Bassmaster Classic 2015: Results and Analysis from Annual Event
Feb 23, 2015
Angler Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., watches as Randy Howell, Springville, Ala., reacts to learning that he has won the Bassmasters Classic at the weigh-in, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Hal Yeager)
You've heard of home-field advantage. You've heard of home-court advantage. Have you heard of home-lake advantage?
That is exactly what Casey Ashley experienced during his 2015 Bassmaster Classic victory Sunday when he hauled in a final day's catch of 20 pounds, three ounces to bring his winning total to 50 pounds, one ounce over the course of three days. It was enough to beat out Bobby Lane by just more than three pounds.
The Bassmaster Classic took place on Lake Hartwell in Ashley's home state of South Carolina.
Here is a look at the entire top 10 on the leaderboard.
Position
Fisher
Total Fish
Total Weight
1
Casey Ashley
15
50-1
2
Bobby Lane
14
46-15
3
Takahiro Omori
15
44-3
4
Dean Rojas
15
43-13
5
Jacob Powroznik
14
43-1
6
Michael Iaconelli
14
42-6
7
Brett Hite
14
41-11
8
Mike McClelland
14
41-7
9
Justin Lucas
13
40-2
10
Chris Lane
14
38-11
While Ashley will likely be the first one to say that he is more pleased with the championship than the prize, he's probably not going to complain about the $300,000 and spot in next year's classic that awaits the winner.
Bart Boatwright of The Greenville News captured the winning moment while Sefton Ipock of the Independent Mail passed along a picture of the victory lap:
While a Bassmaster Classic victory is enough to make headlines on its own, the fact that the event took place on Ashley's home lake is the real story.
Brent Frazee of The Kansas City Star noted that Ashley's father actually gave the fisherman some homemade lures and bait called a Blade Runner, which helped him haul in an incredible final-day tally. He was sitting back in fifth place before Sunday's competition began, and his jump certainly turned some heads.
Ashley commented on what it meant to capture the crown, via Frazee: "To win the Bassmaster Classic in my home state, in my home town and on my home lake, that's just a dream come true."
Ashley actually took somewhat of a different strategy than most of his competitors, which paid off in style. Instead of staying in shallow water near the docks like many of the other fishermen did Sunday, Ashley went into very deep water.
Turns out, it was the right call.
Lane, who finished in second place, was one of the fishermen who caught plenty of fish close to a dock, including the largest fish caught on Sunday. That was a six-pound, six-ounce lunker that helped him etch his name near the top of the leaderboard.
However, the day belonged to Ashley, which was only fitting considering the location.
The next question is how he will parlay his fourth career B.A.S.S. tournament victory into momentum moving forward. It was his first win since 2011 but also arguably his most important given the location and the magnitude of the Bassmaster Classic.
If nothing else, it will give him plenty of confidence in his next event. Still, Sunday was all about celebrating the moment, and that is exactly what he will do for the foreseeable future.
Bassmaster Classic 2015: Dates, TV Schedule, Live Stream and Event Info
Feb 19, 2015
Randy Howell, Springville, Ala., holds up two bass at a weigh-in, Sunday Feb. 23, 2014 in Birmingham, Ala. that helped him win the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville. (AP Photo/Hal Yeager)
South Carolina's Lake Hartwell will be trafficked by anglers when 56 of the top fishermen in the country compete in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic this weekend.
With few big sporting events going on this time of year, audiences will cast their attention toward Lake Hartwell to see which angler reels in the largest catch. Fishing is often a relaxing sport, but this competition will be anything but. The stakes are high.
The winner will earn $300,000, and that should bring out the fiercest side of every angler. Four-time winner Kevin VanDam failed to qualify for the event despite having competed in 24 installments of the Classic during his career. That makes for a wide-open field.
ESPN2 won't carry live coverage of the event, but the network will provide extensive coverage in March. Be sure to watch to see who wins the big bucks.
TV Schedule
Network
Air Date (ET)
Start Time (ET)
End Time (ET)
Show
ESPN2
Sat 3/7/2015
7 a.m.
8 a.m.
2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic: Day 1
ESPN2
Sat 3/7/2015
8 a.m.
10 a.m.
2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic: Day 2
ESPN2
Sun 3/8/2015
10:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic: Championship
ESPN2
Sat 3/14/2015
6 a.m.
7 a.m.
2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic: Day 1
ESPN2
Sat 3/14/2015
7 a.m.
9 a.m.
2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic: Day 2
ESPN2
Sun 3/15/2015
5 a.m.
7 a.m.
2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic: Championship
ESPN2
Sun 3/22/2015
8 a.m.
9 a.m.
2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic: "Winners Circle"
ESPN2
Sun 4/5/2015
7 a.m.
8 a.m.
2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic: "Winners Circle
Note: Fans can live stream the action on the BassCam, courtesy of Bassmaster.com.
Prediction
Without VanDam scouring the waters of Lake Hartwell, there's a wide-open field. Greg Hackney is an early favorite, though, and his resume is impressive.
Hackney comes in on the heels of a stellar year that has him within reach of a first in the sport of competitive fishing, as NOLA.com's Todd Masson writes:
Hackney put together the most impressive season ever for a Louisiana angler in 2014, claiming the Angler of the Year title after building a big lead in the race and finishing 24th in the AOY championship on Bays de Noc, Mich., in September. He earned a $100,000 paycheck and a target on his back entering his 12th Classic.
Hackney is aiming at Hartwell to become the first angler to complete the Grand Slam of professional bass fishing -- AOY titles in both BASS and FLW, the FLW Forrest Wood Cup and the Classic.
Hackney's best finish at the Bassmaster Classic came in 2008, when it was on this same lake. He finished in fifth. With 12 Classics under his belt and a ton of success in 2014, Hackney is a favorite.
Casey Ashley is another competitor sure to catch a few monster fish because of several reasons highlighted by Bassmaster editor Ken Duke, via Frank Sargeant of AL.com:
First, he's local ... though a local has never actually won the Classic. Second, he won the FLW tournament on Hartwell in March of 2014, so he knows what to do there at this time of year. Third, he's an outstanding jig angler, and there's a better than even chance that this tournament will be won on a jig. And finally, he's been doing all the homework -- like networking with the best local anglers . . . .
In a field of 56, anybody can emerge as a contender after the first day of fishing. All it takes is one fish to put an angler over the top.
But in the end, it comes down to consistency. The angler who can bring in larger fish cast after cast will be the one who earns the cash purse at the end of the tournament. It takes five decent fish each day to stay in the running. The largest fish doesn't necessarily matter, nor does catching the most fish.
The 29th installment of the Bassmaster Classic is what fishing fans have been waiting for. The field is set, and the anglers are ready to start hunting for bass this weekend.
Bassmaster Classic 2014: Final Day-by-Day Results and Leaderboard
Feb 24, 2014
Randy Howell, Springville, Ala., holds up two bass at a weigh-in, Sunday Feb. 23, 2014 in Birmingham, Ala. that helped him win the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville. (AP Photo/Hal Yeager)
The 2014 Bassmaster Classic saw history made as a new champion walked away with a haul in prize money and a memorable comeback. Alabama's Randy Howell made an inspiring run on the final day to claim top honors, and the stars aligned to deliver his mammoth victory.
Todd Masson of The Times-Picayune described Howell's third and final day of the Classic:
He stopped at the Big Spring Creek bridge across U.S. 431 right in the midst of Guntersville, and there proceeded to haul in one lunker bass after another, often on consecutive casts, while a crowd that quickly assembled on the bridge right above his boat cheered him on. Howell put over 22 pounds in the live well in that insane flurry, later culling up to his total bag of 29.2. He released what he estimated at close to 30 pounds more.
Not only did Howell win a $300,000 purse, but he also made some history, according to Frank Sargeant of The Huntsville Times: "B.A.S.S. statistician Ken Duke said Howell's charge from 11th place to first was the greatest comeback in Classic history."
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Total
Place
Name
Weight (fish)
Weight (fish)
Weight (fish)
Weight (fish)
Prize Money
1
Randy Howell
20.3 (5)
18.3 (5)
29.2 (5)
67.8 (15)
$300,000
2
Paul Mueller
9.10 (3)
32.3 (5)
24.11 (5)
66.8 (13)
$45,000
3
Edwin Evers
26.13 (5)
20.9 (5)
18.5 (5)
65.11 (15)
$40,000
4
Ott DeFoe
20.10 (5)
22.11 (5)
20.1 (5)
63.6 (15)
$30,000
5
Randall Tharp
27.8 (5)
19.13 (5)
15.7 (5)
62.12 (15)
$25,000
6
Jordan Lee
13.7 (4)
24.0 (5)
24.10 (5)
62.1 (14)
$22,000
7
Todd Faircloth
16.6 (5)
21.3 (5)
23.8 (5)
61.1 (15)
$21,500
8
David Kilgore
18.15 (5)
16.11 (5)
24.13 (5)
60.7 (15)
$21,000
9
Doug Thompson
12.7 (4)
22.7 (5)
25.5 (5)
60.3 (14)
$20,500
10
Adam Wagner
14.14 (5)
24.3 (5)
20.2 (5)
59.3 (15)
$20,000
According to Brent Frazee of The Kansas City Star, Howell readily admitted he had a banner performance on the water at just the right time. "That was the best day of bass fishing I’ve ever had," Howell said.
Howell was also willing to accept that he had a special blessing working in his favor, per Frazee: "I was going down the lake and I heard this voice tell me, 'You can have a good day or you can have a great day.' I know this might sound weird, but I’m convinced that was God talking to me. I just got this urge to change my plans on where I was heading, and turn around and go fish this other creek."
Whether God intervened in the results is open to interpretation, but if certain athletes believe there is spiritual influence on home runs, touchdowns and three-points shots, certainly bass fishing is within the divine purview.
However, as Frazee pointed out, there were also empirical reasons for Howell to stop at the location he did: "It wasn’t like his change of plans was blind luck, though. Howell had caught bass in Spring Creek at end of the second day and could tell by looking at his electronics that there were plenty of bass there."
Nevertheless, Howell made history with his haul on Day 3 by bringing in the heaviest bag of fish he has ever captured. It was also his first title at the Bassmaster Classic in his 21-year career.
Paul Mueller overcame a brutal showing on Day 1 with a massive Day 2 haul that weighed over 32 pounds. Despite bringing in just 13 fish, fewer than any other competitor who finished in the top 17, Mueller finished in second place and only one pound behind Howell.
As noted by Masson, Howell primarily used a "crawfish red Rapala DT6 and a prototype Livingston Lures medium-running crankbait, also in crawfish red." Surely, that is now his lucky lure and crawfish red is his new favorite color.
The next tournament on the slate is the Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Seminole in Georgia from March 13-16, and the series continues the next week on St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla.
Howell will hope to lure another strong finish. With the way he fished at the Classic, he won't even need the luck of the Irish in those competitions sandwiched around St. Patrick's Day.
Bassmaster Classic 2014: Weigh-in Results and Leaderboard
Feb 21, 2014
Derek Remitz, of Grant Ala., currently in second place, competes in the final round of the Bassmaster Classic in Lake Cataouatche in Jefferson Parish, La., Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The biggest bass fishing event in the world began Friday, Feb. 21 from Lake Guntersville, Okla. More than 50 of the world's best bass fishermen are ready to vie for the ultimate prize. Here is the latest update on the contest that runs from Feb. 21-23.
Updated by Brian Mazique at 7:30 p.m. EST on Feb. 23
Day 3 Results
After all the fish were weighed, Randy Howell walked away as the 2014 Bassmaster champion. His total three-day haul was 67 pounds and eight ounces. Howell did it with consistency and a huge day on Sunday. The Springfield, Ala. native came through in front of a good number of adoring fans.
He talked about that inspiration with Todd Masson of The Times-Picayune:
"This is so awesome because you never get a crowd who gets to see you fishing, but I've got 70 to 100 people on this bridge watching me fish. It's a magical morning."
Bassmaster captures Howell's triumphant moment with this tweet and vine.
He caught five fish on each day, but on Sunday the total weight of his catches was 29 pounds and two ounces. That was enough to hold off Day 2's biggest star Paul Mueller. Howell jumped up from 11th place to get the close win.
How close was it?
Howell edged Mueller by just one pound. Here's a look at the final leaderboard.
Howell's 29-plus pound haul was the biggest of the day. Champions save their best for last, and that's exactly what Howell did on Sunday.
Biggest Fish of the Day
As a consolation prize of sorts went to Ott DeFoe. He snagged the biggest fish of the day. The catch was eight pounds and four ounces. The fish helped vault DeFoe to fourth in the final standings.
---End of Update---
Updated by Brian Mazique at 7:30 p.m. EST on Feb. 22
Day 2 Results
Edwin Evers Day 2 leader
Randall Tharp had a solid day fishing on Saturday, but he couldn't hold on to his lead from Day 1. Edwin Evers inched passed him with a total two-day weight of 47 pounds six ounces. It was just one ounce more than Tharp's two-day haul.
With two days still remaining, this one could be nip and tuck until the last fish is weighed. Here's a look at the top 10 leaderboard after Saturday.
After catching only three fish on Friday for a total weight of nine pounds, 10 ounces, Mueller exploded with five fish for a whopping 32 pounds and three ounces.
Man Versus Fish captured a glimpse of Mueller's big prizes in this tweet.
Mueller's big day sent him skyrocketing up the leaderboard. Heading into Sunday, Mueller is now fifth, despite having caught two less fish than the rest of the men in the top 10.
It ain't the amount of fish, it's the fatness of the haul.
Biggest Fish of the Day - Jordan Lee
The Alabama native is only fourth on the leaderboard, but no one caught a bigger fish than the eight pound, eight ounce monster Lee reeled in.
This is Lee's first Bassmaster Classic. If nothing else, he's made a name for himself by catching the day's biggest fish. As Mueller showed with his dramatic climb up the leaderboard, all it takes is one big day to make a move.
Lee is still in range to do some damage at 14th with a day of fishing remaining.
---End of Update---
Day 1 Update
Randall Tharp sits in uncharted territory, as he is the leader after Day 1 of the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. He caught five fish for a total of 27 pounds and eight ounces on Friday, putting him slightly ahead of Edwin Evers, per Bassmaster:
As the event started, the weather at Lake Guntersville looked to be optimal, which likely led to some of the impressive showings by many of the anglers:
Although Tharp came into Birmingham, Ala., on a good run, he had an unimpressive record at the event, so his Day 1 showing was a bit of a surprise in that respect.
This is only his second appearance at the Bassmaster Classic. His first one ended rather unceremoniously, as he finished 35th after amassing a total weight of 18 pounds, eight ounces. In just one day, Tharp was nearly 10 pounds better.
He's been on a great run recently, though, and in an interview after the first day, he said that Lake Guntersville is the place where he fell in love with tournament bass fishing.
Sometimes the stars align for an angler, and that seemed to happen for Tharp on Friday.
But the event is far from over.
Right behind Tharp sits Evers, who reeled in another five fish weighing in at 26 pounds, 13 ounces. For the third time in four years, Evers came up just short in the Angler of the Year race, and that has likely provided him with a lot of motivation heading into 2014.
With his Day 1 haul, he set himself up well for the rest of the weekend, and he'll be looking to parlay any success in Alabama to the entire year as a whole.
A little further down the leaderboard is Fred Roumbanis, who's the Carhartt Big Bass leader after bringing in a huge nine-pound-plus bass:
That fish helped to boost his total to 23 pounds, two ounces, which is good enough for fourth.
The problem, though, with relying on a huge bass to pad your final numbers is that you can't always count on reeling one in. Roumbanis will have to find a little more consistency if he's to remain within striking distance of the leader.
It remains to be seen whether Tharp can hold onto his lead. One day alone doesn't win the Classic. He'll have to remain focused the rest of the weekend and collect some impressive hauls. Evers, Roumbanis and David Walker are right there nipping at his heels.
With his performance on Friday, though, Tharp put himself in the driver's seat.
Bassmaster Classic 2014: Dates, TV Schedule and Event Info
Feb 20, 2014
Current leader Kevin VanDam, of Kalamazoo, Mich., foreground, and Keith Combs, of Del Rio, Texas, compete during the Bassmaster Classic during the final round in Lake Cataouatche in Jefferson Parish, La., Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The fishing community will cast its attention toward Alabama's Lake Guntersville on Feb. 21-23 as the 2014 Bassmaster Classic crowns a champion.
The Birmingham-area lake looks like a fertile ground for some big catches. As the event's official website tells us, the event "has the potential to produce record breaking weights and attendance at the weigh-ins."
Fifty-five competitors are scheduled to compete. There were 56 qualifiers, but former champion Cliff Pace was forced to withdraw due to a hunting injury.
With ample and big fish expected to be swarming around these world-class anglers, this should be a riveting competition. Luckily, there are several ways to enjoy the action.
The event's official website offers several streaming options, which are discussed here. Streams include a live weigh-in camera.
ESPN is not showing anything live, but will be showing extensive coverage:
Channel
Date
Time (EST)
ESPN 2
Sat 3/1/2014
10-11 a.m.
ESPN 2
Sun 3/2/2014
6-7 a.m.
ESPN 2
Sun 3/2/2014
7-9 a.m.
ESPN 2
Sun 3/2/2014
8-10 p.m.
ESPN 2
Sun 3/9/2014
5-7 a.m.
ESPN 2
Sun 3/9/2014
7-9 a.m.
ESPN 2
Sat 3/15/2014
8-9 a.m.
ESPN 2
Sun 3/23/2014
8-9 a.m.
Prediction
There is no such thing as a sure thing in fishing—in any aspect of it. That is especially true when trying to pick a winner of this event.
One name stands out above the others for me, however: Kevin VanDam.
VanDam (KVD) is a four-time Bassmaster Classics champion and a seven-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and he feels better than ever about this event.
KVD said on The Times-Picayune's NOLA.com: "Most Classics I'm scrambling right down to the wire trying to get ready. For this one, I feel prepared on all levels. My tackle prep is done, my equipment is read—and I feel prepared mentally."
VanDam also scouted Lake Guntersville. "It was a very meaningful trip for me," VanDam said per NOLA.com. "Lakes that have a lot of grass change from year to year. I'm hoping that seeing it last fall will help me."
With the vast water space this competition will feature, VanDam's experience and scouting will be invaluable.
Bassmaster Classic 2013 Results: Cliff Pace Deserved Win After Dominant Weekend
Feb 25, 2013
Cliff Pace is the 2013 Bassmaster Classic champion after a dominant weekend that saw the 32-year-old lead from the opening day right through to the end.
Pace's final mark of 54 pounds, 12 ounces was enough to go home with a comfortable lead over Brandon Palaniuk, who finished in second position.
The 32-year-old had led the competition from the opening day—posting catches of 21-8 on the first day and then 21-12 on the second to hold a commanding lead. Which, despite his smallest catch on the final day, turned out to be the difference in the tournament this weekend.
The man from Petal, Miss. was quoted after the event via Bassmaster: "This is a gift that I will always cherish. This is the ultimate high of a career, a life-changing moment."
Pace became the 43rd man ever to win the Bassmaster Classic.
And truth be told, there was never going to be another outcome in this one after the dominance that Pace had established early in the competition.
With a huge lead in hand and slow fishing forecast for the final day, Pace was seemingly in an impossible position to lose the event—as shown by his smaller catch on the final day but comfortable tournament victory nonetheless.
He had been consistent right throughout the event and deserved the title to fall his way this year, after finishing runner-up in the event in 2008.
Pace took home the mammoth $500,000 prize reward as well as the most coveted trophy of the sport to chalk up what is without doubt the greatest win of his career. He also picked up the Carhartt Big Bass of the 2013 Classic, which will result in another $2,500 coming his way.
All in all, it was a big weekend for Pace, but a deserved one.
He fished well throughout the tournament and had a consistency that no other angler could lay claim to. In the end, it was that consistency that earned him a big lead heading into the final day and a deserved championship trophy at the end of the weekend.
Thoroughly deserved victory for the 32-year-old Pace.
Full standings and weights can be seen via Bassmaster.com
Bassmaster Classic 2013: Weigh-in Results and Leaderboard
Feb 24, 2013
Cliff Pace is your Bassmaster Classic champion after reeling in 54 pounds and 12 ounces of bass over three days. Last year's runner-up would not be denied this year, getting off to a strong start in the first day and never surrendering his lead from there.
Pace actually had a mediocre day on the event’s final day, reeling in just four fish worth nearly 12 pounds. The day’s leader was actually Hank Cherry, whose total of 17 pounds, 14 ounces of bass was extremely impressive considering the slow fishing. Jason Christie, meanwhile, had the day’s biggest bass, which weighed in at six pounds, three ounces.
The event came down to the final few fishermen. Brandon Palaniuk was the second-to-last fisherman to weigh in, and his haul of 15 pounds, four ounces was enough to put him in the lead, at least for the moment.
Pace was the last, and despite his worst day of the event, he reeled in enough to win the event and the $500,000. Two consecutive days of 21-plus pounds of fish gave Pace a lead that was nearly insurmountable, giving him a nice cushion heading into Sunday.
While Palaniuk and Cherry gave him a scare in the event's final weigh-ins, Pace deservedly earned his first Bassmaster Classic championship.
Here you can check out the Top-25. The full leaderboard can be found on Bassmaster.com.
Bassmaster Classic 2013: Top Contenders Heading into Day 3
Feb 24, 2013
The 2013 Bassmaster Classic is in its final day of competition and there are some top contenders who are primed to take home the crown on Sunday.
After two days, Cliff Pace is at the top of the leaderboard and well ahead of the pack, followed by Brandon Palaniuk and Michael Iaconelli.
Other anglers such as Hank Cherry, Jason Christie and Kevin VanDam all have an outside chance to make a run at first place on Day 3.
Let's take a look at the top contenders and how they got here.
Cliff Pace, Leader: 43 Pounds, 4 Ounces (10 Fish)
Pace has been the most consistent angler after the first two days of the Bassmaster Classic and that has enabled him to grab a huge lead.
On the first day, Pace reeled in five that totaled a weight of 21 pounds and eight ounces. On Day 2, Pace topped his original total by catching five fish for a grand total of 21 pounds and 12 ounces.
Overall, Pace has reeled in 43 pounds and four ounces, putting him ahead of the next nearest competitor by seven pounds. He is no doubt the favorite to win this tournament and it'll take a lot of work for anyone to catch him.
Palaniuk has his work cut out for him going into the final day of the Bassmaster Classic. As it stands now, he trails Pace by seven pounds despite the fact that he's caught the same amount of fish.
If not for a bad start on Day 1, Palaniuk would have a much better shot. He caught five fish on the opening day that totaled a lackluster 16 pounds and 10 ounces, but Palaniuk would recover nicely on Day 2 after reeling in another five fish for 19 pounds and 10 ounces.
His Day 2 totals have no doubt put him back in the race, but he'll need an epic showing on Day 3 and a bad one by the leader if he hopes to eclipse Pace.
Michael Iaconelli, 3rd Place: 35 Pounds, 3 Ounces (10 Fish)
Interestingly enough, Iaconelli was tied for the lead after Day 1, but a poor performance on Day 2 has set him back.
Iaconelli finished tied with the top total after the opening day after he caught five fish that totaled 21 pounds and eight ounces, but he allowed Pace to pull well ahead of him after pulling in five more fish for an abysmal total of 13 pounds and 11 ounces.
He sits in third at the moment as he trails Palaniuk by just a little over one pound, but Iaconelli is well behind the leader with over eight pounds to make up on the last day.
Bassmaster Classic 2013: Cliff Pace Will Build on Lead for Competition Victory
Feb 23, 2013
Cliff Pace will take a seven-pound lead into the final day of the Bassmaster Classic 2013, a lead that lead may prove insurmountable for those chasing him.
Pace built on his first-day lead with a consistent but strong day on the water to shake off his challengers and solidify his position on top of the leaderboard.
Heading into the final day of competition, Pace is certainly setting the pace for the competing anglers, pulling ahead of former-champion Michael Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, New Jersey, who was tied with him for the lead after the first day of action.
Pace bagged 46-4 throughout the day and finished his Saturday catch with a total weight of 21 pounds, 12 ounces, bettering the mark he set on Friday by four ounces.
According to the leader from Petal, Mississippi, it could be that consistency that leads him to the title of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. Per Bassmaster.com:
I didn’t fish differently today at all. For me, it’s been all about committing to the way I can catch the big ones. I took a big, big risk to do that.
I think I’m doing something that has potential, and will hold through tomorrow.
Pace will return to Grand Lake on Sunday with his mind firmly fixed on the $500,000 prize that comes with the Bassmaster Classic title, but also wary of the competition who could conceivably make a late push up the leaderboard and into the top position.
Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho made a big move Saturday and now sits second behind Pace, while Iaconelli is still in contention back in third position.
Both anglers could well challenge Pace for the title with strong performances Sunday, but it seems unlikely, given Pace's consistency this weekend.
He has continued to fish well and post big numbers for the weigh-in. He should ride his seven-pound lead all the way to the 2013 championship.
If his Carhartt Big Bass of the day holds through Sunday as the heaviest fish brought to the scales in over three days of competition, the $2,500 bonus he'll collect will serve as icing on top of an already-sweet cake for Pace.
Will Cliff Pace hold on for the win at the 2013 Bassmaster Classic?
Bassmaster Classic 2013: Dates, TV Schedule, Live Stream and Event Info
Feb 23, 2013
The 2013 Bassmaster Classic promises to be one of the most thrilling events in fishing this year, especially with inclement weather expected to strike the site of the event.
It’s been snowing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is just icing on the cake for an area hit by a cold spell, showered with rain and sleet and experiencing serious thunder and lightning.
Of course, this weather won’t slow down any of the competitors looking to win this prestigious angling showcase, and the fisherman who performs the best in the face of these obstacles will be crowned the champion.
Let’s take a look at where you can catch the event live, where to watch it on television, who is competing for the title of Bassmaster Classic champion and much more.
The 2012 version of this tournament was absolutely thrilling to watch, especially as superstar Chris Lane hauled in a 51.6-pound monster bass to win it all.
Lane will try to become the first back-to-back champion since Kevin VanDam pulled it off in 2010 and 2011.
It’s certainly not going to be easy, especially with climate conditions much different than what Lane and the other competitors faced down in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana last year.
Expect a non-stop thrill ride of awesome angling in some of the toughest conditions imaginable, with the fisherman with the most grit and skill persevering in the end.
