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A Chance at $50K from Yamaha Power Pay
The 50th Bassmaster Classic® is officially underway on Lake Guntersville, Ala. Fifty-three anglers will give everything they have over the weekend for their chance at $300,000 and a place in bass fishing history. Also on anglers’ minds this week is Yamaha Power Pay.
Yamaha’s new Power Pay contingency program, which launched in the fall of 2019, provides cash bonuses to anglers who place highest in sanctioned salt and freshwater tournaments. This week at the Bassmaster Classic Yamaha Marine could possibly award $50,000 to the highest finishing Power Pay participant; winning the event isn’t a necessity, the angler just has to finish in the top 33 percent of the field.
Darold Gleason and Whitney Stephens are two anglers vying for the $50,000 Yamaha Power Pay bonus. Both anglers qualified for the Classic by winning one of the 2019 Bassmaster Opens events.
Q – What does it mean to have Yamaha Marine launch the Power Pay program and put up such incredible payout opportunities for a myriad of events, including the Bassmaster Classic?
Gleason: “To have a company like Yamaha show this kind of support to our industry is just incredible. It’s definitely made an impression on me, and a lot of other anglers. In fact, this week I’ve had a lot of anglers who aren’t running Yamaha outboards tell me they will be after hearing about the program and the generous payouts.”
Stephens: “It’s awesome to have a chance at a bonus prize of that kind of money. It almost turns this week into two-tournaments-in-one, in my opinion. I already loved my Yamaha outboard, but the Power Pay program has taken that to a whole new level.”
Q – Yamaha Power Pay isn’t only available to the pros; Bassmaster Opens, FLW Toyota Series, select team tournament trails, saltwater, college and even high school anglers are all eligible for bonus earnings. What would you say to someone with a qualified motor that hasn’t signed up yet?
Gleason: “You’d have to be crazy to not sign up! It’s a great way to earn money for running an industry-leading piece of equipment that you need to have anyway. Even more so, the program is still in its early stages, and with all the different events eligible for payouts, there are a lot of opportunities to make some money with Power Pay right now.”
Stephens: “You’ve got to get signed up! I mean look – you don’t have to win a tournament, you don’t have to buy anything separate, and I guarantee you can find a tournament that’s sanctioned that you’d like to enter. You could get paid to fish. What are you waiting for?”
Q – Do you have one maintenance tip you’d give fellow anglers to get the best performance out of their Yamaha outboards?
Gleason: “I don’t do anything special and I’ve had absolutely zero issues with mine. Just keep up with your basic maintenance and you’ll be fine. Change your engine and lower unit oils every 100 hours or so and your Yamaha will run like a dream.”
Stephens: “I like to change my oil at around 20 hours for the first time when I get a new Yamaha broken in. Do that, and you’ll have no issues ever, as far as I’m concerned. There’s not a more reliable motor on the market.”
For more information on Power Pay, complete terms and conditions or to register, visit yamahapowerpay.com or call Chip at (918) 742-6424.
Despite Injury, Hank Cherry Takes Big Lead At Bassmaster Classic On Lake Guntersville
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Halfway through Day 1 of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, North Carolina pro Hank Cherry fell and injured his right arm.
Hank Cherry, of Lincolnton, N.C., is leading after Day 1 of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk with 29 pounds, 3 ounces. Photo by Gary Tramontina/B.A.S.S.
For a moment, he thought it might even be broken.
But Cherry powered through the pain — and with only one good arm, he caught five bass that weighed 29 pounds, 3 ounces to take the lead at the 50th edition of the Super Bowl of Professional Bass Fishing. Competition is taking place on Lake Guntersville with weigh-ins at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.
Cherry said his injury, which occurred as he was reaching down to grab a fish, would likely require a visit to a local doctor — but it wouldn’t keep him from fishing Saturday morning.
“I didn’t expect to catch them like this at all,” Cherry said. “What I caught my fish on was actually plan B. But it’s plan A now, for sure.”
Believing the location and structure he was fishing were the real key to his success, Cherry made no secret of the bait he was using. He said he started with a lipless crankbait, but the high winds kept a loop in his line and made it hard for him to maintain proper contact with the bait.
“That’s why I switched to a bladed jig,” he said. “It just made more sense for the conditions we were fishing, and it turned out to be the perfect choice.”
Cherry, who’s previous highest finish in a Classic was a third-place showing at the 2013 event on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake, said his injury won’t affect him — and he believes the area where he caught his bass could continue producing big bags the rest of the event.
“I think the area where I caught them, historically, has shown the potential to reproduce,” he said. “The fish are coming in there. There were none in there in practice until Wednesday. That’s when I started getting a hint they might be coming.
“I’ve still got one good arm, and I think the fish will keep coming.”
As Classic leads go, Cherry has a good one with his closest competition almost 8 pounds back. Virginia pro John Crews is tied with Alabama angler and Lake Guntersville veteran Clent Davis.
They both have 21-8, but they told vastly different stories about their Friday surroundings.
Davis, who has fished Guntersville all of his life, caught the bulk of his weight on a spot he hadn’t done well on since at least 2006. The spot was good to him, but it was crowded.
“There’s a lot of boat traffic in the area I’m fishing,” Davis said. “I wasn’t even the first one to fish the spot Friday morning. There were boats sitting everywhere when I got there.
“With tomorrow being Saturday, it could be even more crowded. Who knows? It is what it is.”
Crews, on the other hand, said he caught his limit quickly fishing one small sweet spot on a long stretch of grass.
“It’s like a mile-square grass flat, and I never saw anybody out there,” Crews said. “It’s like a needle in a haystack, the spot where I caught them. It’s not obvious. There’s no point or anything. I was just fan casting like an idiot in practice and caught two in two casts and got out of there.
“There’s something special about it, but I don’t know exactly what.”
Even on a tough, blustery day, Lake Guntersville produced six bags of 20 pounds or more and numerous bass in the 7-pound range. Cherry’s bag was anchored by two 7-2 largemouth, but South Carolina pro Todd Auten took the lead in the race for Berkley Big Bass of the week with a 7-9.
The tournament resumes Saturday with the full field of 53 anglers taking off at 7 a.m. CT from Civitan Park in Guntersville. Only the Top 25 remaining anglers after Saturday’s semifinal round will compete on Championship Sunday for the grand prize of $300,000.
Weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday will be held at Legacy Arena, which is part of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Doors will open at 3 p.m. for credentialed B.A.S.S. Life and B.A.S.S. Nation members and 3:15 p.m. for general public.
The Classic Outdoor Expo, which features nearly 200 exhibitors from around the world, will be open Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Get Hooked on Fishing attraction will be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Piazza in the BJCC. Free activities for children will include a Kids Fishing Pond, giveaways and more.
2020 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: Academy Sports + Outdoors
2020 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsor: Huk Performance Fishing Apparel
2020 Bassmaster Classic Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2020 Bassmaster Classic Premier Sponsors: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Skeeter Boats, Talon, Yamaha
2020 Bassmaster Classic Local Partners: Alabama Power, Black Rifle Coffee, Books-A-Million, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Jack’s Family Restaurants, Thompson Tractor, TNT Fireworks, TVA, Wind Creek Casino
2020 Bassmaster Classic Hosts: Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, Alabama Tourism Department and Marshall County Convention & Visitors Bureau
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2 and The Pursuit Channel), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship, new Huk Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX presented by Abu Garcia and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
2020 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk 3/6-3/8
Lake Guntersville, Birmingham AL.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 29-03 0
Day 1: 5 29-03
2. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 21-08 0
Day 1: 5 21-08
2. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 21-08 0
Day 1: 5 21-08
4. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 20-15 0
Day 1: 5 20-15
5. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 20-00 0
Day 1: 5 20-00
5. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 20-00 0
Day 1: 5 20-00
7. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 19-11 0
Day 1: 5 19-11
8. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 18-12 0
Day 1: 5 18-12
9. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 18-08 0
Day 1: 5 18-08
10. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 18-06 0
Day 1: 5 18-06
11. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 18-05 0
Day 1: 5 18-05
12. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 18-03 0
Day 1: 5 18-03
13. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 5 17-11 0
Day 1: 5 17-11
14. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 16-10 0
Day 1: 5 16-10
15. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 16-05 0
Day 1: 5 16-05
16. Drew Cook Midway, FL 5 15-06 0
Day 1: 5 15-06
17. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 5 15-03 0
Day 1: 5 15-03
18. Greg DiPalma Millville, NJ 4 15-03 0
Day 1: 4 15-03
19. John Cox Debary, FL 5 15-02 0
Day 1: 5 15-02
20. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 5 14-12 0
Day 1: 5 14-12
21. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-09
21. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-09
23. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 14-04 0
Day 1: 5 14-04
24. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-02
24. Lee Livesay Gladewater, TX 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-02
24. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-02
27. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 4 14-01 0
Day 1: 4 14-01
28. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 14-00
29. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 13-15 0
Day 1: 5 13-15
30. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 2 13-06 0
Day 1: 2 13-06
31. Cody Huff Ava, MO 4 12-13 0
Day 1: 4 12-13
32. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12
33. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 4 12-10 0
Day 1: 4 12-10
34. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 11-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-12
35. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 11-10 0
Day 1: 5 11-10
36. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 3 11-10 0
Day 1: 3 11-10
37. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 10-08 0
Day 1: 5 10-08
38. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 4 09-14 0
Day 1: 4 09-14
39. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 3 09-09 0
Day 1: 3 09-09
40. Taylor Smith Spokane Valley, WA 4 08-12 0
Day 1: 4 08-12
41. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 4 08-01 0
Day 1: 4 08-01
42. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 3 07-13 0
Day 1: 3 07-13
43. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 3 07-12 0
Day 1: 3 07-12
44. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 2 05-05 0
Day 1: 2 05-05
45. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 2 04-10 0
Day 1: 2 04-10
46. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 2 04-05 0
Day 1: 2 04-05
47. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 1 03-04 0
Day 1: 1 03-04
47. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 1 03-04 0
Day 1: 1 03-04
49. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
49. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
51. Josh Busby Rogersville, MO 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-03
52. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
53. Cam Sterritt Newfields, NH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 31 209 677-06
———————————-
31 209 677-06
On the Water and in the Building
Cypress, CA (March 6, 2020) – Bass fishing fans should consider it a 2-for-1, a BOGO…or even Happy Hour! Daiwa is pleased to be backing a quartet of contenders fishing in the 50th Anniversary Bassmaster Classic. And while those boys are probing Guntersville for paycheck sized bass, another five-pack of household bassing names will be in Birmingham, AL at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, greeting folks at the Daiwa booth. (Wear your favorite fishing cap and get that lucky thing signed!)
On the water, Daiwa will have eyes on New Market, Minnesota’s Seth Feider. A perennial Bassmaster Elite Series threat, with a trifecta of career wins, Feider will be making his third Classic appearance.
Daiwa pro Seth Feider
Bassmaster writer Ronnie Moore recently had the opportunity to pre-fish the Classic with Feider. He wrote just before jumping in Feider’s boat: “I have the opportunity to ride with Seth Feider for the final day of practice for the 2020 Academy Sports and Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. I asked him what goals he had for the final practice period on Lake Guntersville and this is what he said:
1. Learn something
2. Stay away from his one good area he already has
3. Find confidence in a bridge or two just in case that becomes a thing
4. Check the water color in different regions of the lake
Moore continued, “It’s very interesting the approach some anglers take for Classic practice. It’s not always about actually catching fish, but rather feeling comfortable in areas and patterns to then catch bass when it counts. A lot can change from the three-day practice period one week before the event. Then the changes that happen could change again from Wednesday’s practice until tournament day on Friday. You don’t want to be where the fish were, you want to be where they are headed.”
Daiwa pro Cory Johnston (Photo courtesy of Bassmaster)
Daiwa pro Chris Johnston (Photo courtesy of Bassmaster)
New to Team Daiwa, Peterborough, Ontario sticks Cory and Chris Johnston will be competing in separate boats during the Classic, but united as brotherly kindred spirits.
“I am really excited to have the Johnston brothers come on board and join our team,” said Daiwa U.S. Marketing Manager, Curt Arakawa. “They are excellent fisherman and have done really well in both Canada and the U.S. They will help strengthen our Bassmaster Elite Series staff.”
Daiwa pro Patrick Walters (Photo courtesy of Bassmaster)
Daiwa’s Patrick Walters, another Classic contender, is in his 2nd season on the Bassmaster Elite Series. Calling Summerville, South Carolina home, Walters was recently interviewed by Bassmaster writer Craig Lamb about where in the water column he expects to find Guntersville fish during the Classic: “I’m going to go with midrange. It’s prespawn and the fish want to move up, but they aren’t going to be too shallow. That is because they are still bringing the water down. I’m going to say 4-7 feet of water.”
Meanwhile, back at the Expo, bass fishing fans can meet popular Daiwa pros Randy Howell, Brent Ehrler, Ish Monroe, Brandon Palaniuk and Cody Meyer.
Howell, the 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion and a Guntersville, Alabama resident, is a 21-year veteran of the Elite Series and currently competes in Major League Fishing (MLF). Photo courtesy of MLF
Auburn, California’s Cody Meyer racked up 30 Top 10 finishes in the FLW, and now fishes the MLF.
Brent Ehrler, one of the winningest anglers in competitive bass fishing history, also competes in the MLF. Photo courtesy of MLF
Daiwa pro Ish Monroe hails from Oakland, California. He, too, fishes the MLF, and has over $2.2 million in career earnings.
Idaho native Brandon Palaniuk boasts four major career wins, competes in the MLF, but will return to the Bassmaster Elite Series next year. Photo courtesy of MLF
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DAIWA BOOTH APPEARANCE SCHEDULE: Randy Howell
Brent Ehrler
Ish Monroe
Brandon Palaniuk
Cody Meyer
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For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: info@daiwa.com. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is http://www.daiwa.com/us/ |
What 50th Classic Competitors Listened to on the Morning Drive
The epicenter of the 50th annual Bassmaster Classic is in downtown Birmingham, but fishing is taking place 1 hour and 20 minutes away at famed Lake Guntersville.
While a few anglers are staying near the lake, many are making the long drive back and forth each day, so Alan McGuckin of Dynamic Sponsorships caught up with several of them on the launch ramp minutes prior to Day 1 competition, and asked what they listened to on their Tundra’s stereo en route to the start of bass fishing’s biggest event.
Caleb Sumrall – “DMX and Lil Wayne.”
Skylar Hamilton – “Halsey – kinda like the modern day Blondie.”
Jamie Hartman – “I didn’t listen music, my buddy Ed Burch is here to serve as my driver this week, so he and I just chatted.”
Hank Cherry – “I listened to everything from hip hop to country, just trying to stay relaxed.”
Grae Buck – “I was listening to rock & roll on Sirius XM’s Lithium and Turbo channels.”
Keith Combs – “Jason Aldean’s song We Back.”
Cody Huff – “Lots of Hank Williams Jr.”
Cliff Prince – “Shoot, the only thing I could listen to was her,” joked Prince about his sweet wife Kelley of 21 years, who taped a good luck 5 of hearts playing card to the storage lid of his boat once they arrived in Guntersville to symbolize the five fat keeper bass she hopes he’ll catch today.
Zaldain and Sumrall Talk Classic Craziness
Tomorrow morning marks the official start of the 50th Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville and the chance to turn a lifelong dream into reality for someone in the 53-angler field. Classic competitors have battled rain, wind, infamous Guntersville boat traffic, and a restless off-the-water schedule this week. They have officially earned their opportunity to go fishing.
As Classic Media Day was coming to a close, we caught up with Carhartt Elite Series pros Caleb Sumrall and Chris Zaldain to get some last minute insight before they finished their tackle prep and headed to the lake.
Q – What’s the hardest thing about the Bassmaster Classic to deal with, both on and off the water?
Zaldain – “Following the jam-packed agenda is by far the most difficult thing off the water. Our days are planned down to the minute with different events and functions this week, and staying focused on the real reason we are all here is tough. It’s a big time distraction for sure.”
“On the water I’d say all the boat traffic. The Bassmaster Classic is the biggest event in bass fishing, so the competition is more intense and spectator boat traffic is ramped up, too.”
Sumrall – “Off the water it’s easy… time spent away from fishing. The Bassmaster Classic week is hectic so trying to stay mentally focused on fishing with all the hoopla is difficult.
“On the water… I’m not sure really. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow!”
Q – What’s one thing you do in your preparation to try and set yourself apart from the competition?
Zaldain – “I try to be as meticulous as possible with all my equipment. I ensure everything is brand new and ready to go. From my boat to my hooks – it all needs to be in the best shape possible.”
Sumrall – “Running. Getting as many miles in leading up to this event got me feeling right mentally and physically. In my mind I want to be working harder than all my competition, I feel like it gives me an edge.”
Q- It’s been a volatile weather week in Alabama, will tomorrow be a ball cap or a beanie type of morning?
Zaldain – “Well we’re going to be facing a strong north wind and a cold-front, so it’ll definitely be a Carhartt beanie type of morning. I’m sure I’ll be thankful for all my Carhartt layers in the morning.”
Sumrall – “It’s going to be a Carhartt A18 beanie entire day as far as I’m concerned! Heck it’ll be a Carhartt base layers day, too. Us Louisiana boys don’t like this cold weather!”
Q – What breakfast meal is going to be key to your success tomorrow?
Zaldain – “I keep it simple. Just one apple Nutrigrain bar and a banana. Then I’ll be snacking hard throughout the day.”
Sumrall – “Everything I can get my hands on. I am a big breakfast guy… I’m going to say I’ll eat about 3 breakfast burritos and a couple bananas. The last thing I want to think at 10:00am is ‘I’m hungry’.”