For a number of anglers, it’s their very first time to fishing in the Super Bowl of all bass fishing, the Bassmaster Classic Championship.  The rookies are nervous and in a rush, while the veterans are more relaxed and patient.  Only time will tell if a rookie or a veteran will win the Bassmaster Classic Championship to be held in Birmingham, Alabama, on Lay Lake.  All of the anglers are looking forward to the event scheduled for February 19-21, 2010.  One veteran who is taking it all in stride is Bassmaster Elite Series and Early Times Kentucky Whiskey Professional Anger Kevin Wirth from Crestwood, Kentucky.  Wirth has been to the Bassmaster Classic eleven times, probably due to his spirited nature.  In fact, Wirth maybe the most competitive angler fishing in the Classic and the Bassmaster Elite Series tour, he hates to lose at anything.

 Wirth, like the rest of the Classic field, will be traveling down to Lay Lake to look around and do some pre-fishing before the official off limits.  Like a number of other veteran Bassmaster Elite Anglers, Wirth has fished tournaments on Lay Lake before.  “I have caught them on both ends of the lake and it is hard to say right now where I will be fishing during the Classic,” Wirth continued, “I know some anglers will be fishing right below the dam, but that area gets congested fast; the guy who is going to win it will have a mixed bag of fish with spots and largemouth, fishing both deep and shallow.”

During the off season, Wirth, who is sponsored by Early Times Kentucky Whiskey and Triton Boats, worked on not smoking, his golf game, and getting over walking pneumonia.  He stopped smoking on October 26, 2009.  His battle with quitting smoking has gone public with a series of 12 mini-shows following him and fellow Professional Angler Zell Rowland as they struggle to quit smoking.  The 2½-minute shows are airing weekly on ESPN2 and continue until February 13, 2010.  Wirth and Rowland will be following the EX Plan to help them overcome their addiction to smoking.  “The EX Plan is set up to help smokers quit smoking easier,” Wirth continued, “the more you understand and learn what triggers why you want one, the easier it is to stop.”  Wirth has chosen the path of no medication what so ever, he has replaced chewing on sunflower seeds for smoking.  “I know that the other stuff works, but I prefer just to use sunflower seeds instead,” said Wirth.  Wirth and Rowland even have a side bet of $500 going on who will smoke first.  The 47-year-old Wirth recognizes that quitting smoking and working out will improve his tournament results in the Bassmaster Classic and next year in the Elite Series tournaments.

Wirth will be competing in his eleventh Bassmaster Classic Championship.  “It’s better than sitting on the side lines,” Wirth continued, “my main goal is to win it; that is what I am trying to do by running and stop smoking, preparing myself for it both physically and mentally.”  Like the other 50 competitors, Wirth knows the Classic atmosphere will be special.  “It's different than a normal tournament, and although it has changed over the years, some things remain the same: the constant going, fans following you, and no free time,” said Wirth.  For Wirth, his experience and preparation both physically and mentally make him a dangerous contender to win the 2010 Bassmaster Classic Championship.