Best Classic Victory

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 4:17 pm

For those of you that follow the pro's, who do you think had the best Classic victory. Consider where they came from and how they won.
My pick is Brian Kerchal. This guy came out of nowhere to qualify and was a longshot at best. Blowing that good luck fish whistle added to the underdog stature as he climbed into the lead and won it all. A great story made sad by his death in a plane crash soon after the Classic.

catt951 · Post by **catt951** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 5:10 pm

There can not be anyone but Brian Kerchal!

johnnie crain outdoors · Tue Mar 04, 2003 4:50 am

Great post. Bryan did something no one else has been able to do, it's so sad we never got the chance to see just how great that young man could have been. I have spoken to his Dad, and he said Bryan lived to fish and was wise well beyond his years. He will be missed.
My choice would be Rick Clunn's fourth Classic victory. I can't even imagine what it takes to win once, but four times?? Lets hear it guys.

Hooked Solid · Post by **Hooked Solid** » Tue Mar 04, 2003 4:57 am

Hands Down!!!Kerchal!!!

Rodney Birditt · Post by **Rodney Birditt** » Tue Mar 04, 2003 12:51 pm

There almost became another great but missed out by 4 ounces. He would have won if the fish he lipped hadn't come out of his hand. This fisherman is Dalton Bobo who came up through the federation ranks just like Kerchal, but Kerchal is the greatest.

Rodney Birditt Aka: Fishhead

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Tue Mar 04, 2003 10:23 pm

It would be difficult trying to convince anyone that there was a better Classic Victory than that of Bryan Kerchal. Very frankly, we ought to agree that his was far away the best and discuss who the Runnerup was.

While I am a long-time Rick Clunn fan and my vote for the Runnerup was the second of Rick's four Classic Wins, the reason I chose it was that although Rick won, Larry Nixon almost took it away from him. Larry was just a rookie at the time (1977) and he came very close to pulling this off.

Six years later I had the pleasure of watching Larry capture the Classic on the Ohio River.

Still, nothing could capture a bass fisherman's imagination like the unbelievable Classic achievement by Bryan Kerchal. IMHO Joe

ukey28 · Post by **ukey28** » Tue Mar 04, 2003 10:38 pm

I'm not a party pooper, nor do I disrespect the dead. But The Classic that Bryan Kerchal won, was his second and he had a season and a half of invitationals under his belt at the time he won it. This guy was no virgin.
Dalton BoBo was in his first major tournament and took second. I'll have to go with him. Just the first time jitters alone will fry your brain. Ask anybody thats done it.
What Bryan Kerchal did was awesome, But I think Bobo edges him out by a little. Even if he did finish second.

Tight lines.
Ukey

Hooked Solid · Post by **Hooked Solid** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 12:01 pm

No one remembers who came in second. :p ...>...HS

britchie · Post by **britchie** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 9:01 pm

Seen the documentary on Bryan Kerchal a couple of months ago on ESPN and it gave me goose bumps. What he accomplished in such a short career was astonishing.
Although Dalton Bobo would be a close runner-up.
Reading about his career decisions and watching his performance in the Classic I felt it appropriate to name my son "Dalton".

johnnie crain outdoors · Thu Mar 06, 2003 9:33 pm

There appears to be many Bryan Kerchal fans as well there should be. Bryan has a web site and a Memorial Fund you may wish to check out. www.bryankerchalfund.org
Johnnie Crain