2008 Bassmaster Classic!

[TeeBengal]

[size=4]Day 1[/size]

[img]http://cms.outdoorsfanmedia.com/resources/Pros/H/Hartley_Charlie/Hartley_Charlie_0802_Classic_day1_light_574_ESPNO.jpg[/img]


[quote][size=4]Hartley Leads Fishing Mid-Depths, Rook 2nd [/size]

Friday, February 22, 2008


Charlie Hartley said he's just waiting for the alarm to go off – he's leading the first Bassmaster Classic he's ever fished, and isn't quite sure if it's all a dream or not.

On a day when the shallow bite at South Carolina's Lake Hartwell pretty much disintegrated, which left a bunch of pros with 10 pounds or less, Hartley used a mid-depth jig attack to stuff 21-01 in his box.

His lead's fragile though, because Scott Rook also whacked 'em. Rook, with 21-01, trails Hartley by just 4 ounces. Rook's on a pattern he said he can run anywhere on the lake – it's that strong.

And then there's Kevin VanDam in 3rd – probably the position he prefers at this point, because it should keep at least some spectators off him. He stuck a solid bag at 20-03, and feels his stuff is protected both against weather change and spectator traffic.

Terry "Big Show" Scroggins scrambled today after going more than 3 hours without a fish. He ran new water, discovered a new pattern, and rode it to a 19-03 limit and 4th place.

And local Casey Ashley's in a strong position. With 18-10, he's tied for 5th with Cliff Pace.

Below is a look at the current Top 10. Total weight is followed by distance from leader in red.

[b]1. Charlie Hartley: 5, 21-01[/b]
2. Scott Rook: 5, 20-13 (0-04)
3. Kevin VanDam: 5, 20-03 (0-14)
4. Terry Scroggins: 5, 19-03 (1-14)
5. Cliff Pace: 5, 18-10 (2-07)
5. Casey Ashley: 5, 18-10 (2-07)
7. Edwin Evers: 5, 18-07 (2-10)
8. Michael Iaconelli: 5, 18-05 (2-12)
9. Todd Faircloth: 5, 17-10 (3-07)
10. Alton Jones: 5, 17-05 (3-12)[/quote]



[quote][size=4]Day 2[/size]

Post-Front Puzzle
Jones Now Leads With 18 Average, Hartley Follows

Saturday, February 23, 2008

It's not just cold fronts that screw up the fishing – warm fronts can funk it up too. And the sunny, warm temperatures that settled over Lake Hartwell in South Carolina this morning – those same conditions that so many in the field had prayed for – threw just about everybody a screwball.

And through the changing conditions, it's steadiness zthat now leads this 38th Bassmaster Classic.

Alton Jones is the only angler to have weighed comparable sacks each day. He opened with 17-05 and followed up with 18-11 today to land at exactly an 18-pound average - the number BassFan predicted yesterday would be the winning pace.

Jones said he's waited his whole career "to be on a pattern this solid for the Bassmaster Classic."

Charlie Hartley, the day-1 leader, came in 7 pounds lighter (13-12) today, but only dropped to 2nd. He trails Jones by 1-02, and said spectator traffic affected him today. The folks were great, he noted, but he's somewhat of a "ham" and at times lost focus before the crowds. He also thinks the boat noise might have spooked some of the big fish he was over.

Cliff Pace looks particularly dangerous right now. He's running the same general pattern as Jones, he said, and with 14-11 today, combined with 18-10 yesterday, he moved up four spots to 3rd. Pace seems calm, focused, and unaffected by the lights and cameras. He's vowed to put all the extras out of his mind and fish for the win tomorrow.

Kevin VanDam, who began the day in 3rd, weighed 11-14 and dropped a spot to 4th. His day-2 sack was significantly lighter than his 20-03 opening-day weight, and he seems to have entered that mindset where he's angry. That means it's a virtual guarantee he'll come back strong tomorrow, but with three others ahead of him, his hill is that much steeper.

In 5th is Jeff Kriet, who caught the day's biggest sack at 18-12, which improved him a massive 18 spots. He's fishing deep, but will likely need a 21-plus-pound bag tomorrow to clinch.

Below is a look at the Top 10 after day 2. Total weight is followed by distance from leader in red.

1. Alton Jones: 36-00
[b]2. Charlie Hartley: 34-13 (1-03) [/b]
3. Cliff Pace: 33-05 (2-11)
4. Kevin VanDam: 32-01 (3-15)
5. Jeff Kriet: 31-11 (4-05)
6. Mike Iaconelli: 31-03 (4-13)
7. Greg Hackney: 30-11 (5-15)
8. Bobby Lane: 29-13 (6-05)
9. Edwin Evers: 29-09 (6-07)
10. Aaron Martens: 28-13 (7-03)[/quote]




Day 3 is happening right now.....Let's go Charlie!!!!

[Rumble In the Jungle]

man, i think you might be all alone in the fishing thread