By Tom Behrens
A lot of anglers have Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas, picked as the winner.Photo credit – Courtesy BASS
Many Katy and west Houston bass anglers are going to be in their boats on Lake Conroe during the Classic, checking out, following Classic anglers. Let me make some suggestions if you decide to be on the water at Conroe.
Lake Conroe, already a very popular fishing destination that is crowded on weekends even without the BASSMASTER Classic, is really going to draw mega crowds. Plan on launching on the north end of the lake, away from the crowds around the Classic on the south end.
Be good Texans, courteous to the professional anglers, and the BASS personnel.
It’s my experience from fishing with the pros, they don’t mind if “locals” follow them around on the water, but stay far away so as to not spook the fish. Turn your electronics off; don’t run your gas engine or trolling motor.
If one of the professional anglers is fishing back in one of the coves or creeks, don’t box his exit way out. Give him room to maneuver. Time is one of the most valuable things they have going for them; don’t make them weave in and out of the observer boats to leave an area.
One of the best parts of the Bassmaster Classic is being able to observe up close and hear the anglers talking, joking with each other as they wait their turn at the boat ramp before launching, or being picked up after a day on the lake.
My hat is definitely off to the folks at BASS in how they launch and retrieve the anglers and their boats. This isn’t your weekend tournament at the launch ramp.
Lake Conroe is expected to produce several double digit bass for Classic anglers. Photo Credit – Tom Behrens
They can launch all 52 boats in 30 minutes or less; same thing with the retrieval of the boats.
If you do plan on attending the launching of the boats, make sure you bring your camera. The individual boats, as their number is called to leave the staging area, is a great sight…the roar of the engines blasting across the water leaving rooster tails behind them. You have to see all of it to believe it.
One last thing, and again have your camera ready: Close to the George R. Brown will be what the Classic people call the “boat lot” – the place where the anglers park their boats when not on the water. If you get downtown early enough before they begin their escorted trek up I-45 to Conroe, it’s quite a sight to see the all the boats and towing vehicles with their lights on as the anglers make last minute tackle and boat checks. The convoy out of downtown Houston should be a great chance for pictures. Wish your favorite angler good luck and God speed.
More information on the Houston/Lake Conroe Bassmaster Classic can be found at http://www.bassmaster.com/tournaments/2017-geico-bassmaster-classic.