Bassmaster Classic

The Bassmaster Classic is a tournament in the sport of 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 a summer event in 1984 and then to a late winter event in 2006.

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.

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

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 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 or, qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series and have enough success to gain a spot to the Classic. 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. The venue continues to change from year to year, but tends to revisit prior Classic sites as well.

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
DateChampionWeight lbs ozBoatLake
1971 OCT 20-22 Bobby Murray43-11RebelLake Mead, NV
1972 OCT 25-27 Don Butler38-11RangerPercy Priest Reservoir, TN
1973 OCT 24-26 Rayo Breckenridge52-8BassCatClarks Hill Lake, SC
1974 OCT 30-1 Tommy Martin33-7BassCatWheeler Lake, AL
1975 OCT 29-31 Jack Hains45-4RangerCurrituck Sound, NC
1976 NOV 3-5 Rick Clunn59-15RangerLake Guntersville, AL
1977 OCT 26-28 Rick Clunn27-7RangerKissimmee Chain, FL
1978 OCT 25-27 Bobby Murray37-9RangerRoss Barnett Reservoir, MS
1979 SEP 26-28 Hank Parker31RangerLake Texoma, TX
1980 SEP 24-26 Bo Dowden54-10RangerSt. Lawrence River, NY
1981 OCT 15-17 Stanley Mitchell35-2RangerAlabama River, AL
1982 OCT 14-16 Paul Elias32-8RangerAlabama River, AL
1983 AUG 4-6 Larry Nixon18-1RangerOhio River, OH
1984 AUG 16-18 Rick Clunn75-9RangerArkansas River, AR
1985 AUG 15-17 Jack Chancellor45RangerArkansas River, AR
1986 AUG 14-16 Charlie Reed23-9RangerTennessee River, TN
1987 AUG 13-15 George Cochran15-5RangerOhio River, OH
1988 AUG 25-27 Guido Hibdon28-8RangerJames River, VA
1989 AUG 17-19 Hank Parker31-6RangerJames River, VA
1990 AUG 23-25 Rick Clunn34-5RangerJames River, VA
1991 AUG 22-24 Ken Cook33-2RangerChesapeake Bay, MD
1992 JUL 30-1 Robert Hamilton, Jr59-6RangerLake Logan Martin, AL
1993 AUG 12-14 David Fritts48-6RangerLake Logan Martin, AL
1994 JUL 28-30 Bryan Kerchal36-7RangerHigh Rock Lake, NC
1995 AUG 3-5 Mark Davis47-14RangerHigh Rock Lake, NC
1996 AUG 8-10 George Cochran31-14RangerLay Lake, AL
1997 AUG 7-9 Dion Hibdon34-13RangerLake Logan Martin, AL
1998 AUG 6-8 Denny Brauer46-3RangerHigh Rock Lake, NC
1999 JUL 29-31 Davy Hite55-10RangerLouisiana Delta, LA
2000 JUL 20-22 Woo Daves27-13RangerLake Michigan, IL
2001 AUG 2-4 Kevin VanDam32-5SkeeterLouisiana Delta, LA
2002 JUL 25-27 Jay Yelas45-13SkeeterLay Lake, AL
2003 AUG 1-3 Michael Iaconelli37-14TritonLouisiana Delta, LA
2004 JUL 30-1 Takahiro Omori39-2TritonLake Wylie, NC
2005 JUL 29-31 Kevin VanDam12-15NitroThree Rivers, PA
2006 FEB 24-26 Luke Clausen56-2TritonKissimmee Chain, FL
2007 FEB 23-25 Boyd Duckett48-10TritonLay Lake, AL
2008 FEB 22-24 Alton Jones48-7SkeeterLake Hartwell, SC
2009 FEB 20-22 Skeet Reese54-13ChampionRed River, LA
2010 FEB 19-21 Kevin VanDam51-6NitroLay Lake, AL
2011 FEB 18-20 Kevin VanDam69-11NitroLouisiana Delta, LA
2012 FEB 24-26 Chris Lane51-6LegendRed River, LA
2013 FEB 22-24 Cliff Pace54-12SkeeterGrand Lake, OK
2014 FEB 21-23 Randy Howell67-8TritonLake Guntersville, AL
2015 FEB 20-22 Casey Ashley50-1TritonLake Hartwell, SC
2016 MAR 4-6 Edwin Evers60-7 [2]NitroGrand Lake, OK
2017 MAR 24-26 Jordan Lee 56-10 [3]LegendLake Conroe, TX
2018 MAR 16-18 Jordan Lee 47-1 [4]RangerLake Hartwell, SC
2019 MAR 15-17 Ott Defoe 49-3 [5]NitroTennessee River, TN
2020 MAR 6-8 Hank Cherry65-5BassCatLake Guntersville, AL

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
  • Lowest Total Winning Weight: 12-15. Kevin Van Dam, Three Rivers, PA 2005
  • 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.

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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.
  5. "tournaments | Bassmaster". www.bassmaster.com. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
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