The Wild Side for Nov. 1

• By JOE MACALUSO
• Advocate Outdoors writer
• Published: Nov 1, 2009

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The final spots in February’s Bassmaster Classic will be determined this week in the Atchafalaya Spillway.

Yes, our Spillway.

Thursday through Saturday at the Belle River Public Landing, the Bassmaster’s Central Open will turn loose hundreds of fishermen, split into Boater and Co-Angler divisions, into our country’s largest overflow swamp. Only the Boater Division guys are in the running for the Classic berths.

And, today, the extra high and still rising Spillway will be a demanding place.

After two Central tournaments, the first on Toledo Bend and an early September date on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Todd Castledine from Nacogdoches, Texas, is the points leader. Oft-times Classic qualifier and fellow Texan James Niggemeyer is one point back (570-569). Classic regular Todd Faircloth (534) is fifth.

Pierre Part’s Cliff Crochet is Louisiana’s best hope for a Classic spot. With 503 points, he’s sixth in the standings.

Daily launch is 6:15 a.m., and the weigh-in at the Belle River Public Landing begins daily at 2:20 p.m.

What’s interesting is how some of the top bass pros in our part of the country solve the special problems the unusually high water presents.

While Castledine isn’t a household name in bass fishing circles, there are lots of others in this field who have proved their mastery.

Niggemeyer and Faircloth are two: Add past Classic qualifiers like Edwin Evers, Harold Allen, Jimmy Mize, Matt Reed, Mike McClelland, Clark Rheem, Jeff Kriet, former Classic champion Takahiro Omori, Pete Ponds, Homer Humphreys, Roger Boler and Byron Velvick to the impressive list of those who’ve fished the two 2009 Central events.

Oh, and on that list are Rick Clunn, the angler voted the best-ever bass fisherman in Bass Angler Sportsman Society history and a four-time Classic champion, and Gary Klein, the 20-something-time Classic qualifier who was fishing competitive bass tournaments, including ones in these same waters, when he was barely old enough to vote some 35 years ago.

“With the Spillway high, I think the big question is how many of these guys are going to make the run to Lake Cataouatche,” veteran Spillway angler Wayne Tucker said last week. “It’s a great place to fish, but it’s a long run and I don’t know how many of these guys are willing to make that run.”

With several big names far out of the point standings, this open might offer the chance to scout for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic heading for New Orleans. Even 18 months down the road, you can bet Cataouatche is in their sights for south Louisiana’s fourth Classic.