(Editor's note: This is part 1 of a 3-part story.)
The 2011 Bassmaster Classic is about a month away, but already there's talk of potential favorites and dark-horse picks.
It's been a while since B.A.S.S. hosted a Classic at the Louisiana Delta outside New Orleans. Mike Iaconelli won the most recent Classic there (2003). Kevin VanDam won there in 2001, and Davy Hite in 1999.
Those were all summer Classics, though. This time, the field will likely encounter fish in a late-winter or perhaps early pre-spawn phase. Of course, it's too early to tell much of anything yet, and the field hasn't even wet a line on the fishery in a month.
But to help fill the time between now and the official Classic practice, here's an in-depth look at the 50-angler field. Anglers appear in alphabetical order.
Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, N.C.
> Qualified through: Northern Opens (2nd)
> Fished: No Classics
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Current world rank: 189th
> Insight: Adams fished the FLW Tour for 8 years and qualified for 6 Forrest Wood Cups (FLW Tour Championships). Noted more for consistency over flash, he's a shallow-water flipper who should feel right at home in Louisiana. Worked hard to make the Classic through the Opens, and since he's not fishing the FLW Tour or Elite Series this season, the Classic is all he's got. Could be a good dark-horse pick.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Sean Alvarez -- Rutland, Vt.
> Qualified through: Federation (Eastern)
> Fished: No Classics
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Alvarez at this point is an unknown. He fished a smattering of Opens with his best showing a 27th at the Chesapeake in 2009. Any BassFans have some insight?
Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (9th)
> Fished: 16 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (1990, 1994)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: 17th (1999)
> Current world rank: 4th
> Insight: Biffle's finished 2nd twice in the Classic and three times in the Forrest Wood Cup and it seems mind-boggling that he was never able to clinch a title. But of the recent Classics, this one probably sets up best for him. There's no better shallow-water fisherman than Biffle, and when you add in the up/down nature of the river system, he's got to be looked at as one of the early favorites.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, Ark.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (21st)
> Fished: 6 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 7th (1997)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: 37th (1999)
> Current world rank: 40th
> Insight: Browning's a river rat, but like Adams, is noted more for consistency than flash. And given his past Classic record, he isn't considered a favorite at this point. One to keep an eye on though.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Terry Butcher -- Talala, Okla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (4th)
> Fished: 1 Classic
> Best Classic finish: 36th (2010)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: N/A
> Current world rank: 11th
> Insight: Butcher's coming off a career year that saw him finish near the top of the Elite Series points and he's now ranked an impressive 11th in the world. Loves shallow wood so this is the right venue for him, but needs to transform from a high finisher to a winner. A difficult task.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Paul Elias rode a wave of emotion after he made the Classic at Ft. Gibson, and lots of fans will be watching him closely at New Orleans.
Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Kan.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (33rd)
> Fished: 9 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 5th (2010)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: 27th (2003), 12th (1999)
> Current world rank: 50th
> Insight: Chapman loves to flip and pitch and crank, which should serve him well at the Delta. Comes off his best-ever Classic showing last year (5th) and has never bombed at the big show. In fact, he's usually around 11th or 12th – a bite or two away from making a run. Count on him for at least a Top 15, but very likely a Top 10.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Keith Combs -- Del Rio, Texas
> Qualified through: Central Opens (1st)
> Fished: No Classics
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Current world rank: 29th
> Insight: Combs is certainly a rising force in the sport. He won the hard-fought Central points to earn his berth and finished 13th in the 2010 FLW Tour points. He's a shallow cranker and the Classic kicks off his B.A.S.S campaign (he's switching to the Elite Series this year). Too new to be considered a favorite, but could surprise.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
John Crews -- Salem, Va.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (12th)
> Fished: 4 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 16th (2008)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: N/A
> Current world rank: 24th
> Insight: Crews, a shallow-cranker, comes off the best season of his career that included a win at the California Delta and two other Top 6s. Doesn't emerge as a favorite at this point, though: Over four previous Classic finishes, his average finish is 29th. Keep an eye on him, however.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Mark Davis -- Mt. Ida, Ark.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (14th)
> Fished: 14 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 1st (1995)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: 31st (2003), 23rd (2001), 21st (1999)
> Current world rank: 41st
> Insight: Davis is another veteran and past champion in this year's field, and is certainly capable of winning it all. He's definitely a solid Top 15 pick and he's coming off a solid year, but he's at his very best in the post-spawn and can struggle in cold, muddy pre-spawn conditions. Keep an eye on him for sure, but not an all-out favorite right now.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (25th)
> Fished: 4 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2007)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: N/A
> Current world rank: 33rd
> Insight: Duckett must still be seething. He won the 2007 Classic at Lay (his home water), but effectively went from first to worst when a day-1 mechanical breakdown knocked him out of last year's Lay Classic and he finished 49th. Not a favorite right now since outside of Birmingham, his biggest weakness is cold water. Plus, he admittedly got a late start on info networking for this Classic.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Paul Elias -- Pachuta, Miss.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (37th)
> Fished: 14 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 1st (1982)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: N/A
> Current world rank: 85th
> Insight: Elias posted an heroic 16th-place effort at the Ft. Gibson finale and climbed seven spots in the points to become the last guaranteed pro in the Classic. The former Classic champion thus returns to the Big Show for the first time in 6 years. He's a good shallow-water angler, but he's a structure-fisherman at heart, which doesn't move him onto the favorites list, but he'll be a fan-favorite for sure. Everyone loves to watch a legend in the Classic.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Edwin Evers -- Talala, Okla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (2nd)
> Fished: 9 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 5th (2009)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: 52nd (2003)
> Current world rank: 10th
> Insight: After fishing seven straight Classic, Evers watched from the sidelines last year. He got things back together, though, and finished 2nd in the points to earn his ticket back into the Big Show. He's at the top of his game right now and is back up to 10th in the world. If the spinnerbait bite's on, he'll be a threat to win it all.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (16th)
> Fished: 8 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 3rd (2010)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: 15th (2003), 5th (2001)
> Current world rank: 17th
> Insight: Faircloth comes off another solid, consistent season and will fish his fifth consecutive Classic. Came close last year in the Battle of Beeswax but couldn't surpass the mighty KVD and has struggled over the past year to make cuts. He's a pitcher/flipper who loves shallow water and is experienced enough to get his hands around the sprawling Delta, but at this point looks like a Top 15 pick.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Shaw Grigsby, Jr. -- Gainesville, Fla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (24th)
> Fished: 12 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (1993)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: 36th (2003)
> Current world rank: 23rd
> Insight: Grigsby's on top of his game and has penetrated the Top 6 several times over the past few years. Two of those big finishes were on rivers (Mississippi and California Delta). He's an extremely versatile angler who can understand a sprawling fishery. His competitive fire burns as hot as ever, but he's admittedly better in clear water. One to watch.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Greg Hackney, who now resides in Gonzales, La., will be fishing in front of a hometown crowd.
Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (8th)
> Fished: 8 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 5th (2008)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: 31st (2003)
> Current world rank: 9th
> Insight: Hackney won his first title 2 years ago at the Pittsburgh Cup, but the Classic has always been a difficult stage for him. Aside from his 5th at Hartwell, his other Classic finishes have been weak. He was born and raised fishing rivers in Arkansas, but is fishing near his new home for this Classic. Who can forget his heroic story of traversing the Delta in his bass boat to rescue his father-in-law after Katrina? Hack's a shallow flipper and river rat and has to be seen as a favorite right now, despite his past Classic disappointments.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Matt Herren -- Trussville, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (19th)
> Fished: 2 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 7th (2010)
> Previous LA Delta Classics: N/A
> Current world rank: 31st
> Insight: No matter where Herren goes, if there's a river portion to fish, he'll be there. That's where he excels and he's one of the strongest flippers in this Classic field. A very good bet for a Top 15 and could likely emerge as a favorite when conditions reveal themselves.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here
Dale Hightower -- Sand Springs, Okla.
> Qualified through: Federation (Central)
> Fished: 0 Classics
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: A complete unknown at this point. Any BassFans have some insight?
Notable
> The Classic fielded 51 boats last year, which included a berth awarded through the Women's Bassmaster Tour. The WBT was shuttered, hence the 50-boat field this year.
> The field was 61 boats for the 2003 Louisiana Delta Classic.
– End of part 1 (of 3) –
