Bassmaster Classic

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The Bassmaster Classic (known as the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic for sponsorship reasons) is a tournament in the sport of professional bass fishing, organized by the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society. 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.

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

History

Bassmaster Classic-founder Ray Scott (left), then-Vice President George H. W. Bush (second from left), and then-Second Lady Barbara Bush (third from left), and then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton (far right) at the 1984 Bassmaster Classic George H. W. Bush, Barbara Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ray Scott at the Bass Anglers Tournament in Pine Bluff.jpg
Bassmaster Classic-founder Ray Scott (left), then-Vice President George H. W. Bush (second from left), and then-Second Lady Barbara Bush (third from left), and then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton (far right) at the 1984 Bassmaster Classic

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 specific Classic spot. As in previous years, they now 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. The Bassmaster College Series, B.A.S.S. Nation and the Team Championship also offer paths to the Classic.

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 Classic 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

YearChampionWeight lbs ozBoatLakeDate
1971 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Murray43-11Rebel Lake Mead, NVOct 20-22
1972 Flag of the United States.svg Don Butler38-11RangerPercy Priest Reservoir, TNOct 25-27
1973 Flag of the United States.svg Rayo Breckenridge52-8BassCat Clarks Hill Lake, SCOct 24-26
1974 Flag of the United States.svg Tommy Martin33-7BassCat Wheeler Lake, ALOct 30 - Nov 1
1975 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Hains45-4Ranger Currituck Sound, NCOct 29-31
1976 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Clunn 59-15Ranger Lake Guntersville, ALNov 3-5
1977 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Clunn 27-7RangerKissimmee Chain, FLOct 26-28
1978 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Murray37-9Ranger Ross Barnett Reservoir, MSOct 25-27
1979 Flag of the United States.svg Hank Parker 31-0Ranger Lake Texoma, TXSep 26-28
1980 Flag of the United States.svg Bo Dowden54-10Ranger St. Lawrence River, NYSep 24-26
1981 Flag of the United States.svg Stanley Mitchell35-2Ranger Alabama River, ALOct 15-17
1982 Flag of the United States.svg Paul Elias32-8RangerAlabama River, ALOct 14-16
1983 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Nixon18-1Ranger Ohio River, OHAug 4-5
1984 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Clunn 75-9Ranger Arkansas River, ARAug 16-18
1985 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Chancellor45-0RangerArkansas River, AR Aug15-17
1986 Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Reed23-9Ranger Tennessee River, TNAug 14-16
1987 Flag of the United States.svg George Cochran15-5RangerOhio River, OHAug 13-15
1988 Flag of the United States.svg Guido Hibdon28-8Ranger James River, VAAug 25-27
1989 Flag of the United States.svg Hank Parker31-6RangerJames River, VAAug 17-19
1990 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Clunn 34-5RangerJames River, VAAug 23-25
1991 Flag of the United States.svg Ken Cook33-2Ranger Chesapeake Bay, MDAug 22-24
1992 Flag of the United States.svg Robert Hamilton, Jr59-6Ranger Lake Logan Martin, ALJul 30 - Aug 1
1993 Flag of the United States.svg David Fritts48-6RangerLake Logan Martin, ALAug 12-14
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Kerchal36-7Ranger High Rock Lake, NCJul 28-30
1995 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Davis 47-14RangerHigh Rock Lake, NCAug 3-5
1996 Flag of the United States.svg George Cochran31-14RangerLay Lake, ALAug 8-10
1997 Flag of the United States.svg Dion Hibdon34-13RangerLake Logan Martin, ALAug 7-9
1998 Flag of the United States.svg Denny Brauer46-3RangerHigh Rock Lake, NCAug 6-8
1999 Flag of the United States.svg Davy Hite55-10RangerLouisiana Delta, LAJul 29-31
2000 Flag of the United States.svg Woo Daves27-13Ranger Lake Michigan, ILJul 20-22
2001 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin VanDam 32-5TritonLouisiana Delta, LAAug 2-4
2002 Flag of the United States.svg Jay Yelas45-13Skeeter Lay Lake, ALJul 25-27
2003 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Iaconelli 37-14TritonLouisiana Delta, LAAug 1-3
2004 Flag of Japan.svg Takahiro Omori39-2Triton Lake Wylie, NCJul 31 - Aug 1
2005 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin VanDam 12-15NitroThree Rivers, PAJul 29-31
2006 Flag of the United States.svg Luke Clausen 56-2TritonKissimmee Chain, FLFeb 24-26
2007 Flag of the United States.svg Boyd Duckett48-10TritonLay Lake, ALFeb 23-25
2008 Flag of the United States.svg Alton Jones48-7SkeeterLake Hartwell, SCFeb 22-24
2009 Flag of the United States.svg Skeet Reese 54-13Champion Red River, LAFeb 20-22
2010 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin VanDam 51-6NitroLay Lake, ALFeb 19-21
2011 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin VanDam 69-11NitroLouisiana Delta, LAFeb 18-20
2012 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Lane51-6LegendRed River, LAFeb 24-26
2013 Flag of the United States.svg Cliff Pace 54-12SkeeterGrand Lake, OKFeb 22-24
2014 Flag of the United States.svg Randy Howell67-8TritonLake Guntersville, ALFeb 21-23
2015 Flag of the United States.svg Casey Ashley 50-1TritonLake Hartwell, SCFeb 20-22
2016 Flag of the United States.svg Edwin Evers 60-7 [2] NitroGrand Lake, OKMar 4-6
2017 Flag of the United States.svg Jordan Lee 56-10 [3] LegendLake Conroe, TXMar 24-26
2018 Flag of the United States.svg Jordan Lee 47-1 [4] RangerLake Hartwell, SCMar 16-18
2019 Flag of the United States.svg Ott Defoe 49-3 [5] NitroTennessee River, TNMar 15-17
2020 Flag of the United States.svg Hank Cherry 65-5BassCatLake Guntersville, ALMar 6-8
2021 Flag of the United States.svg Hank Cherry 50-15BassCatRay Roberts, TXJun 11-13
2022 Flag of the United States.svg Jason Christie54-0XpressLake Hartwell, SCMar 4-6
2023 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jeff Gustafson42-7LundTennessee River, TNMar 24-26
2024 Flag of the United States.svg Justin Hamner58-3FalconGrand Lake, OKMar 22-24

Record Book

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.