Upshaw looks to make splash at the Classic

Andrew Upshaw wasn’t intimidated heading into his first Bassmaster Classic appearance today on the Red River near Bossier City, La.

The Texas angler — he’s from Hemphill — already earned a B.A.S.S. Collegiate National Championship trophy under his belt while fishing for Stephen F. Austin University last year.

“I’m ready to rock and roll,” Upshaw said. “I’m not nervous, to be honest. I had a really awesome practice and got on them pretty good. I continued to find fish Wednesday.

“I feel extremely good about it.”

News from the water was slow going Friday, but a Bassmaster blog reported at about 10 a.m. that Upshaw “got one in the livewell” and his fans were cheering him on.

During an interview Thursday night, Upshaw wouldn’t reveal the pattern he planed to use, but said he figured out some things in practice to help trigger a bite during the tournament.

“Even with the weather and the fluctuations and the muddy water, with what I do, it plays into my hands,” he said. “Most of the backwater is pretty dirty and you just have to grind it out.”

Upshaw said nobody would have productive spots all to themselves because the river was fishing small. Most anglers are hunting for water not muddied by recent rains across much of North Texas and Oklahoma.

“A lot of people are stacking up,” he said. “It is fishing extremely small right now because everyone is looking for clear water.”

Upshaw was looking forward to getting out on the water Friday and competing against the best bass anglers in the world.

“I’m the big underdog,” he said. “I hope I can surprise some people this week.”