Klein Looks to Improve on Season

CELEBRATION, Fla. – So far, eight-time BASS winner Gary Klein’s results on the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series have not been up to his standards.

Those especially high standards are based on 25 appearances in the Bassmaster Classic, two Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles and more than $1.5 million in career earnings in BASS competition.

“This year has been terrible,” Klein said, half-joking, about his performance at the season’s mid-way point. “Well, not really. I’m sitting in the middle of the pack in the Angler of the Year standings, but I haven’t really had a great event yet.

“The best event I’ve had was at Amistad (the season opener). I was 1 pound out of the lead going into the third day. Then I zigged when I was supposed to zag and ended up in the 20’s (27th place). But I think I’m fishing efficiently.”

Klein’s performance this season would be plenty good enough for most of his competitors.

He is in 29th place in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings entering this week’s Blue Ridge Brawl presented by Advance Auto Parts on Virginia’s Smith Mountain Lake. He has cashed a check in four of five Elite Series tournaments and has scored three finishes in the top 30 thus far.

“I’m certainly not down on myself,” Klein said. “I’m trying to take it tournament by tournament, and so far I think I’ve weighed in a limit every day I’ve fished.

“A couple of tournaments, I’ve been within one or two bites of really doing well. The competition is really good these days. The anglers that I’m competing against now are very well educated. The information highway is very quick. You can’t hold anything back on the water.”

Klein’s position in the Angler of the Year standings now would qualify him for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic scheduled for Feb. 22-24 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell. The top 36 in those standings advance to bass fishing’s major event. This would be the 26th appearance for the 49-year-old and would put him in second place behind Rick Clunn for most Classic appearances.

From BASS