Bassmaster Classic

The Bassmaster Classic is a competition in professional bass fishing. It was first held in 1971 on Lake Mead, Nevada. Originally it was a fall event (1971-1983), but it switched to the summer in 1984 and then to the late winter in 2006. The winner of the tournament is widely considered to be the world champion of bass fishing, as is stated on the winner's trophy.

The event has turned into a three-day spectacle, complete with a theatrical presentation of the weigh-ins and hours of television coverage. ESPN purchased Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS), which organizes the event, and increased coverage of the event and the Classic's profile.

In 2014, the Classic was held on Guntersville Lake in Alabama, with weigh-ins at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The lake has hosted several Classics, most recently in 1976.

Rick Clunn and Kevin VanDam have each won the event four times. Jordan Lee, Bobby Murray, Hank Parker and George Cochran have won twice each.

First-place money has grown from $10,000 in 1971 to $500,000 in 2006; it was reduced to $300,000 in 2014.[1]

Rules and procedures

The field has ranged from 24 to 61 players. In 2014, the field was 55 anglers. The 2009 competition included women for the first time. 2010 was the last year for women to be given a classic spot. As in previous years, they have to earn a spot via the opens. Neither of the two women finished within the top 20.

The Bassmaster Classic takes place over three days. All fish are caught under catch-and-release rules, must measure at least 12 inches (or as that state law requires), and must be alive at the time they are presented for weigh-in or a penalty will be assessed. There is a cut after the second day, in which only the 25 top anglers, based on total weight, advance to the third day. The highest total weight after three days wins the competition.

Contestants can only fish in specified areas at the competition venue. This is usually a lake, but the 1980 Classic was held on the Saint Lawrence River out of Alexandria Bay, NY, the 2005 competition was held at Three Rivers (Allegheny River and Monongahela River which forms the Ohio River) in Pittsburgh, with some competitors using tributaries such as the Beaver River and Youghiogheny River miles from the confluence. In 2009 and 2012 the Classic used a 100-mile stretch of the Red River in Shreveport, Louisiana. In 2011, the Classic was held on the Louisiana Delta.

From its inception to 1976, the Classic was held at a "mystery lake," unknown to competitors until they were aboard an aircraft bound for the site. Founder Ray Scott changed the practice for the 1977 Classic, announcing the site in advance so that fans of the sport could plan ahead to attend.

Past winners

YearChampionWeight lbs ozBoatLake
1971United States Bobby Murray43-11RebelLake Mead, NV
1972United States Don Butler38-11RangerPercy Priest Reservoir, TN
1973United States Rayo Breckenridge52-8RangerClarks Hill Lake, SC
1974United States Tommy Martin33-7RangerWheeler Lake, AL
1975United States Jack Hains45-4RangerCurrituck Sound, NC
1976United States Rick Clunn59-15RangerLake Guntersville, AL
1977United States Rick Clunn27-7GlastronKissimmee Chain, FL
1978United States Bobby Murray37-9RangerRoss Barnett Reservoir, MS
1979United States Hank Parker31RangerLake Texoma, TX
1980United States Bo Dowden54-10RangerSt. Lawrence River, NY
1981United States Stanley Mitchell35-2RangerAlabama River, AL
1982United States Paul Elias32-8RangerAlabama River, AL
1983United States Larry Nixon18-1RangerOhio River, OH
1984United States Rick Clunn75-9SkeeterArkansas River, AR
1985United States Jack Chancellor45RangerArkansas River, AR
1986United States Charlie Reed23-9RangerTennessee River, TN
1987United States George Cochran15-5RangerOhio River, OH
1988United States Guido Hibdon28-8RangerJames River, VA
1989United States Hank Parker31-6RangerJames River, VA
1990United States Rick Clunn34-5Tracker/NitroJames River, VA
1991United States Ken Cook33-2JavelinChesapeake Bay, MD
1992United States Robert Hamilton, Jr59-6RangerLake Logan Martin, AL
1993United States David Fritts48-6RangerLake Logan Martin, AL
1994United States Bryan Kerchal36-7RangerHigh Rock Lake, NC
1995United States Mark Davis47-14BasscatHigh Rock Lake, NC
1996United States George Cochran31-14RangerLay Lake, AL
1997United States Dion Hibdon34-13RangerLake Logan Martin, AL
1998United States Denny Brauer46-3RangerHigh Rock Lake, NC
1999United States Davy Hite55-10StratosLouisiana Delta, LA
2000United States Woo Daves27-13NitroLake Michigan, IL
2001United States Kevin VanDam32-5NitroLouisiana Delta, LA
2002United States Jay Yelas45-13SkeeterLay Lake, AL
2003United States Michael Iaconelli37-14RangerLouisiana Delta, LA
2004Japan Takahiro Omori39-2RangerLake Wylie, NC
2005United States Kevin VanDam12-15NitroThree Rivers, PA
2006United States Luke Clausen56-2RangerKissimmee Chain, FL
2007United States Boyd Duckett48-10TritonLay Lake, AL
2008United States Alton Jones48-7SkeeterLake Hartwell, SC
2009United States Skeet Reese54-13ChampionRed River, LA
2010United States Kevin VanDam51-6NitroLay Lake, AL
2011United States Kevin VanDam69-11NitroLouisiana Delta, LA
2012United States Chris Lane51-6LegendRed River, LA
2013United States Cliff Pace54-12SkeeterGrand Lake, OK
2014United States Randy Howell67-8TritonLake Guntersville, AL
2015United States Casey Ashley50-1TritonLake Hartwell, SC
2016United States Edwin Evers60-7 [2]NitroGrand Lake, OK
2017United States Jordan Lee56-10 [3]LegendLake Conroe, TX
2018United States Jordan Lee 47-1 [4]RangerLake Hartwell, SC

Record Book

  • Largest Bass Caught: 11-10, Preston Clark, Toho, FL 2006
  • Heaviest Venue Total Weight: 1,578-14, Red River, LA 2009
  • Heaviest Total Weight: 69-11, Kevin VanDam, Louisiana Delta, LA 2011
  • Heaviest Single Day Weight: 32-3, Paul Mueller, Guntersville, AL 2014
  • Most Bassmaster Classic Wins: 4, Rick Clunn, 1976, 1977, 1984, 1990 / 4, Kevin VanDam, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2011
  • Most Top 5 Classic Finishes: 11, Rick Clunn
  • Most Consecutive Classic Appearances: 28, Rick Clunn, 1974-2001
  • Most Second Place Finishes: 4, Aaron Martens, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2011
  • Largest Final Day Comeback: 13-14 deficit, Jordan Lee, Conroe, TX 2017

Jr. Bassmasters

The Jr. Bassmasters is a Bassmaster Classic competition for children up to 18. The national classic for the Jr. Bassmasters is achieved once an angler has won a qualifying event sponsored by the B.A.S.S association. The Jr. angler then gets to work with a professional on practice day. On the tournament day no help is provided by the pro and the Jr. Angler has to rely on his/her own knowledge and skill. The winner and 2nd and 3rd place all receive scholarships of different value.

References

  1. ↑ 2014 Bassmaster Classic results
  2. ↑ "Edwin Evers". Bassmaster. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  3. ↑ "tournaments | Bassmaster". www.bassmaster.com. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  4. ↑ "tournaments | Bassmaster". www.bassmaster.com. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
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