Arkansas Sportsman

High risk-reward ratio pays off

Chris Lane never trailed in the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament at the Sabine River in Texas last weekend, but Mike McClelland thundered behind him.

McClelland, of Bella Vista, finished second to win $25,000. It was his 29th Bassmaster top 10 finish, and it boosted his career earnings to $1.63 million. He also finished in eighth place at the Bassmaster Classic Feb. 20 at Lake Hartwell. According to bassfan.com, he is currently ranked second in the Bassmaster Elite Series, and Bassfan ranks him 36th among all anglers on the Elite Series and FLW tours.

McClelland's strategy on the Sabine River was risky. His fishing spot was 114 miles from the takeoff area, and he said it took two hours and three minutes to get there each day. It was a small area in a canal network that offered limited fishing opportunities, but McClelland said he had the area to himself, so it gave him the best chance to succeed. That's also a lot of time for mechanical failures to occur, and a lot of time to fall prey to doubt and indecision.

"It definitely plays with your mind having two hours to think about things before you get there," McClelland said. "You've got to be spot on with everything you do, and you know you've got to land on them. Fortunately I did."

McClelland said he found his spot during an Elite Series event two years ago with Jeff Kriet, his traveling partner from Oklahoma. Kriet found a different area to fish in that tournament and finished in the top 12. McClelland forged a top 12 finish, as well, but he said the area didn't seem very good at the time.

"I never got a feel for what was there," McClelland said. "This year they bit a lot better. The conditions two years ago weren't as favorable. Higher tides this year kept fish more comfortable in the canals they were in and made perfect conditions for what I was doing."

Since he only had about one-third of the fishing time as the rest of the field, McClelland said his first goal was to keep things simple. He said he committed to throwing a War Eagle spinnerbait, a swimming jig and flipping a soft plastic. He added a few wrinkles as conditions allowed, but he said he stayed essentially true to his formula. His key soft plastic was a Big Bite Fighting Frog in black/blue/sapphire color.

"The water was dirty, and I needed something that had some some substance, but also a little flash as well," McClelland said. "The sapphire provided the flash I needed."

Most of the fish were on isolated bits of cover, such as laydowns, overhanging limbs and vines hanging off bulkheads.

The downside to his area, McClelland said, is that it didn't have enough big fish. He said he caught two 4-pounders, but he needed a third fish of that size to give him a chance to beat Lane.

For the War Eagle spinnerbait, McClelland said he used his 7-foot, 2-inch Falcon Signature Series rod with 20-pound Sunline Reaction FC line and a Cabela's Arachnid 6.3:1 reel.

For the Fighting Frog he used a 7-3 Falcon heavy-action rod with 20- or 22-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon and a 3/8-ounce or 5/16-ounce tungsten weight. With all of his plastics he used a 4/0 offset shank Gamakatsu hook.

He also used a 7-4 Falcon Signature heavy-action rod with 18-pound Sunline Shooter and an 8.1:1 Arachnid reel.

"That's a fast reel," McClelland said. "When you hook one, you can keep up with it. That's important. The fish were really really 'hot,' and it's important to stay on top of them. Fishing tight quarters in those canals, they can get away from you and get under your boat in a hurry."

ASU shooting champs

For the third consecutive year, Arkansas State University's shooting sports club won a state championship after winning the Arkansas Collegiate Championship at Delta Resorts and Spa in Tillar, Ark., last weekend.

The Red Wolves claimed division crowns in American trap, American skeet and bunker trap to win the "High Overall" award for the tournament.

Representing ASU, Haden Zirbel of Jonesboro finished second overall, followed by teammates Jordan Harper of Harrisburg and Forrest Jones of Marion, who tied for third overall.

The Red Wolves will compete in the 47th annual ACUI national championship March 24-29 at San Antonio, Texas.

Sports on 03/26/2015

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