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Lay Lake, Birmingham, Alabama
2002 Bassmasters Classic
Preview
07/18/2002 - I feel like I have some pretty good momentum going into this years Classic on Lay Lake. Coming from way behind during the final regular season FLW event to win an Angler of the Year title will make you feel that way. Momentum is a huge factor in every sport, and you can never underestimate it. So I feel good going in, even though my prefish was not great.
I have never done well in the Classic in my previous 11 attempts. Although I finished 3rd in 1993, I was still 8 pounds behind the winner, and was never in contention to win. I finished 7th in 1996 on Lay Lake, but was not a threat to win that tournament. So I've never really done much in the Classic. As a result, I figured I would change the way I prepared for the Classic this year. When you are 0 for 11 at something, it is time to change a thing or two.
The major change I am making this year is I am disciplining myself to a confined section of the lake. I spent all 5 of my practice days in a 7 mile section of the lake (the lake is 47 miles long). In analizing my past Classic failures, it seems I have tried to cover too much water in practice. At the very least, I wont be able to say I made the same mistake this year. If I don't catch 'em it will be because I picked the wrong section of lake to fish.
I am going to fish shallow. I'll try a variety of baits until I figure out what they want. I expect jigs and crankbaits to catch the better bass, though possibly not the most.
If there is one thing I learned winning the FLW Angler of the Year this year, it is to keep my focus on Jesus and simply relax and enjoy the tournament because He is in total control. I do better this way. I am more relaxed and loose, and releasing it all to Him does free up my mind and I perform better. One of these years, I hope God will bless me with a Classic win, for His glory! I know He is waiting until I can handle it with humility. He cant use a proud man.
I have always believed that believers like myself play by a different set of rules than everyone else. God knows that the pride coming from a Classic win could ruin an immature Christain, and God would not be able to use him. He loves us so much that He waits patiently for us to conform to a likeness of His Son before blessing us with a World Championship. The more like Jesus we are, the better we can handle the fame of being a World Champ. And that's when He can use a Classic win as a vehicle to share His love with a lost and dying world.
Hallelujah, come quickly Lord Jesus!
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