on any given day in the wide world o' bass so thanks for readin'!
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