I'll admit it. I didn't know bass fishing tournaments were that big of a deal. I've fished all my life. Fishing has been a grand past time for my family. It's something I'm passing down to my son. For us though, we mostly fish for crappy or perch but have fished for bass on many occasions as well.

    I was asked a few weeks ago to be the media representative and photograph the event for a local newspaper I often freelance for. I quickly looked at my crazy calendar and said, sure, why not. I knew that I had my full time gig and high school basketball playoffs to juggle around, but thought it would be fun. Thankfully I work for a pretty good boss that allowed me to take a day and a half vacation from my full time position. After all, he planned to attend the event as well.

   So Thursday afternoon I took off to media day. This allowed media to photograph and interview the 53 anglers in one area, before the actual fishing began.

    All the while interviews are happening anglers are making final adjustments to props, boats, lures and rods and reels.

    I couldn't hang around long though, I had to head back to catch a few basketball games.

   Friday morning I dropped of my youngin' at school and headed back to Tulsa to preview Bassmaster Classic Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. The expo was extensive and had the latest and greatest gear for fishing. Attendees had the opportunity to visit with former bass fishing pros and the BASS had a booth set up displaying where the pro anglers were fishing and what was being caught. A few exhibition events were also held including a dog jumping event.

   I stuck around for most of the first night's weigh in at the BOK center that evening. I was surprised at the number of people attending for even the first night of weigh in.

   I really wanted to stay for the entire weigh in from all anglers, but again I had to sneak off to a high school game.

  I had signed up for a media boat ride for Saturday and was advised to dress warmly. This farm girl knew what gear to wear. I left my house bright and early at 5:15 to make the hour drive. I was slightly questioning my sanity to the early morning, after a late night and the temperatures below the point of freezing. Thankfully my media pass granted me a parking space, though only just barely as the area around the boat dock was full of people.

   I made my way to the dock and went around taking photos of the anglers tearing open packages of hot hands, adding that last layer of clothes and finishing last minute boat and angling preparations. Frost was on the boats, steam rising from the water and the sun wasn't up yet.

  A flyover and performance of the national anthem and they were off. One by one the anglers boated in front of the group of spectators, now lining the width, and a few rows deep, of the new dock built specifically for this event. Names sang out of the 53 anglers from the announcers as the sun rose. They were quick to get away and begin the day's competition. 

   I had a few hours to kill in Grove so I made my way to Walmart to get grab a pair of wind pants. I already had 2 layers of pants on under my camo overalls, but after meandering on the dock, I had decided one more wasn't going to hurt. I hit a local wifi spot to upload images from basketball and the BASSMASTER event. I also was able to pass the time visiting a few acquaintances before my boat ride at noon. I showed up in my three pairs of pants, three layers of socks and five shirts, oh and my camo overalls and coat, two stocking caps and gloves. I also had my camera equipment. The driver said I was the warmest rider he'd had all day.

   BASS had developed an app to help tell everyone, including those of us riding media boats, where on the huge expanse of Grand Lake the anglers were casting. Soon we were streaming across the lake. I was thankful for my hot hands provided in my media kit in addition to the mask allowing me to avoid the wind on my face. My driver, a volunteer in his personal boat, soon found a few anglers. I was able to watch Russ Lane, Matt Lee, Jason Christie and Hank Cherry during my two-hour boat ride. If anglers were near roadways, passersby were stopped to watch and photograph them as well.

Matt Lee, the only collegiate competitor, was my only "catch" of the day.

After leaving the doc, I had to high tail it back to Adair for a few more basketball games.

  After church on Sunday, I headed to final weigh-in at the BOK center in downtown Tulsa. The production was awesome. Lumberjacks entertained an at capacity crowd. A collegiate tournament was held in neighboring Lake Hudson on Sunday. They held their weigh-in first.

   The event was my first national/international media coverage experience. This was the "super bowl of bass fishing tournaments." So I guess bass fishing sorta is a big deal. A $500,000 grand prize big deal. I learned a lot in just a few days and honestly am ready to do the whole thing over again. I only took a few or 400 photos.