Best Classic photos 2019

The Classic trophy was on display during the morning launch on the final official day of practice.

The Tennessee River runs through downtown Knoxville, Tenn., a first- time venue for the Bassmaster Classic.

This photo was taken on the final day of the Classic. The idea behind this photo was to give fans a first person view of a competitor waiting for go time.

Downtown Knoxville provided a spectacular backdrop for the morning launch, where record setting crowds lined the river bank each morning.

Despite playing hurt with an aching back, B.A.S.S. emcee Dave Mercer brought his high energy and humor to every weigh-in at Thompson-Boling Arena.

We donât know if Mike Iaconelli has fished his last Bassmaster Classic or not, but it was obvious he was determined to enjoy his final weigh-in at this Classic.

But from a good time standpoint, Iaconelli may have been one-upped by first-time Classic competitor Matthew Robertson. Robertson was pulled into the arena with Kid Rock blaring, while wearing a Siberian mountain goat fur coat and his signature On âEm cap.

Hometown hero Ott Defoe being interviewed by Dave Mercer on the docks before the final launch.

Anglers had a long no-wake area to navigate, one that would take them past Neyland Stadium, home to the Tennessee Volunteers.

One of the more dramatic productions of every Classic is the introduction of the Super Six, the final group of anglers that would vie for the Classic trophy.

Dave Mercer belts out Ott Defoeâs final day weight that would give him the lead.

But before the final tally was decided, Defoe had to take the hot seat and wait for the final competitors to weigh their fish. Here he tries to get a look at the fish being brought to the scales by Chris Zaldain.

Zaldain made his big charge on Day Two with the heaviest limit of the 2019 Classic.

In the end nobody could hold off Defoe and he would become the champion of the 49th Bassmaster Classic.

The confetti flies …

… and the hometown angler takes a victory lap through the Knoxville crowd.

Typically my favorite photos from any event are different than a standard photographer. My favorites center around moments that sort of help define how an event played out. Thatâs why I included this shot. Taken on Day 1, while I was covering Ott DeFoe. Personally I thought the spectators were for the most part some of the most respectful Iâve seen. These two guys were and they brought a little creativity to the mix. DeFoeâs hometown support was summed up right here.

This one didnât make the gallery, but I loved it because it shows that not everything is perfect in a day of fishing. DeFoe had spent several minutes trying to get unsnagged, only to create a mess at the end of his rod. Itâs poignant because less than 10 minutes laterâ¦.

DeFoe would haul in this 6-pound beast. At the time, I thought it might be bigger. But I also thought, even though it was mid-morning of Day 1, that DeFoe just put himself in a position to run away with this Classic. He finished the day with 20 pounds and the lead.

DeFoe was obviously elated. Any angler would be. But as he was admiring this fish, he was commenting âfish this size donât show up on this lake very often.â We would learn after three days, those kind of fish would be caught every day. This one, though, could arguably be touted as the deciding fish for DeFoe. He would revisit the area later in the day and add two 4-pound class fish to his livewell.

When you are covering an angler you are always looking for other things to help tell a story. Thatâs Justin Lucas in the background. Heâs about 50 yards away from me. And this blue heron decided to split the difference between the two of us. Maybe he was trying to run us off, or he just wanted to check out what Lucas was doing to catch his fish.

Brent Chapman is meticulous. This photo of him springing into action followed about 5 minutes of him getting his bladed jig in order and perfect for the next cast. It was taken on Day 1 after Chapman had boated close to 15 pounds. We were late to the party but Chapman was still working hard, getting things just right in a calm fashion before springing into action.

Not long after his work at getting things perfect, Chapman would boat this fish. It obviously didnât help, but he shows it off to Marshal Neil Paul, explaining to Paul and Mark Zona during a Skype all the particulars of this fish. Itâs always cool, while in the heat of the battle in the yearâs biggest event, to see an angler take a minute to teach those watching about what is happening on the water.

This is Ott DeFoeâs first fish of Day 2. Itâs special to me because when he caught it, another boat was blocking our view, not to mention the cameraman. Thatâs frustrating for a photographer. While I was trying lamenting that, with some choice but silent expletives, DeFoe simply leans around his cameraman and shows me this fish. To me, it was a cool moment between friends who had shared water several times over the years.

Thereâs really nothing your standard photographer would find redeeming about this image. Itâs interesting to me, though. DeFoe is fishing a shallow point, while in the background Mark Daniels Jr., is working the bank. At the time Daniels hadnât been much of a factor. Moments later, DeFoe would move on, we would follow and as soon as we set down on the next spot with DeFoe, we would learn Daniels would catch a 6-pound class fish right after we left him. If anything it illustrates just how close we often are from life-changing experiences.

I took this shot of an osprey as I was coming in to Concorde Ramp to drop off photos to James Overstreet, when I saw the osprey dive and hit the water. I grabbed my camera and quickly rattled off a few shots of this guy grabbing his midday meal. Itâs cool to see nature work. But it became even cooler, when I learned on that exact spot near the ramp, DeFoe would make his last cast on Day 3 and capture a 4-pounder that really sealed his Classic championship. Makes you wonder if that 4-pounder wouldâve still been there if he had found the shad first.

I had to put this here. Somewhere in that tangle of mess is a lot of fishing stories, probably some heart-break and obviously a few dollars worth of equipment. We see these kind of lure-stealing powerlines all over the country. This one happened to be above the magical spot that Mike Iaconelli found in the back of Turkey Creek. Obviously more than one angler had tried to cast to that spot in the past.

The sign did not ward off the four dozen or so spectators who lined the railroad tracks to watch Iaconelli on Day 3. Even when a train came through most of them dove for the cover of the berm, while Iaconelli yelled jokingly ârun for your lives.â It was such a neat set-up that it needs to be remembered in this Classic forever, even if it was fraught with danger. Fishing fans want to see and be there.

This is Iaconelli leaving his spot in Turkey Creek, a trip that would take under a trestle and through dozens of boats. I like it because it mixes the look of Iaconelliâs intensity with a question of âhow am I going to get through that?â The trestle was clogged with dozens of boats, all of them scrambling to get out of the way.

Iâm including this shot of Chris Zaldain catching his first fish on Day 3. The smallmouth didnât measure, but you will notice the big swimbait hanging from his mouth. Zaldain had caught one of the biggest bags of the event the day before on that swimbait. He went into the day determined to do it again. But he knew the only way was to get hard headed and not put the bait down. When the stakes are high, the pressure so immense that is a tall order.

The impressive thing about Zaldain was he never put down the swimbait. This is one of his last casts of the day and heâs still winging it. I would imagine whispering to himself ânever give up.â And he didnât. He stayed resolute trying to win in an event where thatâs the only thing that matters. I was impressed.

Bassmaster Team Championship winner Matt Robertson made a splash at the Classic weigh-ins, wearing fur coats and pouring water over his face. The guy was just so infectious and flamboyant – whatâs not to like?

I met Robertson at the Team Championship and knew to expect the unexpected when the young angler arrived in Knoxville. His antics just reminded me of wrestlingâs Ric Flair.

You see all the action that goes into a cast in this cool backlit image. Water sprays from the reel and the lure zips across the frame, and you can see the concentration on Jesse Wigginsâ face.

This photo taken as Ott DeFoe was paraded around the Thompson-Boling Arena in his boat says it all: You can see the joy on DeFoeâs face, the eagerness of the fans to shake his hand and the Classic trophy sitting on the front deck of his boat.

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cliff Pirch worked a small bridge for hours before finally getting the chance to swing a fish in the boat. You might not know that backstory if you werenât there, but this image shows the payoff for his amazing patience and focus.

I just love how the sun lights up the line and bait as Pirch casts a glide bait while working that small bridge. And if you look closely you can see water spray from the reel behind the angler.

Iâm fascinated with how much punishment rods absorb during a cast, but this image shows much more than that. It also gives a perfect look at the lure Pirch used, along with water spray from the cast.

There are times when I get trapped on one side of an angler, and this was one such case. The best light, from a purely photographic standpoint, was on the far side of Pirch, but I couldnât get around him because he was fishing such a small bridge. But a few adjustments in exposure allowed me to capture an image where the sunlight sets off the angler and the struggling bass as itâs flipped into the boat.

In this image, you can see what these anglers contend with when they are paired with video cameramen. Pirch preferred to lip fish on the back deck, and had to work around cameraman Mark Pelizzoni, who was showing all the action on Bassmaster Live. But you can see the intense focus on Pirchâs face as he ran to the back deck.

Mark Daniels Jr. was set to make a run at the top prize going into the final day, and this catch seemed to signal he was in contention. You see the battle to wrestle the fish to the side of the boat, and Daniels looks like heâs leaning in to really put some pressure on the bass.

And then he flipped a solid small over the gunnel. I love the image because you see the size of the bass, the lure and the bend of the rod. The only thing that would have made it better is if I had been on the other side of the boat to show Danielâs face, which just couldnât happen because he was so close to the bank.

The sun perfectly lighted up Daniels face, the rod, line and spray from the lure as the angler prepared to make another cast.

While watching Daniels, I looked up and saw an osprey heading for a flooded silo â and quickly realized there already was a bird sitting atop the concrete structure. I started shooting as osprey No. 2 landed on the back of osprey No. 1. Not a photo I can capture every day.

I probably shoot 1,000 casting shots a day (much to the chagrin of veteran shooter James Overstreet, who often has to weed through them). This photo gives a great perspective of whatâs happening, from the bent rod and crank bait to the anglerâs jersey to the marshal in the passenger seat. Itâs a prelude to the real action.

The hookset is what we all live for. The effort can be seen in Roy Hawkâs body language and facial expression.

The size of this bass became apparently when it began flopping at the boat and Hawk reached under it to snatch it in the boat. Check out the anglerâs expression, and you know heâs serious.

And the celebration begins. This is such a cool image because you see Hawk whooping, as his marshal celebrates with a fist pump. All while a chunky bass is cradled in Hawkâs hand.