Six anglers make the Classic Fish-Off

LEESBURG, Fla. — The Bassmaster Team Championship began Wednesday on the Harris Chain of Lakes here in central Florida.

The 394 anglers (197 teams) competing in the two-day tournament had the goal of winning a team title, for sure, but the ultimate goal for any bass angler is to fish in the Bassmaster Classic.

Hope is still alive for six of those anglers as the Classic Fish-Off takes center stage on Friday and Saturday.

The three leading pairs in the team competition were split after Thursday’s final weigh-in and their weights were zeroed. Now, as individuals, the six men will take part in a two-day battle to see which one of them will earn the 52nd and last berth to the hallowed ground of bass fishing – the 2019 CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

The Classic is scheduled to be held March 15-17 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Here’s what the six remaining anglers revealed about themselves, as well as what they think of their chances in the Classic Fish-Off.

WILLIAM “CLAY” SAMPLES

Age: 29

Hometown: South Boston, Virginia

Bass club/Team trail: U.S. Angler’s Choice

Occupation: Water plant superintendent.

Biggest bass ever caught: 10 pounds, 9 ounces.

Biggest bass caught in the Bassmaster Team Championship: “6-something.”

Favorite fishing style: “I like flipping jigs. Or using a frog.”

Any superstitions?: “Oh yes. I wore the exact same clothes (Thursday) that I had on (Wednesday.) The only thing I changed was my socks.”

Any pre-dawn rituals before going fishing?: “I take a long hot shower, crack my back and then buy a Snickers at the store because that’s all I eat on the water.”

If you weren’t fishing here or working Friday and Saturday, what would you be doing? “It’s snowing at home, so I’d be sleigh riding with my kids.”

Any predictions for the Classic Fish-Off?: “If our spot doesn’t replenish, I might can run shallow and get 10 pounds a day…It’s one bite at a time.”

CHARLES “TYLER” PURCELL

Age: 24

Hometown: Townsville, North Carolina

Bass club/Team trail: U.S. Angler’s Choice

Occupation: Student (majoring in Business Administration at Vance Granville Community College)

Biggest bass ever caught: “A 9, maybe.”

Biggest bass caught in the Bassmaster Team Championship: “I caught a 6 this week.”

Favorite fishing style: “I’m very versatile.”

Any superstitions?: “A little. We stop at the same store. I like to wear the same shirt.”

Any pre-dawn rituals before going fishing?: “Just a little prayer.”

If you weren’t fishing here or working Friday and Saturday, what would you be doing? “I’d be fishing at home.”

Any predictions for the Classic Fish-Off?: “Well, if our spot doesn’t replenish, I’m going to burn a lot of gas. (Samples gave Purcell said they’ll likely share their honey hole to start on Friday.”

MATTHEW ROBERTSON

Age: 32

Hometown: Kuttawa, Kentucky

Bass club/Team trail: Kentucky Bass Nation Team Trail

Occupation: Owns a pressure washing business.

Biggest bass ever caught: “About a 10.”

Biggest bass caught in the Bassmaster Team Championship: “I caught one 6 ¾ .”

Favorite fishing style: “Offshore.”

Any superstitions?: “Not really.”

Any pre-dawn rituals before going fishing?: “I’m good to go when I get up. I’m confident. I’ve trained my whole life for this.”

If you weren’t fishing or working Friday and Saturday, what would you be doing? “I’d still be fishing. I eat, breathe and sleep it.”

Any predictions for the Classic Fish-Off?: “If I can get them to go, I think we’re going to have a real interesting couple of days.”

WENDELL ANDERSON

Age: 28

Hometown: Central City, Kentucky

Bass club/Team trail: Kentucky Bass Nation Team Trail

Occupation: Operates family’s concrete company.

Biggest bass ever caught: “I’ve caught a 10 before.”

Biggest bass caught in the Bassmaster Team Championship: “I had a 6-12 (on Thursday.)”

Favorite fishing style: “I fish fast.”

Any superstitions?: “Not really, but I don’t like to run the running light after it breaks daylight.”

Any pre-dawn rituals before going fishing?: “I just get up and brush my teeth and go to it.”

If you weren’t fishing or working Friday and Saturday, what would you be doing? “If I can’t go fishing, then I’d be in Central City relaxing. We’ve been here practicing hard for a week. I need to lay down for a little bit.”

Any predictions for the Classic Fish-Off?: “I think my boy over (Robertson) is going to crush them…We’ve been fishing together since I was about 8 and he was about 12. I love to fish, but if I don’t win, I want him to win.”

ADAM DYSART

Age: 37

Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Bass club/Team trail: Chattanooga Bass Association

Occupation: General contractor.

Biggest bass ever caught: “I think I may have caught a double-digit fish, but the biggest I’ve weighed is a 9.4.”

Biggest bass caught in the Bassmaster Team Championship: “That 6-14 (on Wednesday.)”

Favorite fishing style: “We love to throw a worm a lot. And I love a chatterbait too.”

Any superstitions?: “Nope. I believe in God, but that’s not a superstition!”

Any pre-dawn rituals before going fishing?: “Not really. I’m pretty easy-going.”

If you weren’t fishing or working Friday and Saturday, what would you be doing? “With the cold front, I’d probably be deer hunting.”

Any predictions for the Classic Fish-Off?: “I think there’s going to be some pretty good bags…I don’t know if everybody will come in with over 20 pounds like they’ve done, but the bites are there. The fish are there. It just all comes down to getting a couple key bites. You could come in with 12 to 15 pounds or you could come in with 25 pounds if you get the right bite.”

JAYME COPENHAVER III

Age: 32

Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Bass club/Team trail: “I’m President of the Chattanooga Bass Association.”

Occupation: “I work for the Tennessee Valley Authority.”

Biggest bass ever caught: 11.02

Biggest bass caught in the Bassmaster Team Championship: “Probably 4 ½ pounds.”

Favorite fishing style: “I like worms and chatterbaits.”

Any superstitions?: “No.”

Any pre-dawn rituals before going fishing?: “If we’re in a fishing tournament, it’s my job to wake (Dysart) up. And it will be so again in the morning so we can get here on time.”

If you weren’t fishing here or working Friday and Saturday, what would you be doing? “If I can’t go fishing, I could use a day of rest.”

Any predictions for the Classic Fish-Off?: “There’s a ton of fish in this area we’re fishing. I’m pretty certain the guys who won this thing are in the same area, so it won’t be hard for the camera boat to find us. There’s plenty enough to go around for both Adam and me to fish in the same area, so we’ll see how it goes.”