Beautiful Weather on the Red River for Bass Master Classic

Amazing weather is on tap for the 2012 Bass Master Classic here in Shreveport all weekend long on the Red River. It begins today and lasts through Sunday. The forecast for today is sunny skies with a high near 63. Mostly clear tonight with a low around 35. Sunny again tomorrow with a high near 64, with partly cloudy tomorrow night and a low of 38. Sunshine returns on Sunday with a high of 65.

We're expecting some 49 anglers including two-time champion Kevin VanDam. He'll be reeling for his third victory. So how does an angler handle the incredible pressure surrounding this high-stakes, pressure-cooker Bass Master Classic?

According to BassMaster.com, Gerald Swindle " try to keep it low-key.” I've earned over the last six or eight Classics that on Thursday night, the best thing to do, for me, is to just chill, take some one-on-one time with my wife, and get my head together.”

The Warrior, Ala., pro is appearing in the Classic for the 12th time.

Dustin Wilks of Rocky Mount, N.C., said he will spend time reviewing possible competition scenarios. He’ll probably calculate how much time he’d have left to fish if he locks down to lower pools. He might make another trip to the boatyard if inspiration strikes.

It's his fifth Classic and first since 2009, when the Classic first was on the Red River.

Classic rookie Andrew Upshaw, the 25-year-old Carhartt College B.A.S.S. champ from Hemphill, Texas, said his evening will be spent polishing his game plan and eating a good dinner.

Fred Roumbanis, back in the Classic after a two-year absence, said he will get some motivational coaching from a childhood friend.

Why so many nerves over the Bass Master Classic? Well, it's actually more important than the Super Bowl because there's no room for failure and little opportunity to make up for a bad day.

They say that you can't win the Classic in one day but you can certainly lose it.

Another reason the Classic is more important than the Super Bowl is the money — $500,000 to the winner.

It's a career maker. And it's so much more than can be made in other B.A.S.S. events that it's the ultimate game changer.

Kevin VanDam has earned more than $5 million in 242 B.A.S.S. tournaments, but one quarter of that fortune came in the four Classics he's won.

The disparity between the winner's check and the runner-up check ($45K) is one of the big reasons anglers say there's no second place in the Classic.

Not only do few remember the "first loser," but when you're getting less than 10 percent of the winner's money, taking second is no prize.

But the check is just the beginning. A Classic champ can earn much more on the back end, in bonuses, endorsements and appearance fees.

Being the world champion is something that can never be taken away from you. You wear the title forever and it pays big dividends.

Filed Under: Bass Master Classic, Elaine Etheridge, Kevin Vandam, kwkh, red river

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