Bassmaster Classic: Do You Care Who Wins?

I do.

I've had the good fortune to fish with many of the bass boys in the past few years, and believe it or not, a lot of them share an affinity for the long rod. I have to say, when the Classic plays out in Louisiana this month, I'm going to be pulling for Gary Klein. Gary has qualified for the Classic an amazing 29 times. And fly fishing was part of his growing up experience in California. In fact, he's told me that some of those early lessons in fly fishing-- things like understanding how fish move and hold on currents--still play into his thinking on the bass tour.

Having fished with Gary a few times in the past few years, I've molded a lot about how I look for fish around the bass lessons he's shared. You'll never find a more gracious gentleman, a more committed outdoorsman, nor a more dedicated angler than Mr. Gary Klein.

Funny thing is, a lot of the bass pros have a closet passion for fly fishing, and a lot of them say they learn and enjoy when they throw flies. When all is said and done, fishing is fishing, and the trout people can learn an awful lot by listening to the bass folks, and vice versa.

I've fished with Aaron Martens, thrown flies with Mike Iaconelli, cast with Terry "The Big Show" Scroggins, chucked crankbaits with Gerald "G-Man" Swindle, and even hung out with Kevin VanDam (as a Michigan man, how could I ever root against KVD?). If any of those guys claimed the purse in the Big Easy, I'd be thrilled.

But I have a soft spot in my heart for Gary Klein. I wish them all the best. Who are you pulling for, and why?