While the Bassmaster Classic winning weight record went unbroken at Lake Guntersville, there was an all-out assault on the Classic record book last week.
For example, 14 of the top 24 single-day five-fish Classic weights were registered at Guntersville, including Paul Mueller's 32-03 haul on day 2. Randy Howell's 29-02 Classic-clinching effort on the final day ranks third.
Here's a look at the updated Top 10 single-day weights since the Classic adopted a five-fish limit:
1. Paul Mueller: 32-03 (2014, Lake Guntersville)
2. Luke Clausen 29-06 (2006, Kissimmee Chain)
3. Randy Howell: 29-02 (2014, Lake Guntersville)
4. Preston Clark: 29-01 (2006, Kissimmee Chain)
5. Boyd Duckett: 28-13 (2011, Louisiana Delta)
6. Terry Scroggins: 28-06 (2006, Kissimmee Chain)
7. Kevin VanDam: 28-00 (2011, Louisiana Delta)
8. Randall Tharp: 27-08 (2014, Lake Guntersville)
9. Edwin Evers: 26-13 (2014, Lake Guntersville)
10. Derek Remitz: 26-05 (2011, Louisiana Delta)
Prior to this year, only Kevin VanDam (69-11 in 2011) and Rick Clunn (75-09 in 1984) had caught more than 60 pounds in a Classic, with VanDam the only one to do it with a five-fish creel limit. This year, there were eight anglers who broke the 60-pound mark at Guntersville.
Here's an updated list of the top weights in Classic history:
1. Rick Clunn: 75-09 (1984)
2. Kevin VanDam: 69-11 (2011)
3. Randy Howell: 67-08 (2014)
4. Paul Mueller: 66-08 (2014)
5. Edwin Evers: 65-11 (2014)
6. Ott DeFoe: 63-06 (2014)
7. Randall Tharp: 62-12 (2014)
8. Jordan Lee: 62-01 (2014)
9. David Kilgore: 60-07 (2014)
10. Doug Thompson: 60-03 (2014)
Also, Kevin VanDam caught 33-04 to pass Rick Clunn for highest cumulative weight caught in Classic competition. VanDam now has 784-05 in 24 Classics.
Here's an updated rundown of the career leaders in terms of cumulative weight at the Classic:
1. Kevin VanDam: 784-05
2. Rick Clunn: 772-02
3. Gary Klein: 757-13
4 (tie). George Cochran: 751-01
4 (tie). Larry Nixon: 751-01
6. Tommy Biffle: 508-10
7. Aaron Martens: 508-08
8 (tie). Denny Brauer: 450-04
8 (tie). Roland Martin: 450-04
10. Mike Iaconelli: 447-15
