Entry 287-4

Denny Brauer Predicts How the Strike King Pros Will Do in the 2009 Classic

Part 4: Greg Hackney

Question: Greg Hackney lives not far from the Red River. He’s competed on it and fished it. He’s a Louisiana homeboy, and he’s fished really strongly this year in all the tournaments. What do you think his chances are at the 2009 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River in Shreveport, Louisiana?

Brauer: All four of Strike King’s Pros in the Classic this year are very capable of winning the Classic. However, if I had to pick one to bet on, I’d choose Greg. Greg’s an old swamp rat, and by now, he’s been in every nook and cranny and crawled into every hole on the bank of the Red River. Now I don’t know for sure, but I bet since Greg’s found out that he’s qualified for this year’s Classic, he’s spent a lot of time on the Red River. By now, Greg probably knows how to run his boat as fast as possible without tearing-up his engine through all the backwaters on the Red River. Plus, Greg has plenty of friends and other river rats who can tell him anything he doesn’t already know about the Red River. To pick a local expert who has the best chance to win the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, Greg Hackney has to be your natural choice.

Too, if this area gets bad-weather conditions with cold, rain, wind and muddy water, Hackney’s chances of winning will be much better, then many fishermen because he likes to pitch and flip. When many anglers get frustrated in bad weather and water conditions, Hackney tends to thrive under these circumstances. Greg will know where the better and cleaner water is, regardless of how muddy the water becomes. He’ll also know how to get in these areas and utilize his time better than anglers who haven’t spent as much time on the Red River as he has. I certainly will rank Greg Hackney as one of the top contenders, if not the angler who has the best chance to win.

Question: What lures will Greg Hackney fish in bad water and bad weather?

Brauer: If the Red River has bad weather and water, and the fish are biting shallow, Hackney will be fishing a jig. Of the four Strike King fishermen who will be in the tournament, Hackney may be the strongest of the four for fishing the jig. Remember, this is just a guess, because I know all four Strike King Pros can fish jigs well. Greg’s also good at flipping soft plastics and has confidence in flipping and pitching to catch bass and win tournaments. Greg’s also good with shallow crankbaits and also with slowing down and fishing deliberately.

Question: Under clear weather and water conditions, how will Greg Hackney fish?

Brauer: I think those conditions will hurt Greg, not because he can’t fish well under good conditions, but because all the other competitors can fish well under good conditions. If the Red River region has good weather and water conditions, there will be many more places on the Red River where anglers can find and catch bass than there will be under bad-weather conditions. Under good-weather conditions, Greg will have to catch some fish by flipping and pitching. Then he’ll have to switch to the Red Eye Shad and fish on the flats, and possibly fish a spinner bait. Greg will have to fish more-different types of lures if the water’s clear than he will if the water’s stained.

Also under good-weather conditions, Greg will have just as much spectator pressure, if not more, than Kevin VanDam. Greg’s capable of handling spectator pressure. However, if he gets irritated with the spectators, he may make a water change at the wrong time. Greg’s had to deal with spectator pressure before, and he’s not a new kid on the block. If Greg finds the place where he can win the tournament, he won’t let spectator pressure or any other factor cause him to lose. Greg will be focused on winning the tournament, and I don’t think he’ll be bothered by spectator pressure so much that his fishing will be affected. Greg’s a professional, and he’ll act in a professional manner, which means choosing the correct lures and the right water, managing the crowd and catching as many fish as he can possibly catch.

Next: Denny Brauer on Classic Pressures

Contents:

• Part 1: Kevin VanDam
• Part 2: Shaw Grigsby
• Part 3: Mark Davis
• Part 4: Greg Hackney
• Part 5: Denny Brauer on Classic Pressures