Bassmaster Classic - wikipedia 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. Contents 1 Rules and procedures 2 Past winners 3 Record Book 4 Jr. Bassmasters 5 References 6 External links 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. However, neither of the two women qualified within the top 20 and 2010 was the last year for women to be given a classic spot. As in previous years, they have to earn a spot in the opens. 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 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 Tommy Martin 33 - 7 N / A Wheeler Lake, AL Jack Hains 45 - 4 N / A Currituck Sound, NC 1976 Rick Clunn 59 - 15 Ranger Lake Guntersville, AL 1977 Rick Clunn 27 - 7 Glastron Kissimmee Chain, FL 1978 Bobby Murray 37 - 9 N / A Ross Barnett Reservoir, MS 1979 Hank Parker 31 N / A Lake Texoma, TX 1980 Bo Dowden 54 - 10 N / A St. Lawrence River, NY 1981 Stanley Mitchell 35 - 2 Ranger Alabama River, AL 1982 Paul Elias 32 - 8 Ranger Alabama River, AL Larry Nixon 18 - 1 Ranger Ohio River, OH 1984 Rick Clunn 75 - 9 N / A Arkansas River, AR 1985 Jack Chancellor 45 Ranger Arkansas River, AR 1986 Charlie Reed 23 - 9 Ranger Tennessee River, TN George Cochran 15 - 5 Ranger Ohio River, OH Guido Hibdon 28 - 8 Ranger James River, VA Hank Parker 31 - 6 Ranger James River, VA Rick Clunn 34 - 5 Tracker James River, VA 1991 Ken Cook 33 - 2 Javelin Chesapeake Bay, MD Robert Hamilton, Jr 59 - 6 Ranger Lake Logan Martin, AL David Fritts 48 - 6 Ranger Lake Logan Martin, AL Bryan Kerchal 36 - 7 Ranger High Rock Lake, NC 1995 Mark Davis 47 - 14 Basscat High Rock Lake, NC George Cochran 31 - 14 Ranger Lay Lake, AL Dion Hibdon 34 - 13 Ranger Lake Logan Martin, AL 1998 Denny Brauer 46 - 3 Ranger High Rock Lake, NC 1999 Davy Hite 55 - 10 Stratos Louisiana Delta, LA 2000 Woo Daves 27 - 13 Nitro Lake Michigan, IL Kevin VanDam 32 - 5 Nitro Louisiana Delta, LA 2002 Jay Yelas 45 - 13 Skeeter Lay Lake, AL 2003 Michael Iaconelli 37 - 14 Ranger Louisiana Delta, LA Takahiro Omori 39 - 2 Ranger Lake Wylie, NC 2005 Kevin VanDam 12 - 15 Nitro Three Rivers, PA 2006 Luke Clausen 56 - 2 Ranger 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 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 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, Red River, 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 Jump up ^ 2014 Bassmaster Classic results Jump up ^ `` Edwin Evers ''. Bassmaster. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 27. Jump up ^ `` tournaments Bassmaster ''. www.bassmaster.com. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 27. Jump up ^ `` tournaments Bassmaster ''. www.bassmaster.com. Retrieved 2018 - 03 - 18. 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 Fishing tournaments Professional Argungu Fishing Festival Bass Festival Bassmaster Classic City Park Big Bass Fishing Rodeo Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship Golden North Salmon Derby Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament Troutmasters Walmart FLW Tour World Fly Fishing Championships World Freshwater Angling Championships Organizations Bass Anglers Sportsman Society Confédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive FLW Outdoors Related Angling Best Angler ESPY Award Competitive bass fishing Intercollegiate fishing team champions National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame Fishing Portal Category Commons WikiProject Fishing Fisheries and fishing topic areas Fisheries Aquaculture Diversity of fish Fish diseases and parasites Fish farming Fisheries management Fisheries science Individual fishing quota Sustainable fishery Overfishing Wild fisheries Fishing Artisanal fishing Fisherman Fishing vessel History of fishing Industry List of harvested aquatic animals by weight By country Commercial fishing Marketing Markets Processing Products Seafood Recreation Angling Big - game fishing Catch and release Fishing tournaments Fly fishing Techniques Fish trap Fishfinder Fishing net Gathering seafood by hand Handline fishing Spearfishing Trawling Tackle Artificial flies Bait Bite indicators Hook Line Lures Rod Sinker Locations Fish ponds Fishing banks Fishing villages Marine habitats Glossary Index Outline Fishing portal Category Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bassmaster_Classic&oldid=834381057 '' Categories : Fishing tournaments Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 5 April 2018, at 12 : 38. 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Question: who won the 2015 bassmaster classic on lake hartwell
Answer: Casey Ashley