Does being the local pro who ’ s expected to perform well on Grand Lake impact you in a positive or negative way ?
Well , when I fished my first Classic on Grand in 2013 , I let the local stuff negatively impact me . Fortunately , I turned that around in 2016 . I stayed calm and had normal championship preparations for the tournament . I won that event . With REDCREST coming up , I ’ m feeling the pressure a bit again , but I think I ’ ll be able to prepare for this just like I would the other championships I ’ ve fished . Sometimes preparing for a familiar body of water – in this case , my home lake – is harder than preparing for one I ’ ve never fished before .
Is there any special insight you have about Grand Lake that makes you a more formidable competitor than the others you ’ ll be competing against ?
Well , I basically live there , and that ’ s an advantage . I have some history and background knowledge . I really know the lake very well , so I should be in the right place to catch fish at the right times , but you never know . If it ’ s a normal year and water levels stay normal , I ’ m not sure I ’ ll have any advantage . I know people believe I ’ ll have an advantage , but the third week of March can be a tough time for me to have an advantage over this field . The fishing should be very good , and any one of the competitors can figure out the winning deal .
I know I ’ ll need to narrow down my selection . I know so many places to fish on the lake , I won ’ t be able to fish all of them . But with thorough preparation , I can narrow down the productive areas and I should be able to manage that . I just don ’ t want to have too many thoughts and choices at the start of the tournament . If I have a few rods on deck and a couple of good patterns figured out , I think I ’ ll do pretty well . If all goes well , I think I could be a real threat to win here and take home my second REDCREST win .
What are your dream fishing conditions for REDCREST on Grand ?
Probably blown out and muddy . That sounds less than ideal for prespawn fishing , but for me , those conditions would be ideal – not because it makes the fishing good , but it makes it tougher on the rest of the anglers , and my knowledge of Grand Lake can come into play then as more of an advantage . I ’ d be at the right spots to fish when the conditions are like that . A lot of the field won ’ t have that knowledge .
With all of the fishing techniques available , which ones do you feel will prove the most productive on Grand during REDCREST ? Is there a technique you prefer or feel you could dominate the field with ?
I really think the fishing could be wide open that time of the year . Of course , you can never say for certain what the weather will do , so that can impact everything . But I think most prespawn fishing techniques will work .
The third week in March can be an incredible time to catch a lot of fish on Grand , so I ’ m not sure one fishing style will dominate the tournament . Until the tournament starts , I really can ’ t guess what will be the best method for catching scorable bass . It ’ s likely that many methods will work .
Why should anglers and fans visit Grand Lake ? During REDCREST it ’ s obviously for the show , but afterwards , why should they come to Grand to try their luck catching a few bass ?
Grand Lake O ’ the Cherokees is a superb fishery . I don ’ t say that just because I ’ m being biased to my home lake ; it ’ s really an excellent fishery . I ’ ve had the privilege of traveling all over the country , and I can honestly say this is one of the best bass fishing lakes anywhere . I have a YouTube series called PROJECT E . If I need to film a segment for the show or make an entire show , I know I can always go to Grand Lake and get it done . I can ’ t say that about the other 10 to 15 lakes within a couple hours from my house . Those lakes are all good , but Grand is just that reliable .
For anglers visiting here to fish , you ’ ll find fish deep , shallow , or anywhere in between . Big fish for RED- CREST will likely be a 6- or 7-pounder . There aren ’ t a lot of 10-pounders in Grand , but there are a lot of 3- to 5- pounders . It ’ s really a superb fishery with a lot of quality fish to be caught .
PHOTO BY JOSH GASSMANN
If you don ’ t win , will REDCREST be won by an Oklahoma pro ?
That ’ s hard to say . I ’ m not sure Grand is the type of a lake at that time of the year that totally favors locals . I ’ d say the percentages probably lean toward a local winning , but I certainly wouldn ’ t say that for sure .
How do you think your prior athletic career can help you win REDCREST and maintain your standing as one of the best professional bass anglers currently in the sport ?
Well , like in any sport – tennis , football , or bass fishing – or any professional endeavor , work ethic is key . I learned that early on as an athlete , and when I played college football . I do anything and everything I can , within the rules , to put myself in position to win . For REDCREST , that means extra preparation . Being extremely thorough , but not overthinking everything . Game-planning how I plan on practicing , studying everything I can to give myself an advantage . Just getting myself prepared and coming into the competition with the confidence of knowing I ’ ve done everything I could . It ’ s all about putting in the time and the work . You have to be willing to work . All of the work and effort can really pay off big .
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