Entry 236-5
Preparing for the 2008 Classic with Mike Wurm
Editor’s Note: Mike Wurm of Hot Springs, Arkansas, the oldest of the three Strike King contenders in the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, has qualified for 10 Classics in the past 20 years. At 55-years old, he’ll be one of the oldest contestants in this year’s event. How is Wurm preparing for the biggest fishing tournament of the year, how will he fish the Classic, and what did he learn in practice before the cut-off? We’ll learn the answers to these questions this week.
Part 5: The Classic Hoopla
Question: Mike, most first-time Classic contenders often get blown away with all the hoopla at the event. The exception was Boyd Duckett at last year’s 2007 Classic. This was the first Classic he entered. He seemed to keep his head together and win. What do you do to avoid all the distractions of the Classic and give yourself the best chance to win?
Wurm: I remember my first Classic, and I was totally blown away by it. However, this is my 10th Classic. At that first Classic, I was totally in awe of the other competitors because these were the fishermen I’d read about in the magazines, seen on TV and looked to as my idols. But now, having fished with these great fishermen, they’ve become friends and buddies. When I get to the Classic, I’ll have to mentally commit to spending some time with my sponsors and the tournament organizers. The most-important time at the Classic for me to be totally focused and in tune with my fishing is when I get in the boat. 
That’s when I have to focus on my equipment, what I’ve learned in practice and my game plan.
My main focus at the Classic is to make sure that every day my equipment is the best it can possibly be at practice and during the tournament, so that equipment failure is not a concern or a problem during the tournament days. I don’t take anything for granted and try not to leave anything to chance. I change my lines, sharpen my hooks and tie the knots I need to tie and make certain all my equipment is ready. In the Classic, you can’t afford to lose a fish or miss a bite. Every bite can be critical to how you fish the Classic. If I can stay focused on my equipment and the game plan I’ve developed, I’ll be able to do the best I can in the Classic.
Question: Mike, when did you fish your first Classic?Wurm: 1994.
Question: Mike why do you think you have a chance to win this Classic?
Wurm: I like the time of year the tournament is being held. I usually fish my best in January and February. This can potentially be a tough tournament because of the weather. Pre-spawn is the time of year I like to fish best. 
I’m also a versatile fisherman. To win this tournament, you’ll have to use more than one tactic. I may have to drop shot, fish a jig and use a top-water lure to win. This tournament won’t be won with one lure and one tactic.
Question: When you got into tournament fishing, did you ever believe you’d be able to compete until you were 55-years old and older?
Wurm: Yes, I did. We’ve got better equipment to fish with and larger amounts of prize money to win. Who would have ever believed 20-years ago that we’d have onboard GPS receivers like we have today? Who would have ever thought we’d have side-imaging sonar, like Humminbird produces? There’s nothing we can’t see under the water now. Technology has really evened out the playing field for tournament fishing.
Today, all the maps are on GPS screens. So, you don’t have to be able to read lake maps like you once did and use dead reckoning to reach particular places to fish. All those places can be seen on your depth finder and marked as waypoints on your GPS receiver. 
As long as a fisherman learns to embrace new technology when it’s developed, he not only can keep on fishing, he can continue to be competitive.
Question: Mike, if you could pick three Strike King lures that you, Kevin VanDam and Greg Hackney can use to fish this year’s Classic, what will those lures be?
Wurm: A Strike King jig, like the Bitsy Bug jig or the Football Head jig, will be critical. We’ll also have to use a Strike King crankbait, although I’m not sure which one it will be yet. But I’m pretty confident you’ll need a crankbait. The third lure will either be a Strike King jerkbait, like the Wild Shiner, or a top-water lure, like the King Shad. I won’t rule out the Diamond Shad or the Red Eye Shad. All these baits will be critical to winning the Classic. All the Strike King Pros will have these lures in their tackle boxes, and at some time during the Classic, they’ll fish them. I know I will.
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
