Sweet Home Alabama
'Bama-Rich Classic Field Seeks Fortune In B'Ham

Photo: BassFan Boyd Duckett looks to repeat a Classic victory at Lay Lake and in his home state.

But a little to the east lies the state of Alabama – the other state that often claims to be the vortex of the sport. Pro bass fishing was created there by Ray Scott, and Alabama has hosted significantly more Bassmaster Classics than any other state. (Texas has hosted just one Classic, which continues to be a sore spot amongst the fanbase there.)

Alabama also continues to produce many of the sport's stars, and other stars who aren't native seem to gravitate there whenever they decide to permanently relocate.

The battle for eminence between Texas and Alabama certainly can't be decided in a single debate, but it's worth pointing out that the field for the upcoming 2010 Classic at Lay Lake outside Birmingham, Ala. – the 10th Classic the state will have hosted – is rich with home-staters.

Some are new to the Classic, some are veterans, one won a previous Classic at Lay, another was DQd there.

In all, Alabama's BassFans, and particularly those who call the Birmingham area home, will have plenty of pros to cheer for this February.

Here's a brief look at each of them.

Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala.
Duckett was the first, and still only pro to win a Classic in his home state. He did that at the 2007 Lay Lake Classic when he qualified through the Bassmaster Opens. Duckett's one of the handful to watch again this year – he still knows the lake up and down. But he'll also be the one everybody's watching, which could lead to some spectator-traffic issues.

Matt Herren -- Trussville, Ala.
Herren made the switch from the FLW Tour this year and is an absolute monster on Lay. In fact, insiders say he's the one to beat at what could easily be considered his home water. Wasn't a factor at his first Classic – last February at the Red River – but he's right there with Duckett as an all-out favorite to win.

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Many insiders feel Matt Herren's the one to beat at Lay.

Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala.
The bass-fishing world is waiting for some K-Gun offense in a championship, but so far, Kennedy has yet to deliver. He was born and raised in Georgia, but cut most of his tournament teeth in Alabama. In fact, he won his first Red Man out of the back of Herren's boat. It's Kennedy's lifelong dream to win the Classic and he finished a strong 8th at the previous Lay Classic. Also note that he ended the season with a string of three consecutive Top 10s at Kentucky Lake, the Mississippi River and Oneida.

Kota Kiriyama -- Moody, Ala.
Kota, who made the Classic through the Northern Opens, is an Alabama transplant by way of New York and Japan. He was one of the first to bring Japanese techniques into the mainstream, and he remains an innovator to this day. Amongst five Classic appearances, he landed a Top 10 twice (including a 4th at Chicago). He didn't fish the 2007 Lay Classic, but did fish the one in 2002 and finished 36th. That was a summer Classic though, and Kota's typically stronger with a winter finesse-style bite like the one he'll likely find this February.

Russ Lane -- Prattville, Ala.
Lay Lake is Lane's home water, and he certainly felt that pressure in 2007 when he tried to do it all and finished a disappointing 24th. Lane will be big with the Birmingham-area crowd – one of their own who went on to live the dream. He's got to get past the jitters he exhibited in 2007 though, and concentrate on fishing what the lake will give him.

Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala.
Martens, who came to Alabama from California, holds the dubious distinction of finishing 2nd in three consecutive Classics he fished, and one of those was at Lay (2002). He practices regularly on the Coosa chain and is one of the best spotted-bass anglers in the game. A strong bet for a Top 5.

Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, Ala.
Suffered a crushing DQ at Lay in 2007 for what BASS tournament director Trip Weldon determined to be reckless boat driving. His fans will never forget those tears he shed onstage, and you can bet Swindle's been waiting for this shot at redemption in front of a home crowd since that very moment. And he's coming off his best season in years, in which he made a heroic effort to make the BASS post-season.

Notable

> Five Alabama residents failed to qualify for the Classic this year through the Elite Series points. In order of points finish, they are: Tim Horton, Greg Vinson, Jeff Connella, Derek Remitz and Chris Lane.