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John Cox is likely to be the only pro in the 2025 Bassmaster Classic without forward-facing sonar technology on his boat. We caught up with comical Florida pro soon after he climbed out of his Vexus AVX 2100 aluminum boat following the final practice day on extremely windy Ray Roberts. He graciously answered five questions that should give Wired2ish readers sound perspective on his week, and what to expect at bass fishing’s biggest event.
Q: “Bassmaster Classic Week” is pressure packed and super busy, but what’s been the most fun part of your week so far?
JC: Figuring out how to get bites in practice. Seriously, beyond all the sponsor dinners and stuff, the simple reward of figuring out how to get bites never stops being a blast.
Q: How would you summarize Lake Ray Roberts for fans?
JC: Fans can expect to see a lot of 4 to 6-pound fish weighed-in and have fun with the fact this lake is very capable of showcasing bass over 10-pounds.
Q: What are three baits you know you’ll have tied on to begin the 2025 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Ray Roberts?
JC: A 1/2 -ounce Berkley Power Blade spinnerbait. A thin-sided rattling bait called the Berkley Jack, and a Berkley Frittside 5.
Q: What will be the biggest challenge in this Bassmaster Classic?
JC: That’s easy, dealing with the insane gusting winds that have been crazy through practice and will continue to blow through the Classic.
Q: How has your Vexus AVX 2100 aluminum performed in 40-50 mph gusts this week?
JC: Amazingly well. Big winds bring big waves, and most aluminum boats don’t do well in absorbing the shock of those rides like this Vexus does. There’s no rattling or banging, and it’s got those awesome AirWave® pedestal seats, so I feel super comfortable being able to go where I want to fish.
Amid a fishing trip on the bass-starved Ohio River in the summer of 1987, Alan McGuckin’s Dad told a then 16-year-old “Guck” — “I don’t care what you do for a living, just promise me you’ll do something you love.”
Originally from Pittsburgh, McGuckin considers himself a blue-collar kid, who has been richly blessed to live-out the best piece of advice his dad ever gave him for many years now in the Tulsa area.
After earning a degree in ecology at Juniata College in Pennsylvania, where he placed radio transmitters in largemouth bass to track their habitat preferences, he moved his life to Oklahoma in 1992, where he earned a Masters in Zoology and Fisheries under the direction of Gene Gilliland at the University of Oklahoma, before then embarking on what’s now a nearly three decade long career as a marketing and media veteran in the fishing industry.
His career spans 28 years of wisdom-rich marketing experience working to strengthen brands and increase sales for Lowrance, Terminator Lures, Toyota, Yamaha Outboards, Boat U.S., Carhartt, Costa, Quantum, Vexus Boats, and Zebco.
- Member of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame voting committee, as well as a Board of Directors member for Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful
- Co-piloted the Terminator brand of premium lures from its birth to more than 10 Million pieces sold between 1997-2006.
- Has authored and published more than 800 stories on Bassmaster.com, along with several other popular bass fishing websites.
- He has generated $3 Million dollars’ worth of branded digital media since 2020, as a content creator.
- Serves as emcee for hundreds of guests at the annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event.
- Avid angler, who fishes nearly every weekend when not on the road working.
- 13,000 followers on Instagram @GuckFishing.
“Guck” lives just north of Tulsa, OK at Lake Skiatook with wife Sherrie, an elementary school principal who also loves her job, and has a genuine passion for slinging a Rapala Brat crankbait on shallow points and habitat-laden flats.
