Martens, Pace Will Be Among The Favorites

By BassFan Staff

(Part 2 of a 3-part examination of the 2015 Bassmaster Classic field, with anglers listed in alphabetical order. To read part 1, click here.)

Mike Iaconelli – Runnemede, N.J.
> Qualified through: Delaware River Elite Series winner
> Classics fished: 15
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2003)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 10th (2008 Classic)
> Current world rank: 22nd
> Insight: Ike was a total non-factor in last year's Classic at Lake Guntersville, and that's extremely unlikely to be the case again. He's highly adept at developing his own patterns to catch fish that aren't in full-on chomp mode, often mixing and matching numerous techniques. He was on the fringe of contention at the previous Hartwell Classic and will probably still be in the picture when Sunday morning rolls around.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Teb Jones – Hattiesburg, Miss.
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation (Central Division)
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: This will be the 53-year-old Jones' initial taste of top-level competition, but he's no stranger to high-caliber events, having competed in the Opens for several years. He's qualified for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on three occasions and is a perennial member of the Mississippi state team. Certainly not a favorite, but unlikely to flop due to the "deer in headlights" syndrome.

David Kilgore – Jasper, Ala.
> Qualified through: Lewis Smith Southern Open winner
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 8th (2014)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Kilgore, who unquestionably possesses all the talent of a top tour pro but has opted to keep his hat out of that ring, is back in the Classic for the second straight year. He won't be as high on most people's radar as he was last year at Guntersville, but another top 10 wouldn't be a surprise. This is a cool customer who's well-versed in formulating a tournament gameplan.

Bobby Lane – Lakeland, Fla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 7
> Best Classic finish: 4th (2008)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 4th (2008 Classic)
> Current world rank: 41st
> Insight: Lane will be fishing his seventh consecutive Classic and his record is solid – he's finished among the top 20 on each occasion. He was a serious contender at Hartwell 7 years ago in his Classic debut and possesses the type of all-around game that should garner him the trophy one of these years. Definitely a guy to keep an eye on.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Chris Lane – Guntersville, Ala.
> Qualified through: St. Johns River Elite Series winner
> Classics fished: 4
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2012)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: N/A
> Current world rank: 36th
> Insight: His victory in 2012 at the Red River was the only time he's ever been a factor in a Classic – he's missed the top-25 cut (badly) on each of the other three occasions. Nothing suggests he'll fare exceptionally well this time, but he didn't top any favorites lists prior to winning the 2013 Elite Series derby at the Detroit River, either. He's a proven winner and can never be counted out.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Brandon Lester – Fayetteville, Tenn.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: N/A
> Current world rank: 194th
> Insight: Lester, who's coming off an excellent debut season on the Elite Series, likely doesn't yet have the deep-water game to compete away from the banks. Fortunately for him, there should be ample opportunity to catch some shallow-water fish at Hartwell. He'll have to connect with the right ones to stay in the hunt.

Bill Lowen – Brookeville, Ind.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 6
> Best Classic finish: 10th (2012)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 10 (2008 Classic)
> Current world rank: 54th
> Insight: Lowen has made it clear that he'll run up one of the rivers (the Savannah, the Tugaloo or the Seneca) that converge to form Lake Hartwell, and that's a surprise to nobody who's familiar with his game. Notions that it can't be won in the moving water won't faze him a bit. He had a good pre-practice and is brimming with confidence, so he could make some noise.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Jared Lintner – Arroyo Grande, Calif.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 4
> Best Classic finish: 19th (2007)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 20th (2008 Classic)
> Current world rank: 61st
> Insight: Lintner is best-suited to a pure power-fishing environment, but his terrific showing on the Elite Series last year was testament to his improved versatility and a greater belief in his own abilities. He's another guy who might have to find the right shallow-water situation to be a serious threat.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Justin Lucas – Guntersville, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 18th (2011 FLW Tour), 22nd (2012 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 18th
> Insight: Lucas seemingly stands a good chance of making his Classic debut a memorable one. He's done well at Hartwell on his previous visits and he's a guy who's at least reasonably comfortable fishing at any depth. If cold-water jerkbaiting is the predominant tactic, that'll be right in his wheelhouse.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Jeff Lugar – McGaheysville, Va.
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation (Mid-Atlantic Division)
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 35th (2014)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Another B.A.S.S. Nation guy who's back for his second crack at the Classic, Lugar will be better prepared for all the hoopla than he was last year. He's a shallow-water maven and will have to get on something close to the banks to improve upon his 2014 showing.

Steve Lund – Glendale, Ariz.
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation (Western Division)
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Lund, who did a 21-year hitch in the Marine Corps, will be a long way from home when he debuts at fishing's top level. Bassmaster.com reported that he spent two solid weeks pre-fishing Hartwell prior to the off-limits period, so perhaps something he discovered then will carry over and propel him to a strong showing.

Aaron Martens – Leeds, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 15
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (2002, 2004, 2005, 2011)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 9th (2008 Classic)
> Current world rank: 15th
> Insight: Martens is right where he always is at this time of year – near the top of the list of prohibitive favorites. It's been a busy offseason for the four-time Classic runner-up as he concluded his long run with Megabass and signed on with start-up rod company Enigma, but that won't interfere with his focus as he pursues a long-awaited victory in the sport's premier event. There simply are no conditions that will take him out of the picture and he'll be especially dangerous out deep.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Mike McClelland – Bella Vista, Ark.
> Qualified through: Table Rock Elite Series winner
> Classics fished: 9
> Best Classic finish: 4th (2009)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 42nd (2008 Classic)
> Current world rank: 39th
> Insight: McClelland's only real weakness as an angler is fishing grass, and that won't matter at Hartwell because there isn't any. He's a superb practitioner of the jerkbait and is more than competent at other chilly-water techniques. He's never one to discount under these conditions.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Andy Montgomery – Blacksburg, S.C.
> Qualified through: Norman Southern Open winner
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 36th (2011)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 108th (2014 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 78th
> Insight: Montgomery's a guy who'll have a lot of eyes on him due to his vast experience at the venue. Also, he concluded 2014 in strong fashion, so his confidence is high. He bombed when the FLW Tour visited Hartwell last spring, but that was a performance that's not likely to be repeated. It'll shock nobody if he's in contention on the final day.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Chad Morgenthaler – Coulterville, Ill.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 4
> Best Classic finish: 23rd (2014)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 118th (2012 FLW Tour), 116th (2011 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 62nd
> Insight: Morgenthaler is the only competitor who'll go into the event already having a significant win on his ledger in 2015 – he triumphed at last month's Lake Toho Southern Open to ensure he'll be back in the Classic next year. Pre-spawn is his favorite time of year and he has no qualms about spending entire days far from the bank. His career resurgence over the past 15 months has been impressive and he could be poised for even bigger things.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Paul Mueller – Naugatuck, Conn.
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation (Eastern Division)
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (2014)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Mueller shocked everyone in attendance in Birmingham, Ala. last year with his record-setting day-2 stringer that, combined with another strong haul on day 3, nearly carried him to victory. He's on everybody's radar now and it'll be interesting to see how his second Classic go-around pans out. He appears to have the necessary tools to be a factor in this sport for many years to come.

James Niggemeyer – Van, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 2
> Best Classic finish: 17th (2007)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: N/A
> Current world rank: 94th
> Insight: It's been 5 years since Niggemeyer last competed in a Classic, so he'll undoubtedly be raring to go on day 1. The affable Texas resident's forte is flipping and pitching, and he's another angler who'll likely remain in close proximity to the shoreline. He won't be among the favorites to win, but his personality and demeanor make him an easy guy to root for.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Takahiro Omori – Emory, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 10
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2004)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 36th (2008 Classic)
> Current world rank: 57th
> Insight: The 2004 winner has totally bombed in this event the past 2 years – he was 48th in 2014 at Guntersville and 47th in 2013 at Grand Lake. That won't affect him, though, as he brings a hero-or-zero mentality to the Classic. He'll likely spend the majority of his time in the shallows and if he finds quality there, he could be a factor. If not, he could be an also-ran for the third straight year.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Cliff Pace – Petal, Miss.
> Qualified through: Medical exemption from winning 2013 Classic
> Classics fished: 5
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2013)
> Tour-level finishes at Hartwell: 2nd (2008 Classic)
> Current world rank: 103rd
> Insight: Pace hasn't fished a top-level event in nearly a year and a half due to the severe leg injury he incurred when he fell from a treestand, but that'll likely have no effect on the unflappable Mississippian. He won the last Classic he competed in and was the runner-up the previous time the event was held at Hartwell. He's excellent in cold water, as he has no qualms with fishing at a glacial pace. He'll draw a lot of attention – whether he wants it or not.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

End Part 2 (of 3)