ProBassAnglers.com's 

Coverage Of The

2006 Bassmaster Classic

ProTourJournal-Scott Rook

Scott Rook, 45 Little Rock, AR.

Rook has an impressive record on Florida lakes finishing 20th on Toho in November at a BASS Open event, and 7th at Toho in January of 2005 at the BASS Tour Stop.

Pracitce-"My practice was not real good, the cold fronts that had been pounding this area has had the fish shut down pretty good. For me it is really all about scouting out the lakes to see what the vegetation looks like, looking to see where or if, any current exists, and seeing what the water levels look like. These lakes really are part of a river chain, and current does make the fish bite."

"My feeling is that nobody will really have an idea how the lakes will fish until the tournament starts or at least until Wednesday, when we get to go out in the official tournament boats.  The big thing to remember about Florida, is that things can change pretty quickly here.  We are supposed to get a solid warming trend that will extend all the way through the tournament.  I expect that the few fish that I did find will be somewhere else when the actual event gets started.  Here is what I mean.  After the cold fronts, there were some fish under grass matts.  Those matts usually hold more heat, and the fish concentrate under them when the whether is harsh.  When the water starts to warm, those fish will move.  I did well at Toho last year, but I didn't figure the fish out until the second day.  After a weak first day, I was forced to go hunting on day two, and discovered that the fish I had caught in grass matts during practice, had moved to lilly pads and were getting ready to spawn. We had experienced a warming trend, and the night before the tournament was especially warm.  These bass are going to move, I do feel like I understand where they might go, and that has me excited."

"You can bet that I will check the grass matts, but in my mind, I won't spend too much time without a bite on them.  I found a couple of clear water areas with a lot of beds but no fish.  I think it is possible that the fish that made those beds were pulled off by the cold.  I think there should be fish on some of them if the weather warms up"

"One thing for sure that you can bet every competitor knows is that this is now skinny limit tournament.  Finishing in second place here does you no good.  I will fish to win here because that all that counts at the Classic."

Day One 17-02 "I lost the same five pounder twice today, and it wouldn't give me a third chance, and I also lost a three pounder.  I could have had 22 or 23."

"I am blind casting to what I believe are spawning fish, but I am not seeing them.  I am targeting the arrowhead grass mounds, that a lot of the fish here spawn next to."

"Weightless worms, working them very slow."

"I don't think 17 per day will be enough, I am going to need to catch 20 each day these last two days and I will be swinging for 20."