In years past, Louisiana professional angler Cliff Crochet went to the Bassmaster Classic Championship, but only as a spectator.  “I was 10 years old when my dad took me to my first Bassmaster Classic.  Since then, I have watched three more Classics,” Crochet continued, “but to be an angler in the classic has always been a dream that turned into a goal.”  Crochet’s first experience with fishing started when the 3-wheeler they owned broke down and with nothing else to do the young Crochet went to the garage, found a rod and reel; as fate would have it, Crochet lived next to a bayou next to his house and with his rod in hand went there and caught his first fish.  “I was so excited that I ran back to the house to show my parents; right then and there I got hooked on it,” said Crochet.

Qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic Championship is an impressive achievement; only 51 anglers out of thousands get to fish in it.  Crochet will be just one of the two anglers from Louisiana competing in the Classic this year.  Crochet’s ultimate goal is to win the Classic and if not, to have a top place finish.  “I respect all the other competitors in the Classic, they are some of the best in the world, but I am a competitor at heart and I want to win the Classic,” said Crochet.  No matter how Crochet does in the Classic, he will gain some valuable experience that he will be able to use in the upcoming Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments.  Crochet not only will be fishing in his first Bassmaster Classic Championship, but also fishing his first year in the Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments.  “It will be a big time learning deal; the only water I have ever fished before is Lake Guntersville in Alabama,” Crochet continued, “the first year out, I just want to be competitive and execute.”

Crochet (www.cliffcrochet.com) is working full time as a deputy sheriff in Louisiana when not out fishing.  This past season money was tight; one way Crochet cut down expenses was to wear t-shirts with his sponsor’s logos on them.  It was a cost effective move and drew some positive attention from other anglers and media.  This season however look for Crochet to be wearing sponsored custom jerseys and running a sponsor wrapped Skeeter Boat.

Like a number of Louisiana bayou anglers, Crochet favorite way to catch fish is frog fishing in matted grass.  It’s simply power fishing to the max.  Another technique he loves is punching soft plastics in thick aquatic vegetation.  “The 3 ½-inch YUM Crawl Bug in green pumpkin is my favorite punching bait; it’s my confidence bait,” revealed Crochet.   

For Crochet, fishing in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic Championship started out as a dream that turned into a goal, he has now achieved.  Words cannot explain the feeling of accomplishment Crochet is feeling right now.  Crochet has gone from a fan to a competitor and if he executes flawlessly, maybe the 2010 Bassmaster Classic Champion.

Crochet sponsors: Syenergy, Skeeter/Yamaha, Naked Bait Co., Power Pole, Fins Fishing Line, Bucket Lures, and Powell Rod.