Bassmaster Classic 2021 Preview: The Choice of Champions
Events . Featured Stories . News & Press ReleasesFollow along for live updates from the event here: https://blog.power-pole.com/bassmaster-classic-2021-live-from-texas/
When you look across the boats lining up on Ray Roberts Lake for the launch of this year’s Bassmaster Classic, you will see a wide array of different boat manufacturers with a variety of engines. Each boat may have a different brand of electronics, and is loaded with rods and reels as varied as the anglers taking part.
There is one product that more competitors agree on more than any other single product on tour — the Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor. Of the Classic champs from the last 20 years, Power-Pole is the most accepted brand of boating accessory and will continue to do so as the company continues its mission to constantly innovate new ways to give anglers Total Boat Control out on the water.
In anticipation of this year’s event in Central Texas, the Power-Pole media team talked with members of Team Power-Pole and other Power-Pole sponsored anglers who earned the right to hoist the trophy on competitive fishing’s biggest stage to find out just what it is like to become a Classic Champion and why Power-Pole products have been such big a part of those victories.
CHRIS LANE, 2012
Event Venue: Red River, LA
About The Win: No other angler has done more to solidify Power-Pole anchors as the choice of true champions than Lane’s 2012 victory. The title-sponsored angler’s moment on stage before hoisting the trophy became an iconic image that, along with the trophy itself, is prominently on display in the JL Marine headquarters in Tampa.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “Boat positioning is crucial because when you are on that flat or on that ledge that comes around to a point. When you get in there and find a spot to Power-Pole down and you can do that over a school of fish, you can sit there and catch every single one of those fish.”
LUKE CLAUSEN, 2006
Event Venue: Kissimee Chain, FL
About The Win: Clausen’s win in 2006 set off a string of Power-Pole dominance which saw 11 of the next 13 winners enter the arena with Power-Pole anchors on their boats.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “Since I won the Classic, I’ve been with three or four boat brands, a couple motor companies, a few trolling motor companies, electronics and other things but the one thing I’ve never changed is Power-Pole anchors. They were the first and they are still the very best because they are reliable, their people are amazing and their customer service is second to none.”
JORDAN LEE, 2017-18
Event Venue: Lake Conroe, TX; Lake Hartwell, SC
About The Win: Lee’s win in 2017 featured the greatest comeback in Classic history after overcoming a 13-pound, 14-ounce deficit on the final day of the tournament. The following year, he would join Kevin VanDam and Rick Clunn as the only anglers to win the tournament in consecutive years.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “John (Oliverio), the inventor of Power-Pole, did an incredible job a long time ago, creating this amazing product that can hold your boat no matter how hard the wind is blowing. I use them every time I go out. They hold up and you never have to worry about them and that’s why you see them on pretty much every boat out there.”
RANDY HOWELL, 2014
Event Venue: Lake Guntersville, AL
About The Win: Howell’s overall bag of 67-8 was the third-largest total weight caught in the Classic’s 50 years and cemented Team Power-Pole’s dominance on Alabama venues, the birthplace of BASS.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “I tell you what, Power-Pole revolutionized the whole sport of bass fishing. When Power-Poles started showing up on bass boats and I got mine that first year, it changed the way we all fish. It gave us so much more control so we didn’t float in on top of the fish, especially on those windy days. You can’t fish without it which is why so many champions use them.”
HANK CHERRY, 2020
Event Venue: Lake Guntersville, AL
About The Win: Another example of a Power-Pole equipped angler dominating on Guntersville, Cherry was a force from wire-to-wire, ending the three-day event with a 65-5 overall weight.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “Shallow water anchors come into play for me a lot especially in certain situations on grass beds where I don’t want to disturb it. I can hit the button, poles go down and I’m locked down and can work that area without having to use my trolling motor. My Power-Pole Blades are remarkable.”
CASEY ASHLEY, 2015
Event Venue: Lake Hartwell, SC
About The Win: Sometimes home water is a big advantage in the Classic, but anglers still have to go out and execute. Casey Ashley did just that on Lake Hartwell, weighing in a 50-1 bag in front of friends and family to forge his legacy as a Classic Champion.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “When I first started, they weren’t a thing and then here comes Power-Pole. I was old school. Old school tactics. Old school tackle. Then Power-Pole came and changed the game. I finally gave in and got one. Then I wanted two. Now I’m trying to figure out how to put a third on my boat so I can be like a spider. They are tried and true and that’s why so many of us champions use them.”
SKEET REESE, 2009
Event Venue: Red River, LA
About The Win: While Reese might be one of the newest additions to Team Power-Pole, he definitely was no stranger to the advantages of using a Power-Pole in competition. The veteran angler is one of a select few to win both a Classic Championship and an Angler of the Year title and he did so while equipped with Power-Pole anchors.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “I remember I was skeptical at first but it changed my life. It’s the best product out there. Nobody can compete with their proven technology and reliability.”
EDWIN EVERS, 2016
Event Venue: Grand Lake, OK
About The Win: Trailing leader Jason Christie by six pounds heading into the final day, Evers credits his Power-Pole anchors for helping keep him in position while throwing a jig over wind-whipped flats and pull off the come-from-behind victory in the 2016 Classic.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “We all agree on Power-Pole because they are the best. Those things are bulletproof. We are hard on our equipment and the last thing we want is for something to break down, something to keep you from making that perfect cast or five when you need to. I’m always amazed at what I can do with a Power-Pole.”
BOYD DUCKETT, 2007
Event Venue: Lake Lay, AL
About The Win: Being on the final stage during the last day of the Classic is always a massive adrenaline rush no matter how many times it happens. The veteran Duckett knows that adrenaline rush after finally being on the winning side of a narrow victory in 2007.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “I could go without my electronics before I could go without my Power-Pole. It is a tool that I use daily. Trolling motors scare fish and fish are most spooky in shallow water. My Power-Poles are stealthy. You actually become a better angler because you won’t ruin your spot when you get on it like you would with a trolling motor.”
ALTON JONES, 2008
Event Venue: Lake Hartwell, SC
About The Win: Proving that every ounce counts when the stakes are as high as they are at the Classic, Alton Jones managed to maintain his barely one pound lead heading into the final weigh-in to capture his title in South Carolina.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “It’s indispensable when you are bass fishing. If you are going to fish at the highest levels, it’s not a tool you can do without. It’s just as important as any other piece of equipment we have and even more important than a lot of it.”
CLIFF PACE, 2013
Event Venue: Grand Lake, OK
About The Win: Pace never trailed throughout the 2013 tournament but couldn’t help but feel relief when he learned that his 54-12 overall weight was good enough to finally bring him his first major championship victory of his career.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “When I put my first Power-Pole on my boat, I thought ‘Man, this is gonna be great for bed fishing.’ Then I started using them continuously for all different types of fishing, not just bed fishing. They work very well for exactly what they were designed for and that’s why you see them on so many pros’ boats.”
JAY YELAS, 2002
Event Venue: Lake Lay, AL
About The Win: Although Power-Pole anchors didn’t officially make their first appearance at the Classic until 2006, it didn’t take long for anglers to realize the advantages that a Power-Pole can provide. Yelas, who won the event in 2002, was already a Classic champ when he joined Power-Pole as a sponsored angler and never looked back.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “The reason why so many champions use Power-Pole anchors is because they are the best. They work flawlessly at all times. They are quick and quiet and if you are a shallow water fisherman, they’re the best tool out there.”
TAKAHIRO OMORI, 2004
Event Venue: Lake Wylie, NC
About The Win: Omori made the sport of bass fishing an international phenomenon by becoming the first foreign born competitor to win a Classic in 2004 and opening the door for anglers across the globe to compete on the sport’s highest stage.
Why He Chooses Power-Pole: “Power-Pole is a big part of my fishing. I can very effectively stay in position in shallow water and I can not fish without it.”
BY THE NUMBERS
44: The total number of competitors out of 54 are equipped with Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchors for this year’s tournament.
14: Of the 16 anglers who have won a Classic Championship in the last 20 years, 14 of those are currently on Team Power-Pole, Power-Pole Pro Staff or are sponsored by Power-Pole.
45: The number of anglers that will have a Power-Pole CHARGE Power Management System installed on their boats, meaning they won’t have to worry about their power supply throughout the entire tournament.
29,350: The total number of acres of water anglers will have to fish on Ray Roberts a man-made reservoir located just outside of Denton, TX.
85: The forecasted average high temperature during the event, making it the hottest Classic since 2009 when it was held on the Red River in Shrevesport, LA.
15-1.8: The all tackle record for a largemouth bass on Ray Roberts. It was caught by local angler Shannon Elvington in March, 2015.
$300,000: The prize purse awarded to this year’s Classic champ, making it one of the largest single prize amounts in all of competitive fishing.
122,814: The number of fans who attended last year’s event in Lake Guntersville/Birmingham, AL. With the State of Texas being fully reopened after dealing with the 2020 pandemic, this year’s event could top the record 153,809 attendance mark set in 2019 in Knoxville, TN.
$40,000,000: The expected economic impact to Lake Worth and the other event venues from consumer spending, increased tourism and other expenditures as a result of the event.
WHERE TO WATCH/IF YOU GO
This year’s Classic will be held June 11-13. Don’t forget to follow the Power-Pole media team here and on social media throughout the tournament, for live updates, photos and videos from the event.
The live leaderboard can be found here: https://www.bassmaster.com/leaderboard/tournaments/2021-academy-sports-outdoors-bassmaster-classic
Launch/Lake Info
Takeoffs will be daily held at 6:15 a.m. Central at Ray Roberts State Park in Pilot Point, TX. Spectators may observe anglers on the water during the tournament but are encouraged to maintain a courteous distance.
Classic Outdoor Expo
Over 200 exhibitors from around the outdoors industry can be found at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth for the Classic Expo. Doors will open at 11 a.m. CT for Bass Nation members and at noon for the general public and will be open until 7 p.m. The Expo will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.
Be sure to stop by the Power-Pole booth for live fishing seminars, autograph sessions and to check out the latest Power-Pole products.
Tournament Weigh-In
Weigh-ins will be held daily at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth at 4:30 p.m. CT. Doors open at 3:15. Admission to the event is free.
Live streaming of the event can be found here: https://www.bassmaster.com/video/bassmaster-classic-weigh-2021
Did you miss any of the 2020 Classic? Click here for a recap, highlight videos and photos from last year’s event in Alabama.
