Fishing

The fishing community will cast its attention toward Alabama's Lake Guntersville on Feb. 21-23 as the 2014 Bassmaster Classic crowns a champion. 

The Birmingham-area lake looks like a fertile ground for some big catches. As the event's official website tells us, the event "has the potential to produce record breaking weights and attendance at the weigh-ins."

Fifty-five competitors are scheduled to compete. There were 56 qualifiers, but former champion Cliff Pace was forced to withdraw due to a hunting injury.

With ample and big fish expected to be swarming around these world-class anglers, this should be a riveting competition. Luckily, there are several ways to enjoy the action. 

The event's official website offers several streaming options, which are discussed here. Streams include a live weigh-in camera.  

ESPN is not showing anything live, but will be showing extensive coverage:

Prediction

There is no such thing as a sure thing in fishing—in any aspect of it. That is especially true when trying to pick a winner of this event. 

One name stands out above the others for me, however: Kevin VanDam. 

VanDam (KVD) is a four-time Bassmaster Classics champion and a seven-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and he feels better than ever about this event. 

KVD said on The Times-Picayune's NOLA.com: "Most Classics I'm scrambling right down to the wire trying to get ready. For this one, I feel prepared on all levels. My tackle prep is done, my equipment is read—and I feel prepared mentally."

VanDam also scouted Lake Guntersville. "It was a very meaningful trip for me," VanDam said per NOLA.com. "Lakes that have a lot of grass change from year to year. I'm hoping that seeing it last fall will help me."

With the vast water space this competition will feature, VanDam's experience and scouting will be invaluable. 

British fisherman Bernie Campbell has been trying to catch a rare albino catfish for seven years. The hard work has paid off as he has reportedly set the world record by hauling in an eight-foot, 206-pound albino catfish out of River Ebro near Barcelona, Spain.

Bernie, who is 54 years old, was in the middle of a week-long fishing trip with his son, Gary. They had been using special pellets to attract the fish. He shared the incredible details with the Daily Mail:  

I was three days into my holiday this year when I hooked into a big fish coming up to midnight. When I got the fish closer to the shore and I saw it was white I couldn't believe it. It was so strong it nearly pulled me in on four separate occasions. I was absolutely shattered when I landed it, but the feeling was unbelievable.

It was the first time he had caught an albino catfish. With the fish being so large, Campbell said that it took him about 30 minutes to reel it in. He had 1,800 feet of super-strength fishing line to help him catch it.

Once ashore, they weighed it, photographed it and released it.

CatMaster Tours expert angler John Deakin gave the Daily Mail some background information:

We have had two or three big albino catfish out of the river, but none that has topped 200 pounds. Albino catfish of that size are very rare indeed. This is the biggest we’ve ever seen. It was a very special fish.

Campbell's catch beat the previous record by 10 pounds. Last year, British fisherman Phil Hilton caught a 196-pound fish. However, Campbell's catch is not officially the record yet.

It's a cool story of persistence and determination. It took Campbell seven years before he was able to make such an incredible catch, so it's amazing that he kept going.

This father and son can enjoy the cool feat, and the rest of the world can just be amazed by looking at the pictures of the massive fish.

Photos via the Daily Mail, and hat tip to GrindTV for the find.

Tales of fishermen reeling in huge catches have been going on for centuries, but few are willing to go to the lengths that Captain David Tuthill did when he and his group caught a massive 12-foot, 505-pound blue marlin in the South China Sea.

According to David Strege of GrindTV.com, Tuthill and a group of Hong Kong-based hedge-fund traders executed a once-in-a-lifetime catch, finally securing the marlin when Tuthill dove into the potentially shark-infested water 75 miles southeast of Hong Kong Island and pulled the fish to the surface.

Fellow fisherman Brad Ainslie sent an email to GrindTV describing Tuthill's brave act. Known for fighting until their death, the monster fish started to perish 25 to 30 feet below the boat but refused to be pulled in—after three-plus hours and over six miles of being pursued and wrestled with.

That's when Tuthill decided to go in after it.

Tut then decided to try something that I have never seen on the open water or have ever heard of anyone doing before: He threw on a mask, snorkel and fins, grabbed a gaff and dove down to the fish and dragged the beast to the surface.

That was no small feat, as Tuthill was significantly outweighed by the marlin, but he felt as though he needed to do it so that the fish wasn't wasted.

"The only thing worse than killing a billfish, is killing a billfish and watching them sink, wasted," Tuthill told GrindTV in the email. "Marlin are great eating in the end, so if you do take one home, as we did, at least we fed a big portion of Hong Kong with that fish and kept a lot of the fish (bill, tail and top fin) for mounting, putting everything we could to good use."

According to Strege, the story was originally reported by Danny Lee of the South China Morning Post, but Tuthill's foray into the water wasn't discussed.   

Even without Tuthill jumping in, the story is an incredible one. According to Lee, Hong Kong fishing expert Kim Stuart said that no blue marlin had been caught in that area in 15 years, since it is away from their natural habitat.

Tuthill and his crew members have a story to tell for a lifetime, and the captain's heroics certainly make it that much better.

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Cliff Pace is the 2013 Bassmaster Classic champion after a dominant weekend that saw the 32-year-old lead from the opening day right through to the end.

Pace's final mark of 54 pounds, 12 ounces was enough to go home with a comfortable lead over Brandon Palaniuk, who finished in second position.

The 32-year-old had led the competition from the opening day—posting catches of 21-8 on the first day and then 21-12 on the second to hold a commanding lead. Which, despite his smallest catch on the final day, turned out to be the difference in the tournament this weekend.

The man from Petal, Miss. was quoted after the event via Bassmaster: "This is a gift that I will always cherish. This is the ultimate high of a career, a life-changing moment."

Pace became the 43rd man ever to win the Bassmaster Classic.

And truth be told, there was never going to be another outcome in this one after the dominance that Pace had established early in the competition.

With a huge lead in hand and slow fishing forecast for the final day, Pace was seemingly in an impossible position to lose the event—as shown by his smaller catch on the final day but comfortable tournament victory nonetheless.

He had been consistent right throughout the event and deserved the title to fall his way this year, after finishing runner-up in the event in 2008.

Pace took home the mammoth $500,000 prize reward as well as the most coveted trophy of the sport to chalk up what is without doubt the greatest win of his career. He also picked up the Carhartt Big Bass of the 2013 Classic, which will result in another $2,500 coming his way.

All in all, it was a big weekend for Pace, but a deserved one.

He fished well throughout the tournament and had a consistency that no other angler could lay claim to. In the end, it was that consistency that earned him a big lead heading into the final day and a deserved championship trophy at the end of the weekend.

Thoroughly deserved victory for the 32-year-old Pace.

Full standings and weights can be seen via Bassmaster.com

Cliff Pace is your Bassmaster Classic champion after reeling in 54 pounds and 12 ounces of bass over three days. Last year's runner-up would not be denied this year, getting off to a strong start in the first day and never surrendering his lead from there.

Pace actually had a mediocre day on the event’s final day, reeling in just four fish worth nearly 12 pounds. The day’s leader was actually Hank Cherry, whose total of 17 pounds, 14 ounces of bass was extremely impressive considering the slow fishing. Jason Christie, meanwhile, had the day’s biggest bass, which weighed in at six pounds, three ounces.

The event came down to the final few fishermen. Brandon Palaniuk was the second-to-last fisherman to weigh in, and his haul of 15 pounds, four ounces was enough to put him in the lead, at least for the moment.

Pace was the last, and despite his worst day of the event, he reeled in enough to win the event and the $500,000. Two consecutive days of 21-plus pounds of fish gave Pace a lead that was nearly insurmountable, giving him a nice cushion heading into Sunday.

While Palaniuk and Cherry gave him a scare in the event's final weigh-ins, Pace deservedly earned his first Bassmaster Classic championship.

Here you can check out the Top-25. The full leaderboard can be found on Bassmaster.com.

The 2013 Bassmaster Classic is in its final day of competition and there are some top contenders who are primed to take home the crown on Sunday.

After two days, Cliff Pace is at the top of the leaderboard and well ahead of the pack, followed by Brandon Palaniuk and Michael Iaconelli.

Other anglers such as Hank Cherry, Jason Christie and Kevin VanDam all have an outside chance to make a run at first place on Day 3.

Let's take a look at the top contenders and how they got here.

Cliff Pace, Leader: 43 Pounds, 4 Ounces (10 Fish)

Pace has been the most consistent angler after the first two days of the Bassmaster Classic and that has enabled him to grab a huge lead.

On the first day, Pace reeled in five that totaled a weight of 21 pounds and eight ounces. On Day 2, Pace topped his original total by catching five fish for a grand total of 21 pounds and 12 ounces.

Overall, Pace has reeled in 43 pounds and four ounces, putting him ahead of the next nearest competitor by seven pounds. He is no doubt the favorite to win this tournament and it'll take a lot of work for anyone to catch him.

Brandon Palaniuk, 2nd Place: 36 Pounds, 4 Ounces (10 Fish)

Palaniuk has his work cut out for him going into the final day of the Bassmaster Classic. As it stands now, he trails Pace by seven pounds despite the fact that he's caught the same amount of fish.

If not for a bad start on Day 1, Palaniuk would have a much better shot. He caught five fish on the opening day that totaled a lackluster 16 pounds and 10 ounces, but Palaniuk would recover nicely on Day 2 after reeling in another five fish for 19 pounds and 10 ounces.

His Day 2 totals have no doubt put him back in the race, but he'll need an epic showing on Day 3 and a bad one by the leader if he hopes to eclipse Pace.

Michael Iaconelli, 3rd Place: 35 Pounds, 3 Ounces (10 Fish)

Interestingly enough, Iaconelli was tied for the lead after Day 1, but a poor performance on Day 2 has set him back.

Iaconelli finished tied with the top total after the opening day after he caught five fish that totaled 21 pounds and eight ounces, but he allowed Pace to pull well ahead of him after pulling in five more fish for an abysmal total of 13 pounds and 11 ounces.

He sits in third at the moment as he trails Palaniuk by just a little over one pound, but Iaconelli is well behind the leader with over eight pounds to make up on the last day.

Cliff Pace will take a seven-pound lead into the final day of the Bassmaster Classic 2013, a lead that lead may prove insurmountable for those chasing him.

Pace built on his first-day lead with a consistent but strong day on the water to shake off his challengers and solidify his position on top of the leaderboard.

Heading into the final day of competition, Pace is certainly setting the pace for the competing anglers, pulling ahead of former-champion Michael Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, New Jersey, who was tied with him for the lead after the first day of action.

Pace bagged 46-4 throughout the day and finished his Saturday catch with a total weight of 21 pounds, 12 ounces, bettering the mark he set on Friday by four ounces.

According to the leader from Petal, Mississippi, it could be that consistency that leads him to the title of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. Per Bassmaster.com:

I didn’t fish differently today at all. For me, it’s been all about committing to the way I can catch the big ones. I took a big, big risk to do that.

I think I’m doing something that has potential, and will hold through tomorrow.

Pace will return to Grand Lake on Sunday with his mind firmly fixed on the $500,000 prize that comes with the Bassmaster Classic title, but also wary of the competition who could conceivably make a late push up the leaderboard and into the top position.

Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho made a big move Saturday and now sits second behind Pace, while Iaconelli is still in contention back in third position.

Both anglers could well challenge Pace for the title with strong performances Sunday, but it seems unlikely, given Pace's consistency this weekend.

He has continued to fish well and post big numbers for the weigh-in. He should ride his seven-pound lead all the way to the 2013 championship.

If his Carhartt Big Bass of the day holds through Sunday as the heaviest fish brought to the scales in over three days of competition, the $2,500 bonus he'll collect will serve as icing on top of an already-sweet cake for Pace.

Will Cliff Pace hold on for the win at the 2013 Bassmaster Classic?

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The 2013 Bassmaster Classic promises to be one of the most thrilling events in fishing this year, especially with inclement weather expected to strike the site of the event.

It’s been snowing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is just icing on the cake for an area hit by a cold spell, showered with rain and sleet and experiencing serious thunder and lightning.

Of course, this weather won’t slow down any of the competitors looking to win this prestigious angling showcase, and the fisherman who performs the best in the face of these obstacles will be crowned the champion.

Let’s take a look at where you can catch the event live, where to watch it on television, who is competing for the title of Bassmaster Classic champion and much more.

Where: Grand Lake, Tulsa, Okla.

When: Friday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 24

Watch: ESPN2 Tape Delay (Saturday, March 2–Sunday, March 3, full TV schedule here)

Live Stream: Bassmaster.com War Room, ESPN3 Tape Delay (Streaming schedule here)

Prize Money: $500,000

Competitors and Leaderboard: Click here

Event Info

The 2012 version of this tournament was absolutely thrilling to watch, especially as superstar Chris Lane hauled in a 51.6-pound monster bass to win it all.

Lane will try to become the first back-to-back champion since Kevin VanDam pulled it off in 2010 and 2011.

It’s certainly not going to be easy, especially with climate conditions much different than what Lane and the other competitors faced down in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana last year.

Expect a non-stop thrill ride of awesome angling in some of the toughest conditions imaginable, with the fisherman with the most grit and skill persevering in the end.

Despite being overshadowed by this weekend's marquee sporting events, including the Daytona 500 and UFC 157, the 2013 Bassmaster Classic is sure to produce some of the best angling fans will see all year long.

This year's event will take place at Grand Lake O' the Cherokees in Tulsa, Okla.

Although there will be dozens of elite anglers gunning for the $500,000 and bragging rights, only one can come away with the title of Bassmaster champion. Here we'll highlight some of the top anglers to watch for this weekend.

Note: All photos courtesy of Bassmaster.com

Chris Lane

As the reigning Bassmaster Classic champion, Florida native Chris Lane has to be considered a contender to win in 2013.

Although Lane's victory wasn't by an incredible margin in 2012, the confidence gained will only make him a better angler at this year's prestigious event. With a win he could join Rick Clunn and Kevin VanDam as the only men to have won to back-to-back Bassmaster Classics.

It's hard to believe that Lane is making just his third career appearance at the Bassmaster Classic, but imagine how impressive it would be for him to win his second Classic in just his third attempt. 

Skeet Reese

A veteran angler, Skeet Reese last won the Bassmaster Classic in 2009.

And although he hasn't won since, he's certainly got the skills to add another title to his resume this weekend in Oklahoma.

Reese has taken part in plenty of Classics over the years, and has six first-place finishes over the course of his prolific angling career. There's a great chance that he adds to that number this weekend. 

The 2007 B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, Reese is more than just another face in the crowd. He's one of the more consistent anglers out there. His 61 career top-10 B.A.S.S. finishes speak to that.

Kevin VanDam

Not to be confused with NBA superstar Kevin Durant, KVD, otherwise known as Kevin VanDam is a magician when it comes to reeling in championship-caliber bass at the annual Bassmaster Classic. 

VanDam has won this event four times in the past, including back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. He is tied with Rick Clunn for most Classic wins all time.

His 20 career B.A.S.S. tournament wins are most all time.

Viewers can expect him to once again have a strong weekend in Tulsa. With one more win he'll stand alone as the greatest champion the Bassmaster Classic has ever seen, as if he needed any more motivation than the half-a-million bucks awaiting the winner.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.