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Welcome to The Complete Angler, your source of information on the outdoor industry in Central Canada.
With over 35 years in the field, host Don Lamont covers topics and issues with industry leaders and influencers to bring you up to speed on what’s happening in the outdoor world.
And now, here is your host, Don Lamont.
It’s been almost a year since Gussie won the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville on the Tennessee River.
This year, we find him getting ready to defend his title on Grand Lake in Oklahoma.
Gussie, thanks so much for coming on the show.
I know it’s a hectic week for you down at the Bassmaster Classic.
What’s the last year been like for you with the win?
Yeah, I know. It’s been a life-changing experience for sure.
Obviously, last year, for anyone that fishes tournaments, the Bassmaster Classic’s the big Super Bowl event.
And it’s one of those things that, like, I don’t think you ever expect to win it.
I didn’t feel ever like I couldn’t, but you just don’t expect that it’s ever going to happen.
And I mean, a year later, still, every day, I pretty much have a moment or two where I’m like, I can’t believe that actually happened, you know.
But, yeah, it’s been a good experience.
And, you know, yeah, like I say, just a lot of opportunity, a lot of goods come from it.
And we’re back trying to do it again here now this week.
So, I mentioned that you had a lot of great coverage on the Bassmaster Classic website.
You talk about your techniques.
You talk about your game plan for the event.
But the one comment that really stuck out to me was the fact that you couldn’t believe the celebration after you won last year.
And you would like to experience that again.
Just talk a little bit about that.
Yeah, I mean, for sure, that was the that was the highlight of the whole event, for sure.
You know, I ended up having a lot of friends and family that that showed up for the for the final day.
And then just a lot of my friends from the fishing community were there.
And it was a it was a pretty awesome celebration after.
And, you know, that part of it, I’ll never forget.
There’s so many good photos from that night.
And, yeah, I mean, that that was the like I say, the best part of the whole experience.
Pretty much.
And that’s that’s the big motivator to get another one of those trophies is is to get to do that again at some point.
Well, fortunately, Darren Mahonis and I were down there to to see the whole thing and participate.
And it was fantastic.
I don’t think people unless you’ve actually seen it and been there and done it.
I don’t think people understand how big an event it really is.
Yeah, it’s quite the spectacle.
And like, you know, obviously for to come from our part of the world,
it’s a project to get down here.
But if you yeah, if you’re if you come, if you ever wanted to come, it’s you’re not going to be disappointed.
I mean, the expo is massive and everything is there.
And it’s just a really a festival for for people that like fishing and especially bass fishing.
But definitely, you know, yeah, it’s it’s our sort of highlight event of the year.
And I don’t take it’s hard to make it.
And I’ve been lucky.
I’ve gotten to fish a few of these, but you just never know when it’s going to be your your last one.
So I’m just I’m trying to enjoy every moment yet stay in the in the mode of, you know, I’ve got a job to do this week.
And it’s a lot different fishery than than what we fished last year.
You know, largemouth lake, there’s going to be some big fish caught.
It’s but it’s not a real easy lake to fish.
It’s a lot of hunting them down, you know, one here, one there.
And it’s, you know, going to be real important to kind of play the conditions.
You know, whatever the weather does, that’ll probably sort of direct me on where I’m going to end up fishing and how I’m going to fish.
But but yeah, it’s it’s going to be exciting, no doubt.
Well, that’s I think people don’t understand the really, really successful tournament anglers are very flexible in their game plans.
They they they change with the weather, their presentations, their read water, the I guess.
And then, of course, with your forward facing sonar now, especially when you have fish gather, like you say, on on Grand Lake, that’ll also come into the ballgame.
You wrote a great article on the presentations that you plan on using during the classic.
And I mean, I think that’s one of your correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that’s your great strength is the fact that you fish so much different water and you’re so flexible in what you’re able to do.
Yeah, for sure.
I mean, it’s not very rarely.
I mean, last year was kind of an exception.
I had a couple of good spots that I was able to kind of, you know, maximize and take my fish from.
But for the most part, I mean, we don’t rely on spots very much at all.
It’s all about patterns and presentations and being flexible.
Like you say, just letting the weather kind of tell us what to do.
And that’s how this is this event’s going to be.
You’re not going to see somebody just camp out on a point or on a spot and win the tournament.
You’re going to you’re going to see them cover a lot of water and and make good decisions based on based on the conditions.
And that’s traveling around.
You know, you we fish all these lakes that you don’t have a lot of experience on.
So you don’t know where those like if we fished a tournament at Lake of the Woods, I mean, I have hundreds of little one one hitter spots that you can pull into, you know, throughout the day and catch a fish if you needed to catch a fish.
But you don’t have that on a lot of these places that we that we go to.
So, you know, like Jason Christie, sort of my roommate on the road, he’s a local here.
I mean, this is like his home lake and he’s for sure the favorite going in.
And I mean, I can imagine just having like I’m kind of like, how do you there’s no way I can beat this guy here because he’s got so much history of those little like, you know, he knows a lot of those little if he pulls into a cove, the fish is going to be like right there, you know, nine out of 10 times.
And he’s going to be able to utilize that.
But at the same time, you know, just being being nimble, if it’s windy, use the wind to your advantage.
If it’s if it’s calm, you know, sunny, you maybe you spend more time fishing docks.
I mean, it’s just it’s it’s a lot of decision making that that comes into it that’s going to lead to a good event.
I know you mentioned Jason in your story or other people did the fact you’re you’re a roommate with him.
But it was interesting when we had the Thursday is media day and that’s coming up.
You got one more practice day tomorrow, the Wednesday, right?
And then Thursday is media day.
So we were there and all the other pro anglers that we interviewed at the time, they all said that Gussie was the favorite.
So is it a little more of a relief this year that you got somebody else taking the pressure off you?
Yeah, I mean, it’s good.
Like I was I was, you know, it was a pretty cool feeling last year because I this isn’t going to be my fifth classic.
But last year was the first time that I felt like I had an opportunity to win the tournament.
You know, things went my way and and unfortunately, I did my best on the last day to mess it up.
But my way and a lot of things got to go your way to win.
It’s hard to win.
These guys are so good.
And whoever does win is going to have to fish like a perfect tournament.
But but yeah, there’s not like I’ve had a lot of people ask if there’s a pressure this week or, you know, what’s the pressure like?
And I really don’t have a lot of pressure.
I mean, I I’m I’m lucky that I’ve gotten the win out of this.
And, you know, it’s it’s a it’s a pretty awesome accomplishment.
And I I understand that at the same time.
I mean, I’m fishing to win.
And I can probably, you know, fish a little more free and, you know, just just really try to let it happen if it if I if I get get on the right program.
But, you know, I’m going to fish with I’m going to try and mix in a little bit of fishing out and fishing deeper.
But my my main program is going to be getting up shallow and just, you know, using a crankbait and a jig and a spinnerbait and just covering ground and make a lot of good try and make as many good casts throughout the day as I can.
And and hopefully hit hit on a few big ones.
So how’s the year been so far?
The first two events, first two events meet, you know, OK, not awesome.
I’m inside the classic line.
That’s sort of the goal for the year is just to try and stay above the line and make the classic for next year.
And, you know, usually throughout the season, you get a couple opportunities to have a have a really good event.
You just hope you make the most of it and maximize those.
But, yeah, we got we had a we had two tournaments in Texas.
The first one went pretty good.
I finished in the 20s and the second one I missed just missed the cut at Lake Fork.
So a little disappointing.
Had over 20 pounds both days.
I mean, caught some nice fish, but the place is a factory.
And, you know, I was I was not really on the right on the right program there.
You know, a lot of guys were bringing in 30 pound limits every day.
So it’s pretty, pretty crazy.
But, yeah, it’s just you keep learning every every day.
And I’m I’ve stayed I’ve been down here since the end of January.
And I think I’m going to stay until our we fish in South Carolina in May and just, you know, spend as much time as I can in the boat and just working on my game and try to try to get better.
And it’s it’s pretty crazy, like we’ve got 10 new new rookies this year on the Elite Series and like they’re all so good.
It’s it’s unbelievable.
Like there’s never been like a rookie class like this before where they’re all just walk in.
And I think they’re pretty much all in the inside the classic cut line right now.
And a number of them are in the top 10 for the Angler of the Year points.
It’s it’s crazy.
Your friend Jamie Bruce had a pretty good run on it last year, but that just proves how tough it is.
Yeah, Jamie’s his top notch angler.
And like he was this close to making it, you know, it was disappointing for for him.
I know.
And for me, it was, too.
I was really hoping for him.
A lot of us were were but he’s going to get another shot at it again.
And I’m sure he’ll he’s going to get there.
But yeah, it’s it it just it the guys are so good.
It’s really hard to qualify.
And it’s really hard to to have success against these guys.
It’s it’s a tough crowd.
Now, with the win, you’ve you’ve signed some major sponsorship deals.
You got your own baits.
Now, what are some of the things that resulted from that sponsor wise?
I mean, yeah, so Northland tackles my title sponsor this year still, you know, it had been G Loomis and Shimano for a number of years.
And they’re still we’re all still good.
But yeah, I just got a really good opportunity with Northland.
And there we’re designing a bunch of really good bass tackle tournament grade tackle, you know, stuff with Gamagatsu hooks, you know, top notch components and paint jobs and just good stuff that that we want as tournament anglers.
And, you know, the best stuff you can get.
So we’re it’s been pretty exciting.
Things have been going good.
Northland is now distributing the smeltenator jigs that Brian Gustafson designed.
You know, he’s sold for the past 10 years or so.
So it’s taken a little bit of pressure off of him just because they, you know, Northland just has a bigger, better ability to to get them made and get them distribute distributed.
So, yeah, it’s been it’s been exciting.
We’ve got some new colors and new a few new designs.
And, yeah, we’ve got lots more good stuff coming down the pipe for sure.
And, you know, stuff that’s going to be all really good for for our part of the world.
Definitely.
And you’re unveiling some new tackle, I understand, at the classic.
At least that’s what your Instagram said.
Yeah, we had we well, we’ve got a new color in the smeltenator, Gussie Shad.
So it’s a blue pearl, really nice, real pretty jig.
But, yeah, I mean, a lot of the companies unveil new equipment this week with the expo.
It’s the biggest fishing show in the world this week.
And G Loomis has some new rods coming out.
I think they’re announcing that today.
We’ve got some new Gamagatsu Nano Alpha hooks.
So they’re coated hooks that are just sharper and more corrosion resistant.
They cost the same as the regular Gamagatsu hooks.
So, you know, there’s there’s going to be a whole pile of other stuff announced here in the next couple of days with a lot of the different companies.
But it’s a fun time in bass fishing this week, for sure.
And like I say, I said earlier, it’s sort of a big fishing festival this week here.
And, you know, going to be a fun, fun place to be.
So what are your predictions for the classic this year?
I mean, it’s hard to say it’s, you know, obviously, like Jason’s a good friend and he’s got he’s going to have a lot of a lot of pressure on him.
But I think he I fully am, you know, guaranteed he’s going to be in the mix on Sunday afternoon.
I hope I am.
I’m going to fish my butt off and try and fish for big ones and try to, you know, fish to win.
And it you know, a lot like I said earlier, a lot of things got to go your way to win this tournament.
But, you know, you just try and put yourself in the best position to to get the job done.
As defending champion, you’re boat number one, correct?
I’m actually boat two.
So Kyle is boat number one, the angler of the year last year so that he gets the first spot and I’m going to be boat two on day one and then it reverses on day two.
So I’ll be second last on on day two.
But yeah, all good.
It’ll be it’ll be nice to, you know, it’s a busy week and a lot a lot of, you know, I don’t think it’s Tuesday lunchtime.
And I think I don’t hardly have a free minute now until the tournament starts.
I mean, we have meetings this afternoon and sponsor dinners.
We get a practice day tomorrow.
We’re in Tulsa, 90 miles from the lake.
So we got to, you know, be at the ready to go at first light out at the lake in the morning.
So we’re going to I think I’m going to leave the hotel 445 tomorrow morning to get out there.
And and then we get back, we fish the practice day tomorrow is kind of an official official day of practice.
So we actually do a takeoff in the morning and a check in in the afternoon just so everyone sort of goes through the routine and knows what to expect on the competition days.
And then tomorrow night we have a champion’s toast or night of champions dinner.
So it’s a dress up, you know, suit and dress.
My wife Shelby’s she’ll be all dolled up.
And it’s it’s it’s a fun night for all of us.
And then Thursday we have a media day.
We got to be be at that bright and early.
They have a breakfast industry lunch.
And then, you know, it’s a full afternoon of doing interviews with with people from all over the world.
And then it’ll be supper time.
My parents are going to get here on Thursday.
So we the last few years, it’s sort of been a tradition.
We go for dinner with my parents and and then it’ll be time to go to sleep and get up at three thirty on Friday morning and go try and win a tournament.
Are you going to get a camera on your boat day one?
I do have a camera on day one.
Yeah.
So I’ll be I think there’s eight or ten of us.
They’ll have a camera day one.
So as the defending champ, I got a camera and just yeah, hopefully I can stay in that top ten and have one all three days again like last year.
Well, we’re all hoping for you here up in Canada.
We’ve got minus 20 overcast our forecast overnight tonight.
So we’re not sure where the spring went.
So so you’re lucky to be down there.
Yeah, no, it’s I’ve been following the weather at home.
And I mean, we’ve had you know, you guys have had it pretty lucky, but it looks like we’ll get an early ice out hopefully and and all that good stuff.
But but yeah, I’m excited to fish this weekend.
And it’s it’s a big opportunity, you know, getting to be in this event and you never know what’ll happen.
Best of luck, Jeff.
Thanks, guys.
Thanks for tuning in.
Visit hookedmagazine.com to subscribe to The Complete Angler and never miss an episode.
With over 35 years in the field, host Don Lamont covers topics and issues with industry leaders and influencers to bring you up to speed on what’s happening in the outdoor world.
And now, here is your host, Don Lamont.
It’s been almost a year since Gussie won the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville on the Tennessee River.
This year, we find him getting ready to defend his title on Grand Lake in Oklahoma.
Gussie, thanks so much for coming on the show.
I know it’s a hectic week for you down at the Bassmaster Classic.
What’s the last year been like for you with the win?
Yeah, I know. It’s been a life-changing experience for sure.
Obviously, last year, for anyone that fishes tournaments, the Bassmaster Classic’s the big Super Bowl event.
And it’s one of those things that, like, I don’t think you ever expect to win it.
I didn’t feel ever like I couldn’t, but you just don’t expect that it’s ever going to happen.
And I mean, a year later, still, every day, I pretty much have a moment or two where I’m like, I can’t believe that actually happened, you know.
But, yeah, it’s been a good experience.
And, you know, yeah, like I say, just a lot of opportunity, a lot of goods come from it.
And we’re back trying to do it again here now this week.
So, I mentioned that you had a lot of great coverage on the Bassmaster Classic website.
You talk about your techniques.
You talk about your game plan for the event.
But the one comment that really stuck out to me was the fact that you couldn’t believe the celebration after you won last year.
And you would like to experience that again.
Just talk a little bit about that.
Yeah, I mean, for sure, that was the that was the highlight of the whole event, for sure.
You know, I ended up having a lot of friends and family that that showed up for the for the final day.
And then just a lot of my friends from the fishing community were there.
And it was a it was a pretty awesome celebration after.
And, you know, that part of it, I’ll never forget.
There’s so many good photos from that night.
And, yeah, I mean, that that was the like I say, the best part of the whole experience.
Pretty much.
And that’s that’s the big motivator to get another one of those trophies is is to get to do that again at some point.
Well, fortunately, Darren Mahonis and I were down there to to see the whole thing and participate.
And it was fantastic.
I don’t think people unless you’ve actually seen it and been there and done it.
I don’t think people understand how big an event it really is.
Yeah, it’s quite the spectacle.
And like, you know, obviously for to come from our part of the world,
it’s a project to get down here.
But if you yeah, if you’re if you come, if you ever wanted to come, it’s you’re not going to be disappointed.
I mean, the expo is massive and everything is there.
And it’s just a really a festival for for people that like fishing and especially bass fishing.
But definitely, you know, yeah, it’s it’s our sort of highlight event of the year.
And I don’t take it’s hard to make it.
And I’ve been lucky.
I’ve gotten to fish a few of these, but you just never know when it’s going to be your your last one.
So I’m just I’m trying to enjoy every moment yet stay in the in the mode of, you know, I’ve got a job to do this week.
And it’s a lot different fishery than than what we fished last year.
You know, largemouth lake, there’s going to be some big fish caught.
It’s but it’s not a real easy lake to fish.
It’s a lot of hunting them down, you know, one here, one there.
And it’s, you know, going to be real important to kind of play the conditions.
You know, whatever the weather does, that’ll probably sort of direct me on where I’m going to end up fishing and how I’m going to fish.
But but yeah, it’s it’s going to be exciting, no doubt.
Well, that’s I think people don’t understand the really, really successful tournament anglers are very flexible in their game plans.
They they they change with the weather, their presentations, their read water, the I guess.
And then, of course, with your forward facing sonar now, especially when you have fish gather, like you say, on on Grand Lake, that’ll also come into the ballgame.
You wrote a great article on the presentations that you plan on using during the classic.
And I mean, I think that’s one of your correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that’s your great strength is the fact that you fish so much different water and you’re so flexible in what you’re able to do.
Yeah, for sure.
I mean, it’s not very rarely.
I mean, last year was kind of an exception.
I had a couple of good spots that I was able to kind of, you know, maximize and take my fish from.
But for the most part, I mean, we don’t rely on spots very much at all.
It’s all about patterns and presentations and being flexible.
Like you say, just letting the weather kind of tell us what to do.
And that’s how this is this event’s going to be.
You’re not going to see somebody just camp out on a point or on a spot and win the tournament.
You’re going to you’re going to see them cover a lot of water and and make good decisions based on based on the conditions.
And that’s traveling around.
You know, you we fish all these lakes that you don’t have a lot of experience on.
So you don’t know where those like if we fished a tournament at Lake of the Woods, I mean, I have hundreds of little one one hitter spots that you can pull into, you know, throughout the day and catch a fish if you needed to catch a fish.
But you don’t have that on a lot of these places that we that we go to.
So, you know, like Jason Christie, sort of my roommate on the road, he’s a local here.
I mean, this is like his home lake and he’s for sure the favorite going in.
And I mean, I can imagine just having like I’m kind of like, how do you there’s no way I can beat this guy here because he’s got so much history of those little like, you know, he knows a lot of those little if he pulls into a cove, the fish is going to be like right there, you know, nine out of 10 times.
And he’s going to be able to utilize that.
But at the same time, you know, just being being nimble, if it’s windy, use the wind to your advantage.
If it’s if it’s calm, you know, sunny, you maybe you spend more time fishing docks.
I mean, it’s just it’s it’s a lot of decision making that that comes into it that’s going to lead to a good event.
I know you mentioned Jason in your story or other people did the fact you’re you’re a roommate with him.
But it was interesting when we had the Thursday is media day and that’s coming up.
You got one more practice day tomorrow, the Wednesday, right?
And then Thursday is media day.
So we were there and all the other pro anglers that we interviewed at the time, they all said that Gussie was the favorite.
So is it a little more of a relief this year that you got somebody else taking the pressure off you?
Yeah, I mean, it’s good.
Like I was I was, you know, it was a pretty cool feeling last year because I this isn’t going to be my fifth classic.
But last year was the first time that I felt like I had an opportunity to win the tournament.
You know, things went my way and and unfortunately, I did my best on the last day to mess it up.
But my way and a lot of things got to go your way to win.
It’s hard to win.
These guys are so good.
And whoever does win is going to have to fish like a perfect tournament.
But but yeah, there’s not like I’ve had a lot of people ask if there’s a pressure this week or, you know, what’s the pressure like?
And I really don’t have a lot of pressure.
I mean, I I’m I’m lucky that I’ve gotten the win out of this.
And, you know, it’s it’s a it’s a pretty awesome accomplishment.
And I I understand that at the same time.
I mean, I’m fishing to win.
And I can probably, you know, fish a little more free and, you know, just just really try to let it happen if it if I if I get get on the right program.
But, you know, I’m going to fish with I’m going to try and mix in a little bit of fishing out and fishing deeper.
But my my main program is going to be getting up shallow and just, you know, using a crankbait and a jig and a spinnerbait and just covering ground and make a lot of good try and make as many good casts throughout the day as I can.
And and hopefully hit hit on a few big ones.
So how’s the year been so far?
The first two events, first two events meet, you know, OK, not awesome.
I’m inside the classic line.
That’s sort of the goal for the year is just to try and stay above the line and make the classic for next year.
And, you know, usually throughout the season, you get a couple opportunities to have a have a really good event.
You just hope you make the most of it and maximize those.
But, yeah, we got we had a we had two tournaments in Texas.
The first one went pretty good.
I finished in the 20s and the second one I missed just missed the cut at Lake Fork.
So a little disappointing.
Had over 20 pounds both days.
I mean, caught some nice fish, but the place is a factory.
And, you know, I was I was not really on the right on the right program there.
You know, a lot of guys were bringing in 30 pound limits every day.
So it’s pretty, pretty crazy.
But, yeah, it’s just you keep learning every every day.
And I’m I’ve stayed I’ve been down here since the end of January.
And I think I’m going to stay until our we fish in South Carolina in May and just, you know, spend as much time as I can in the boat and just working on my game and try to try to get better.
And it’s it’s pretty crazy, like we’ve got 10 new new rookies this year on the Elite Series and like they’re all so good.
It’s it’s unbelievable.
Like there’s never been like a rookie class like this before where they’re all just walk in.
And I think they’re pretty much all in the inside the classic cut line right now.
And a number of them are in the top 10 for the Angler of the Year points.
It’s it’s crazy.
Your friend Jamie Bruce had a pretty good run on it last year, but that just proves how tough it is.
Yeah, Jamie’s his top notch angler.
And like he was this close to making it, you know, it was disappointing for for him.
I know.
And for me, it was, too.
I was really hoping for him.
A lot of us were were but he’s going to get another shot at it again.
And I’m sure he’ll he’s going to get there.
But yeah, it’s it it just it the guys are so good.
It’s really hard to qualify.
And it’s really hard to to have success against these guys.
It’s it’s a tough crowd.
Now, with the win, you’ve you’ve signed some major sponsorship deals.
You got your own baits.
Now, what are some of the things that resulted from that sponsor wise?
I mean, yeah, so Northland tackles my title sponsor this year still, you know, it had been G Loomis and Shimano for a number of years.
And they’re still we’re all still good.
But yeah, I just got a really good opportunity with Northland.
And there we’re designing a bunch of really good bass tackle tournament grade tackle, you know, stuff with Gamagatsu hooks, you know, top notch components and paint jobs and just good stuff that that we want as tournament anglers.
And, you know, the best stuff you can get.
So we’re it’s been pretty exciting.
Things have been going good.
Northland is now distributing the smeltenator jigs that Brian Gustafson designed.
You know, he’s sold for the past 10 years or so.
So it’s taken a little bit of pressure off of him just because they, you know, Northland just has a bigger, better ability to to get them made and get them distribute distributed.
So, yeah, it’s been it’s been exciting.
We’ve got some new colors and new a few new designs.
And, yeah, we’ve got lots more good stuff coming down the pipe for sure.
And, you know, stuff that’s going to be all really good for for our part of the world.
Definitely.
And you’re unveiling some new tackle, I understand, at the classic.
At least that’s what your Instagram said.
Yeah, we had we well, we’ve got a new color in the smeltenator, Gussie Shad.
So it’s a blue pearl, really nice, real pretty jig.
But, yeah, I mean, a lot of the companies unveil new equipment this week with the expo.
It’s the biggest fishing show in the world this week.
And G Loomis has some new rods coming out.
I think they’re announcing that today.
We’ve got some new Gamagatsu Nano Alpha hooks.
So they’re coated hooks that are just sharper and more corrosion resistant.
They cost the same as the regular Gamagatsu hooks.
So, you know, there’s there’s going to be a whole pile of other stuff announced here in the next couple of days with a lot of the different companies.
But it’s a fun time in bass fishing this week, for sure.
And like I say, I said earlier, it’s sort of a big fishing festival this week here.
And, you know, going to be a fun, fun place to be.
So what are your predictions for the classic this year?
I mean, it’s hard to say it’s, you know, obviously, like Jason’s a good friend and he’s got he’s going to have a lot of a lot of pressure on him.
But I think he I fully am, you know, guaranteed he’s going to be in the mix on Sunday afternoon.
I hope I am.
I’m going to fish my butt off and try and fish for big ones and try to, you know, fish to win.
And it you know, a lot like I said earlier, a lot of things got to go your way to win this tournament.
But, you know, you just try and put yourself in the best position to to get the job done.
As defending champion, you’re boat number one, correct?
I’m actually boat two.
So Kyle is boat number one, the angler of the year last year so that he gets the first spot and I’m going to be boat two on day one and then it reverses on day two.
So I’ll be second last on on day two.
But yeah, all good.
It’ll be it’ll be nice to, you know, it’s a busy week and a lot a lot of, you know, I don’t think it’s Tuesday lunchtime.
And I think I don’t hardly have a free minute now until the tournament starts.
I mean, we have meetings this afternoon and sponsor dinners.
We get a practice day tomorrow.
We’re in Tulsa, 90 miles from the lake.
So we got to, you know, be at the ready to go at first light out at the lake in the morning.
So we’re going to I think I’m going to leave the hotel 445 tomorrow morning to get out there.
And and then we get back, we fish the practice day tomorrow is kind of an official official day of practice.
So we actually do a takeoff in the morning and a check in in the afternoon just so everyone sort of goes through the routine and knows what to expect on the competition days.
And then tomorrow night we have a champion’s toast or night of champions dinner.
So it’s a dress up, you know, suit and dress.
My wife Shelby’s she’ll be all dolled up.
And it’s it’s it’s a fun night for all of us.
And then Thursday we have a media day.
We got to be be at that bright and early.
They have a breakfast industry lunch.
And then, you know, it’s a full afternoon of doing interviews with with people from all over the world.
And then it’ll be supper time.
My parents are going to get here on Thursday.
So we the last few years, it’s sort of been a tradition.
We go for dinner with my parents and and then it’ll be time to go to sleep and get up at three thirty on Friday morning and go try and win a tournament.
Are you going to get a camera on your boat day one?
I do have a camera on day one.
Yeah.
So I’ll be I think there’s eight or ten of us.
They’ll have a camera day one.
So as the defending champ, I got a camera and just yeah, hopefully I can stay in that top ten and have one all three days again like last year.
Well, we’re all hoping for you here up in Canada.
We’ve got minus 20 overcast our forecast overnight tonight.
So we’re not sure where the spring went.
So so you’re lucky to be down there.
Yeah, no, it’s I’ve been following the weather at home.
And I mean, we’ve had you know, you guys have had it pretty lucky, but it looks like we’ll get an early ice out hopefully and and all that good stuff.
But but yeah, I’m excited to fish this weekend.
And it’s it’s a big opportunity, you know, getting to be in this event and you never know what’ll happen.
Best of luck, Jeff.
Thanks, guys.
Thanks for tuning in.
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Hooked Contributor and defending Bassmaster Classic champion, Jeff Gustafson, joins me on this episode of The Complete Angler Podcast. I reached Jeff on a rest day at the Classic being held on Grand Lake, Oklahoma. He has one more practice day, then media day Thursday before the start of the event on Friday. Jeff will be second boat out and will have a camera on Day One so you can watch him live.
In this interview Jeff explains how things have changed since his win in Knoxville in 2023. Jeff also has two stories on the Bassmaster Classic website outlining his game plan for the event.
You can find that here.
