Shaping up

By David A. Brown
Bassmaster.com

By now, the reels are spooled, the hooks have been sharpened and plastics organized and reorganized in trays and storage bins. No doubt, readying the tools of the trade stands essential for Bassmaster Classic competitors, but so is the preparation of their most important piece of equipment — their bodies.

No stranger to the serious workout, Virginia pro John Crews appreciates that premise as much as anyone, considering that his recent bout with a miserable illness kept him out of the gym for way too long. Fortunately, consistency in his off-season regimen gave him a good base for recovery, and he’s keeping the big picture in perspective.

“My biggest priority to get myself in shape has been to get over the flu for the past week,” Crews said. “I hadn’t worked out in over a week, but my diet and exercise (plan) didn’t change for the Classic. This tournament is more between your ears. Now that I’m back on track physically, I’m ready to fish.”