John Crews from Jetersville, Virginia is fishing his first Bassmaster Classic, having qualified for the Classic by finishing in the top 25 of Bassmaster Tour during the 2005 season.  John finished the tour season with 4 top 50 finishes that included one top 12 tour cut.  John has had most of his success on the FLW Tour in his young career, however this season, fishing both BASS and FLW, Crews had his best finishes in the BASS events.

Crews had a pre fish like many other pros, in that finding keeper bites was very difficult.  "I think you go out in an event like this and try to catch five of what will bite, and then hope they will be big enough."  The concept of a big fish in this event may be very different than in other events.  "If you catch a 14" bass in these rivers, you have caught a hawg."

Like everybody else, Crews is excited, knowing full well, that a career can be solidified with a Classic Victory. "There isn't a lot of heavy cover to worry about, so I have several rods rigged with eight pound test line, a couple with ten pound test and one with 15.  "Once you hook one, getting in the boat won't be such a problem, but getting one to bite, is a big if."

July 27-"We have had our time pretty much taken up by events since I first arrived in Pittsburgh on Sunday.  Tonight all of the competitors attended a big dinner, and we have pretty much been treated like royalty the entire time.  It's very nice, it makes you feel important."

"We have been shuttled around from event to event.  Last night I went to a dinner that was up one of the rivers.  We rode a party boat to the event, complete with live entertainment.  I sat with Mike Iaconelli, Kevin Van Dam, Bradley Stringer and a bunch of other guys, we were just hanging out.  It is bigger than life so far."

"I went fishing today, this morning we were introduced to our Triton Boats, so we had a day to pre fish and a day to get used to the boat.  Fishing was tough.  I was scared to go to any of the places that I went to during our pre practice.  I was afraid on two levels, I didn't want to risk catching a keeper off of one of my spots, and I also didn't want to deal with the negative feed back that I would get if I couldn't get bit in my good areas.  Something like that could get into my head and really mess me up.  This way, on Friday, I can go fishing with confidence that the fish were there in June."

"I caught one small, non-keeper today, and it was a large mouth.  That is a little strange in that I caught mostly small mouth bass when I was here a month ago.  I did catch a big cat fish which was kind of cool."

"No doubt it will be a difficult event.  I like that, because I think it gives me the motivation to keep fishing and not give up.  Keeper fish, even twelve inch keepers will help in this event."

July 28-"Media day today, this stuff is a lot of fun.  Tonight we go to the Classic Outdoor Show.  I am all set up and ready to go.  I sure hope the fish cooperate."

"A lot of guys complaining that they have no fish to go to.  You just can't tell what is real and what is made up.   I guess it is best not to listen."

"I do feel excited because if it is as tough as all of the guys are saying, than a guy has legitimate chance at winning this thing."

July 29-"Today I did as well as the Greatest Angler Ever, (Rick Clunn, zero fish,) and as well as BassFan and ProBassAnglers.com's #1 angler, (Greg Hackeny, zero fish.)  I blanked."

"This picture pretty much sums up my day."

"I didn't have a single bite for the first four hours.  I guess I was just fishing in a dead part of the river.  I finally ran to some other water and at least caught a few small ones, actually everyone is catching small ones, mine were extra small."

"I laid nine rods out on my deck this morning, which is never a good sign.  That many rods means I don't have a clue about what to do.  I threw every rod I had in the boat today.  I fished a jig head worm, five different kinds of crank baits, a spinner bait and nothing did the job.

"Tomorrow, I am going to throw a jerk bait a lot more.  I didn't do that today, and I kind of think that maybe I should.  I don't know where I will start yet, I am going to sleep on it and decide in the morning.  I just think covering a lot of water with a jerk bait, might get me on to something.  I will basically be pre fishing again tomorrow, trying to find something that will work."

July 30-"Today I weighed in three small keepers that went 2-13.  I end up finishing my first Bassmaster Classic in 30th place, 0-07 out of 25th place, which would have allowed me to fish one more day."  

"It has been an exciting week, and one that I definitely want to experience again."

"I ran some different places today, I think the biggest difference is I didn't spend four hours in dead water.  As it turned out, the keepers I caught, came from the same places that I blanked at yesterday.  I hit those places earlier in the day than I did yesterday."

"I caught my fish on Luhr-Jenson Radar Ten, and a small Kinami Baits Worm.   I never was able to get a bite on the jerk bait, but I would crank the radar 10 very fast and stop it and kind of rip it a couple of times.  The fish were suspended off of the bank, and I when I stopped the crank bait, and ripped, the fish would strike."

"Sunday, I will be at the Outdoor show.  I will sign some autographs, and hang out.  I would like to be fishing."