While Others Worry, Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat Pro Mike McClelland Rests Easy

NORTH EAST, Md. — The word is out at the Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite tournament: The bite is off on Chesapeake Bay, raising plenty of concern for Thursday’s start of the four-day event. But Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat angler Mike McClelland isn’t buying into any of the hype.

 

“Based upon all the whining and crying I’ve been hearing, I’m feeling pretty good about this tournament,” McClelland said. “My practices have been solid. I haven’t looked at a lot of fish but I’m getting plenty of bites. I’m very positive on my chances.

 

“I think what happened is we had extremely high tides earlier this week and it displaced a lot of the fish. The thing is, they’ll be back, and I have a pretty good idea where they’ll be. I’m not worried at all, to be honest.”

 

McClelland’s confidence comes from a special scouting trip he took to the area in June. Just after taking place in the annual GEICO employee finishing tournament on the Potomac River, McClelland decided to stay a few extra days to plot out his plans for this weekend.

 

“I had a little peek at this fishery a few months back,” he said. “The GEICO deal gave me some time on the water and then I stayed on and found some other spots. I can tell you there were a lot of fish out here, so I know there’s fish in this bay.

 

“Maybe things have changed and conditions are different now, but I can tell you I have a really positive attitude heading into tomorrow’s action. My mood is great. Just having the local support of all my GEICO friends from corporate headquarters in D.C. and the folks from Cabela’s in this area has me excited.”

 

Although he’s keeping his game plan mostly confidential, McClelland did reveal he plans to run 40 miles south in the morning, back to the Potomac River, before fishing his way north towards the Susquehanna River in the afternoon.

 

“I’m basing my plan on the tides,” he said. “I want to place myself at the best possible places to catch fish as the day goes along. I’m ready to go.”

 

Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. ET each day at Anchor Marina in East Community Park, located at 36 Iroquois Dr., North East, Md. ESPN2 will air highlights of the event at 8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 30.

Mike McClelland’s confidence entering this weekend’s Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite tournament comes from a special scouting trip he took to the area in June.