Ryan McMurtury of Abbeville, S.C. claimed the final 2011 Bassmaster Classic berth by winning the Bassmaster Weekend Series National Championship Saturday at Alabama's Lake Guntersville.
McMurtury, who earned $100,000 for the victory, caught an 18.10 sack on the final day to give him a 4-day total of 69.53 pounds. He outdistanced runner-up Brent Anderson of Kingston Springs, Tenn. by more than 2 pounds.
Due to mechanical issues that cost him most of his practice time, McMurtury focused on a single location and caught his fish on a double-fluke rig. Details of his winning pattern will be published soon.
Here's a look at the field that will compete in bass fishing's premier event Feb. 18-20 at the Louisiana Delta out of New Orleans (number of Classic qualifications is noted by parentheses):
Defending Champion
Kevin VanDam -- Michigan (21)
Bassmaster Elite Series
Edwin Evers -- Oklahoma (10)
Skeet Reese -- California (12)
Terry Butcher -- Oklahoma (2)
Aaron Martens -- Alabama (12)
Cliff Pace -- Mississippi (4)
Russ Lane -- Alabama (4)
Greg Hackney -- Louisiana (9)
Tommy Biffle -- Oklahoma (17)
Gary Klein -- Texas (29)
Derek Remitz -- Alabama (3)
John Crews -- Virginia (5)
Brian Snowden -- Missouri (5)
Mark Davis -- Arkansas (15)
Mike McClelland -- Arkansas (8)
Todd Faircloth -- Texas (9)
Scott Rook -- Arkansas (8)
Morizo Shimizu -- Japan (1)
Matt Herren -- Alabama (3)
Bill Lowen -- Ohio (3)
Stephen Browning -- Arkansas (7)
Michael Iaconelli -- New Jersey (12)
Dave Wolak -- North Carolina (5)
Shaw Grigsby -- Florida (13)
Boyd Duckett -- Alabama (5)
Bobby Lane -- Florida (4)
Jeff Kriet -- Oklahoma (7)
Gerald Swindle -- Alabama (11)
Jason Williamson -- South Carolina (1)
Greg Vinson -- Alabama (1)
Steve Kennedy -- Alabama (5)
Dean Rojas -- Arizona (9)
Brent Chapman -- Kansas (10)
Kevin Wirth -- Kentucky (12)
Kelly Jordon -- Texas (9)
Terry Scroggins -- Florida (8)
Paul Elias -- Mississippi (15)
Southern Opens
Randall Tharp -- Alabama (1)
Andy Montgomery -- South Carolina (1)
Central Opens
Keith Combs -- Texas (1)
Clark Reehm -- Texas (2)
Northern Opens
Ryan Said -- Michigan (1)
Tracy Adams -- North Carolina (1)
Federation Nation
Sean Alvarez -- Vermont (1)
George Crain -- Alabama (1)
Dale Hightower -- Oklahoma (1)
Brian LaClair -- Delaware (1)
Brandon Palaniuk -- Idaho (1)
David Watson -- Indiana (1)
Weekend Series
Ryan McMurtury -- South Carolina (1)
