Seven Team Skeeter professional anglers fished on the final day of the 2009 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River in Shreveport/Bossier City, Louisiana this past weekend – including two previous Classic Champions, a BASS Federation Nation Champion, and last year’s Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Rookie of the Year.
“While Skeeter didn’t bring home the Classic championship this year, our anglers fished well, showcasing their talents on the water, and also took the time to meet, greet and thank their fans while off the water,” says Jeff Stone, Senior Vice President/General Manager of Skeeter Products, Inc.
The 2009 Bassmaster Classic shattered attendance records set in 2003 in New Orleans, with tens of thousands of fishing fans visiting the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo, and fans filling the CenturyTel Center to capacity during daily weigh-ins.
Stone noted that Skeeter has benefited from the company’s role as the Official Boat Sponsor of BASS, and with Skeeter’s Reeves Marine located in Bossier City, the company capitalized on the excitement of the Classic. “There’ll be many more Skeeter owners in the area during the next few weeks,” says Stone.
Federation Nation Represents – BASS Federation Nation Champion Bryan Schmidt of Olney, Texas, finished the Classic in 6th place. Schmidt fished conservative on days one and two of the Classic, using the warmer weather on the final day to get the big bite he was looking for. “When I noticed that the water temperature was rising, I began flipping a Reaction Innovation Sweet Beaver lure at some hyacinth patches, and immediately caught four keepers,” says Schmidt.
Former Champions Still Humbled by Classic – Former Classic Champions Mark Davis (1995) and Alton Jones (2008) are still humbled by the Classic. “There are not many names on the championship trophy, and Skeet Reese is about to have the ride of his life,” says Jones. “I’m excited about the 2009 Elite Series, and hope to carry my top 15 finish into our next Elite Series event on Lake Amistad in a few weeks,” he added. According to Davis, “you do what you think will work, and I took some risks today that didn’t pay off, but look forward to competing against this group throughout 2009.”
A Learning Experience – Bobby Lane, who finished in 16th place, will use his second Classic as another learning experience to better his competitive skills in the future. “The warmer weather suited my style, and I was thinking this would be my day. I lost two good fish today, yet even if I had caught those, I still would not have won the event. I feel like I’m learning much more about my strengths and weaknesses, and this will be beneficial for future success,” says Lane.
Faircloth Achieves Milestone – While not making the final day of the Classic, Skeeter’s Todd Faircloth earned $10,000 this weekend, surpassing the $1 million mark in career earnings. “It’s bittersweet, as I would have liked to have fished better in the Classic. This milestone is important as it validates my consistency as a professional angler year after year,” says Faircloth.
Also fishing on the final day of the Classic were Skeeter’s Kellly Jordon (10th), Dean Rojas (18th) and Bill Lowen (23rd).
