Why I'm Pulling for Gary Klein

Gary Klein in 4th place, less than 5 pounds off the lead, going into the final day of the Falcon Slam. BASS photo by James Overstreet.

If Rick Clunn hadn't brought ridiculously big bags to the scales for the past two days and wasn't in serious contention in the Falcon Slam, major attention would be on another legend of the sport. Clunn did do those things, though, and that has allowed Gary Klein to fly somewhat under the radar.

I've been pulling for Klein since I was 13 years old, though, so that's not going to change this weekend. I'm pulling for Klein to notch win No. 9 and push his career earnings past the $2 million mark and to do so in Texas. With a Day 1 catch of 21-11 followed by back-to-back days of catching 28 and change, Klein obviously has something solid going and is only a couple of extra-big bites away from making a win happen. At Falcon, though, the same could be said about the entire Top 12.

I first learned about Gary Klein by reading Bassmaster Magazine. Specifically, I read about him winning the Bassmaster Invitational on Lake Powell in 1979 in only the second B.A..SS. event he ever entered. I took note because he was a young angler -- only seven years older than me -- and best I recall, he pretty much put down everything he owned to fish that tournament, took the top prize and never looked back. He was a 20-year-old living the then-new bass fishing dream.

Beyond that, though, Gary Klein was (and still is) always smiling in photos, and he always seemed to be the first one mentioned when stories were written about pros encouraging young anglers, taking extra time to sign autographs or helping fellow anglers. I've never met Klein and have only talked with him on the phone once for a story interview; however, other pros and fishing writer friends I know well always say that he's the same behind the scenes as he is in front of the camera.

I have a couple of friends in the Top 12, and I'd be thrilled to see them win, and like most folks I'd enjoy seeing Rick Clunn pull off the win. Forced to pick a single favorite, though, I have to go with my boyhood bass fishing hero.

Learning From the Best of 'Em

As Rick Clunn cast a topwater plug toward a Table Rock bluff and spoke of the things he likes best about fall fishing, I couldn't help but consider how fortunate I am to be able to make my living writing fish stories. I began this morning watching Brian Snowden pull a 5 1/2-pounder off an offshore hump as I learned about his favorite summer strategies. Yesterday started with an hour in Kevin VanDam's boat doing photo and video work, followed soon after with time on the water with Jimmy Houston, Edwin Evers and Ott DeFoe.

Tournament wins and TV time aside, each of these pros has spent thousands of hours on the water, so the opportunity to ride along, take photos and ask questions allows me to learn so much in such a short period of time. Beyond that, relationships with many of the pros and other writers have grown into friendships, and I'm thankful to get spend time with my friends at a beautiful lodge as a big part of my job.

I'm writing from the Branson airport, and I'm also thankful that I'll be back home tonight. Not for long, though. Nathaniel and I leave Sunday morning for Branson, Round 2.

To Branson & Back & Branson & Back

Tomorrow I hop on a plane out of Atlanta to fly to Branson, Missouri for a writers' event at Big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake. This is a fun and productive event that I've attended before, where I get the opportunity to do interviews and photo work with top pros like Kevin VanDam, Rick Clunn and Edwin Evers, using the beautiful backdrop of an Ozarks lake and enjoying the comforts of an outstanding resort. The weather forecast looks good, so I expect to get a lot done in only a few days.
I get home from Branson on Wednesday night, and then on Sunday morning, Nathaniel and I hop in the truck and begin driving back toward Branson! Actually, we'll drive first to the Buffalo River in northern Arkansas, where we're looking forward to a couple days of float-fishing with friends. The main objective of the trip, though, is to attend the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association's annual conference in Branson.

While we're in Branson, Nathaniel and I are looking forward to trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo. I've long heard about the fine trout fishing on these waters, but I've never fished there.