Written by Andy Whitcomb
“Bawn-bawn,
Beenaba
Bawn-bawn,
Beenaba,
Bawn, bawn, bawwwn.”
Yup, it has been two weeks and “Sweet Home Alabama” is still stuck in my head from my visit to the Classic in Birmingham. Except when Casey Ashley was singing the National Anthem (holy crap, can he sing!), they played it everywhere. Anytime. Didn’t even really need an excuse. Guess I can’t blame them… I’m from a state with just a show tune. I’d probably play it all the time too.
The drive all night to make the media day interviews took its toll. I slept in a little and missed the Day 1 take-off. It is almost an hour from the hotel to Lay Lake. Knew I was finally there when it looked like I was driving through Yellowstone National Park. Had someone seen an elk? A bear? Nope. There’s Kevin VanDam fishing a cove just behind the Beeswax Bait Store.
I pulled in, camera ready.
“You can’t park there.”
“How about here?”
“Are you buying?”
“I’m looking…”
“Good enough.”
Bought a couple of items my tackle bag was lacking and inquired about an out-of-state license. I’ve never caught a spotted bass- I hear they are almost a strong as smallies. And I wanted to get a feel of the lake. The best way I knew how to experience what the anglers were going through was to cast in the same chilly, murky water.
7-days is Alabama’s shortest non-resident license… $26. Ouch. Hmmm. Not exactly sure when/if I’m even going to get in some fishing time. The lady in the coffee trailer next to the bait store pointed out a regular strolling across the parking lot who just caught a 10-pounder the day
before.
“That’s his photo on the wall of the bait shop,” she added.
You had me at “10-pounder.”
I introduced myself to Mr. Sam Ray. While he scoped VanDam with his binoculars, we visited about the 47-degree water temperature, the recent shad kill, coon tail, a ditch, and how the lake was just a few days from being “On.” Then I asked about the best place to fish from shore… just wanted a chance to catch anything. No shore locations came to mind… but he offered to take me fishing on his boat on Saturday, Day 2.
“But not too early. Wait until it warms up a bit.”
Outstanding. I said if I made it to the lake mid morning, I would give him a call.
At the parking lot of the boat ramp, I showed my media card necklace to the security fellow and was told where to park. Took a seat on a bench to wait for my media boat ride, make some notes, and “Tweet.” (Some of my non-bass tournament following friends/relatives now think I was stalking the recreational activities of a martial arts movie star.) I found myself sitting next to Steven Wells, Pam Martin-Wells’ husband. Another good, productive chat with a nice fellow.
Once on the media boat, I was rather surprised to see how fast VanDam was working his lipless crankbait. He really made it scoot. In only 4 feet of water, he got hung up a few times… But he also caught fish. On the flutter of a drop, I learned later. In fact, he caught enough fish that a great blue heron landed on a nearby dock to take some notes.
The gentleman who captained this media boat was Bobby McDonald, Youth Director for the Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation Nation. He knows the lake too. In fact, he put out some of the brush piles VanDam was fishing. But sitting a few yards away watching him cast, I suddenly did not want to fish. I know they don’t own the lake…. But I did not want to interfere. I was interviewing some of these anglers the day before. What if I caught a 10-pounder just up the bank? Heck, a few ounces can make or break a career in these tournament things.
I shared with Bobby that I had driven 12 hours, and brought my poles thinking I might cast in the same historic tournament water… but was having second, no, third thoughts.
“Hey,” he agreed. “They don’t come to your work.”
I nodded, but silently wished they would.
The closest I would come to a bass that weekend would be at the Classic Expo near the Berkley tank. How about a rain check, Mr. Roy?
Oh! You were talking about that VanDam. Now I get it.