Few Bassmaster Elite anglers were as excited about starting the 2009 season, as was Norton, Massachusetts Mark Burgess. “Qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series, is a dream come true,” says Burgess. Adding with a huge smile, “This is the highest level attainable in Professional Bass Fishing!”

The Massachusetts Elite Rookie began his tournament preparation in October 2008, by collecting every bit of information available on Del Rio, Texas’s Lake Amistad. As well as ten other stops scheduled for the 100 Bassmaster Elite Anglers. Subdividing his information into seasonal sections, lake history, tournament results, Burgess formatted his textbook game plan based around eleven tournaments, with each stop having its own specific game plan…Thus enters Lake Amistad.

Arriving a day earlier than the official practice period, Burgess launched his Skeeter/Yamaha rig on neighboring Falcon Lake. “Amistad was off-limits, and I wanted to be sure all my equipment was working after the long haul from Massachusetts to Texas, especially my electronics!” Burgess makes note the difference in air temperature was also a major concern. “I left home in a snow storm and 20 degree temperatures, and arrived in Texas to extreme heat in the 90 degree range on a desert lake system. Fatigue and heat exhaustion was a something I wanted to avoid.”

With two-half days of official practice, the Massachusetts Elite Rookie followed his pre-arranged game plan. With a chuckle in his voice Burgess replied, “Everything in Texas is large! And, in this case so are Amistad’s largemouth bass.” Burgess’s Skeeters deck revealed an assortment of Shimano rod/reel combinations boosting large Reaction Strikes swimbaits, Super Spooks, large Fat Free Shad crankbaits, a large profile 3/8 oz BooYah football head jig, and large Excalibur Jerkbaits.

Heading towards the Mexico border, Elite Angler Mark Burgess concentrated in two basic areas. “I looked for distinct depressions, areas with run-offs, fallen trees, hydrilla and especially drain pockets starting in 28 feet running towards shallow spawning flats.” With his practice period over, Burgess consulted Skeeter Teammate Kelly Jordan. “Kelly Jordan is one of the very best bass anglers on the Elite Trail, I needed to know if my practice weights of 14.8 lbs and 13.8 lbs were low since I had anticipated much larger weights?” Jordan assured Burgess that at the present time Amistad was fishing tough and all the weights seemed to range from 10-20lbs.

Day#1: With a vote of confidence from his teammate, Burgess’s adrenalin soared as he idled by the checkout point. Jumping on plan at full throttle his Yamaha outboard arrived at his first area thirty-five minutes later. “I started working deep diving crankbaits and swimbaits along a ledge in 18-20 feet, after two-half hours and no bites I worked my way into shallow water,” recalls Burgess. Within ten minutes Mark Burgess’s Skeeters livewells were humming with a five-bass limit! Burgess continued to catch bass over the 14” limit size, culling his way to a five-bass limit weighting 10.9 lbs.

When the scales were officially closed for Day #1 Mark Burgess found himself tied with Legendary Professional Bass Angler Rick Clunn. Clunn has been voted ESPN’s All-Time Greatest Bass Angler!

Day#2: Knowing that Lake Amistad can produce a lunker bass over ten pounds on any given cast Mark Burgess’s enthusiasm continued to soar with the eagles. As Burgess’s second day on Amistad re-played a mirror image of Day#1, his flight time continued to grow closer to his weigh-in time.

“I just wasn’t able to produce that big bite I needed along the transitional edges where I knew the larger female bass were staging! So once again I moved into the shallows where smaller males were running the banks.”

For nearly one hour Norton, Massachusetts Mark Burgess continued to hook and land one bass after another, culling for ounces. Carry another five-bass limit to the scales, Burgess watched as the weighmaster placed his creel onto the scales calling out an official 5-bass limit weighing 10.1 lbs.

When the scales were closed, the Top-25 Elite Anglers advanced to Day#3, Bassmaster Elite Professional Angler Mark Burgess found his name on the leaders board in 84^th Place. Only the Top 50 Elite Anglers receive checks and Burgess was not going be collecting a payday on Lake Amistad.

Reflecting on the Marshal concept I asked Burgess about the Marshals and the conversations they exchanged during the day. “My Marshals were extremely professional and speak only when spoken to, especially when you’re concentrating on working an area. This Marshals are themselves bass anglers and my Marshals were mostly interested in my thought process during the tournament.”

Amistad was the very first event in which B.A.S.S. incorporated their newly installed ‘Marshal’ system. The Marshals are not allowed fish, but ride along for a variety of reasons including safety, logging catches, time, etc. “This concept has it’s advantages and one of those is the ability to make casts to areas within a 360 degree range at any time, without infringing on your partners areas,” claims Burgess. Quickly adding, “This new concept is especially helpful when working in narrow ditches and smaller pockets!”

Elaborating further Burgess gave me an example. “My Marshal what I think is a very important question, “Why did I spend so much time in deeper water with no results, when I could go to the bank and immediately catch a limit? I explained that I knew at just about any given time I could catch a limit on the bank, however they were all going to be in the 14-15 inch range. This size bass wasn’t going to win the tournament nor provide me with important tournament points.” To prove his point, Burgess actually moved back into shallow water making five casts and landing five bass.

Asking Mark Burgess what detailed notes would he log under his first Bassmaster Elite Tournament for Lake Amistad, he responded. “Obviously, I am indeed disappointed as would be any competitive angler at any level. But, honestly I have mixed feelings when I evaluate my performance and execution for both my practice days and competition days on the water.” Listening to Mark Burgess critique his game plan I witnessed a glow in his eyes and softness in his voice of the true compassion this Professional Elite Angler has for the competitive sport of Tournament Bass Fishing.

In conclusion, Massachusetts Top Professional Bass Angler Mark Burgess gave a wry smile and replied…………..”Its just Fishing!”

God Bless and Best Bass’n

www.BassBureau.com , May 2009 Issue

                Professional Bassmaster Elite Angler Mark Burgess 
   Photo by Bill Decoteau