MUSKEGON, Mich. – The youngest pro bass angler to ever win a B.A.S.S. Elite event, Wisconsin-based Jay Przekurat, took home the honors last year with the heaviest bag of smallmouths every weighed in a B.A.S.S. event at the age of 23.

“My St. Lawrence win last year was pretty crazy,” shares Przekurat.

“I probably caught hundreds during the tournament, but over the actual event I ended up weighing in a total of 102-9 of smallmouth for that win. That was the highlight of my season. I had some other top 10 finishes but I also had three top-15 finishes. I ended up 10th in AOY points which fortunately qualified me for the Classic; they take the top 40 for the Bassmaster Classic. Taking 10th in AOY during my first year was beyond anything I could have expected, but here we are,” recalls Przekurat.

About the Upcoming Classic (Friday, March 24 – Sunday, March 26)

“I’m not expecting the 2023 Bassmaster Classic to be a slam-fest,” says Przekurat. “The weather has been weird this winter. I’m down here in Tennessee now and the weather is projected to change from warm to cold and back to cold again. The fish aren’t going to be ready to spawn so I don’t think they’ll be crazy weights,” notes Przekurat.

“But I am expecting both species of bass to play—smallies and largemouths—and I’m going to try a little bit or both. Smallmouths have to be over 18-inches so it’s a little bit of a gamble. Still, if you find them and weigh five 18-inchers or over, you’ll weigh good,” projects Przekurat.

“On the other hand, largemouths only have to be 14-inches and it seems like there are more numbers of them In the Tennessee River system. So, I’ll have to play it by ear. I’ve never fished the Tennessee River before. I start pre-fishing on Friday, March 17, through Sunday, March 19th, then we have a break, and our last day of pre-fishing is Wednesday, March 22. The tournament starts the following Friday. We’ll see what I can find during pre-fishing.”

Fishing In Cold Conditions

Spring fishing weather—whether you’re chasing bass like Jay, river walleyes, steelhead or salmon, or other species—can be completely unpredictable with frequent snow, rain, sleet, and wind—as well as sub-freezing temps.

Along those lines, we asked Jay what he’ll be wearing to keep his mind on fishing—and not how to stay warm and dry—at the upcoming Classic on the Tennessee River.

“I’m going to have everything on. I’ll be wearing the Whitewater Softshell Tamer Jacket and Bib on when it’s not raining and the heavy-duty, water-repellant Whitewater Buoy Fishing Hoodie on underneath that. I love the Tamer jacket and bib. You can throw it on and it doesn’t even feel like you’re wearing bibs. And it keeps you warm all day,” remarks Przekurat.

He continues: “When it’s raining, I’ll have the Whitewater Great Lakes Jacket and Bib on, so it’s going to be a back-and-forth between that and the Tamer. I’ll definitely have the hoodie on 100% of the time because it doesn’t look like it’s going to crack 60-degrees up until tournament day and even then, the morning is projected to be 40-degrees.”

NEXUS Outdoors President and product design advisor, Aaron Ambur, remarks: “We are incredibly proud to have B.A.S.S. Elite angler, Jay Przekurat, contributing to the designs and wearing the result of countless on-the-water testing trips last year in the worst conditions. Since Whitewater apparel was designed by anglers, for anglers, they offer balanced wind- and rain-protection and unrivaled warmth with a motion-oriented design to accommodate the athletic movements of an active or professional fisherman. We’re excited to follow Jay as he fishes the Classic and wish him the very best.”

Features: Whitewater Tamer Softshell Jacket

Windproof breathable softshell polyester stretch fabric
DWR treated to repel moisture
3-piece hood adjustable for fit
Sleeve, chest & back shoulder reflective tape for visibility
Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor and shallow water anchor fobs)
Two waist pockets & a welded chest pocket to keep gear dry
Sleeve insert with a built-in thumbhole opening for security
Jacket comes in Grayish “Shade” w/black accents (270)

Item No: 1085410

MSRP: $219.99 (SM-3XL)

Features: Whitewater Tamer Fishing Bib

Windproof breathable softshell polyester stretch fabric
DWR treated to repel moisture
Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility
Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor and shallow water anchor fobs)
Three pockets (2 cargo, 1 chest) to keep gear dry
Covered leg zippers for easy dressing over boots
Adjustable silicone suspenders with grip
Bib comes in black “Charcoal”

Item No: 1085424

MSRP: $219.99 (SM-3XL)

Features: Whitewater Buoy Fishing Hoodie

Comfortable, durable cotton/poly blend
DWR treated to repel moisture
Adjustable shock cord & locks for hood adjustments
Front & back shoulder reflective tape for visibility
Zip closure kangaroo pouch pocket
Rig knit cuff and waist for a secure fit
Hoodie comes in black “Charcoal”; Breaker Blue; and Buoy Red

Item No: 1085417

MSRP: $99.99 (SM-3XL)

Features: Whitewater Great Lakes Jacket

Waterproof/windproof 20k/20k lamination & heat-taped seams to keep you dry
Durable mini-ripstop 4-way stretch nylon with a polyester lining
3-piece hood with multiple adjustment points
Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility
Sewn-in D-ring for a safety cord
Four storage pockets (2 waist, 2 chest) with covered openings
Two handwarmer pockets with YKK® AquaGuard® waterproof zippers
Hook and loop cuff adjustments for a secure fit
Jacket comes in: Buoy Red w/black accents (273); Grayish “Shade” w/black accents (270); and all-black “Charcoal” (099)

Item No: 1085610

MSRP: $269.99 (SM-3X)

Features: Whitewater Great Lakes Bib

Waterproof/windproof 20k/20k lamination & heat-taped seams to keep you dry
Durable mini-ripstop 4-way stretch nylon with a polyester lining
Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility
Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor/shallow-water anchor remote fobs)
Dual Velcro® waist adjustments
Three pockets (2 cargo, 2 chest) to keep gear dry
Two handwarmer pockets with YKK® AquaGuard® waterproof zippers
Leg zippers with storm flats and snap closures to keep feet ankles/feet dry
Adjustable suspenders with silicone grip to stay in place
Bib comes in: all-gray “Shade” (270); and all-black “Charcoal” (099)

Item No: 1085624

MSRP: $269.99 (SM-3X)