Entry 188-5

How I’ll Fish the 2007 Classic with Denny Brauer

Part 5: Top Two Lures for the Classic

Question: Denny, knowing what you know now, if you can only take two lures to the Bassmaster Classic, what two lures will you take?

Brauer: My No. 1 lure, whether I’m fishing shallow or deep, will be a Strike King jig. That lure is so versatile that I can catch bass on it in any depth of water. Depending on water clarity, I’ll either pick a Strike King Wild Shiner jerkbait and/or a jigging spoon. I believe we’ll have really-cold weather and water for this year’s Classic.

Question: Okay, what if you’re wrong? What two baits will you take, if you have warm water, high skies and 70-degree weather?

Brauer: If we get a warm rain with some warm-water runoff, the Strike King spinner bait will definitely be one of my lures of choice. I don’t think it will warm up enough for a top-water lure, but many times in the South, you actually can start fishing top-water baits in February. However, this year’s Classic, with the weather central Alabama has already had, won’t see any top-water bites. There can be a good crankbait bite, if we get a warm front, depending on the type of structure, cover and food source around which you’re fishing. You may can open up your tackle box and fish almost any lure you want, if we get a really-heavy warm front coming through.

Question: If we take you out of the tournament, who do you think has the best chance to win?

Brauer: I really don’t go there. That’s a job for the newspaper writers and the TV commentators. I can’t even tell you who all the contestants are in the tournament. The only contestant in the tournament that I have any influence over how he performs is Denny Brauer. And, it will be foolish for me to guess how anyone else will fish this tournament. Even if I can, most of the time, when someone tries to guess who will win the Bassmaster Classic, he’s wrong.

Question: Denny, how will rain affect you?

Brauer: Rain can be a real help. Usually, rain occurs when you have a warm front meeting a cold front, and a warm rain can be a real positive influence on Lay Lake. Rain can warm up the water temperature on the lake, and it can increase the activity level of the bass in the lake. The worst-possible fishing scenario will be cold, rainy, muddy water, and we may get that at Lay Lake this year. We’ve seen more-disastrous tournament days because of cold, rainy, muddy water than any other conditions. If we have water temperatures of 45 degrees and colder and muddy water, we’ll have a tough bite.

Question: Will you be better off in the Classic, Denny, if you have cold, rainy, muddy water, or if you have bluebird days with 70 degrees and warm water?

Brauer: I can’t honestly say. I’ve won tournaments and lost tournaments under both conditions. I’ll be open minded going into this year’s Classic. I’ll try to use my three days of practice to tell me what I need to do in the tournament. I hope I can figure something out either pattern- or area-wise that I can make work to win the Classic.

Question: Yes, Denny, but if you could pick, or if you had to pick bad weather or good weather to fish this year’s Classic, which would you choose?

Brauer: I think my strengths are that I’m mentally tough, I have a really-good work ethic, and I’ve fished in a lot of adverse weather throughout my fishing career. Also, because I live in Missouri, I’ve had to fish in cold, bad weather all my life. So, I don’t think that bad, cold weather will have as much effect on me as it will on fishermen from the Deep South who are thrown into that situation.

Question: How do you feel mentally coming into this 2007 Classic?

Brauer: I’m excited about it, and I feel good going into this Classic. I feel that it’s a real honor just to qualify for the Classic. You know I missed the last two, which makes having the opportunity to fish this one much-more exciting than if I’d fished the last two previous Classics. I don’t really know why I feel good about this Classic, but I do. No doubt about it, this year’s Bassmaster Classic will definitely be one of the most interesting Classics I’ve ever fished.

Contents:

• Part 1: What About February Bassing in Bama?
• Part 2: What I’ll do in Bad Weather
• Part 3: Bring Out the Suntan Lotion
• Part 4: What Weather I’ll Pray For
• Part 5: Top Two Lures for the Classic