My Favorite Classic
THE GREATEST SHOW in sportfishing holds special meaning to those who fish it and those who watch it. From that first Bassmaster Classic on Lake Mead in 1971 to this year’s 50th installment on Lake Guntersville, the pinnacle of bass fishing has made careers, broken hearts, instilled lessons and lit fires.
A week of storytelling would barely scratch the surface, but when we asked several current Elite Series competitors about their favorite Bassmaster Classic, the diverse responses demonstrated this tournament’s multifaceted impact. Told from the perspectives of fans and competitors, their accounts will no doubt foster indelible memories among all who love and respect this momentous event for what it is.
EDUCATION
Lessons hard learned leave the deepest impressions — just ask Bernie Schultz, the Elite Series veteran from Gainesville, Fla., who looks back nearly three decades to the 1991 Bassmaster Classic on Chesapeake Bay and ponders what he considers his favorite and least favorite. Don’t let the duality fool you; Schultz’s story strikes a chord that resonates throughout all levels of fishing — and life.
“I had the chance to win that tournament; I had the fish to win, but I made a foolish rookie mistake,” he said. “I was young and it was early in my career and I didn’t realize what I was
