Entry 236-2

Preparing for the 2008 Classic with Mike Wurm

Part 2: What I Learned at Practice

Question: Mike, the 2008 Classic will be at Lake Hartwell. You’ve fished this lake before, haven’t you?

Wurm: Yes, I have. But I fished it in the springtime. I’ve never before fished it in February. Practice cut-off was December 15, and we won’t be able to get on the lake again until the Classic starts.

Question: How long did you spend at Lake Hartwell before the cut-off, and what did you learn?

Wurm: I only spent a couple of days on the lake before the cut-off. I went to refresh my memory on what the lake looked like. I also wanted to know where the town was located in relation to the lake, how long the drive was from the hotel to the lake and the conditions of the hotel. I also wanted to get on the water to determine what effect the drought has had on the lake. I learned that the lake is 10- or 11-feet low. I drove around the lake and tried to figure out where and on what the bass would be holding during the Classic. I wanted to know what to expect when I arrived at the lake and where and how to get around the lake, the hotel and the roads in-between. I also wanted to choose areas to concentrate on during my practice days.

Question: The lake has received a lot of rain since December 15. How will that affect the way you fish?

Wurm: I’m sure the lake will rise slightly, but it won’t increase very much. There’s no way to put 12 feet of water back in that lake before the tournament. The rising water won’t have as much effect on the bass as the temperature will. The biggest question is, will the air temperature at the time of the Classic be cold enough to keep the bass in their wintertime pattern? The temperature will be the main factor to help determine where the bass will be holding. This will be a pre-spawn tournament. Also, you have to consider the herring in the lake. They’re a slightly bigger baitfish, and the bass in this lake will eat them at this time of year. So, temperature, more than lake level, will determine where the bass will be concentrating and how to catch them.

Question: If we have really-bad, cold severe weather, what tactics will you use to fish the Classic?

Wurm: If the area experiences really-severe weather, like sleet, snow and cold winds, I’ll expect the bass to be staged-up in a wintertime holding pattern. In this situation, I’ll probably fish the jigging spoon, which can become really important, if the water’s extremely cold. But if we get a warm day, those bass will start moving up the creeks and the ditches, heading for the spawning flats. I really expect the bass to be moving in that direction.

Question: With really-severe cold weather, what three baits will you use to fish the Classic?

Wurm: I’ll fish the jigging spoon, the Strike King Bitsy Bug, a 1/2- or a 3/4-ounce Football Head jig and a drop-shot rig with a Strike King finesse worm. I’ll throw in a jerkbait, like the Strike King Wild Shiner, fished really slowly. Dead-sticking the bait may win this tournament.

Question: What colors will you fish?

Wurm: On the Wild Shiner, I prefer a chrome with a blue back or a shad body with some type of blue that matches the color of the herring in the lake. My jig colors will either be brown or green pumpkin.

Next: Preparing for Freaky Warm Fronts

Contents:

• Part 1: The Warm Up
• Part 2: What I Learned at Practice
• Part 3: Preparing for Freaky Warm Fronts
• Part 4: Age is Only a Number
• Part 5: The Classic Hoopla