3 Classic Near-Misses are a Heavy Load to Bear by Pete Robbins

What are the Chances 3 Near Misses at a Classic Championship

®

Summer 2018

Christie maintained the lead on both the first and second day of the 2018 Bassmaster Classic at Lake Hartwell. Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

seems to have rattled him further. He made the Classic in

2011 and 2012, but hasn’t been back since. It’s not clear

whether that’s a case of correlation or causation; but, it

definitely shows the

importance of making hay,

while the sun shines.

Aaron Martens has

been to 15 Classics in a

row, won multiple AOY

titles, and nine standalone

B.A.S.S. events, but

many armchair pundits

might argue that the

obsessiveness and

attention to detail that

has contributed to that

success has also doomed

his chances in some of

those Classic near-misses.

Again, just making 20 or 30 Classics doesn’t guarantee championship redemption; but, Christie has a few things going for him.

First, he knows how to

get there.

Christie was victorious at the 2017 Elite Series event at Lake St. Clair with 88-pounds, 8-ounces. Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

During his FLW

career he qualified for six

consecutive Forrest Wood Cups from 2009 through 2014. Predating his full-time move to the Elite Series, he has now qualified for six straight Classics, from 2013 through 2018.

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