Boyd Duckett: The Man Who Won the 2007 Bassmaster
Classic and How He Did It
The Boatyard Interview
 Editor’s
Note: Boyd Duckett of Demopolis, Alabama, the 46-year-old
owner of a tank trailer leasing and repair company and
avid bass fisherman, never attended a Bassmasters Classic
until the one he won in February, 2007 at Alabama’s
Lay Lake near Birmingham. “I made a decision when
I started professional bass fishing that I wouldn’t
attend a Classic until I could fish in it,” explains
Duckett. How did Duckett win the 2007 Bassmaster Classic,
and what can we learn from Duckett? We saw other tournament
pros use this same tactic that Duckett did – not
fish for ghost bass. That’s why Duckett didn’t
practice on Lay Lake. Then he wouldn’t try to
catch bass in the same places where he’d caught
them when and if he pre-fished the lake. Actually Duckett
probably spent less time on Lay Lake this year than
any other tournament pro who fished in the 2007 Classic.
But rather than telling Duckett’s story, let’s
let him tell you how, why and where he won with 48 pounds,
10 ounces and took home $500,000, beating out second-place
Skeet Reese, who had 48 pounds,  4
ounces and won $45,000 and third-place Kevin VanDam,
who won $40,000 with his 45 pounds, 4 ounces.
Phillips: Before Boyd Duckett rode his boat into the
Birmingham/Jefferson County Civic Center on the last
day of the 2007 Bassmaster’s Classic and bass-fishing
history, I interviewed Duckett in the boatyard. Boyd,
what did you do today?
Duckett: I managed to boat my fish. I caught them good
the first day, I missed a couple of bass the second
day of the tournament and today (the last day of the
tournament) I was able to hook and boat every bass that
bit my lure. And that’s what I had to do if I
expected to win this Classic.
Phillips: You caught a 6-pounder, didn’t you?
On what did you catch him?
 Duckett:
Yes, I did, and I caught him on a Berkley PowerBait
Chigger Craw. I caught the majority of my bass on the
Chigger Craw during this Classic. The rest of the fish
I caught on a Rat-L-Trap.
Phillips: Boyd, how did you qualify for the Classic?
Duckett: I qualified for the Classic through the B.A.S.S.
tour events last year.
Phillips: How long have you been fishing professionally?
Duckett: I don’t know what you consider professional.
I’ve fished on and off competitively for a long
time. I actually started traveling and fishing in the
1970s, while still working my other job.
Phillips: What’s being in contention to win the
2007 Bassmasters Classic like?
Duckett: This experience has been fantastic and a dream
come true. I was really excited about qualifying for
the Bassmaster Elite circuit. I’d qualified for
the tour twice before, but my work schedule just wouldn’t
allow me to fish all the tournaments. My real goal was
to be able to compete for the Angler-of-the-Year title
on the B.A.S.S. circuit. But then I was here at the
Classic with a chance to win. I’m really excited
about that.
 Phillips:
Have you fished Lay Lake very much?
Duckett: Yes, since I’ve lived in Alabama I have,
but it’s not a very good lake for me as compared
to Lake Martin.
Phillips: Where at Lay Lake have you caught your fish
during the Classic?
Duckett: I caught them in the mid-lake section of Lay
Lake. I threw a Rat-L-Trap and a crankbait early in
the morning. Next I flipped the Chigger Craw later in
the day.
Tomorrow: Duckett’s Classic-Winning
Pattern
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