Regarding anger management, everyone agrees that the Red River will fish extremely small this week. While there are a handful of pros who have found that special one-off pattern that no one else has discovered, for the most part there are only a few areas where the tournament can be won…and most everyone has found them.

The deciding factor could be who stays close to “home” by fishing in Pool 5, and who gambles, trying to flee the crowds, and ventures south in to Pool 4. Some competitors may even head all the way into Pool 3 where they’re certain to find warmer water – given that they’re nearly 100 miles further south and less traffic – but is the risk worth the reward?

Most anglers say no, so look for pools 4 and 5 to receive the most attention.

As for the potential for the all-time Classic total weight record falling, it’s possible; however, there aren’t many pros who would say that it’s realistic. The water is too low (at close to normal pool) to allow for access to the backwater troughs where the real pigs feed, and it’s just a little too early for the “big girls” to be up super-shallow.

So, crowd management and strategy are going to be huge factors this week - maybe more so than in any other Classic before it. 

Here’s what some of the competitors told The BASS ZONE on Thursday: 

Kenyon Hill
“(The Red River) fishes a lot like the Arkansas River out of the Three Forks area around Muskogee. There are a lot of little backwater areas that you can get into when the water is up, but with the way the water is right now, there’s not as many that are accessible. Because of that, it’s going to fish extremely small.

“The fish just kind of gang up in certain areas – even when the water’s high it’s that way. So it’s really going to be about fish management in those key areas…and people management too.

“I’m locking down into Pool 4. I’ve got a good place that I want to start out on, so I’ll just go from there. If a guy was able to get 16 to 17 pounds a day, I think they’re going to be in pretty good shape.”

Alton Jones
“My practice went well. The first day of practice I was just trying to determine what the fish were doing and where they were. Since then, I’ve just tried to duplicate as many of those areas as I could.

“With the cooler temperatures we’re expecting later in the week, I think you’re going to have fish suspending in the timber, as well as some of the little ditches. Hopefully I’ve found enough schools in both areas where I’ll be able to make the most of it.

“I think most of the really good stuff here has been discovered already, so I’m not looking for any kind of off-the-wall pattern to develop. That being said, I’ve got one area – that’s actually pretty well known – where I’m pretty sure that I’m doing something the no one else is. In fact, I’m so confident that no one else is doing it that I’m not even going in there on Day One.

Bill Lowen
“A lot for me is going to depend on the weather and how much the fronts affect the fish I’ve found. The fish I’ve found are so back in the junk that they’ve fully committed to being there, but a front could shut them down. They won’t move off, but they might not bite the way that they have been.

“The crowds are going to play a huge role in where you decide to go. The areas that I’m in are so difficult to get into that it will be hard to have much traffic in there to begin with, but even just a few boats around me could really hurt things.

“I think 15 pounds a day is going to be really strong, but it’s going to take 17 pounds a day to win it I think. It’s really likely that you’ll have a couple of guys with 20-pounds bags the first day, but it will be hard to repeat that three days in a row.”

Brent Chapman
“I feel good about things. It’s been a while since I’ve fished a tournament, so the passion and confidence are really high. It always comes down to a luck factor of who gets the right bites, but I’m in an area that I feel good about so we’ll see what happens.

“I’m staying in Pool 5, and now that I’ve seen how the weather is going to be I wish I would’ve spent some time in the other pools. That’s the hardheaded side of me that wins out from time to time, but I’m just going to have to play it out and see how it goes.

“I’ve been managing anywhere from 10 to 20 bites a day, but I don’t know how big they are. I’m really anxious to get out there an see what’s been pulling on my line. I might have 30 pounds, or I might have 7 pounds…you don’t know until you set the hook.”

Byron Velvick
“I’m really relaxed and stress free. I’m having a blast and just fishing. Using the past as a guide, each time I’ve won a major tournament I didn’t have a bit of nerves, so hopefully this one is mine to win because I’m feeling no stress at all right now.

“Based on the way that the Red has been fishing, it’s possible that the total weight record could fall. I just wish the weather was a little better, then I would be absolutely certain that it was going down. 

I’ve got a pretty good program working right now with a few variations – just slow and methodical. I’m not moving around a lot, and I’m not running far. I will have some company, but I can manage that. If I can get eight bites a day, I like my chances.”

Casey Ashley
“This year, I don’t feel nearly the pressure that I did last year. I had a good practice, and this place really fits my style. I’m ready to go.

“I don’t think that it’s going to take nearly the weight that everyone first thought that it would to win. I feel like it’s probably around 17 or 18 pounds a day. I say that, but to be honest, this is the first actual river that I’ve ever fished a tournament on in my life. I just don’t have a lot of experience fishing rivers.

“That said, I’m committed to what I’m doing in five or six different areas. The thing about fishing the Red is that it takes so long to get to the areas that you’re fishing because of all the obstacles. But I feel like I’m in a good area and around some good fish. It’s going to boil down to execution.”

Dave Wolak
“I really like this place. I’ve fished two Opens here, and I’ve learned a little more every time about how this river presents itself and how the fish respond. I think it’s going to boil to how the weather affects them – that and the crowds. 

“When I came here in December they were in a late fall pattern, so I was looking for where they would be going to. Bottom composition was a big factor for me in narrowing water down – that and grass. I was able to find some of that, so I’m hoping for the best.

“There are enough areas on this river with the fish to win, but it’s going to boil down to how a guy can manage his time in those areas.”

Davy Hite
“I fished a lot of areas in practice, but only have one that I feel really good about. I’m going in there tomorrow and will just grind it out and hope for the best. It may or may not be crowded where I’m going, but I feel like I’ll be dealing with the same issues as a lot of guys are.

“The guy who’s able to handle the frustrations and distractions of the Classic has a good chance to do well this week. In every Classic there are distractions that you won’t have any other time of the year – it wouldn’t be a world championship without it.

Edwin Evers
“It’s a Classic that I didn’t have to buy a map for, it’s a Classic that I feel like I know about every backwater crevice of, and it’s a Classic that I feel like I should do well in. The question is, how many other guys feel the same way?

“But I feel like I’ve found a really special group of fish. I really tried to spend my practice finding little hidden spots away from where the crowds are. If I can save those spots for the second and third day, I’m going to have a really special Classic.”

Fred Roumbanis
“I’ve had a really good practice, and I’m going to pretty much rely on what I found the first day. As fast as I was fishing – banging into logs and everything – and how I was able to get bit tells me that they’re in there.

“Now that I’ve found them, I’m going to just hunker down and fish slow and methodically. Now, I’ve got another spot that I feel like I can catch one or two early and then go into my other area and fish out the day. 

“I really feel like I should have 17 pounds a day. If I can do that, I really think I can have a good week. Now, will the weather hold? I don’t know.”

Greg Hackney
“I’ve fished a bunch of tournaments on this river over the years, but I’ve never won one. I’ve been in contention or around the win every time, and I’ve never fished close. So I’ve been thinking that maybe I should change that.

“This week, I’m planning on doing something a little different and will start closer to the launch area – closer than I ever have. Now if that doesn’t work, then I’m going to run as far south on this thing as a guy can get.

“Honestly though, with things the way that they are right now (weather and water levels), I don’t think it could be won two locks down. I’m just afraid that they won’t bite fast enough down there to win.

“I honestly can’t tell you how much it’s going to take to win…I can’t even tell you what I think I can catch. I’m going fishing for five and hope that they weigh more than anyone else’s.”

Kelly Jordon
“Practice went pretty good. That being said, there’s really not many secrets out here on the Red River. That’s not really something that you want to think about a lot. If the water was another two feet higher, I think it could be a lot different.

“I’m going to fish what I’m going to fish, but it’s definitely going to be small. I hope everyone gets to fish the area that they want to fish, but mental toughness is going to be huge in this event.

“The first day is the key. The weather is going downhill fast after Friday. That’s a pretty dynamic change, and I think I know how that’s going to affect them. The bottom line is that this is going to be the Classic of decisions, mental toughness, and being able to stick to your guns.”

Mike Iaconelli
“Practice was just ‘okay.’ It wasn’t terrible, but it certainly wasn’t great either. During Classic practice, you’re just trying to learn enough to get some momentum heading into the tournament. I think was able to do that.

“I think that you’re going to need 17 or 18 pounds a day to win. It’s fishing so small, and I think that there are no more than eight places on this river that you can win in. I’m certain that everyone has found those same areas.

“You’re going to see a lot of strategy at work this week, so it’s going to make for an interesting event.”

The BASS ZONE was able to get one of the first looks at the 18' aluminum boat that Steve Kennedy will be fishing out of during the Classic:

NOTES - Our thoughts are with BASS ZONE's founder, Mark Jeffreys.  Just prior to the scheduled live webcast on Thursday, Mark was notified that his mother had suffered a stroke and was rushed to the hospital in Oklahoma.  The BZ Live Webcast will continue as scheduled on Friday with the Legend and Dru Smith or Mark.  The first Live Webcast is scheduled for 9:00am CST.  We are thinking about Mark and his family.  In Mark's words, Stay Tuned.