“I try to get to as many as I can,” he said.
Zaleski goes to learn as much as he can about catching bass.
“I love the fact that it's here (in Oklahoma),” Zaleski said. “I got friends coming up from Dallas that are going to be my guests.
“I really worry if there is going to be enough parking for everybody. Around the BOK Center, there isn't a lot of parking, and if they have crowds like they've have had in Shreveport and elsewhere, it's going to be tough.”
Edmund and Mary Skarke of Tulsa would normally drive their motor home to the Bassmaster Classic.
The couple has gone to so many Bassmaster Classics that Mary Skarke doesn't know for sure how many. More than 20, she thinks.
“We enjoyed them,” she said. “Back when he was fishing, we liked Jimmy Houston. And the one now who is winning a lot (Kevin VanDam), we enjoyed watching him, too.”
Mary said her husband was surprised when it was announced a year ago that the Bassmaster Classic was coming to Oklahoma.
Edmund Skarke was looking forward to attending, but the 86-year-old lifetime BASS member died from prostate cancer in June.
Still, Mary Skarke hopes to go to the BOK Center with her sons at least one day of the tournament, hopefully for Sunday's last day.
It will be her first Bassmaster Classic without her husband of 59 years by her side.
“We used to go every day (of the tournament),” she said. “Going anywhere without him is hard.”
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