(Editor's note: This is part 2 of a 3-part story. To read part 1, click here.)
Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La.
> Fished: 7 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 5th (2008)
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (15th)
> Current world rank: 19th
> Insight: Hackney finally won a major championship late last summer when he hoisted the Forrest Wood Cup trophy in Pittsburgh. His championship history shows he's
an all-or-nothing competitor. He struck out big-time at Lay in 2007, but certainly has to be feeling some post-Pittsburgh mojo.
Matt Herren -- Trussville, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (28th)
> Fished: 1 Classic
> Best Classic finish: 32nd (2009)
> Current world rank: 59th
> Insight: The longtime FLW Tour stalwart makes his second Classic appearance, this time on home water. He's near the top of the favorites list given his knowledge of, and history on, the fishery. But like other locals, a cold-water tournament would likely knock back his home-field advantage. Another factor to keep in mind: Herren will have a lot of spectator boats on him from the get-go.
Don Hogue -- Pasco, Wash.
> Qualified through: Federation Nation (Western)
> Fished: No Classics
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: A Columbia River angler fishing his first Classic.
Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (5th)
> Fished: 8 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 11th (1999)
> Current world rank: 20th
> Insight: Not an Alabama native, but he's lived there long enough that he's now identified with the state. Although he's a shallow fisherman, he's expanded more in recent years. The Coosa chain certainly suits him – he tends to do well in somewhat clearer, more pressured fisheries (as well as rivers), and he's got a knack for catching big spots (which he did in the Elite Series post-season last year, held at the Alabama River and Lake Jordan). Still, not a top favorite at this point.
Mike Iaconelli -- Runnemede, N.J.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (4th)
> Fished: 10 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2003)
> Current world rank: 8th
> Insight: There's little Ike has yet to accomplish. He's a Classic champ and BASS Angler of the Year. But he must be stinging a little bit from two runner-up finishes in last year's championships. He narrowly lost to Skeet Reese at the Red River Classic, then fell just short of Greg Hackney at the Forrest Wood Cup. He's hungry and must be considered one of the favorites for this Classic. His fans just hope he learned from his mistakes at Lay in 2007, when he finished 23rd.
Mike Iaconelli finished 2nd at last year's Classic and Forrest Wood Cup.
Alton Jones -- Waco, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (6th)
> Fished: 12 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2008)
> Current world rank: 4th
> Insight: Jones has few peers when it comes to carving up a piece of cover – whether it's deep or shallow – and he's a canny angler who thinks through which patterns will last, and which won't. His chances might improve if conditions don't improve and the bite stays tough. Finished 22nd at the 2007 Lay Classic, but always a threat.
Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (7th)
> Fished: 7 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 5th (2004)
> Current world rank: 15th
> Insight: He's one of the high-expectation pros who bombed at the 2007 Lay Classic (44th), and has cracked the Top 5 in a Classic just once. He's very good on deep structure, so if the largemouth bite is off, he's one of the heavy-hitters who should be able to work spotted bass with acuity. Pretty much a wildcard at this point, given his past Classic ups and downs.
Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (13th)
> Fished: 3 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 8th (2007)
> Current world rank: 18th
> Insight: Originally planned to miss the Classic pre-practice in order to compete at the Red River FLW Tour. But the Red River was canceled, so Kennedy gets a full pre-practice period. The sport has been waiting for Kennedy to have a breakout Classic (or Cup), but so far it hasn't happened. He brought a tin boat to last year's Classic and finished 35th. He knows the Coosa chain – greater Birmingham is where he came of age as a pro – and he finished 8th at the 2007 Lay Classic. Expect another Top 10 or better this time around.
Kota Kiriyama -- Moody, Ala.
> Qualified through: Northern Opens
> Fished: 4 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 4th (2000)
> Current world rank: 62nd
> Insight: An interesting scoop on Kota is that during a recent trip to Japan, BassFan interviewed Seiji Kato – the designer for Jackall Lures. Remember that Mr. Kato's design portfolio includes the original Daiwa TD Minnow, the Lucky Craft Pointer Minnow and Sammy, the Jackall Flick Shake, Mask and TN70 – the list goes on. Kato told BassFan that he designed a special bait for Kiriyama to use at Lay Lake. Kato wouldn't give up any details about depth, style, or even whether
Kota Kiriyama will have one bait nobody else has got.
it's a hard or soft bait, but Kiriyama will have one bait nobody else has got. And Kiriyama's one of the best deep sticks in the field – especially important if the dam area becomes a factor.
Gary Klein -- Weatherford, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (7th)
> Fished: 27 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (2003)
> Current world rank: 23rd
> Insight: Klein has fished a staggering number of Classics, and if anyone's due, it's him. The last time the Classic was at Lay, Klein pulled an unorthodox move and worked a jig pattern. The pattern eventually faded, but its strength surprised even the locals. He's that type of angler though, and you can bet he started with a jig for pre-practice. A strong bet to make the Top 10 – even the Top 5.
Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, Okla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (14th)
> Fished: 5 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 6th (2008)
> Current world rank: 49th
> Insight: The 2008 Hartwell Classic was Kriet's only decent showing in the big show, and it was on a lake that suited him. He likes fishing deep, so count on him to exploit Lay's spotted-bass population – just like the smallmouths he caught in the middle of Oneida Lake last summer at the Elite Series finale (where he finished 2nd). He fished the 2007 Lay Classic and finished 15th – a quality bite away from a Top 10.
Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (34th)
> Fished: 2 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 4th (2008)
> Current world rank: 22nd
> Insight: Lane finished 4th and 16th in the two Classics he fished (Hartwell and Red River), which is strong. But the jury's out on his Coosa oomph. He's versatile, but nearly every one of his career Top 5s has involved grass. If the water warms and the grass-edge gets hot, look out. If this turns out to be a deep-ledge, spotted-bass tournament, he could struggle.
Russ Lane -- Prattville, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (29th)
> Fished: 2 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 21st (2004)
> Current world rank: 105th
> Insight: Just like back in 2007, Russ Lane is easily a Top 5 favorite for this Classic. It's his home water and nobody knows it better (though some, like Duckett and Herren, know it equally well). Lane gambled and didn't win back in 2007. Plus, the spectator traffic destroyed him mentally. He said he's more prepared this year. We'll know next Friday.
Aaron Martens is a spot monster – look for a Top 5 from him next week.
Brent Long -- Cornelius, N.C.
> Qualified through: Federation Nation (Southern)
> Fished: 1 Classic
> Best Classic finish: 49th (2007)
> Current world rank: 245th
> Insight: Long is fishing his second Classic through the Federation, but he's not just a grassroots angler. He fished the FLW Tour in 2007 and 2008, plus a lot of Strens and some Bassmaster Opens/Invitationals. His best finishes seem to be at lakes like Norman, Wylie and Hartwell, but the intel ends there. Could be a wildcard.
Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points (16th)
> Fished: 10 Classics
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (2002, 2004, 2005)
> Current world rank: 9th
> Insight: Consistently one of the top-ranked anglers in the world, Martens has finished in the Top 10 in six of the 10 Classics he's fished, and three of those were runner-up finishes. One of the 2nds was at the 2002 summertime Lay Classic. He lives in proximity to Lay, is widely regarded as one of the best spotted bass anglers in the game, and anything less than a win for him next week would be a disappointment. A clear favorite.
Notable
> To read part 1 of this story, click here.
– End of part 2 (of 3) –
