By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor
The Bassmaster Classic is headed back to the Tennessee River for the fifth time in the event’s 49-year history and it will be the third Classic to originate in the Volunteer State, with the last one coming in 1986 when Charlie Reed won with 23-09 at Lake Chickamauga.
It’ll no doubt take considerably more weight than that this week to prevail at Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes. Question is: Will the winning weight exceed the 47-01 caught by Jordan Lee last year at Lake Hartwell that marked the lowest winning weight in the Classic since the event shifted to the springtime in 2006?
It’s been a soggy winter across the Southeast, but especially in the Tennessee River Valley. Host city Knoxville received more than a foot of rain in February and has already had two days in March when rainfall has exceeded one inch, including last Saturday, the second day of unofficial practice.
The forecast for the balance of the week contains a mixed bag with nearly a half-inch of rain expected Thursday, the day before competition begins. A cold front bringing overnight lows in the low 30s arrives Friday along with morning showers for day 1 of the tournament. The sun is predicted to make an appearance Saturday and Sunday, but temperatures will only top out in the low to mid 50s.
The weather figures to take a backseat to all the storylines surrounding this Classic, which may be the final B.A.S.S. event for a number of anglers in the 52-man field. Thirty-six anglers competing this week now call Major League Fishing's Bass Pro Tour home, including Lee and reigning Angler of the Year Justin Lucas, after departing the Elite Series following the 2018 season.
The field is loaded with talent, experience and plenty who know what winning a Classic feels like. In all, there are eight past Classic champs in the field and three who've won the Forrest Wood Cup. For 13 competitors, this week represents their first taste of the Classic experience.
Starting today and continuing Wednesday, BassFan will take a closer look at this year's Classic field with snapshot profiles of each competitor (listed alphabetically) in an effort to get fans ready for what will transpire on the water at Loudoun-Tellico on March 15-17.
Casey Ashley – Donalds, S.C.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 8
> Best Classic finish: 1st (Lake Hartwell – 2015)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 31st
> Insight: This will be Ashley’s sixth straight Classic and he’s made the day-3 cut in four of the last five with two of those coming in his backyard at Lake Hartwell, where he won four years ago. There are few scenarios he’s not been faced with so whatever Ft. Loudoun-Tellico throws at him he’ll be ready – most likely with a jig tied on.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Adrian Avena – Vineland, N.J.
> Qualified through: Bassmaster Classic Bracket
> Classics fished: None
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 65th
> Insight: At 28, Avena can be considered a seasoned vet after four seasons on the FLW Tour and three more on the Elite Series. How he navigates his first Classic, though, remains to be seen. He fished his way in through the Classic Bracket last fall and has started the 2019 Bass Pro Tour season with two top-25s. A possible sleeper pick.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Drew Benton – Panama City, Fla.
> Qualified through: 2018 Toyota Texas Fest winner
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 18th (Lake Conroe – 2017)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 60th
> Insight: The Floridian typically excels around the spawn, but he proved last year he can be a threat anywhere any time with his win at Lake Travis. Outside of that victory, he cashed checks in just two other Elite Series events. It was a trying offseason, too, as he and his family were impacted by Hurricane Michael, which devastated parts of the Florida panhandle. He declined a Bass Pro Tour invite to stick with the Elite Series – one of three in the Classic field to do so – and he’s finished in the top half of the field in the first two events of 2019.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Josh Bertrand – San Tan Valley, Ariz.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 3
> Best Classic finish: 28th (Lake Hartwell – 2018)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 9th
> Insight: Had a dynamite season in 2018 but stumbled in the first two Bass Pro Tour events (52nd and 64th). Throw in his next-to-last-place finish at the AOY Championship last September and it’s fair to say the Arizona native is in the midst of a mini slump. Confidence is key in this sport and a good showing (or better) this week could get things turned around for him.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Brent Ehrler was the runner-up in last year's Classic and posted two top-20 finishes at Lou-Tel from his FLW Tour days.
Brent Chapman – Lake Quivira, Kan.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 13
> Best Classic finish: 5th (Lay Lake – 2010 & Louisiana Delta – 2011)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 69th
> Insight: Back in the Classic for the first time since 2014, he’s coming off a top-5 finish in points last year. It hasn’t translated so far to the Bass Pro Tour (79th in points), so he’s hoping the Classic microscope gets him refocused and reverses his struggles from earlier this year.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Jason Christie – Park Hill, Okla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 6
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (Grand Lake – 2016)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: 8th (2010 FLW Tour), 154th (2008 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 7th
> Insight: This Classic could set up to fit into one of his wheelhouses (high water, pre-spawn) and he’s no doubt itching to take another swing at winning this event after a couple close calls, including last year when he was third at Lake Hartwell. Being stubborn is one of his strengths, but it’s a trait that could work against him at a fishery that is notorious for its lack of reliability.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Mark Daniels, Jr. - Tuskegee, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 15th (Lake Hartwell – 2018)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 14th
> Insight: Proved he can win on a foreign body of water last summer at Lake Oahe so there’s no telling how he’ll fare on the Tennessee River this week. He’s a quick learner so don’t go betting against him.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Ott DeFoe - Knoxville, Tenn.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 7
> Best Classic finish: 4th (Lake Guntersville - 2014)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: 28th (2010 FLW Tour), 62nd (2008 FLW Tour), 116th (2007 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 21st
> Insight: Will garner a lot of attention this week as one of the favorites and has the ability to perform while carrying the “local favorite” label. He knows the stretch of water real well, but the conditions might neutralize any true advantage he might have. At the same time, they might accentuate the local expertise he possesses.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Kyle Dorsett – Odenville, Ala.
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: As a qualifier through the B.A.S.S. Nation, Dorsett won’t be expected to be a contender, but Nation anglers have been known to deliver big surprises on the big stage. It’s been five years since Paul Mueller’s stellar showing at Lake Guntersville nearly earned him the win and Dorsett, a stud in Alabama tournament circles, has the chops to surprise this week.
Brent Ehrler – Redlands, Calif.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 3
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (Lake Hartwell – 2018)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: 14th (2010 FLW Tour), 15th (2008 FLW Tour), 32nd (2007 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 6th
> Insight: Like Christie, he’s stared down Classic wins on multiple occasions, but came up short. He’s as resilient as they come, though. Has not finished lower than 20th in a championship event (Classic or Cup) since the 2009 Cup in Pittsburgh.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
James Elam – Tulsa, Okla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 3
> Best Classic finish: 4th (Lake Conroe – 2017)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 18th
> Insight: Coming off a stellar Elite Series season in which he won the AOY Championship event at Lake Chatuge, Elam missed the money cut in the first two Bass Pro Tour events. He’s capable of bouncing back in a big way, though. Last year, he followed up a 91st-place finish with three top-50s before winning at Chatuge. This season started with a 71st and he bounced back with a 49th. Could his rebound continue this week?
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Seth Feider could be tempted to target smallmouth this week.
Edwin Evers – Talala, Okla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 17
> Best Classic finish: 1st (Grand Lake - 2016)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: 11th (2010 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 2nd
> Insight: Has had as good a start to the 2019 season as anyone with a runner-up finish and win in the first two Bass Pro Tour events. His confidence level should be sky high this week and there isn’t much he hasn’t seen, plus he’s one of the few in the field with tournament experience at Loudoun-Tellico.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Todd Faircloth – Jasper, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 16
> Best Classic finish: 3rd (Lay Lake – 2010)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 42nd
> Insight: A fixture in the Classic for the past dozen years – this will be his 13th straight Classic – Faircloth is looking to get back in the habit of scoring top-10 finishes. After reeling off five in a row between 2010-14, he’s finished 23rd or lower in three of the last four. He’s as steady as they come so even without much experience at Loudoun-Tellico, don’t be surprised if he’s in contention Sunday afternoon.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Seth Feider - Bloomington, Minn.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 18th (Lake Hartwell – 2018)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 23rd
> Insight: Feider will be intriguing to watch this week – does he seek out the cleaner water and chase smallmouth or play in the dirty water targeting largemouth? Maybe he’ll do a bit of both. Don’t let his “aw shucks” demeanor fool you. This tournament means a ton to him.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Micah Frazier - Newnan, Ga.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 2
> Best Classic finish: 14th (Lake Hartwell – 2018 & Grand Lake – 2016)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 39th
> Insight: The limelight always seems to miss Frazier, who has finished 14th in each of his first two Classics; he was third after day 2 last year. He started the season with top-30s at the St. Johns and Lanier so the momentum train is picking up speed.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Jacopo Gallelli – Firenze, Italy
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Gallelli made history last fall becoming the first European, let alone Italian, angler to qualify for the Classic. He wouldn’t mind taking that historic achievement one step further and taking the Classic trophy back to Europe. He rode a small spinnerbait to his third-place finish at the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship last November and it would probably be wise to have something similar tied on this week.
Roy Hawk – Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: 27th (2010 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 104th
> Insight: A force out West for years, Hawk qualified for his first Classic thanks to a stellar rookie year that featured top-3 finishes in his first two events. He’s still looking for a top-50 finish after two Bass Pro Tour events and wasn’t a factor in the two Forrest Wood Cups he qualified for (2015 and ’17). He was the day-1 leader in the 2010 Lou-Tel FLW Tour after catching the biggest stringer of the events (20-14).
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Brett Hite – Phoenix, Ariz.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 4
> Best Classic finish: 7th (Lake Hartwell – 2015)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: 26th (2010 FLW Tour), 163rd (2008 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 66th
> Insight: After missing out on last year’s Classic, Hite is back in the sport’s marquee event. If the first two Bass Pro Tour events are any indication, Hite’s strength – vibrating jig – could come into play this week with stained water being prevalent.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
This has been the scene at the conclusion of the last two Classics – Jordan Lee holding the trophy over his head. Can he be the first to three-peat?
Derek Hudnall – Baton Rouge, La.
> Qualified through: Bassmaster Opens
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 322
> Insight: Elite Series rookie will not be on many BassFans’ radar this week, but if most observers’ shallow-water theory holds up, don’t count him out. His Louisiana roots scream shallow water expert.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Mike Iaconelli – Pittsgrove, N.J.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 19
> Best Classic finish: 1st (Louisiana Delta – 2003)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 35th
> Insight: This will be Iaconelli’s 18th straight Classic, matching Larry Nixon for the third-longest streak ever. It’ll possibly be his last as well. He’s alternated top-10 finishes with bottom-half-of-the-field finishes in the last six Classics and with this being an odd-numbered year, he should be due for another top-10 showing.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Alton Jones, Jr. – Lorena, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 39th (Lake Conroe – 2017)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 40th
> Insight: He hit the ground running to open the Bass Pro Tour season (4th and 28th) and has taken to the pro scene with ease. Dating back to the start of the 2018 Elite Series season, he’s missed the money cut only twice so he’s been fishing well for a while now. Question now: Is he up for taking the next (quantum) step?
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Bobby Lane – Lakeland, Fla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 11
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (Lake Hartwell – 2015)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: 64th (2007 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 12th
> Insight: Always seems to find himself in the mix at high-profile events. Last year’s Classic at Hartwell was not among them (43rd), though, but he’s not prone to have back-to-back stinkers. Expect him to be in the mix come Sunday.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Chris Lane – Guntersville, Ala.
> Qualified through: Bassmaster Classic Bracket
> Classics fished: 6
> Best Classic finish: 1st (Red River – 2012)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 52nd
> Insight: Missed the last two Classics, but fished his way into this one via the Classic Bracket last fall. He’s proficient at darn near everything and his ability to decode new water – and excel while doing so – will be a valuable tool this week.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Jordan Lee – Grant, Ala.
> Qualified through: 2018 Bassmaster Classic champion
> Classics fished: 3
> Best Classic finish: 1st (Lake Hartwell – 2018, Lake Conroe – 2017)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 1st
> Insight: Nobody saw his repeat win coming a year ago so who are we to discount his ability to win a third straight, something that’s never been done. He couldn’t have scripted a better start to the Bass Pro Tour season so he’s arrived in Knoxville with plenty of confidence.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Brandon Lester – Fayetteville, Tenn.
> Qualified through: Bassmaster Opens
> Classics fished: 3
> Best Classic finish: 19th (Lake Hartwell – 2015)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 51
> Insight: Will be looked upon as a potential favorite based on where he gets his mail, but he’s admittedly not that tuned in to the lakes around Knoxville. Still, he’s carved out a decent start to his career and a Classic win in his home state would accelerate his rise to stardom.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Jared Lintner – Arroyo Grande, Calif.
> Qualified through: Bassmaster Opens
> Classics fished: 6
> Best Classic finish: 9th (Lake Conroe – 2017)
> Tour-level finishes at Loudoun-Tellico: None
> Current world rank: 61
> Insight: Known for his work with a big rod (flipping, punching, frogging), the tall Californian will likely have to change it up this week if he’s to have a shot at contending. Dating back to 2010, he’s recorded seven top-20s in March (13 tournaments) so don’t expect him to get spooked by Loudoun-Tellico.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
