(Editor's note: This is part 3 of a 3-part story that analyzes the 2009 Bassmaster Classic field by splitting it into thirds in alphabetical order. To read part 1, click here. To read part 2, click here.)
Waine Pittman -- Villa Rica, Ga.
> Qualified through: Federation Nation
> Fished: 0 Classics
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Another guy who's navigated the daunting gauntlet of the Federation Nation to get a shot at fishing glory. He's a Georgian, so he no doubt has some history with pre-spawn fish. How high in the pack he finishes could depend on how well he manages the current.
Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Ala.
> Qualified through: Southern Opens
> Fished: 0 Classics
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Current world rank: 61st
> Insight: This will be his first top-level Bassmaster event since 2004 and maybe his last for quite some time (he opted to stay with FLW and forego the '09 Elite Series). He'll go to the Red immediately after this week's FLW Tour event at Guntersville and could have a shortened practice if he makes the Top 10 (that's unlikely, though – he admitted recently that his focus has been on the Red all offseason). He loves shallow-water fishing and has plenty of river experience, so he could be a factor.
Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (4th)
> Fished: 9 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (2007)
> Current world rank: 4th
> Insight: At this stage of his career, he comes to the Classic each year with winning as his only goal – it's the one big feather that hasn't made its way into his cap. Suffered a devastating blow 2 years ago when he was edged out by Boyd Duckett at Lay Lake, and only a bad day 1 kept him out of contention last year. Has all the tools and the right mindset to get it done – he just needs a break or two to go his way. Has no issues with current. A definite short-lister.
Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (7th)
> Fished: 6 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 4th (2003)
> Current world rank: 13th
> Insight: Sat out the Classic last year for the first time since 2003 and didn't enjoy it, so came back with a superb year on the Elite Series that included a win in the finale at Oneida to make sure it didn't happen again. His frog arsenal could play at the Red, and even if it doesn't, he has plenty of other weapons. He's as confident as he's ever been going into a new year and it would be no surprise to see him start this one with a bang. Might also be looking for some redemption. Remember that he was DQd at the Red in fall 2001.
Scott Rook fishes well on rivers and has a strong record in the Classic, so that's a good combination.
Scott Rook -- Little Rock, Ark.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (21st)
> Fished: 6 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (2001)
> Current world rank: 26th
> Insight: A superb river angler who's coming off a good year, he's a short-odds pick for this one. Won the Legends Major on the Arkansas in 2006 despite the pressure of being the hometown favorite, and the Red is at least somewhat similar. Has a couple of Classic Top 10s and has never really bombed in one. Too much working in his favor to ignore.
Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, Okla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (18th)
> Fished: 1 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 40th (2008)
> Current world rank: 16th
> Insight: Could he win this thing? Yes. Could he finish last? Yes. You never know with him – he turns in a lot of great finishes and a few stinkers, too. If he gets on a roll, he's like a runaway freight train and can't be stopped, and those occasions seem to be getting more and more frequent. Has a knack for catching huge kickers, and that bodes well for this tournament.
Bryan Schmidt Olney, Texas
> Qualified through: Federation Nation
> Fished: 0 Classics
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: The last member of the Fed Nation Six (from an alphabetical perspective, anyway) will at least get the chance to fish a Classic in his home region. That might give him an edge over his amateur brethren, but not overall in a field stacked with shallow-water stars. Another longshot.
Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, Fla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (34th)
> Fished: 7 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 11th (1991)
> Current world rank: 89th
> Insight: The Classic will be the 228th BASS event of the 54-year-old's career and he would love to make it his initial victory. Turned in a bunch of finishes in the 30s and 40s last year and stayed away from bombs for the most part to earn his first berth in this tournament since 2004. Fished his first Classic 20 years ago – among this year's field, only Rick Clunn's and Gary Klein's experience with the event dates back further.
Terry Scroggins has made a habit of getting into contention in recent Classics, and there's no reason to think this year will be any different.
Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, Fla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (9th)
> Fished: 5 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 4th (2006)
> Current world rank: 12th
> Insight: The Big Show usually makes his presence felt in the sport's biggest event – in five appearances, his worst finish is 18th and he's logged two Top 10s. He's a wizard with a flipping stick, but does other things almost equally well. He cut his teeth on the St. Johns River, so he understands a thing or two about current. A solid favorite to contend once again.
Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, Mo.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (19th)
> Fished: 3 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 30th (2006)
> Current world rank: 59th
> Insight: Clear water's his real forte, but he can flip a bit, too, and he has some momentum coming off his PAA Tournament Series victory at Toho last month. Has never even sniffed Classic contention in three previous appearances, so he's not an upper-echelon favorite, but look for him to easily surpass is best-ever finish in this event.
Peter Thliveros -- St. Augustine, Fla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (32nd)
> Fished: 12 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 11th (1994)
> Current world rank: 29th
> Insight: Maybe his 13th Classic will be a lucky one for him – he's yet to log a Top 10 in this event. He's not real high on this venue, though – he once called it his least-favorite fishery among all the tour stops. He's a savvy veteran and might pull something together, but the stars don't appear to be aligned for him this time.
Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (1st)
> Fished: 18 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2001, 2005)
> Current world rank: 1st
> Insight: The heaviest of favorites, as always. He's notched five consecutive Top 5s in this event, including a win at Pittsburgh 4 years ago, and has lots of momentum coming off another Angler-of-the-Year campaign. His power-based game should play just fine here. One ray of hope for the rest of the field: He was 93rd in the tour event at the Red in 2001.
Kevin VanDam has finished among the Top 5 in each of the past five Classics.
Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (35th)
> Fished: 0 Classics
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Current world rank: 141
> Insight: A guy who's never done anything but fish will compete in his first Classic at age 44, and those who know him are thrilled for him. He's a high-energy guy to begin with and must caution against getting too keyed up in his Classic debut. Has proven he can fish well in big events (he won the final Bassmaster Wildcard in the fall of 2007 to get back onto the Elite Series last year and is a two-time U.S. Open champion), so he might make some noise.
Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, N.C.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (13th)
> Fished: 4 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 16th (1999)
> Current world rank: 77th
> Insight: He was finally healthy last year after missing almost 2 full seasons due to severe elbow issues and had an outstanding campaign, cashing checks in nine of the 11 Elite Series events. Has a solid record on river-type waters and could easily fish his way into contention here. Hasn't done a whole lot in past Classics, but he's older and wiser now after his long road back.
David Williams -- Maiden, N.C.
> Qualified through: Bassmaster Weekend Series
> Fished: 0 Classics
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Just the fact that he beat out fellow North Carolinian Jeff Coble for this spot tells you he can fish. Competed in several Bassmaster Invitationals in the late 1990s, with only moderate success. Would probably be more comfortable if this were an offshore structure-oriented Classic.
Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (27th)
> Fished: 9 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 6th (2007)
> Current world rank: 30th
> Insight: He's primarily a deep-water guy and doesn't like crowds, so those are two factors that could work against him here. On the other hand, he's a solid flipper and proved last year in his win at Old Hickory that he can find strong shallow action that eludes everybody else. He makes a Top 10 in about every other Classic he fishes and was 35th last year, so a strong showing wouldn't be a surprise.
Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, N.C.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (24th)
> Fished: 3 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 14th (2008)
> Current world rank: 51st
> Insight: The Pennsylvania native isn't a river rat by any means, but he likes shallow water and cold water, and he'll find that on the Red. Had a solid season in 2008 after failing to qualify for this event the previous year. Has yet to do anything to write home about in a Classic and this one doesn't seem tailor-made for him, but he has the versatility to be a factor if things go his way.
Notable
> To read part 1 of this story, click here. For part 2, click here.
