Bassmaster Classic

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"Bassmasters" redirects here. For the cartoon episode, see Bass Masters (The Ren & Stimpy Show).

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.

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

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File: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

In 1968, Ray Scott officially formed and incorporated the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.). Don Butler from Oklahoma would become the first B.A.S.S. member after paying Ray Scott $100 for a lifetime membership. The first ever Bassmaster Magazine would also be published in the same year.

Rules and procedures

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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.

Live Scope

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The debate of the tool known as "Live Scope" has been a controversial topic since its introduction. Up until 2015, anglers would have to use traditional sonar, local charts, and traditional fishing methods such as 'flippin' and pitching to locate and catch fish. In 2015 however, Garmin, an American technology company, developed the first live scanning sonar. This new technology, known as live scope, would sweep the bass fishing world by storm allowing anglers to watch the fish strike their bait in real time. Live scope made sonar, underwater charts, and traditional fishing methods obsolete as you could watch everything happing underwater on a high resolution screen.

In 2021, live scope was used in the Bassmaster Classic for the first time. The anglers who used it would go on to consistently be top performers at the event. Bassmaster angler Jason Christie would go on to say "It was the easiest fishing I’d ever had in my life". The success of live scope would go on to spark many debates on whether contestants should be allowed to use such a tool. Many anglers advocate for it, but just as many hope it will be banned.

Before the 2025 season, B.A.S.S was pressured into making a decision on the application of live scope. On September 4th, B.A.S.S released a statement explaining that live scope would not be banned. Instead, all anglers participating in the Bassmaster Elite Series and contenders for the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, would be forced to follow equipment standardization rules. These rules would implement significant guidelines on what and how much technology can be used in the event.

Past editions

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Year Edition Champion Weight lbs oz Boat Main body of water Host town/city Weigh-in venue Takeoff (launch) location Outdoors Expo venue Date
1971 I United States Bobby Murray 43-11 Rebel Lake Mead, NV [a] — — — Oct 20-22 [2]
1972 II United States Don Butler 38-11 Ranger Percy Priest Reservoir, TN [b] — — — Oct 25-27 [3]
1973 III United States Rayo Breckenridge 52-8 BassCat Clarks Hill Lake, SC [c] — — — Oct 24-26 [4]
1974 IV United States Tommy Martin 33-7 BassCat Wheeler Lake, AL — Oct 30 - Nov 1
1975 V United States Jack Hains 45-4 Ranger Currituck Sound, NC — Oct 29-31
1976 VI United States Rick Clunn 59-15 Ranger Lake Guntersville, AL — Nov 3-5
1977 VII United States Rick Clunn 27-7 Ranger Kissimmee Chain, FL — Oct 26-28
1978 VIII United States Bobby Murray 37-9 Ranger Ross Barnett Reservoir, MS — Oct 25-27
1979 IX United States Hank Parker 31-0 Ranger Lake Texoma, TX — Sep 26-28
1980 X United States Bo Dowden 54-10 Ranger St. Lawrence River, NY Alexandria Bay — Sep 24-26 [5]
1981 XI United States Stanley Mitchell 35-2 Ranger Alabama River, AL Montgomery Montgomery Civic Center Montgomery Civic Center South Hall Oct 15-17 [6]
1982 XII United States Paul Elias 32-8 Ranger Alabama River, AL Montgomery Montgomery Civic Center Montgomery Civic Center South Hall Oct 14-16 [6]
1983 XIII United States Larry Nixon 18-1 Ranger Ohio River, OH Cincinnati Aug 4-5 [7]
1984 XIV United States Rick Clunn 75-9 Ranger Arkansas River, AR Aug 16-18
1985 XV United States Jack Chancellor 45-0 Ranger Arkansas River, AR Aug 15-17
1986 XVI United States Charlie Reed 23-9 Ranger Tennessee River, TN Aug 14-16
1987 XVII United States George Cochran 15-5 Ranger Ohio River, KY Louisville Aug 13-15 [8]
1988 XVIII United States Guido Hibdon 28-8 Ranger James River, VA Richmond Richmond Coliseum Aug 25-27 [6]
1989 XVIV United States Hank Parker 31-6 Ranger James River, VA Richmond Richmond Coliseum Aug 17-19 [6]
1990 XV United States Rick Clunn 34-5 Ranger James River, VA Richmond Richmond Coliseum Aug 23-25 [6]
1991 XVI United States Ken Cook 33-2 Ranger Chesapeake Bay, MD Aug 22-24
1992 XVII United States Robert Hamilton, Jr 59-6 Ranger Lake Logan Martin, AL Jul 30 - Aug 1
1993 XVIII United States David Fritts 48-6 Ranger Lake Logan Martin, AL Aug 12-14
1994 XVIV United States Bryan Kerchal 36-7 Ranger High Rock Lake, NC Jul 28-30
1995 XVV United States Mark Davis 47-14 Ranger High Rock Lake, NC Aug 3-5
1996 XVI United States George Cochran 31-14 Ranger Lay Lake, AL Aug 8-10
1997 XVII United States Dion Hibdon 34-13 Ranger Lake Logan Martin, AL Aug 7-9
1998 XVIII United States Denny Brauer 46-3 Ranger High Rock Lake, NC Aug 6-8
1999 XXIV United States Davy Hite 55-10 Ranger Louisiana Delta, LA New Orleans Louisiana Superdome Jul 29-31 [6]
2000 XXX United States Woo Daves 27-13 Ranger Lake Michigan, IL Chicago Soldier Field McCormick Place Jul 20-22 [6][9]
2001 XXXI United States Kevin VanDam 32-5 Triton Louisiana Delta, LA New Orleans Louisiana Superdome Aug 2-4 [6]
2002 XXXII United States Jay Yelas 45-13 Skeeter Lay Lake, AL Jul 25-27
2003 XXXIII United States Michael Iaconelli 37-14 Triton Louisiana Delta, LA New Orleans Louisiana Superdome Aug 1-3 [6]
2004 XXXXIV Japan Takahiro Omori 39-2 Triton Lake Wylie, NC Jul 31 - Aug 1
2005 XXXXV United States Kevin VanDam 12-15 Nitro Three Rivers, PA Jul 29-31
2006 XXXXVI United States Luke Clausen 56-2 Triton Kissimmee Chain, FL Feb 24-26
2007 XXXXVII United States Boyd Duckett 48-10 Triton Lay Lake, AL Feb 23-25
2008 XXXXVIII United States Alton Jones 48-7 Skeeter Lake Hartwell, SC Feb 22-24
2009 XIL United States Skeet Reese 54-13 Champion Red River, LA Shreveport-Bossier City Feb 20-22 [10]
2010 XL United States Kevin VanDam 51-6 Nitro Lay Lake, AL Birmingham Feb 19-21 [10]
2011 XLI United States Kevin VanDam 69-11 Nitro Louisiana Delta, LA New Orleans Louisiana Superdome Feb 18-20 [6][10]
2012 XLII United States Chris Lane 51-6 Legend Red River, LA Feb 24-26
2013 XLIII United States Cliff Pace 54-12 Skeeter Grand Lake, OK Feb 22-24
2014 XLIV United States Randy Howell 67-8 Triton Lake Guntersville, AL Feb 21-23
2015 XLV United States Casey Ashley 50-1 Triton Lake Hartwell, SC Feb 20-22
2016 XVLI United States Edwin Evers 60-7 Nitro Grand Lake, OK Mar 4-6 [11]
2017 XLVII United States Jordan Lee 56-10 Legend Lake Conroe, TX Houston Minute Maid Park George R. Brown Convention Center Mar 24-26 [6][12]
2018 XLVIII United States Jordan Lee 47-1 Ranger Lake Hartwell, SC Greenville Bon Secours Wellness Arena Green Pond Landing and Event Center (in Anderson, SC) TD Convention Center Mar 16-18 [13]
2019 49th United States Ott Defoe 49-3 [14] Nitro Tennessee River, TN Mar 15-17
2020 50th United States Hank Cherry 65-5 BassCat Lake Guntersville, AL Mar 6-8
2021 51st United States Hank Cherry 50-15 BassCat Lake Ray Roberts, TX Jun 11-13
2022 52nd United States Jason Christie 54-0 Xpress Lake Hartwell, SC Greenville Bon Secours Wellness Arena Green Pond Landing and Event Center (in Anderson, SC) Greenville Convention Center Mar 4-6 [15]
2023 53rd Canada Jeff Gustafson 42-7 Lund Tennessee River, TN Knoxville Thompson–Boling Arena Volunteer Landing Knoxville Convention Center Mar 24-26 [16]
2024 54th United States Justin Hamner 58-3 Falcon Grand Lake, OK Tulsa BOK Center Wolf Creek Park Cox Business Convention Center Mar 22-24 [17]
2025 55th United States Easton Fothergill 76-15 Skeeter Lake Ray Roberts, TX Fort Worth Dickies Arena Ray Roberts Lake State Park Du Bois Unit (in Pilot Point, TX) Fort Worth Convention Center Mar 21-23 [18][19][20]
2026 56th TBD TBD TBD Tennessee River, TN Knoxville Thompson–Boling Arena Volunteer Landing Knoxville Convention Center Mar 13-15 [21][22]

Record Book

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  • Largest Bass Caught: 11-10, Preston Clark, Toho, FL 2006
  • Heaviest Venue Total Weight: 76-15, Easton Fothergill, Lake Ray Roberts, TX 2025
  • Heaviest Total Weight: 76-15, Easton Fothergill, Lake Ray Roberts, Fort Worth, TX, 2025
  • 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

Note

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  1. ^ competitors were hosted at the Union Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
  2. ^ the event was held at a "mystery lake", with competitors not knowing its location until being brought there
  3. ^ lake was located in McCormick, South Carolina

References

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  1. ^ 2014 Bassmaster Classic results
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