Of all the Bassmaster Classics in recent memory, the upcoming Red River Classic in Louisiana is the most difficult to predict. It's not necessarily a new venue - BASS has traditionally fished the Red River, although more from the spring through the fall.

Instead, the fact that it's a big, lowland

river means that conditions can vary wildly from one day to the next. It can live up to its name and run high and red, or it can run low and manageable. Of course, it can also run at any level in-between. And water temperatures can make dramatic swings during February.

Ideal conditions, from a BassFan's point of view, would probably be somewhat high and off-color. That would likely create a strong bite and at the same time, allow the field to spread out. If it's low, good spots will likely be crowded. If it's blown out, the fishing could be extremely challenging and luck (or "fortune" as the pros call it) may rule the day.

To help get a bead on what weights might look like at the upcoming Classic, recent Red River tournament results from various BASS and FLW Outdoors events are reprinted below.

Note that some events launched from Shreveport, where the Classic field will launch. Other events launched from Natchitoches, which is well downriver from Shreveport. Those Natchitoches results were included to provide a balanced look at the whole of the Louisiana fishery - not just the pools the Classic field will fish.

In analyzing the data, it's apparent that 18 pounds is about the high mark, give or take. That's what it took to win this year's Red River Bassmaster Central Open. And it could take only 13 pounds a day, or even less, to hunt around inside the Top 10. Again, though, everything's predicated on water condition.

2006 BFL (Feb. 18, Natchitoches)
1. Bojack Anderson -- St. Gabriel, La -- 18-09
2. Thomas Cheaney -- Montgomery, Tx -- 13-12
3. Chris Morgan -- Farmerville, La -- 13-07
4. Alex Manitzas -- Deridder, La -- 12-11
5. Paul Rossi -- Baton Rouge, La -- 12-10
6. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, La -- 12-05
7. Marc Lowenthal -- Prairieville, La -- 12-03
8. Anthony Kyzar -- Houma, La -- 12-00
9. Chip Shows -- Sorrento, La -- 11-12
10. Scott Buxton -- Napoleonville, La -- 11-02
> 1-day event -- 18 1/2-pound winning weight

2008 BFL (April 12, Shreveport)
1. Mark Allen -- Kemp, Tx -- 18-00
2. Glen Freeman -- Converse, La -- 17-09
3. Charles D Hammack -- New Caney, Tx -- 11-14
4. Jeff Holder -- Bossier City, La -- 11-12
5. Richard Cunningham -- Ragley, La -- 11-06
6. Sid Havard -- Simsboro, La -- 11-05
7. Marvin Ettredge -- Shreveport, La -- 11-02
8. Frank Little -- Florien, La -- 10-11
9. Marc Gatwood -- Hattiesburg, Ms -- 10-04
10. Kevin Hanson -- Pineville, La -- 9-12
> 1-day event -- 18-pound winning weight

2008 Central Open (April 24-26, Shreveport)
1. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, Ar -- 54-00
2. Homer Humphreys -- Minden, La -- 51-07
3. Jerry Williams -- Conway, Ar -- 50-12
4. Kyle A. Fox -- Lakeland, Fl -- 48-13
5. Danny Smith -- Monterey, La -- 45-07
6. Clark Reehm -- Russellville, Ar -- 45-00
7. Sammy Burks -- Joplin, Mo -- 43-14
8. Mike Pedroza -- Sibley, La -- 42-04
9. Mark Goines -- Shady Point, Ok -- 40-14
10. Roger Boler -- Slidell, La -- 39-01
> 3-day event -- 18-pound winning average

2004 Stren (April 28-May 1, Natchitoches)
1. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, Ar -- 26-06 -- 27-00
2. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 24-06 -- 27-00
3. Toby Hartsell -- Livingston, Tx -- 22-04 -- 25-02
4. Kenneth Chapman -- Woodlawn, Tn -- 18-15 -- 24-15
5. Slade Dearman -- Sam Rayburn, Tx -- 18-12 -- 23-08
6. George Jeane Jr -- Evans, La -- 18-14 -- 21-15
7. Kenneth Sheets -- Pevely, Mo -- 21-08 -- 20-08
8. Glenn Maxwell -- Crossett, Ar -- 25-11 -- 18-10
9. Danny Gulledge -- Crossett, Ar -- 19-05 -- 18-05
10. Marc Lowenthal -- Prairieville, La -- 19-15 -- 16-10
> 4-day event with cut -- 13 1/2-pound winning average

2008 BFL (May 17, Natchitoches)
1. Mark Richard -- Brookeland, Tx -- 15-00
2. Aaron Johnson -- Bossier City, La -- 14-13
3. Marc Gatwood -- Hattiesburg, Ms -- 13-11
4. Glen Freeman -- Converse, La -- 13-08
5. Glenn Robertson -- Shreveport, La -- 12-07
6. Timothy Achee -- Hemphill, Tx -- 12-00
6. Jeff Kitchens -- Henderson, Tx -- 12-00
8. Richard Cunningham -- Ragley, La -- 11-15
9. Steve Graf -- Natchitoches, La -- 11-14
10. Sid Havard -- Simsboro, La -- 11-07
> 1-day event -- 15-pound winning weight

2007 BFL (May 19, Natchitoches)
1. Trey Morgan -- Goldonna, La -- 14-13
2. Marvin Ettredge -- Shreveport, La -- 13-05
2. Glenn Robertson -- Shreveport, La -- 13-05
4. Ken Starks -- Natchez, La -- 12-10
5. Brett Sellers -- Denham Springs, La -- 11-14
6. Jim Parker III -- Slidell, La -- 11-12
7. Rocky Roussel -- Morgan City, La -- 10-04
8. Jason Pittman -- Covington, La -- 9-04
9. Jaime Rhodes -- Houma, La -- 8-15
10. Jimmy Greer -- Dry Prong, La -- 8-12
> 1-day event -- 15-pound winning weight

2007 Central Open (June 14-16, Shreveport)
1. Danny Smith -- Monterey, La -- 42-06
2. Marvin Ettredge -- Shreveport, La -- 34-05
3. Ryan Brown -- La Place, La -- 34-03
4. Brian Clark -- Haltom, Tx -- 34-01
5. Mike Pedroza -- Sibley, La -- 32-15
6. Jacky Hawthorne -- Greenville, Tx -- 32-04
7. Jeff Stevens -- Flower Mound, Tx -- 30-14
8. Edward Whaley -- Montgomery, Tx -- 28-15
9. Gary Giudice -- Norman, Ok -- 28-13
10. Clark Reehm -- Russellville, Ar -- 28-09
> 3-day event -- 14-pound winning average

2006 Weekend Series (Sept. 10, Shreveport)
1. Mark Smith -- West Monroe, La -- 9-14
2. Thomas Goins -- Port Allen, La -- 9-06
3. Rodney Teel -- Ponchatoula, La -- 8-14
4. Vernon Silver -- Boutte, La -- 8-12
5. Chad Wiley -- Deville, La -- 7-05
6. Danny Gulledge -- Crossett, Ar -- 6-11
7. William Travis -- Pineville, La -- 6-06
8. Kevin Hanson -- Pineville, La -- 6-05
9. William Hardman -- Metairie, La -- 6-04
10. Charles Klepfer -- Slidell, La -- 6-00
> 1-day event -- 10-pound winning weight

2007 WBT (Sept. 20-22, Shreveport)
1. Laura Gober -- Pendergrass, Ga -- 34-09
2. Lisa Johnson -- Aragon, Ga -- 30-02
3. Sheri Glasgow -- Muskogee, Ok -- 28-00
4. Pam Martin-Wells -- Bainbridge, Ga -- 27-12
5. Jo Dee Lake -- Bessemer, Al -- 27-00
6. Sammie Denyes -- Baker, Fl -- 23-14
7. Penny Berryman -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 23-01
8. Debra Petrowski -- Arlington, Tx -- 23-08
9. Melinda Mize Hooper -- Ben Lomond, Ar -- 23-00
10. Christiana Bradley -- Bealeton, Va -- 22-09
> 3-day event -- 11 1/2-pound winning average

Notable

> What do you think, BassFans? Will it take 18 pounds? More? Less? Click here to let us know.