Vance McCullough's blog

It's almost here! 

Today is the final practice round for 49 competitors - mostly professionals with a few amatures thrown in the mix - all of whom want badly to win the 2012 Bassmaster classic on the Red River out of Shreveport/Bossier City, LA.

The first 3 practice days were tough. A slow bite provided little in the way of direction for for those seeking bass fishing imortality. Also, changeable waether this week further renders last weeks recon useless. 

Born and raised in Natchitoches, La., Keith Poche has come home for his first Bassmaster Classic appearance.

Coming off two marathons for which he trained hard, Aaron Martens says he’s in the best shape he’s ever been: lean, disciplined and mentally stoked to take on a challenge.

The Bassmaster Classic is angling's biggest stage. Savvy pros use the opportunity to do more than catch fish. A few examples:

Online Registration Opens March 1

Ponca City, Okla. – Feb. 17, 2012  High School anglers near and far will unite in Russellville, Arkansas and Lake Dardanelle State Park, July 15-21, 2012 for the pinnacle event of high school bass fishing, the 2012 High School Fishing World Finals. Registration opens online at highschoolfishing.org on March 1.

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. – With the Bassmaster Classic just around the corner (Feb. 24-26), 15 of the world championship competitors joined forces to visit the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, La.

Conservation Summit Emphasizes Fisheries Management

If you've been following AnglersChannel.com videos, you probably remember getting a sneak peak at this with Kevin VanDam at the Strike King Conference back in the fall. Now it will be available just in time to start slamming all those post-spawn fish!

It's about more than fish. More than a trophy. More than $125,000.

"It's been a challenge the last month or so to think about fishing," admited Brandon McMillan.

Most who follow tournament fishing - and all who gathered to scream support for the young man at daily weigh ins this week - know of the loss suffered by the McMillan family, and the fishing family in general, weeks ago when Brandon's father Jimmy was shot and killed shortly after opening the family grocery store near the lake.

Jimmy McMillan was a talented angler who dominated Lake Okeechobee tournaments.