Bassmaster Classic coverage: From the morning launch to the evening weigh-ins, get complete Classic coverage. And find more on the event, including a Google Maps video tour of Grand Lake and maps of Tulsa’s entertainment districts and restaurants.
He's been awake since 4 o'clock and now, after lunch, Clint Baranowski is still working outside in the cold wind and swirling snow at Grand Lake.
"This is great," he said without a trace of sarcasm. "This is really cool."
That's because Baranowski is standing a few feet away from Kevin VanDam's truck, a Toyota Tundra that in the fishing world is almost as famous as VanDam himself, who has won the Bassmaster Classic four times.
He's the Crimson Tide of fishing, or maybe the Tiger Woods, if Woods was still at the top of his game.
"His truck is cool," Baranowski said again. In fact, he says it three or four more times. "Really cool."
Between Tulsa and Grove, more than 100 locals are getting close to the action by volunteering at this weekend's tournament, known as "the Super Bowl of bass fishing."
They're directing traffic, washing boats and even driving officials around town.
But nobody's getting closer than Baranowski, who lives at the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees and goes fishing himself four or five days a week.
His job this weekend will include helping the anglers get their boats in and out of the water.
"They're great guys," Baranowski said. "That's kind of the amazing thing about it. They're the best in the world at what they do, but they don't walk around with an attitude."
Imagine getting to help the Baltimore Ravens suit up and then escorting the team onto the field.
Or pushing Danica Patrick's car out of the pits at Sunday's Daytona 500. Or carrying Roger Federer's bag at Wimbledon.
"It really is that big a deal," said Ron Lay, who owns an aerospace company in Grove. "These guys are at the very peak of a sport that has millions of fans."
Lay is volunteering this weekend for "dock duty," keeping over-excited spectators off the boat ramps.
Think of it as keeping golf fans off the 18th green at the PGA. It's OK to go for that front-row seat, just don't step on the grass itself.
Or, in this case, the dock itself.
"Everybody wants to be there when the boats go in the water," Lay said, "and when they come out."
It's a finely tuned operation that ESPN and Bassmaster officials have developed into a science, one boat after another slipping off the ramp with no delays.
"The whole point," Baranowski explains, "is to get it done with minimal distraction for the competitors. They're going to be very focused."
The anglers and the volunteers practiced the procedure Wednesday during what was described as a "dry run," which didn't turn out to be very dry at all.
The volunteers endured several hours of cold rain mixed with snow.
Fortunately, the forecast looks more promising for the actual competition, with a high of only 42 Friday but mostly sunny skies.
Temperatures will improve to the upper 40s Saturday and could reach 60 before the tournament ends Sunday.
But the volunteers would gladly do it anyway, rain or shine.
"I'm not only at the Super Bowl," Baranowski said. "I'm on the sidelines at the Super Bowl."
Weather forecast
Here is the forecast for the Tulsa area during the three days of fishing in the Bassmaster Classic:
Friday: Morning low 20, high 42. Northwest winds at 5-10 mph.
Saturday: Morning low 20, high 47. Calm winds in the morning, then south winds of less than 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday: Morning low 31, high 60. South winds at 5-10 mph, in the morning, then southeast at 10-15 mph in the afternoon.
Source: Amy Jankowski, Tulsa National Weather Service meteorologist
Michael Overall 918-581-8383
michael.overall@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Close to the action
Local
An anthropologist from the office has been at the lake and is returning there today to help gather three more sets of remains to be taken to the Oklahoma City office.
The driver had a suspended license, police said.
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