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 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. BASS is known to be the most famous tournament trailer for anglers to compete on.

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.

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

Year	Champion	Weight lbs oz	Boat	Lake
1971	Bobby Murray	43-11	Rebel	Lake Mead, NV
1972	Don Butler	38-11	Ranger	Percy Priest Reservoir, TN
1973	Rayo Breckenridge	52-8	Ranger	Clarks Hill Lake, SC
1974	Tommy Martin	33-7	Ranger	Wheeler Lake, AL
1975	Jack Hains	45-4	Ranger	Currituck Sound, NC
1976	Rick Clunn	59-15	Ranger	Lake Guntersville, AL
1977	Rick Clunn	27-7	Ranger	Kissimmee Chain, FL
1978	Bobby Murray	37-9	Ranger	Ross Barnett Reservoir, MS
1979	Hank Parker	31	Ranger	Lake Texoma, TX
1980	Bo Dowden	54-10	Ranger	St. Lawrence River, NY
1981	Stanley Mitchell	35-2	Ranger	Alabama River, AL
1982	Paul Elias	32-8	Ranger	Alabama River, AL
1983	Larry Nixon	18-1	Ranger	Ohio River, OH
1984	Rick Clunn	75-9	Ranger	Arkansas River, AR
1985	Jack Chancellor	45	Ranger	Arkansas River, AR
1986	Charlie Reed	23-9	Ranger	Tennessee River, TN
1987	George Cochran	15-5	Ranger	Ohio River, OH
1988	Guido Hibdon	28-8	Ranger	James River, VA
1989	Hank Parker	31-6	Ranger	James River, VA
1990	Rick Clunn	34-5	Ranger	James River, VA
1991	Ken Cook	33-2	Ranger	Chesapeake Bay, MD
1992	Robert Hamilton, Jr	59-6	Ranger	Lake Logan Martin, AL
1993	David Fritts	48-6	Ranger	Lake Logan Martin, AL
1994	Bryan Kerchal	36-7	Ranger	High Rock Lake, NC
1995	Mark Davis	47-14	Ranger	High Rock Lake, NC
1996	George Cochran	31-14	Ranger	Lay Lake, AL
1997	Dion Hibdon	34-13	Ranger	Lake Logan Martin, AL
1998	Denny Brauer	46-3	Ranger	High Rock Lake, NC
1999	Davy Hite	55-10	Ranger	Louisiana Delta, LA
2000	Woo Daves	27-13	Ranger	Lake Michigan, IL
2001	Kevin VanDam	32-5	Skeeter	Louisiana Delta, LA
2002	Jay Yelas	45-13	Skeeter	Lay Lake, AL
2003	Michael Iaconelli	37-14	Triton	Louisiana Delta, LA
2004	Takahiro Omori	39-2	Triton	Lake Wylie, NC
2005	Kevin VanDam	12-15	Triton	Three Rivers, PA
2006	Luke Clausen	56-2	Triton	Kissimmee Chain, FL
2007	Boyd Duckett	48-10	Triton	Lay Lake, AL
2008	Alton Jones	48-7	Skeeter	Lake Hartwell, SC
2009	Skeet Reese	54-13	Champion	Red River, LA
2010	Kevin VanDam	51-6	Nitro	Lay Lake, AL
2011	Kevin VanDam	69-11	Nitro	Louisiana Delta, LA
2012	Chris Lane	51-6	Legend	Red River, LA
2013	Cliff Pace	54-12	Skeeter	Grand Lake, OK
2014	Randy Howell	67-8	Triton	Lake Guntersville, AL
2015	Casey Ashley	50-1	Triton	Lake Hartwell, SC
2016	Edwin Evers	60-7	Nitro	Grand Lake, OK
2017	Jordan Lee	56-10	Legend	Lake Conroe, TX
2018	Jordan Lee	47-1	Ranger	Lake Hartwell, SC
2019	TBD	TBD		Tennessee River, TN

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:5 Marco Soriani, 2019, 2020,2021,2022,2023 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.

External links

• [1]
• Bassmaster Classic 2008 Update Venue
• BASS official site
• About.com
• 2007 Classic qualifiers
• 2008 Classic update
• 2008 Classic update
• 2008 Classic update