Two Okies take on Bassmaster Classic in Texas this weekend
Fort Worth, Lake Robert Lay location a short drive from Tulsa, Oklahoma City
(Reports Courtesy Pat Gilliland)
Big bass fishing events are back, and the biggest fishing event since before the pandemic—and the closest for Oklahomans since the last Bassmaster Classic took place in Tulsa in 2016—begins Friday at Fort Worth and on Lake Ray Roberts, Texas.
The Superbowl of Fishing fills the weekend with the best that bass fishing has to offer, including events for kids, seminars for all, and industry-leading fishing gear, baits and boats at the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.
The lake is just 30 minutes south of the Red River off I-35 and the event locations in Fort Worth are about a three-hour drive from Oklahoma City and four-and-a-half hour drive from Tulsa. The expo, events around the sunrise launch ceremonies at Ray Roberts State Park’s Isle du Bois Unit, and daily weigh-ins at Dickies Arena all are free and open to the public—but expect to pay for parking in the crowded city.
The 2020 Classic was one of the last major national sporting events to take place before the spread of COVID-19 shut down much of the nation. This year’s event was delayed from March to June with hopes vaccinations and other developments to curtail the pandemic would allow for the return of fans and industry representatives.
Oklahomans also get to root for two hardworking home-state anglers in the Classic. Luke Palmer, 30, of Coalgate, and Chris M. Jones, 41, of Bokoshe, join the 54-angler field to chase the dream on Lake Ray Roberts Friday through Sunday.
“I could win the Classic, and Tuesday I’d be back at work,” said Palmer, part owner of C&C Hardware, a store that has been in his family for three generations.
Balancing store responsibilities and professional fishing, Palmer qualified for his second consecutive Classic through the Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year standings.
Jones qualified for his second Classic by winning the Bassmaster Central Open on the Arkansas River at Fort Gibson last June. That’s also how the angler, whose home is 10 minutes from the Arkansas River, qualified for the 2014 Classic.
Jones said his “dream-come-true would be to fish for a living.” But with a wife and two sons, he is grateful for his job with AMET in nearby Fort Smith, Ark., that allows him to work 10-hour days and have Fridays off, perfect for fishing in regional events.
That’s served him well, with two championships in the Bassmaster Opens Series and an Angler of the Year trophy in Major League Fishing’s Toyota Series.
Twice, he’s qualified to fish the big leagues, once with B.A.S.S. and once with MLF. Both times he declined, opting for the security and flexibility of his job as a machine programmer.
Since then, he’s picked up major sponsorship from Bushnell Optics and The Bass Tank that would help with tour expenses, and the itch to go pro has intensified. “Now the task at hand is to re-qualify,” he said.
He knows a couple of things could hold him back from becoming a full-time pro.
“It’s a downfall of mine, and I know it. Because … when you win, you want to win more. And when you try to win every time, try to hit home runs, you strike out several times,” Jones said.
In other words, he’s more focused on winning than earning points for consistency. That makes it harder to qualify for the Elite Series, which invites Opens anglers based on points.
So he plans to keep fishing the Central Opens and going for wins.
“That’s the only way I can get in the Classic without fishing the Elites, is to win the Opens. Every time I show up, that’s what I’m going to do, is try to win one of them, so I can go back.”
Third-year Elite Series pro Palmer understands the life choices involved in competitive fishing.
“I made sure when I started I didn’t have any bills,” said Palmer, who is single and owns land near Coalgate in southeastern Oklahoma. He worked extra jobs and saved money to have what he thought it would take to fish two years on the Elite Series. A windfall came in winning nearly $100,000 in an amateur fishing league.
He’s been a consistent performer with the Elites, qualifying for the Classic each year, which keeps him on the pro tour. It also helped him land a two-year title sponsor deal with Gill Fishing.
With his winnings and sponsorships, he’s cleared about $20,000 each of his first two years after expenses including entry fees, travel, gear and maintaining a well-equipped boat and truck, he said.
So, when he’s not traveling in his camper-topped dually, towing his boat to Elite Series events, usually accompanied by girlfriend Lauren Hayes, he’s glad to be at work in Coalgate. The business responsibilities limit his time for practicing on tournament waters but provide a steady paycheck.
“I don’t have the sponsorship money to just do fishing alone. That’s the hard gist of it,” Palmer said.
He also acknowledges emotional ties for doing his part to keep the doors open at the store he owns with his father and uncle.
One of the things Palmer likes about fishing the Elite Series is traveling to new fishing locales, from the St. Lawrence River and Lake St. Clair that straddle the U.S./Canadian border, to Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and several Texas lakes and rivers, he said.
Sometimes that takes him to a lake that’s unfamiliar even though it’s not far from home. Case in point: Lake Ray Roberts, home of this year’s Classic.
Although neither Palmer nor Jones had fished Ray Roberts before qualifying for the Classic, both are eager to take it on.
As an Elite Series pro, Palmer places value on making the cut to fish on championship Sunday. In addition to the thrill of competition, the reward comes through consistent paychecks and more exposure for his sponsors.
“But don’t get me wrong, I’d love to win one,” Palmer said.
Jones is more likely to take risks to get the win. “I might end up 50th. But …I’ll be swinging for the fences, for sure,” Jones said.