The bass fishing community’s most significant annual event begins in less than 2 weeks. With the intense spectator anticipation comes countless predictions about how the Classic will play out.
This year’s Bassmaster Classic will be held on Lake Hartwell, which is located in Greenville, South Carolina. It kicks off Feb. 20 and wraps up on the 22nd. The lake can be categorized into two sections: the main lake section with deep, clear water, and two major creek arms that are much shallower and have stained water.
What this means is there are a wide array of patterns for the top 56 bass anglers in the world to test during their official practice period. Some anglers excel at fishing light line and finesse baits, or deep-water structure with swimbaits or football jigs—they will head to the main lake. The shallow, stained water of the creek arms will play right into the hands of shallow-water specialists who can pick up a square-billed crankbait or a jig, and go to town on the visible cover.
The Classic provides a great chance to see some of the best bass anglers in action. This event also allows anglers across the country to get a glimpse into the life of a professional bass angler, as the media coverage leading up to and during the Classic is unparalleled.
Just like with any major sporting event, predictions for how the event will unravel are endless. Here are some top-line forecasts of my own:
