At the beginning of every year, Bassmaster Elite Series Professional Angler Terry Scroggins from Palatka, Florida, sets his goals for the upcoming tournament year.  Every year two of them are the same, make it to the Bassmaster Classic Championship and win it.  This year instead of qualifying through the Bassmaster Elite Series, Scroggins qualified though the Southern BASS Opens.  It was an impressive accomplishment for Scroggins who was fishing against the best anglers near or on their home lakes.  For Scroggins, it will be his seventh Bassmaster Classic Championship to participate in.  Big Show will be going to the really Big Show come February 19-21, 2010, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.

Scroggins has some previous tournament experience on Lay Lake.  “Last time, I caught them good on a YUM Big Show Crawl; however, I expect this time around an angler is going to need a mixed bag of largemouth and spotted bass to win it,” Scroggins continued, “Lipless crankbaits like the XCalibur XR50 or the XCalibur Xt3 Twitch Bait will catch fish that time of year.”  All of this could change depending on weather and water conditions noted Scroggins.  Scroggins pointed out a number of factors that could void the home lake advantage for the Alabama anglers competing in the tournament, spectator traffic, draw, media attention, and luck.  “Anytime we have an event, its easier for an underdog to do well at the tournament by flying under the radar the first day, but the last two days that changes and they end up under a microscope,” explained Scroggins.  Right now, Scroggins believes that the top five will have around 17-pounds a day.  In the end, Scroggins believes that one guy will outperform and make less or no mistake to win the Classic.  “I got a good feeling about it; a little luck, and if I put the fish in the boat that bite…,” said Scroggins.

Scroggins made it to the Bassmaster Classic Championship by relying heavily on a YUM Houdini Worm.  His typical set up consists of 6’6” medium/heavy Carrot Stick spinning rod, Shimano Stella 4000 spinning reel, fishing line varied but used 12-pound Trilene Big Game most of the time, 3/0 Gamakatsu round bend straight shank hook, #8 clam shell/spilt shot.  He likes to rig the YUM Houdini Worm nosed rigged by placing the spilt shot next to the tip of the hook and worm.  “This technique also works with YUM Dingers and allows the nose to fall or gliding forward but still has a shimmy action,” said Scroggins. 

Scroggins is sponsored by Toyota, Triton Boats, Mercury engines, MotorGuide, YUM, BOOYAH and the complete family of Lurenet Lures (www.lurenet.com), Costa Del Mar, Carrot Sticks, and Dynamic Sponsorships.