By Jonathan Manteuffel
Special to BassFan

Anytime an angler can look back on his Bassmaster Elite Series season and see the kind of consistency that Virginia’s John Crews demonstrated in 2011, he has to feel pretty good about it. He easily qualified for his sixth Bassmaster Classic with a 30th-place finish in the Toyota Tundra B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year (AOY) race.

His best tournament finish was 16th at Lake Murray, and he didn’t have any serious bombs all year. He turned in respectable 17th-place showing at the Bassmaster Classic. All in all, he was “Crews-ing” on all cylinders.

“I was consistent, that was probably my biggest accomplishment last year,” he said. “I fished well, but at the same time I lost some key fish in a number of tournaments that probably cost me some Top 20s and even Top 10s. That’s what I need to improve most on this year.

“It comes down to focus and dialing in on a few details. There are a lot of small things that add up. You have to make sure you execute 100 percent of the time, and don’t get distracted. I was putting myself into situations where I had opportunities to do better, and I need to capitalize on those this year. So that’s my biggest goal now, to execute well all the time.

“That, qualifying again for the next Classic, and winning a tournament,” he continued. “The Red River Classic next month would be a good place to start.”

A Worthwhile Trip

Crews has been preparing for the Classic for months. Some of this year’s qualifiers have said they didn’t go to Louisiana to pre-practice, but Crews did.

“I went and learned my way around, and I think I found some good places to fish,” he said. “I’ll try to get dialed into what’s going on during official practice, but right now I think the Spro Fat John (crankbait) and some of my new plastics will be the deal.”

The new plastics he refers to are baits he designed and is producing himself, through his recently announced new company Missile Baits.

“I’ve been wanting to find a niche in the fishing industry,” he said. “I love my relationship with Spro for hard baits, but I didn’t have an outlet for all my soft plastic ideas. I wanted to do my own thing somehow, so I created my own opportunity. I did have a couple offers while I was planning this deal but turned three of them down because I wanted to do it myself, my way.

“In general the baits are thinner for the right action, but they’re made with various consistencies (of plastic),” he noted. “Some are softer, some firmer. I dial them in to be just right for the application.”

He’s already been using some of the baits in competition.

“I used the Twin Turbo (twin-tail grub) on a swim jig at Wheeler Lake for the Elite Series. That thing is smoking on a swim jig. The prototypes are made one at a time and they are expensive, but I caught some weigh-in fish on them in that tournament.

“And in one PAA tournament I caught them on the Twin Turbo and the D-Bomb in shallow grass,” he added. “The D-Bomb is a bigger, bulkier flipping-style bait with big, thin flappers on the back that have an undulating action. There’s a thin section in the bait where the hook pushes through for excellent hooksets.

“I’m really itching to get out on the tournament trail, start catching fish on them, and get them on the market and help other anglers catch fish,” he continued. “There’s a unique sense of pride in hearing about people catching fish on lures I designed. It’s a one-of-a-kind feeling that I’m really looking forward to, hearing about all the big fish people caught on the Missile Baits.”

An Even Keel

So which lake on the 2012 schedule is Crews most excited about?

“I try to condition myself to not get excited or disappointed with any of the tournaments,” he said. “It sounds cliché, but it takes years to teach yourself that. Mentally, I want them all the same and I’ll take them one at a time. If I do what I’m supposed to do I’ll end up where I feel like I should be – near the top.

“You can’t help yourself with negative thinking. But if you get pumped up too much, you already have too much expectation as to how you’re going to catch them. Places change every day, so if you already have scripted how you’re going to catch fish, that’s a recipe for disaster.”

Still, here’s how he’s guessing he might approach this year’s somewhat unusual assortment of venues.

> St. John’s River: “I’m likely to drop the D-Bomb on them. There should still be a lot of bed-fish, and that bait will be disgusting on bed-fish.”

> Okeechobee: “Flipping may be the deal, or punching mats. The Missile Craw (small 4-inch punch-style bait) could be pretty good there.”

> Bull Shoals: “We should be there around the spawn. If the water is up, it’s deep and clear and I could see that Drop Craw being pretty slick on bed fish there.” He describes the Drop Craw as a “unique 3-inch dropshot bait that is slim with tremendous action when you barely move it, great for highly pressured fish and clear water.”

> Douglas Lake: “I’ve never been there, but it might work out to use a heavy football-head jig with a Twin Turbo on it.”

> Toledo Bend: “I’ll probably fish the Tomahawk (8 3/4-inch twin ribbontail worm) on deeper grass edges and ledges.”

> Mississippi River: “Definitely a swim jig, that’s Twin-Turbo city there. The northern swim jig was pretty much invented there.”

> Oneida: “I might be flipping or punching if I’m going for largemouths. If smallmouth are the deal, the Drop Craw will be like a vacuum cleaner. I’m kind of excited about that tournament; you can catch both types of fish that time of year, which opens up the lake pretty good. It gives you more options. Oneida could be won on either species.”

Notable

> Crews sometimes goes by the handle “Crews missile,” hence the Missile Baits company name and missile-related names for the baits.

> As noted in his press release last week, California Bassmaster Elite Series pro and running buddy Ish Monroe is on the Missile Baits pro staff. “Ish is pretty pumped up about everything,” Crews noted. “I’m really glad Ish will be promoting the baits; he’s almost as excited as I am about it.”

Never did pro angler John Crews think that the nickname “Crews Missile”, given to him by good buddy Rick Hawkins, would grow so popular.

Not only does the nickname appear in the well-liked Virginia pro’s email address, but these days, Crews is also often referred to as ‘The Crews Missile’ on stage during B.A.S.S. weigh-ins.

Crews never thought he’d trade away his diesel tow vehicle for a gas powered Toyota Tundra either, but like the nickname, Crews’ new Tundra has serious horsepower.

“Based on my experience, the Tundra is the only gas powered truck out there that will keep up with a diesel. It’s the strongest gas powered truck on the road from what I’ve witnessed,” said Crews, who will tow his SPRO Lures sponsored Bass Cat with the new 381-hp Tundra throughout the upcoming 2012 Bassmaster Elite and PAA season.

“Not only will it be cheaper to buy gas than diesel, but I’m also looking forward to a quieter, smoother ride across the 30,000 miles I typically tow each year,” said Crews, who describes his dream fishing trip as any lake in Mexico where they’re biting a SPRO Little John DD.

Crews will also have a chance to haul home cash bonuses he wasn’t eligible for previously. “Being eligible for the Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks definitely played a role into buying a Tundra. I feel like I have a good shot at grabbing some of that Bonus Bucks money,” said Crews, who has practiced a strict health and fitness lifestyle en route to qualifying for five Bassmaster Classics.

The “Crews Missile” is right on track. When you buy or lease a 2007 or newer Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser or Tacoma, send in your registration like he did, and be the highest finishing eligible participant (must finish in the top 50% of the field) in your FLW or BASS affiliated tournament – and you win the Bonus Bucks.  To find out more and to make sure you’re signed up please visit www.ToyotaFishing.com or call Kendell at (918) 742-6424.

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    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Bass Minder^®, a fishing products company has announced a sponsorship with Bassmaster Elite Series professional fisherman, John Crews. Crews, an 11-year professional angler, has qualified for the Bassmaster Classic six times. The 2010 Elite Series winner knows the importance of the proper tackle and is an angler who designs his own lures, which contributes to his success on the tour. When John Crews saw the Bass Minder^® product, he said it was a no-brainer. “For more than 10 years, I have been using small stickers on my rods or reels to mark what line it is and what date I replaced it.” said Crews. “I have struggled to find the right product until now. The Bass Minder^® Line Reminder Stickers are a must for all anglers, and the other products are great references for anglers to consult.” Bass Minder^® products can be purchased at Bass Pro Shops, participating Walmart locations and on the Bass Minder^® website at www.bassminder.com.  For more information about Bass Minder^® or to reach John Crews, please contact Audrey Pannell at Audrey@styleadvertisting.com or 205.503.5955. ABOUT BASS MINDER^® The Alabama-based Bass Minder^® products feature three main products designed to help anglers of all levels improve their expertise. The products include the Line Reminder Stickers, Line Selection Guide-sponsored by Vicious Fishing- and the Lure Selection Guide. The Selection products provide a great basis for any angler to consult before spooling up their reel or tying on their lure. For more information visit www.bassminder.com. Bass Minder^® Products are proudly printed in the U.S.A. and distributed through Stewart Distribution Services, LLC.