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Dru
Crappie
Username: Dru

Post Number: 370
Registered: 2-2005

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Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 10:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Bags are packed and I head out in the morning. It’s been tough to get fired up about this Classic after last year’s event. Disney World is the Devil’s playground. ;)

This year is shaping up to be better. The highlight of each Classic has been the day on the water with the pros. Last year it was Hackney and Swindle; the year before it was Marty Stone and Zell Rowland.

Because of the amount of time it takes, I am only going out one day this year. I will be riding with Aaron Martens this year. Aaron is a great guy and a stick on Lay Lake. Hopefully he will have decent day on Friday, not leading so I won’t have to share time with the camera guy, and then bust a big weight on Saturday. (He is on my fantasy team.)

We will have Harold Allen with us this year. He will be at the Classic and 7 of the tour stops. There will be a live show on XM radio from the Skeeter booth at the Classic Expo.

Hopefully I can talk Mark into giving me the video camera for some behind the scenes footage of the pros. We will see.

Anyway, I will out of pocket for the rest of the week, so keep the smack talk going on FTN.
BassZone.com

Ozziefish
Crappie
Username: Ozziefish

Post Number: 463
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 11:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Good luck bud I can't wait to see what happens out there!!
OzzieFish
"In GOD I trust"
Bigun
Lunker
Username: Bigun

Post Number: 1260
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 11:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Have a great trip. What a rough life! :-)
Quit being a mad, little bald man!

http://www.myspace.com/biguncharter


Wes
Moderator
Username: Wes

Post Number: 259
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 12:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Have a good trip Dru. Looking forward to the pics and the story.
Picou
Lunker
Username: Picou

Post Number: 2282
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 8:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I wonder if he will read this while he is in Bama... I know he has internet access because part of the Bass Zone is bringing daily updates to the internet... He is a slacker if he does not check in with us while there...
Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish

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Charles
Moderator
Username: Charles

Post Number: 797
Registered: 7-2004

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Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 7:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Have fun Dru! That has to be a blast.
Vince
Minnow
Username: Vince

Post Number: 7
Registered: 2-2007


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Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 12:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

He is a slacker, word has it he won some money last night in a poker contest from a classic champ. So now we know his true intentions for the trip. He's having a blast, and Budweiser sales have gone up 25%.
Picou
Lunker
Username: Picou

Post Number: 2285
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 4:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

LMAO... :-)
Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish

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Vince
Minnow
Username: Vince

Post Number: 9
Registered: 2-2007


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Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 9:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I talked to Dru last night, and he's having a blast. He is riding around in the Yamaha boat right now talking, and taking pictures of as many of the competitors as he can find. I really feel for the boat driver, I know his pain.
Dru
Crappie
Username: Dru

Post Number: 371
Registered: 2-2005

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Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 2:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Well I'm back. Trying to get caught up on my real job so I will post some pics and stories later.

If you have any burning questions feel free to ask. I've got the scoop. :-)
BassZone.com

Bigun
Lunker
Username: Bigun

Post Number: 1280
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 3:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Burning Question: Where is the groupie hottie pictures?
Quit being a mad, little bald man!

http://www.myspace.com/biguncharter


Charles
Moderator
Username: Charles

Post Number: 802
Registered: 7-2004

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Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 5:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Welcome back Dru. I'd like the 411 on Swindle and the behind the scene reactions.
Dru
Crappie
Username: Dru

Post Number: 373
Registered: 2-2005

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Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 11:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Bigun, it was 40 degrees on the water so the groupies were well clothed. I did take some pics of the Hooter girls who were out in their boat but sweatshirts and beanies don't do them justice.

I did interview Bill Dance. Hopefully we will have some of that posted later.

Charles, it is basically like what you're seeing on TV. Gerald came around a bend in the river and there was Randy Howell and a flotilla of boats. The river is wide at that point but there is a small channel (where Randy was fishing) and the rest is only about two foot deep. Gerald motioned to Randy and Randy waved him on. Gerald stayed on pad and went between two spectator boats. He did spray one boat with water. In that boat was a guy from the Birmingham press and his camera equipment got wet.

He is the one that called Trip Weldon and filed a complaint. When you see and here Randy say "He shouldn't have done that." He is refering to getting that guy wet. That comes directly from Randy.

Was it reckless, probably. Worth being DQ'd, I'm not sure. Gerald held a press conference after and probably the most significant part was the support shown by the other competitors.

The reaction you saw from Gerald was the same behind the scenes and in the press conference. He was devastated.

Harold Allen and I argued the disqualification late into Sunday night. Ultimately we agreed to disagree. Harold believes it was the right call. I think if it had come from Randy or another competitor then it would have been ok. Coming from a media guy that is mad because his camera got wet is something else.

The spectator boats were all over the lake. In fact, Aaron Martens pulled up to a spot on Saturday and a local was fishing it. He told Aaron he already had four good fish in the boat. The local was fishing a tournament on the second day of the Bassmaster Classic.

Anyway, it was a good trip and I should have my "Day on the lake with Aaron posted soon.

Mike I got some pics of James Niggameyer I'll put up later.
BassZone.com

Picou
Lunker
Username: Picou

Post Number: 2300
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 8:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I look forward to the recap Dru.
Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish

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Bigun
Lunker
Username: Bigun

Post Number: 1281
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 10:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

From what I saw of the video it was a definite safety no-no and DQ seemed appropriate.

And here I thought that yo-yo from La with the gun taught these guys to slow down a little around people!
Quit being a mad, little bald man!

http://www.myspace.com/biguncharter


Charles
Moderator
Username: Charles

Post Number: 804
Registered: 7-2004

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Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 8:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thanks for the "other side of the story" Dru.

I have to agree that it was a bad move and dangerous move. However, if Randy waved him on, as in, it's cool to "come on" I think the DQ is out of line. As far as some media guy (non competitor) being able to file a compliant doesn't sit right with me.
Basshunter
Minnow
Username: Basshunter

Post Number: 23
Registered: 1-2007


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Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 8:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Gerald should have been smart enough (common sense)to know that the "wave on" meant to drop off pad and idle through in a manner that everyone would expect, Randy's comments made it seem like the fly by was not expected.

How many times has anyone involved in this thread traveled on pad at 50+ mph that close to another boat?

On another note - What if a non-competitor witnessed a angler cheat, should he be able and file a complaint?

Not trying to be argumentative, this topic will have people on both sides of the fence.

When in doubt take the high road.
Dru
Crappie
Username: Dru

Post Number: 374
Registered: 2-2005

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Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 10:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Basshunter, the "wave on" meant for Gerald to stay on pad and get through the area quickly. Randy explained that this was common practice when fishing in a narrow channel like this river. His comments were directed at Gerald getting the other boat wet. Gerald should have gone between Randy and the media boat or come off pad and idled through.

This was not a case of an angler cheating or trying to get an unfair advantage. It was just a dumb move. As I Classic observer or media person you realize there is an inherent danger when you try to cover these guys. Reckless or unsafe boat operation is NOT up to us to decide. Trip reviewed the tape and made a decision. I am putting together an article that will contain a section about graduated penalties. In this instance, a disqualification was too severe. In my opinion.

I know we will not agree on this. Harold and I went through a 1/2 bottle of Jack trying to see eye to eye. In the end we could barely see.


Friendly discussion is good.
BassZone.com

Picou
Lunker
Username: Picou

Post Number: 2306
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 7:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post


quote:

Harold and I went through a 1/2 bottle of Jack trying to see eye to eye. In the end we could barely see.



ROFLMAO...
Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish

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