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]
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
| Year | Champion | Weight lbs oz | Boat | Lake | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 |  Bobby Murray | 43-11 | Rebel | Lake Mead, NV | Oct 20-22 |
| 1972 | Don Butler | 38-11 | Ranger | Percy Priest Reservoir, TN | Oct 25-27 |
| 1973 | Rayo Breckenridge | 52-8 | BassCat | Clarks Hill Lake, SC | Oct 24-26 |
| 1974 | Tommy Martin | 33-7 | BassCat | Wheeler Lake, AL | Oct 30 - Nov 1 |
| 1975 | Jack Hains | 45-4 | Ranger | Currituck Sound, NC | Oct 29-31 |
| 1976 | Rick Clunn | 59-15 | Ranger | Lake Guntersville, AL | Nov 3-5 |
| 1977 | Rick Clunn | 27-7 | Ranger | Kissimmee Chain, FL | Oct 26-28 |
| 1978 | Bobby Murray | 37-9 | Ranger | Ross Barnett Reservoir, MS | Oct 25-27 |
| 1979 | Hank Parker | 31-0 | Ranger | Lake Texoma, TX | Sep 26-28 |
| 1980 | Bo Dowden | 54-10 | Ranger | St. Lawrence River, NY | Sep 24-26 |
| 1981 | Stanley Mitchell | 35-2 | Ranger | Alabama River, AL | Oct 15-17 |
| 1982 | Paul Elias | 32-8 | Ranger | Alabama River, AL | Oct 14-16 |
| 1983 | Larry Nixon | 18-1 | Ranger | Ohio River, OH | Aug 4-5 |
| 1984 | Rick Clunn | 75-9 | Ranger | Arkansas River, AR | Aug 16-18 |
| 1985 | Jack Chancellor | 45-0 | Ranger | Arkansas River, AR Aug | 15-17 |
| 1986 | Charlie Reed | 23-9 | Ranger | Tennessee River, TN | Aug 14-16 |
| 1987 | George Cochran | 15-5 | Ranger | Ohio River, OH | Aug 13-15 |
| 1988 | Guido Hibdon | 28-8 | Ranger | James River, VA | Aug 25-27 |
| 1989 | Hank Parker | 31-6 | Ranger | James River, VA | Aug 17-19 |
| 1990 | Rick Clunn | 34-5 | Ranger | James River, VA | Aug 23-25 |
| 1991 | Ken Cook | 33-2 | Ranger | Chesapeake Bay, MD | Aug 22-24 |
| 1992 | Robert Hamilton, Jr | 59-6 | Ranger | Lake Logan Martin, AL | Jul 30 - Aug 1 |
| 1993 | David Fritts | 48-6 | Ranger | Lake Logan Martin, AL | Aug 12-14 |
| 1994 | Bryan Kerchal | 36-7 | Ranger | High Rock Lake, NC | Jul 28-30 |
| 1995 | Mark Davis | 47-14 | Ranger | High Rock Lake, NC | Aug 3-5 |
| 1996 | George Cochran | 31-14 | Ranger | Lay Lake, AL | Aug 8-10 |
| 1997 | Dion Hibdon | 34-13 | Ranger | Lake Logan Martin, AL | Aug 7-9 |
| 1998 | Denny Brauer | 46-3 | Ranger | High Rock Lake, NC | Aug 6-8 |
| 1999 | Davy Hite | 55-10 | Ranger | Louisiana Delta, LA | Jul 29-31 |
| 2000 | Woo Daves | 27-13 | Ranger | Lake Michigan, IL | Jul 20-22 |
| 2001 | Kevin VanDam | 32-5 | Triton | Louisiana Delta, LA | Aug 2-4 |
| 2002 | Jay Yelas | 45-13 | Skeeter | Lay Lake, AL | Jul 25-27 |
| 2003 | Michael Iaconelli | 37-14 | Triton | Louisiana Delta, LA | Aug 1-3 |
| 2004 |  Takahiro Omori | 39-2 | Triton | Lake Wylie, NC | Jul 31 - Aug 1 |
| 2005 | Kevin VanDam | 12-15 | Nitro | Three Rivers, PA | Jul 29-31 |
| 2006 | Luke Clausen | 56-2 | Triton | Kissimmee Chain, FL | Feb 24-26 |
| 2007 | Boyd Duckett | 48-10 | Triton | Lay Lake, AL | Feb 23-25 |
| 2008 | Alton Jones | 48-7 | Skeeter | Lake Hartwell, SC | Feb 22-24 |
| 2009 | Skeet Reese | 54-13 | Champion | Red River, LA | Feb 20-22 |
| 2010 | Kevin VanDam | 51-6 | Nitro | Lay Lake, AL | Feb 19-21 |
| 2011 | Kevin VanDam | 69-11 | Nitro | Louisiana Delta, LA | Feb 18-20 |
| 2012 | Chris Lane | 51-6 | Legend | Red River, LA | Feb 24-26 |
| 2013 | Cliff Pace | 54-12 | Skeeter | Grand Lake, OK | Feb 22-24 |
| 2014 | Randy Howell | 67-8 | Triton | Lake Guntersville, AL | Feb 21-23 |
| 2015 | Casey Ashley | 50-1 | Triton | Lake Hartwell, SC | Feb 20-22 |
| 2016 | Edwin Evers | 60-7 [2] | Nitro | Grand Lake, OK | Mar 4-6 |
| 2017 | Jordan Lee | 56-10 [3] | Legend | Lake Conroe, TX | Mar 24-26 |
| 2018 | Jordan Lee | 47-1 [4] | Ranger | Lake Hartwell, SC | Mar 16-18 |
| 2019 | Ott Defoe | 49-3 [5] | Nitro | Tennessee River, TN | Mar 15-17 |
| 2020 | Hank Cherry | 65-5 | BassCat | Lake Guntersville, AL | Mar 6-8 |
| 2021 | Hank Cherry | 50-15 | BassCat | Ray Roberts, TX | Jun 11-13 |
| 2022 | Jason Christie | 54-0 | Xpress | Lake Hartwell, SC | Mar 4-6 |
| 2023 |  Jeff Gustafson | 42-7 | Lund | Tennessee River, TN | Mar 24-26 |
| 2023 | Justin Hamner | 58-3 | Falcon | Grand Lake, OK | Mar 22-24 |
Record Book
- Largest Bass Caught: 11-10, Preston Clark, Toho, FL 2006
- Heaviest Venue Total Weight: 54-13, Red River, LA 2009
- Heaviest Total Weight: 75-9, Rick Clunn, Arkansas River, AR 1984
- 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