Crochet qualifies for Bassmaster Classic

• By JOE MACALUSO
• Advocate Outdoors writer
• Published: Nov 8, 2009

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BELLE RIVER — Cliff Crochet played around with small numbers all week, but was looking for big numbers throughout the Bassmaster Central Open’s three days.

He got what he wanted in Saturday’s final day: Today, Crochet, from Pierre Part, is the second Louisiana angler to qualify for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic. Gonzales angler Greg Hackney qualified for the Classic through the Elite Series.

“Wow. It’s hard to believe this has happened. I’ve dreamed about fishing the Classic for 15 years,” Crochet said. “Now I get a chance to compete against the guys I’ve watched and read about for years.”

The small numbers Crochet talked about early last week came after a couple of practice days when he, and many other anglers, talked about how the high and still-rising water made catching bass a tough proposition.

Saturday, his numbers were a 9-pound, 7-ounce, five-bass-limit stringer that pushed his three-day total to an even 32 pounds.

That triggered a rush to the Central Open’s three-tournament 2009 scoreboard. Crochet’s 32 pounds earned a third-place finish in the Boater Division that was worth 290 points in the standings.

When nine-time Classic qualifier Edwin Evers shook Crochet’s hand, Crochet’s life-long dream was settled. Evers was the only angler in the field who could take the spot. James Niggemeyer, second in the standings coming into the event, finished 11th Saturday and came through the Open schedule with 829 points. Crochet had 793 and Evers 786.

While Crochet’s lot in his fishing life is set, the tournament isn’t over.

That’s because Evers and two-day leader Mark Smith tied for first place. Evers made the biggest push on the final day with a solid 14-3 stringer. Smith caught 9-8 Saturday, and the two wound up with 35-9 three-day totals.

Evers and Smith will fish another complete day today. Weigh-in at the Belle River Public Landing is set for 2:20 p.m. This is only the second time in the 40-plus years of Bassmaster tournaments that an extra day was needed to determine a winner. The first came earlier this year in the Central Open event on Toledo Bend. Niggemeyer won that first-ever fish-off.

“The full day (competition) helps me. I’ve run about 750 miles in the last three days to my spot,” Evers said. “Each day in that area has helped me become more familiar with the spot, and I was able to understand the area better. It helped me get the one big bite I needed to get to the 14 pounds I needed to close the gap.”

Smith, from West Monroe, held the lead the first two days and held a 4 1/2-pound lead (26-1 to 21-6) over Evers, who was fourth. Crochet was second at 22-9.

Smith was not as optimistic about overtime as was Evers: “My bite is severely used up. This is the first time (in the tournament) I don’t have much confidence.” Smith is fishing in the Lake Verret area.