James Niggemeyer's mantra is like a popular Lone Star State bumper sticker. The California native likes to say that he's not from Texas but he got here as soon as he could. The 35-year-old bass pro is gearing up for his first Bassmaster Classic Tournament, Feb. 23-25 at Alabama's Lay Lake.

First prize is $500,000 and instant credibility among the companies that sponsor professional bass fishing.

Niggemeyer had a good 2006 season. He won a Bassmaster event in April and finished first in the Southern Circuit points race. Not only did he qualify for the Classic, considered the Super Bowl of bass fishing, but he also earned a coveted spot in next season's Elite Series Tournaments.

A Classic victory has been hyped as a $1 million endorsement payday. Niggemeyer is the perfect guy to cash in. He's well-educated and well-spoken, just the kind of angler sponsors are looking for.

A Mr. Clean sort of personality cut from the same cloth as veteran pros Jay Yelas and Alton Jones, Niggemeyer took it to the next level by marrying a missionary. He met his wife, Sandy, a New York native, in Texas. The couple live in Van with their 15-month-old son, Daniel.

Niggemeyer grew up in Glendale, Calif., working in his father's shoe stores. He started fishing in California bass tournaments and once drew Dean Rojas as a tournament partner. Rojas is another West Coast angler transplanted to Texas, a route pioneered by veteran Gary Klein, who now lives in Weatherford.

Since most pro bass tournaments are held at lakes in Texas, the California anglers are out of the loop. Many of them choose Texas as a home base, though Alabama has also become a hot spot for migrant pros.

"Dean gave me the advice that changed my life," said Niggemeyer, who was pretty sure he didn't want a career as a shoe salesman. "He told me I needed the experience of fishing every day. I could only get that training by being a fishing guide. He advised me to move to Lake Fork. I thought about it a little while, packed everything I owned into a van and drove to Texas in 2001."

As a guide at one of the country's premier bass lakes, Niggemeyer learned to deal with the daily highs and lows of bass fishing. When anglers travel 1,000 miles or more to go fishing, they don't allow a cold rain to keep them off the lake.

Some days are easy at Fork, but Niggemeyer learned the most valuable lessons when fishing conditions were tough, weather conditions were tougher and the clients still wanted to catch a good bass.

"The pressure of producing fish for clients prepares you for the pressure of competing in tournaments," he said. "I know there's a lot more pressure when you get to the Classic, but I'm excited about it.

"I'm a fishing fan as well as a fishing pro, and I may be a little intimidated to be competing against my idols like Denny Brauer and Alton Jones. The way I look at it, though, I'm competing against the fish – not the fishermen."

The February tournament is the 37th Classic, the third held at Lay Lake. Arkansas' George Cochran won at Lay Lake in 1996, and Yelas won there in 2002. Neither Cochran nor Yelas is in this year's field, but history may not be important, anyway.

The championship tournament has never been held this time of year. Niggemeyer, who excels in shallow-water pitching and flipping, along with fishing spinnerbaits and crankbaits, believes Lay Lake is his kind of lake.

"I did pretty good on Lay Lake during the practice period," he said. "Right now, I'm just trying to stay focused."

CLASSIC TEXANS Texas residents in the 50-angler Bassmaster Classic field: Name Home Todd Faircloth Jasper Alton Jones Waco Kelly Jordon Mineola Gary Klein Weatherford James Niggemeyer Van Takahiro Omori Emory Dean Rojas Grand Saline Zell Rowland Montgomery Matt Reed Madisonville