The field for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) next month at Lake Fork has been finalized. The 50-man field, consisting of the Top 15 finishers from the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW Tour and PAA Tournament Series Angler of the Year points, will compete May 9-11 at one of the premier big-fish lakes in the country.
“We’re extremely excited to have the most outstanding anglers in the world competing in the 2014 Toyota Texas Bass Classic," said tournament director Lenny Francoeur. "This tournament can truly say that we have the best of the best competing on the most historical bass fishing lake in Texas. From legendary anglers to Lake Fork rookies, the competition will be fierce, the bass will be enormous and I can’t wait to see who will take home the trophy and title of world champion."
The 2014 TTBC field is one of the strongest to date. The field has a combined $64 million in career earnings, 234 tournament victories, 21 AOY titles and 18 major championship wins. The field includes past TTBC winner Keith Combs (2011, 2013), Bryan Thrift (2012), Brian Snowden (2010), Kelly Jordon (2008) and Terry Scroggins (2007).
“The TTBC is my favorite event of the season," said Combs. "Considering how an angler has to qualify for this event it is the strongest field that we compete against all year. I spent some time this past winter familiarizing myself with Lake Fork. It will be a late spawn/early summer tournament which means a lot of movement and it will take big weights to win.”
Due to the 16-to 24-inch slot limit on Lake Fork, there are no professional tournaments held there, so this will be the first time since the 2008 TTBC, that pro anglers will take to the water for a pro competition. The full field will compete the first 2 days before it's reduced to the top 10 for the final round. The tournament is a non-entry fee event and all 50 competing anglers will receive guaranteed prize money.
Through a continued partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), TTBC will continue its focus on conservation efforts and adhere to a strict catch, weigh and immediate release format.
The Toyota Texas Bass Classic will be located on the grounds of the Sabine River Authority (SRA) just east of the Lake Fork dam in Quitman, Texas. The Outdoor Expos, TPWD Adventures Area, Bass Pro Shop’s Kid Zone, and the live concerts will all take place at SRA.
For more information visit www.ToyotaTexasBassClassic.com or call 1-866-907-0143.
Following the field for the 2014 TTBC, listed with hometown and how qualified:
> Matt Arey – Shelby, N.C. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Todd Auten – Lake Wylie, S.C. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Adrian Avena – Vineland, N.J. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Tommy Biffle – Wagoner, Okla. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Stetson Blaylock – Benton, Ark. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Tommy Brown – Louisville, Tenn. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Hank Cherry – Maiden, N.C. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Jason Christie – Park Hill, Okla. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Luke Clausen – Otis Orchards, Wash. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Keith Combs – Huntington, Texas – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Brandon Coulter – Knoxville, Tenn. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> John Crews – Salem, Va. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Cliff Crochet – Pierre Part, La. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Ott DeFoe – Knoxville, Tenn. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Jim Dillard – West Monroe, La. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Brent Ehrler – Redlands, Ca. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Edwin Evers – Talala, Okla. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Todd Faircloth – Jasper, Texas – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Shinichi Fukae – Palestine, Texas – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Randy Haynes – Counce, Tenn. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Mike Iaconelli – Pittsgrove, N.J. – Sponsor Exemption
> Alton Jones – Lorena, Texas – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Kelly Jordon – Palestine, Texas – Sponsor Exemption
> Russ Lane – Prattville, Ala. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Bobby Lane – Lakeland, Fla. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Justin Lucas – Guntersville, Ala. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Aaron Martens – Leeds, Ala. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Mike McClelland – Bella Vista, Ark. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Cody Meyer – Auburn, Ca. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Ish Monroe – Hughson, Ca. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Dan Morehead – Paducah, Ky. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Andy Morgan – Dayton, Tenn. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Cliff Pace – Petal, Miss. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Brandon Palaniuk – Rathdrum, Id. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Jacob Powroznik – Prince George, Va. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Kelly Power – Cape Fair, Mo. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Matt Reed – Madisonville, Texas – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Mark Rose – West Memphis, Ark. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Fred Roumbanis – Bixby, Okla. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Terry Scroggins – San Mateo, Fla. – Sponsor Exemption
> Spencer Shuffield – Hot Springs, Ark. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Brian Snowden – Reeds Spring, Mo. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Gerald Swindle – Warrior, Ala. – Sponsor Exemption
> Randall Tharp – Port Saint Joe, Fla. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Bryan Thrift – Shelby, N.C. – 2012 TTBC Defending Champion
> Kevin VanDam – Kalamazoo, Mich. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> Greg Vinson – Wetumpka, Ala. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
> James Watson – Waynesville, Mo. – PAA Tournament Series AOY Points
> Jay Yelas – Corvallis, Ore. – FLW Tour AOY Points
> Chris Zaldain – San Jose, Ca. – Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points
