KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Through two days of competition, Jeff Gustafson’s performance at the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota can best be compared to running downhill.
What’s really impressive about this virtuosic effort – leading by over a pound after Day One of and stretching that gap to 5 pounds 12 ounces after Day Two — is that he’s making the exceptionally difficult look remarkably easy.
Everyone else in the field knows how he caught his winning fish in 2021.
Almost all of them know exactly where he did it.
Yet none of them can replicate it.
“They are some of the best smallmouth bass fishermen in the world and they haven’t cracked the code,” emcee Dave Mercer said of Gustafson’s friends and countrymen Chris and Cory Johnston. “And that’s not throwing shade.”
The Great Canadian Snow Leopard seems to have slowed the game down. Or maybe he’s not playing the same game at all. It’s checkers versus chess.
Then again, it ain’t over ‘til it’s over. We’ve seen both wire-to-wire winners and big final day comebacks in Bassmaster history. No one is conceding the championship just yet.
Here’s what I learned, saw, thought and dreamed about on a windy Day Two in Knoxville:
Do Nice Guys Really Finish Last? – I’ve been around this sport, and life, long enough to know that sometimes your heroes will disappoint you by not living up to your expectations. I feel like I have a pretty good sense of who is liked and who is generally shunned on tour – and Gussy clearly falls into the upper echelon of the former camp. I’ve literally never heard a bad word about him, and all of my dealings have been cordial and uber-professional. The closest I’ve heard to a putdown came via a backhanded compliment from Mercer, a fellow Canadian, friend and confidante: “The only bad thing I can say about him is perhaps he’s too nice.” Then again, John Cox and also seems to be universally liked.
The Most Significant Fish of Gussy’s Career – With a lead of 5 pounds 12 ounces, Gustafson is clearly in the driver’s seat, but if it turns out to be a nail-biter of a tournament, the single fish he caught after 2:20pm may prove to have been critical. He’d amassed most of his weight today by 10:30, a little bit later than yesterday, and then went hunting. He made a late stop in the canal and upgraded by 12 ounces – trading out a 2-12 for a 3-08. The mantra that “every ounce counts” is overused but mostly true, and each extra bit of cushion should allow him to work his game plan deliberately and efficiently.
By Way of Comparison – Gussy weighed in 1 pound 5 ounces less today than he did yesterday, with a five fish total of 17-03. To put that in perspective, only one angler has a bag bigger than 17-03 this week: Brandon Lester, who had 17-07 yesterday, and followed it up with 10-02 today to settle into 6th place. Several anglers have spoken of possible 20- or even 25-pound limits, but those big bags have yet to show. Indeed, no one else has produced two limits over 15 pounds, and Cox who is the only other angler who has topped 14 pounds twice.
What Size Deficit is Too Big? – As long as there are temperamental fish involved – not to mention all sorts of other environmental and mechanical variables – few leads are safe. But how far can someone come from behind on a fishery where the weights (other than that of the leader) are tightly packed and 5-pounders are rare? It feels like anyone within 7-8 pounds could slap a 20 pound bag on the scale and leapfrog the rest, including a possibly slumping Gustafson. While he’s made the smallmouth game look easy, there’s still an 18-inch minimum size and five 17 7/8-inchers might weigh 15 pounds, but for all meaningful purposes they wouldn’t count at all.
Alternate Universe – I do not believe that second place is the first loser, even in the Classic. All of these guys achieved something difficult just to get here, and many of us do remember valiant past efforts that came up short. If Gustafson hadn’t been here this week, we’d certainly have more of a horse race, with six anglers within 5 pounds of the bizarro world leader John Cox. That’s just one bite, or two good ones. Bryan Schmitt is a mere 2 ounces behind Cox.
Windows – Those watching Bass Live this afternoon saw a brief flurry of big fish activity when Luke Palmer caught a reported 5 pounder at 1:40 (it turned out to weigh 5-13 on the official scales), approximately the same time Drew Benton caught a 4-08, and about 10 minutes before John Cox landed a 4-02. If one angler could make something like that happen, it could mean a major shakeup in the standings.
Sponsor Plugs – Assuming that Gustafson holds on for the win, there may be a run on Smeltinator jig heads and small shad-shaped soft plastics. Even though the “moping” technique has widespread applicability, it’s not quite as sexy as a swimbait, crankbait or topwater. The true breakout product – if it hasn’t broken out already – might be his signature Kenora Dinner Jacket. Plaid’s where it’s at.
Limited Success – On Day One, 24 of 55 competitors weighed in a five-bass limit. Today, once again 24 anglers brought five fish to the scales.
Cut Weight Math – Yesterday’s 25th place angler, Kenta Kimura, weighed in 9 pounds 4 ounces, the same as 25th place after Day One in 2019. Based on the standard (2X+1) formula, that would put the projected cut weight at 19-09. It turned out to be much lower – Bryan New snuck in to Sunday’s cut with 16-0.
Bill Me – As Gustafson stopped to gas up his boat this afternoon, Davy Hite gave him some career advice: “Better get that receipt. You’re going to need those write-offs.”
Precious metals – If Jeff Gustafson perseveres and wins, or if John Cox overtakes him and claims the big trophy, the Classic will be won out of an aluminum boat for the second consecutive year. Jason Christie claimed victory in an Xpress in 2022.
Closing words from the leader as he prepared to drive back to the ramp – “I didn’t fish perfect and tomorrow that’s got to change if I want to win.”
What’s he thinking? – In 2020, Chris Johnston became the first Canadian to win an Elite Series event. He’s also tight with Gustafson and knows what it’s like to be a day away from a win. “Just getting that first bite tomorrow is key,” Johnston said. “It’ll settle his nerves and take the edge off.”
Rock me, Takumi – If there’s ever a Grammy for fishing-inspired pop music, it clearly should go to Takumi Ito for the acapella version of “Smallmouth Disneyland.” Why not “Smallmouth Disney World?” Because Florida has no brown bass.
