Even though the 2012 Bassmaster Classic is still a month away, the first qualifier for the 2013 Classic is already determined.
Guntersville Alabama native Chris Lane posted a monster 72 lbs., 11 oz. total to win the first event of the Southern Open Series. His closest competitor was Clifford Pirch of Arizona who took second place with 58 lbs., 1 oz.
Lane has now won three Bassmaster events—all of them in Southern Open events, and all of them in Florida.
The berth into the 2013 Classic is provisional. All Lane has to do to finalize the spot is fish the remaining two Southern Open events.
Winning Baits
No one bait brought the title home.
Chris used a wide variety of soft plastic lures, including a 7-inch Gambler Sweebo worm, Gambler Cane Toad, and a Gambler Big Easy.
He also employed a unique strategy of using a crankbait as a “search bait.” Once he found the fish with the crank, he would switch over to the soft plastics and put them in the boat. That crankbait was the Luck-E-Strike RC-2.
Congratulations to Chris Lane on the win, and the opportunity to fish in the most prestigious bass fishing event of 2013!
See ya on the water…