news
Lures used in the 2008 Classic at Lake Hartwell
John Crews, 37-12, 16th
Crews went back and forth between shallow and deep water with two tools: a Spro Little John crankbait for the 3- to 6-foot zone and a drop-shot Berkley Hand-Pour Finesse worm rigged with a 1/4-ounce weight for 20 to 25 feet of water.
Crews produces a top catch, but gains no ground
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- A day after making a big jump in the standings the Bassmaster Classic, John Crews was hoping for a miracle.
He didn't quite get it.
Crews' catch of 11 pounds, 15 ounces was the fifth best among the 25 anglers during the final day at South Carolina's Lake Hartwell.
But it wasn't enough to help him gain back the places he gave up on a tough opening day and Crews finished in 16th place, exactly where he stood in the standings at the start of the day.
It was his best finish in four Classics.
"I feel decent," said Crews, a 29-year-old full-time professional angler who lives in Salem. "What I was doing changed every day and I had to make due." Read more.....
pictures from John fishing the bassmaster classic 2008
Moving on up.....
John moves up from 31st to 16th, he has caught 10 fish in the last two days weighing in at 25-13. See the results for day 2.
Fat-Daddy Rims
Bass boats may be tricked-out to the nines, but pro anglers' boat trailers rarely get noticed.
So when the dripping-wet chariots pulled the exquisitely wrapped Elite Series boats out of Lake Hartwell after Wednesday's practice, it was hard not to do a double-take glancing at John Crews' trailer.
Talk about bling: The rims on Crews' boat trailer sparkled in the South Carolina sun like a polished diamond.
"It was a BassCat option," Crews said proudly. "I just asked for the fat-daddy rims."
— Nick Gebhardt
Research On Crews, Others Yields Startling Results
Crews in Control
Virginia's John Crews is one of the fittest anglers on tour. At 5'9" and about 165 pounds, his max bench press is 315, and his max squat's about 350.
He's very attuned to his body mass, and became concerned a few years ago when he began to lose weight during the season. For someone with his body type, that meant he was losing muscle.
At the end of the 2006 season, he was 15 pounds lighter than when the season began. But with Hoover's guidance, things improved and after the most recent season, he'd only lost 5 pounds.
"Last year, Ken tracked about 10 or 15 guys," Crews said. "We wore heart monitors during the tournament day so we could track how many calories we were burning. That's very important so you're able to stay focused, and you body's continuously able to replenish itself out on the water. You don't want to go into starvation mode and do bad things to your body."
Along with Crews, the study included pros like Jason Quinn, Gerald Swindle, Peter Thliveros, Shaw Grigsby, Randy Howell, Alton Jones, Mark Tucker, Kelly Jordon and Todd Faircloth, and will expand to at least 20 families this season, including possibly everyone on Team Toyota.
"Our average heart-rate, as you might imagine, is very elevated throughout the fishing day," Crews said. "The pressure and competition makes you burn more calories than if you were just going out and taking it easy."
And what was most surprising to both Crews and Hoover was how many calories Crews burned through last year at Smith Mt., where he finished 8th. Read more.
Fish Feed
Nutrition nut Ken Hoover contends that bass fishing is more grueling than even pro anglers know By Sam Eifling ESPNOutdoors.com
Anyone who has attended more than a couple of Bassmaster Elite Series events in 2007 is likely to have seen Ken Hoover, and just as likely not even to have noticed him.
Gerald Swindle got on Ken Hoover's program after losing 14 pounds during the 2006 season.A trim, bespectacled man of 57, with salt-and-pepper hair tucked beneath a cap, Hoover is the gentleman holding plastic sacks laden with lunches, waiting calmly at the launch dock, waiting to feed the pros.
He's there, handing out meals to Aaron Martens, John Crews, Shaw Grigsby, Peter Thliveros, Jason Quinn and Gerald Swindle, among others, because he's convinced that few people — anglers included — recognize the physical demands of professional bass fishing.
He arrived at that conclusion after outfitting anglers with heart monitors this season to observe their calorie consumption. And even to him, the data have been "scratch-your-head numbers."
For instance, Thliveros burned 4,800 calories on Day Two of the Empire Chase. Martens burned through more than 5,800 during a day on Lake Guntersville, "throwing a spinnerbait all day," Hoover said. Read more.
Pro Lesson
Crews' Favorite Cranking Rod
John Crews likes the Fenwick rod because it's soft but still accurate.
Virginia Bassmaster Elite Series pro and shallow-cranking fanatic John Crews Jr. has found it: his all-time favorite cranking stick.
Before the 2007 season started, he signed on with Fenwick and they outfitted him with all the best stuff they had. After fishing that stuff all year, Fenwick's Elite Tech specialized Target/Spinnerbait Rod has become his key shallow-crankbait tool.
Here's why.
Location, Location, Location
We all know it: If you don't put your bait close to the fish, they rarely come out from wherever they are to get it. Though long rods are the norm for many pros, those who do a lot of close-quarters casting into tight spots favor shorter rods with a little give to them.
"Great shallow-cranking rods are hard to find," Crews said. "The new Fenwick Elite Tech 6' 3" Target/Spinnerbait Rod is the best one for a shallow crankbait. That rod is so good because it can cast well, but has lots of tip to play the fish without letting them pull out the trebles. At the same time, it's also accurate. That is a hard balance (to reach in a rod)."
The Target/Spinnerbait Rod comes in three models, all with a 60/40 blank with moderate delay, extreme cadence performance and very accurate casting.
Crews thinks the accuracy comes from the composition of the rod blank. "It's a good mix of a flexible fiberglass tip and a firm graphite backbone," he said. "If the tip is too flexible, then you have no accuracy. Too stiff, and the fish pull off. It is a trade-off."
The Whole Package
Once he had the right rod for the job, he had to put something on it. He chose an Abu Garcia Revo ST low-profile baitcaster spooled with Berkley Trilene Maxx line.
The Revo is a fairly high-speed reel with a 6.4:1 ratio, and while many pros like a slower reel for diving plugs, Crews likes to crank it up.
"I crank it pretty fast, usually," he said. "When you're fishing a crankbait, the problem is never on the retrieve. It's when you're fighting the fish. Many times a bass will hit a shallow crank and run at the boat. A high speed 6:4 to 1 Revo does the job (of keeping up with the fish).
"Drag is super-important too," he added. "I keep mine pretty loose, and the Revo is super-smooth."
A lot of pros these days fish with fluorocarbon line for additional depth and perceived sensitivity when cranking. Again, Crews isn't one of them.
"I crank with (Berkley) Trilene Maxx monofilament," he said. "It is kind of the best of XT and XL together. I like some stretch to keep them buttoned up, and the mono helps with that as well as providing casting distance and accuracy."
He's used a lot of different rods before, but many became unavailable. "With every other good rod, the companies discontinued them," he said. "Fenwick understands what a good rod they have, and hopefully (they'll keep making it)."
While he's not always trying to thread a needle with his casts, he wants a rod that he doesn't have to work too hard to get the results he wants – with no surprises or errant casts. "I really want the lure to cast where I am aiming," he said. "It might be a stump, break line, laydown, pocket, rockpile or just going along the bank, or even fan-casting a flat."
When he wants to deep-crank, he opts for a longer rod. "I use the 7' 3" Fenwick Elite Tech Cranking rod," he said. "It has a great tip for keeping fish on. It also has a nice handle for launching big plugs."
The series of Fenwick Elite Tech rods was covered on BassFan earlier this year. Click here to read about them if you need a refresher.
New John Crews Designed Crankbait from SPRO!
Virginia Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Crews likes to crank shallow water. Spring,
summer, fall, or winter, it doesn't matter, because he feels there are situations all year long that are conducive to casting a shallow-diving crankbait and reeling in a bass.
Having fished all his life, he's tried hundreds of different crankbaits, and you'll find more than a few one-of-a-kind homemade lures in his box.
"The guys who do the homemades can play with bill angles and weight and the buoyancy of the wood and other things," Crews said. "They can tinker with each one until they get it just right. The dive angle, the wobble and everything is perfect.
"The only problem with a lot of them is that you can't cast them very well, or very far, or in wind. And they're sometimes not very durable."
So he teamed up with Spro to create a "production homemade" crankbait. They named it after him, and called it the Little John.
Advance Auto Parts becomes Premier
During the 2006 season, Advance Auto Parts and John Crews worked together on an associate sponsor level. During the 2007 season, Advance Auto will become the Premier sponsor with John Crews. That means John will wear a stylish red Advance Auto tournament jersey, run an eye catching Advance Auto wrapped boat, and sport an unmistakable Advance Auto theme wrap on his truck.
Berkley on board for the future
Pure Fishing is a family of companies whose brands include Berkley, Abu Garcia, Fenwick, Trilene, Powerbait, Spiderwire, Gulp, and more. I am very happy to announce that I have signed a multi year agreement with Pure Fishing to promote, Berkley soft plastics, Berkley fishing lines, Abu Garcia reels, and Fenwick rods. I started out fishing with Berkley lines and some of their soft plastics have been a staple in my arsenal for years. I am excited about the direction of the company and how I can help. Please check out each of the Pure Fishing pages on my web site for information about their exciting product lines.
BASS only for 2007
In 2007 I will only be fishing the BASS Elite Series, BASS Majors, PAA’s Texas Bass Classic, and the Bassmaster Classic. I will not be fishing any FLW Outdoors events for the first time in over 10 years. The people at FLW have been fun and will be missed. My career fits better with the BASS model for the professional bass angler. There are no boundaries to what and whom you can promote. The potential for making a better living is more available in BASS. There are a handful of pros in FLW that are making a respectable sponsor income but I was not one of them. Qualifying for the Bassmasters Classic for the 3rd straight time makes my name much more established in BASS competition. I plan on continuing to build on that momentum. I am striving to become a household name in the near future from my performance on the trail.
Advance Auto Parts anounced their pro
angler team
"Last week at the Bassmasters
Classic, Advance Auto Parts anounced their pro angler team including
yours truely! I am super proud to be promoting Advanced Auto Parts.
The company has a proved track record and is based in my hometown.
Advance Auto has so many great products that a tournament bass
angler can use. Go by any Advance Auto Parts store and look at
everything from wiper blades and batteries to performance exhaust
systems. Look for future tips and keep up with me on Advance Auto
Parts' pro angler journal on their web
site."
Crews Confirmed in FLW Tour
“I found out recently that I am confirmed in the 2006 FLW
Tour. My central focus will be the BASS Elite Series events but
the FLW Tour events are still too good for me to pass up. I have
fished them for the past 4 years so I wanted to continue in the
events. I will likely fish 5 of the 6 FLW Tour events. I am not
fishing the Pickwick event because of the timing between the Bassmasters
Classic and the first Elite Series event at Amistad. I am excited
to see all my friends on that trail at Okeechobee!”
Welcome SPRO to the Sponsor List!
After being with Luhr Jensen for 3 years,
I was initially sad to see them bought my Normark/ Rapala. The
promotion department at Rapala is very professional and very nice.
They extended the same offer that I have had with Luhr Jensen
in the past. Meanwhile, SPRO contacted me about a possible position
on their small and elite pro staff. They made a different offer
than Rapala. It was better but also different. They were looking
for a certain type of angler to promote their product line and
Gamakatsu hooks along with helping them design some new lures.
They said I fit the description and I was very flattered. I love
designing crankbaits and other lures. This opportunity was too
good to pass up since I feel like I can really help SPRO grow.
Rapala and Luhr Jensen have some great promoters and designers
on their staff. I feel I could help them but Rapala was not really
looking for the same combination that SPRO wanted. Rapala, Normark,
and Luhr Jensen are hard companies to leave, not to mention great
people. I will miss them. I am very excited about promoting SPRO
and Gamakatsu!”
Promoting Gambler Baits Starting
in 2006!
Over the years, Gambler
soft plastics have worked their way into my tackle box in a big
way. If you fish in Florida, you need Gambler lures to think about
winning. They win more money in Florida than anything else. Once
people learn about the entire product line at Gambler, they will
start winning more events across the country. I am pumped about
the new owner, Val Osinski. He is a savvy businessman that loves
to fish. He is pretty good, too. The national sales manager, Byron
Childers, has been a friend of mine for almost 6 years. They have
already grown the company and will continue to do so for a long
time. Gambler will be a heavy hitter in the soft plastics market
very soon. I am glad to be with such a great all around company.
"Crews Commits to Elite Series"
The following is a quote from BassFan.com (11/9/05): "Building
on the momentum of 2 consecutive Classics and having smaller fields
made me fish the Elites over FLW. FLW has been great to me since
I started fishing tournaments. Maybe I can fish a couple of their
events next year to see some of the great friends I've made in
the FLW organization and on the trail. I will miss fishing their
whole trail. For my career, the Elite Series gives me more sponsor
options in the long run. It has been a tough decision."
2005 Hack, Crews sign on
Carolina Lunker Sauce announced that Greg Hackney and John Crews
have signed on to its pro staff for 2006. They'll join Marty Stone
on the "Get Sauced!" team.
"I've used it for about a year and I'm really a big fan of the
product," Crews said. "I like the fact that it slowly comes off
the bait. It's not cemented on there and when a bass comes up
and noses the bait, he catches a whiff of what it smells like.
Also, since it's water-based, when it comes off it stays right
in that area. If it was petroleum-based, it would shoot right
to the surface and the fish wouldn't smell it."
Another bonus that stems from its water-based makeup is that it
doesn't stain fabric. "You can put your bait right on the deck
and smear (Lunker Sauce) all over it and not worry about the carpet,"
Crews said. "It washes right of clothes or anything."
2005 Bassmasters Classic Journal on www.ProBassAnglers.com
BASS Flash: Anglers rival other athletes
Roanoke Times Article "Angler still busy on final day"
Roanoke Times Article "Fish scarce and small as Classic opens"
Roanoke Times Atricle "Cruising to the Classic"
Times Article "BASS Classic field expects some tough conditions"
BASS
News: Ten More Pro Make 06 Classic
The
Good, the bad, and the ugly
10
Things You May Not know About KVD
Rest
Of The Field Talks About Day 1
Which
Day is Most Important
BASS
Flash: Classic pros understand junior anglers' plight
Rookies
face particular challenge in Classic
Crews
Hopes Potomac Provides Classic Steam
Crews, Lefebre Headed To 2nd Championship
Crews Still Improving In 3rd Year On Tour
Luck of the draw
Crews finishes 8th in Jacobs Cup
