Fishing

The latest edition of the Bassmaster Classic gets underway on Friday, with 53 of the finest anglers around competing for their share of the $1 million prize pot.

This year's competition will be staged at Lake Guntersville at BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama, over the course of three action-packed days.

Ott DeFoe was the winner in 2019, with his three-day total registering 49 pounds and three ounces. However, he will not be back to be defend his crown this year, nor will other big names like two-time winner Jordan Lee and four-time champion Kevin VanDam.

       

Date: Friday, March 6 - Sunday, March 8

TV Info: ESPN 3

Live Stream: ESPN app, Bassmaster.com

Prize Money: $1,000,000 (overall), $300,000 (winner)

Prize money details courtesy of AL.com.

      

Preview

The Bassmaster Twitter account provided a look at what's to be expected over the course of the weekend:

One week from today, the 50th edition of the @Academy Bassmaster Classic presented by @HukGear gets underway. Who are you rooting for to go down in history as a Classic winner? #bassfishing #bassmasterclassic #fishing #basselite #dreambig pic.twitter.com/KM8wwyOhSX

— Bassmaster (@bassmaster) February 28, 2020

With a number of big names missing due to their commitment to different tours, the field is wide open in Birmingham this year.

As a result, anglers with local knowledge of Lake Guntersville may have an advantage over the rest of the field. One of those is Scott Canterbury, who resides around 60 miles from the setting for this weekend's showdown, per Travis Smola of Wide Open Spaces.

In his rookie season on the tour in 2019, he was named the Bassmaster Angler of the Year, with six top-10 finishes registered. Victory here would cement his position as one of the best anglers in the world at the moment.

Seth Feider is one of the most prestigious competitors in the field, with three B.A.S.S. titles to his name already. In 2019 he was a winner three times too.

Brandon Lester is another who will be vying for success and speaking to Bassmaster (h/t Smola), Lester outlined what he thinks will be important to secure victory this year in regards to conditions.

"You have the pre-spawn leading into the spawn, and there could even be a few fish spawning during that tournament," he said. "I've seen it happen on Guntersville that early before. It all depends on what kind of weather we have."

Meteorologist James Spann showed the expected conditions at the lake on Wednesday:

Some are out this morning getting ready for the Bassmaster Classic at Lake Guntersville that starts Friday... photo from Donna Prickett pic.twitter.com/3b7BUuQyuj

— James Spann (@spann) March 4, 2020

According to Weather.com, there's a mainly sunny forecast for the weekend, with temperatures potentially reaching a high of 62 degrees on Sunday.

Ott DeFoe was the top angler in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee.

DeFoe's three-day total registered 49 pounds, three ounces, putting him well ahead of second-place finisher Jacob Wheeler, whose haul measured at 45 pounds, five ounces.

Congrats, @OttDeFoe for winning the Bassmaster Classic! 🏆#BassmasterClassic pic.twitter.com/gCIBC08cnM

— Bass Pro Shops (@BassProShops) March 17, 2019

Here are the top 10 finishers, with the full results available on Bassmaster's official site:

       

2019 Bassmaster Classic Leaderboard

1. Ott DeFoe, 15 fish (49 pounds, three ounces)

2. Jacob Wheeler, 15 (45-5)

3. Jesse Wiggins, 15 (43-14)

4. Michael Iaconelli, 15 (42-9)

5. Mark Daniels Jr., 15 (41-12)

6. Brandon Lester, 15 (40-5)

7. Wesley Strader, 15 (39-8)

8. Edwin Evers, 15 (39-7)

9. Dean Rojas, 15 (35-6)

10. Brandon Palaniuk, 12 (34-15)

DeFoe is a Knoxville native, so Sunday's win will be even sweeter coming in his hometown. Wheeler had a similar emotional pull, growing up in Harrison, Tennessee, which is a little over 100 miles southeast of Knoxville.

DeFoe was firmly in the driver's seat after the first day, as his five fish tipped the scales at 20 pounds. He only added 10 pounds, five ounces, Saturday, though, opening the door for Wheeler.

"Dude, I was so mad yesterday," DeFoe said Sunday, per the Knoxville News Sentinel's Travis Dorman. "I was so mad. After that first day, I was on top of the world. But God will humble you sometimes exactly when you need it."

DeFoe avoided a heartbreaking defeat, catching five fish Sunday that weighed a total of 18 pounds, 14 ounces. Wheeler, on the other hand, reeled in 12 pounds, 15 ounces.

Mark Daniels Jr. was in second place (31 pounds, 14 ounces) after Saturday. His title challenge fell by the wayside Sunday. Although he caught five fish, he settled for nine pounds, 14 ounces, putting him well off the pace set by DeFoe.

Jordan Lee was a two-time defending champion in the Bassmaster Classic, but luck abandoned him this weekend. He had 13 pounds, 10 ounces, to his name through the first two days and didn't make it to Sunday.

Four-time champion Kevin VanDam made it to the final day but was never much of a threat after a 10-pound, two-ounce catch Friday. He placed 20th (30 pounds, one ounce).

The 2019 Bassmaster Classic continued in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday, and Jacob Wheeler took the lead with another stellar showing.

Here's a look at the top 10 as well as some notable results from Day 2.

       

2019 Bassmaster Classic Leaderboard—Saturday

1. Jacob Wheeler: 10 fish (32-6)

2. Mark Daniels Jr.: 10 fish (31-14)

3. Chris Zaldain: 9 fish (30-12)

4. Ott DeFoe: 10 fish (30-5)

5. Michael Iaconelli: 10 fish (28-9)

6. Wesley Strader: 10 fish (28-0)

7. Roy Hawk: 10 fish (27-10)

8. Justin Lucas: 10 fish (27-0)

9. Jesse Wiggins: 10 fish (26-10)

10. Jacob Powroznik: 10 fish (26-7)

*Full leaderboard available on the official Bassmaster Classic website.

    

Saturday Action

Wheeler, who was fourth entering Saturday after catching five fish for 14 pounds and 11 ounces, caught five more fish for 17 pounds and 11 ounces to take the slight lead over Mark Daniels Jr.

Daniels is within close distance, however, as he took over the Berkley Big Bass with a six-pound, three-ounce catch. He reeled in one last fish before time wound down, per Ronnie Moore of Bassmaster.com:

Mark Daniels Jr. just came up with a clutch 5th keeper with time winding down. Solid 3-8 to 4 pounder. #bassfishing #bassmasterclassic pic.twitter.com/DlAo3IneZu

— Ronnie Moore (@RonnieMooreBass) March 16, 2019

Wheeler and Daniels are friends and roommates on the road, per Craig Lamb of Bassmaster.com.

Chris Zaldain is third on the list thanks to the Bassmaster Classic's best one-day performance of 21 pounds and 12 ounces. Home-state angler Ott DeFoe, who led after Friday, is still in contention at fourth.

Michael Iaconelli is in fifth and even took an early lead, per Bassmaster:

https://twitter.com/bassmaster/status/1106932303253721088

Moore noted how quickly Iaconelli's success arrived on Saturday:

Iaconelli with a flurry on @BASSTrakk. Three fish in 5 minutes for 10 pounds. A 4, 4-8, 1-8 in a hurry. @mike_Iaconelli @bassmaster #bassfishing #bassmasterclassic

— Ronnie Moore (@RonnieMooreBass) March 16, 2019

Two-time defending Bassmaster Classic champion Jordan Lee has struggled out of the gate and is just 42nd.

The Bassmaster Classic wraps up on Sunday.

The 2019 Bassmaster Classic got underway in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Friday, with Ott DeFoe coming away as the biggest winner of Day 1 as he sits atop the leaderboard. 

Below is a look at the overall standings as well as a glimpse at the latest action from Knoxville.

   

2019 Bassmaster Classic Leaderboard — Friday

1. Ott DeFoe: 5 fish (20 pounds-0 ounces)

2. Roy Hawk: 5 fish (17-11)

3. Clifford Pirch: 5 fish (16-11)

4. Justin Lucas: 5 fish (16-7)

5. Jacob Wheeler: 5 fish (14-11)

T6. Brent Chapman: 5 fish (14-8)

T6. Mark Daniels Jr.: 5 fish (14-8)

8. Todd Faircloth: 5 fish (13-9)

T9. Bobby Lane Jr.: 5 fish (13-4)

T9. Jacob Powroznik: 5 fish (13-4)

*Full leaderboard available on the official website of the Bassmaster Classic

  

An impressive haul on Friday has DeFoe sitting in first place with some breathing room.

Coming off a sixth-place finish a year ago, DeFoe put himself in prime position to place even higher this time around by reeling in 20 pounds worth of fish on Day 1. That haul was highlighted by a six-pounder:

The big fish of the day so far is this 6 pounder from @OttDeFoe! The Bassmaster Classic is fired up and anglers are catching them this afternoon. #bassfishing #bassmasterclassic #bassmaster pic.twitter.com/XkxGuHnOd8

— Bassmaster (@bassmaster) March 15, 2019

"I got five good bites all day, and I landed them. Honestly, it felt like a very tough day," DeFoe said, per Bassmaster.com. "A six-pounder here is a really big one. So to get that one and four other pretty good ones, I felt really blessed."

That helped put him more than two pounds clear of second-place Roy Hawk (17 pounds, 11 ounces).

End of Day 1 at the @bassmaster Classic.
1. Ott DeFoe - @OttDeFoe
2. Roy Hawk - @royhawkfishing
3. Clifford Pirch - @CliffordPirch #PowerPole #BassmasterClassic pic.twitter.com/tw2vy7sLzM

— Power-Pole (@Power_Pole) March 15, 2019

Hawk, meanwhile, has a one-pound lead over Clifford Pirch (16 pounds, 11 ounces)—but then the standings start to tighten up. Justin Lucas sits just four ounces back of Pirch in fourth, while the difference between fifth and ninth is just more than a pound and a half.

Of note, two-time defending champ Jordan Lee has some work to do if he is going to complete the three-peat. He sits all the way back in 33rd after managing just eight pounds and six ounces on his five fish. 

https://twitter.com/LowranceFishing/status/1103007382731452416

Last year, Lee ended Day 1 in third place with 18 pounds and 10 ounces, but he wound up finishing the tournament with 47 pounds and one ounce. He serves as proof that a lot can change over the next two days.

The 2019 Bassmaster Classic begins on Friday, when 52 anglers compete for the title of bass fishing world champion.

The competition, along with its accompanying expo, will run from Friday through to Sunday on the Tennessee River at Knoxville.

It won't be televised live, but live-streaming will be available throughout the tournament, courtesy of Bassmaster's official website, running from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET each day.

On TV, ESPN 2 will show a delayed broadcast of the Classic over the course of three Sundays. Day 1 will be shown on March 31, Day 2 on April 7 and the championship day will be shown on April 14.

Bassmaster offered a preview of the event, including what to expect from the venue, which is among the biggest to ever host the Classic:

The @GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by @DICKS will be held on March 15-17, 2019. Here's a look at what you can expect from the Tennessee River and Knoxville.#Bassmaster #BassmasterClassic #KnoxRockshttps://t.co/9BbvVWSsKe

— Bassmaster (@bassmaster) March 10, 2019

Among the field is two-time defending champion Jordan Lee, and he's eager to add to his collection.

"Winning a Bassmaster Classic is an experience like no other," he said, per the event's official website. "That feeling of holding the trophy on stage never goes away. It's the achievement of a lifetime."

Lee believes confidence was the key to his previous victories:

https://twitter.com/LowranceFishing/status/1103007382731452416

He could face stiff competition for the crown this year, though.

Chris Johnston leads 2019's Angler of the Year standings. The Canadian has competed in just six tournaments, but he has three top-10 finishes, including second- and a third-placed finishes.

Meanwhile, Justin Lucas finished 2018 as Angler of the Year, so he's another one to watch out for. As a Knoxville native, Ott DeFoe—who came fourth behind Lucas—will also hope to have a say on home waters.

Jordan Lee won his second straight Bassmaster Classic after reeling in 47 pounds and one ounce worth of fish over the three days.

Jason Christie led after two days at Lake Hartwell in Greenville, South Carolina, but Lee came through with a big haul of 16 pounds and five ounces Sunday to secure the win.

Brent Ehrler came in second place, finishing one pound away from the championship.

           

Final Leaderboard

1. Jordan Lee 15 fish (47 pounds-1 ounce)

2. Brent Ehrler: 15 (46-1)

3. Jason Christie: 14 (45-15)

4. Matt Lee: 15 (43-15)

5. Jacob Powroznik: 15 (43-4)

6. Ott DeFoe: 15 (42-13)

7. Jacob Wheeler: 15 (42-13)

8. Casey Ashley: 15 (42-12)

9. Aaron Martens: 15 (42-9)

10. Gerald Swindle: 15 (42-2)

       

Christie built a big lead in this tournament with a first-day total of 20 pounds and 14 ounces from his five fish. While he slowed down a bit on Day 2, his 37 pounds and four ounces were enough to hold a solid lead going into the final day.

Unfortunately, he struggled Sunday while catching just four fish, totaling under nine pounds, to drop to third place.

This left the door open for Lee, who overcame more than a 13-pound deficit in 2017 to win the title and earned another come-from-behind win in 2018. He trailed Christie by almost seven pounds going into the final day before moving to the top of the leaderboard.

South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources celebrated the win:

Your two-time #bassmasterclassic champion: @JLeefishing!!! 🏆🐟🎣 @BASS_nation pic.twitter.com/7ifnm8mxQg

— S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources (@SCDNR) March 18, 2018

He became the third angler in the history of this event to win back-to-back titles.

Matt Lee also had a solid comeback on the final day of competition, moving from outside the top 10 into a fourth-place finish after totaling a Sunday-best 17 pounds and six ounces worth of bass.

Casey Ashley won this event three years ago, the last time it took place at Lake Hartwell, but only managed an eighth-place finish this time around.

Still, Lee was the star of the day and proved last year's victory wasn't a fluke. The 26-year-old is already one of the best in the sport and will likely remain a threat in 2019.

The second day of the Bassmaster Classic went down on Saturday, with the field trying to catch Friday's leader, Jason Christie. Were they able to make up any ground?

Let's find out. Below, we'll take a look at the overall leaderboard, Saturday's top hauls and the storylines as we head into Sunday.

             

Overall Leaderboard

1. Jason Christie: 10 fish (37 pounds-4 ounces)

2. Edwin Evers: 10 (32-9)

3. Micah Frazier: 10 (32-2)

4. James Elam: 10 (32-1)

5. Gerald Swindle: 10 (31-4)

6. Jordan Lee: 10 (30-12)

7. Jacob Wheeler: 10 (30-11)

8. Casey Ashley: 10 (30-5)

9. Brent Ehrler: 10 (29-13)

10. Ott DeFoe: 10 (29-13)

Full results available via Bassmaster.com.

                     

Saturday Leaderboard

1. Micah Frazier: 5 fish (18 pounds-11 ounces)

2. Jason Christie: 5 (16-6)

3. James Elam: 5 (15-10)

4. Gerald Swindle: 5 (15-7)

5. Casey Ashley: 5 (15-5)

          

Analysis

Micah Frazier shot up the leaderboard on Saturday, moving to third place with a strong top weight of 18 pounds and 11 ounces. 

That wasn't enough to catch Jason Christie, however, whose epic haul on Friday (20 pounds, 14 ounces) kept him atop the overall leaderboard. The 2016 champion, Edwin Evers, who pulled in 19 pounds and nine ounces on Friday, dropped serious ground on Christie after pulling in just 13 pounds.

Last year's winner, Jordan Lee, fell to sixth place after his strong start, meanwhile, catching just 12 pounds and two ounces of fish.

And four-time champion, Kevin VanDam, is an afterthought at this point, falling to 29th on the leaderboard after managing a disappointing haul of nine pounds and five ounces.

Frazier, meanwhile, holds the Berkley Big Bass distinction with a catch of five pounds and seven ounces.

But Christie remains the story, as he's gone from a 34th-place finish a year ago to a commanding spot atop the leaderboard heading into Sunday's final day. He's one more solid day away from earning the 2018 Bassmaster Classic title.

The 2018 Bassmaster Classic got underway on Friday, with 52 of the best bass fishers in the world flocking to Lake Hartwell in Greenville, S.C., for the weekend. 

Jordan Lee won last year's event by reeling in 12 fish for an impressive total weight of 56 pounds and 10 ounces. Other fishers, such as Brent Ehrler (15) caught more fish, but nobody managed a heavier haul. He is off to a strong start this year, sitting in third place after the first day.

Take a look to see how this year's competition stacks up on the opening round:

      

2018 Bassmaster Classic Leaderboard Through Friday

1. Jason Christie 5 fish/20 pounds-14 ounces

2. Edwin Evers 5/19-9

3. Jordan Lee 5/18-10

4. Brent Ehrler 5/17-8

5. Ott DeFoe 5/16-8

6. James Elam 5/16-7

7. Jacob Wheeler 5/16-1

8. Mark Daniels Jr. 5/15-14

9. Gerald Swindle 5/15-13

10. Jamie Hartman 5/15-12

Full results available via Bassmaster.com.

    

Day 1 Tidbits

There are a smattering of familiar names atop the leaderboard, as four of last year's top five are right in the thick of things. Along with reigning champ Lee, Brent Ehrler (No. 3 last year), James Elam (No. 4) and Ott DeFoe (No. 5) end the first day on solid footing.

No doubt at it, though: Jason Christie was the biggest winner of the first day. After finishing in 34th place last year, he was the only one to manage a 20-pound bag on Friday. That gave him a solid lead to take into Saturday.

Edwin Ever, last year's 11th-place finisher, nearly hit the 20-pound mark but came up just a bit short. Still, his second-place standing is no small feat. 

The tournament continues throughout the weekend, with fishing set to begin at 8 a.m. ET both Saturday and Sunday.

Lake Hartwell in Greenville, South Carolina, will host the 2018 edition of the Bassmaster Classic, beginning on Friday. Among those slated to compete are South Carolina native Casey Ashley, a winner in 2015.

Ashley will be joined by defending champion Jordan Lee and 2016's winner Edwin Evers. Four-time champion Kevin VanDam will also be involved.

               

Friday March 16

Time: 8 a.m.-11 a.m. ET; 12 p.m.-3 p.m. ET; weigh-ins 3:50 p.m. ET

TV Info: ESPN2

Live Stream: WatchESPN

               

Saturday, March 17

Time: 8 a.m.-11 a.m. ET; 12 p.m.-3 p.m. ET; weigh-ins 3:50 p.m. ET

TV Info: ESPN2

Live Stream: WatchESPN

                  

Sunday, March 18

Time: 8 a.m.-11 a.m. ET; 12 p.m.-3 p.m. ET; weigh-ins 3:50 p.m. ET

TV Info: ESPN2

Live Stream: WatchESPN

         

The full list of all 52 competitors is available on the tournament's official website.

         

The event is arguably the biggest in fishing, offering $300,000 to the winner in 2017. Taking the lion's share of the purse won't be easy, though—not from an event posing several challenges to its competitors.

Among them, dealing with rising water levels is an obvious issue. Jacob "The Paperboy" Foutz and Jacob Powroznik, both among this year's field, recently discussed the issue with Alan McGuckin of the Bassmaster website.

Foutz noted how rising water levels have forced fish to spread out, making catching consistently more difficult. He also pointed out how bites can be random, saying: "I've had bites in six inches of water, and I've had bites in 30 feet of water, but I've not seen a real defined pattern yet."

Both Foutz and Powroznik agreed the competition is wide open, saying anglers will likely require hauls weighing an average of 13 pounds per day to ensure a top-10 finish.

It may be difficult to pick a winner, but Ashley's experience on Lake Hartwell has to be an advantage. He had the edge three years ago and is well-versed in the demands of the Classic as he gets set for his ninth appearance.

However, not everybody is convinced Ashley's skills will be relevant this time. Among them, Bassmaster TV analyst Mark Zona told Mike Suchan rising temperatures will be a disadvantage for "cold, deep-water anglers" like Ashley.

Instead, Zona believes Greg Hackney and Jason Christie, both more comfortable in shallow waters, are strong contenders, as well as VanDam.

As champion, Lee will also be one to watch after his final-day haul of five catches a year ago.

With this many skilled anglers having compelling cases to win, this year's Classic has the potential to be the best yet.

Over the weekend, Sergio Roque reeled in a 964-pound tiger shark during a Texas City fishing tournament.

According to ABC 13, the gigantic catch took three hours and several people to wrangle on a nearly sinking boat.

"It's the hardest fight I've ever had in my life, the strongest one," Roque said. "When I first set the hook, and it pulled me straight across the back of the boat, pulled me straight to the corner and slammed my knees onto it."

The state record for a tiger shark is 1,129 pounds, but Roque’s catch placed first in the 55th Annual Tackle Time Fishing Tournament, which provides scholarships in the Independent School District.

[h/t Yahoo]