By BassFan Staff
(Part 1 of a 3-part series)
The countdown has begun.
In a little more than two weeks, the eyes of the bass fishing universe will rest squarely on northeastern Oklahoma as the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees and Tulsa prepare to welcome the angling community for Bassmaster Classic XLVI. It’ll be the second time in 4 years that B.A.S.S. will bring its marquee event to Tulsa, which is set to become the 10th city to host multiple Classics.
What awaits the 55-man field on the water remains to be seen as Grand Lake continues to stabilize after devastating flooding in late December prompted record water releases.
Nearly half of the field (25) will be competing in their second Grand Lake Classic. Nearly two-thirds of the competitors (33) have a Classic, Forrest Wood Cup, full-field Elite Series or an Open win to their credit. Fourteen of the top 25 anglers in the current BassFan World Rankings are in the field.
There’s been plenty of hand-wringing already over the weather and what Mother Nature will brew up for the area during the first week of March, but all of that is out of the anglers’ control. All they can control is how they prepare and adjust based on what they find during the 4 days of practice they’ll get in the week leading up to the tournament.
B.A.S.S. pushed the Classic back a week on the calendar so it didn’t go head-to-head with the Daytona 500 and also in hopes of lowering the probability that severely cold weather would impact not just the tournament, but the event as a whole.
The wintry blast that hit the Midwest during Classic week in February 2013 is believed to have kept hundreds, if not thousands, of fans at home rather than heading to Tulsa and Grand Lake to take in the sights and sounds of Oklahoma’s first Classic. Still, the first Tulsa Classic ranked behind only the 2009 Classic in Shreveport/Bossier City, La., in terms of attendance.
The weather in Grove, Okla., where the anglers will blast off using the Wolf Creek Park facility, is expected to be mild this week with temperatures holding in the low to mid 60s with little chance for rain. Looking ahead, long-range forecasts for the week of the Classic show cloudy and overcast conditions with temperatures in the 50s.
Kevin VanDam, the sport’s all-time earnings leader, is back in the Classic after not qualifying for the 2015 version for the first time in his career. He’ll resume the chase for a record fifth Classic title at a lake where he’s won before (2007) and finished 8th in the Classic 3 years ago.
While VanDam stalks history, there are eight other past champions with a shot to become members of the exclusive multi-time winners club – Chris Lane, Alton Jones, Boyd Duckett, Skeet Reese, Randy Howell, Casey Ashley, Mark Davis and Mike Iaconelli.
To give BassFans a closer look at each of the competitors in this year’s field, the editors have compiled a three-part series that offers a snapshot profile of each angler.
Here's a brief look at each angler (they're listed alphabetically).
Casey Ashley – Donalds, S.C.
> Qualified through: 2015 Bassmaster Classic winner
> Classics fished: 6
> Best Classic finish: 1 (2015 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 60th (2007 Elite Series)
> Current world rank: 26
> Insight: The reigning Classic champ is coming off of an up-and-down season, but he sure wouldn’t mind not having to hand over the trophy inside the BOK Center. He proved last year he can win at home amid historic cold and immense pressure. This year, the venue will be virtually brand-new to him. He’s not one to reinvent himself to specific tournaments so he’ll fish the way he likes, and that usually means with a jig tied on.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Josh Bertrand – Gilbert, Ariz.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 40 (2014 – Lake Guntersville)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: None
> Current world rank: 103
> Insight: Bertrand is starting to establish himself as one of the rising young Elite Series anglers and he knows a good showing at Grand will force more people to take notice. Known for his finesse game in the desert climate, he’s a relative unknown on Midwestern reservoirs.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Gene Bishop – Ridgeland, Miss.
> Qualified through: Ross Barnett Reservoir Central Open winner
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: None
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Will be among the long shots at Grand, simply due to his lack of experience at the upper levels of competition outside of Mississippi. In winning the Open at his home lake last year, he didn’t allow the fact that he was fishing around accomplished pros hinder his focus or strategy. Taking a nothing-to-lose attitude could work to his advantage.
Brandon Card – Caryville, Tenn.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 39th (2013 – Grand Lake)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 39th (2013 Classic)
> Current world rank: 80
> Insight: Card says he fished too fast during his first Classic and intends to go at a much slower pace this time around. He’s more well-rounded as a angler now with four Elite Series seasons under his belt. Proved last year that he can bounce back from adversity with two Top-10s after a pair of triple-digit finishes. That experience should help him remained poised amidst the pressure.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Edwin Evers will be competing in his 15th Classic this year, his second at Grand Lake.
Jason Christie – Park Hill, Okla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 3
> Best Classic finish: 7th (2013 – Grand Lake)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 7th (2013 Classic), 1st (2013 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 9
> Insight: As was the case in 2013, a lot of attention will be paid to how Christie manages areas on Grand that have been good to him over the years. He didn’t anticipate the spectator traffic he received and is better prepared now for what’s ahead. He’s won four times since the ’13 Classic, too, so he’s developed a bit of a reputation as a closer in the meantime, a label he’d like to continue to build upon.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Albert Collins – Nacogdoches, Texas
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation Championship winner (Central Division)
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 48th (2013 – Grand Lake)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 48th (2013 Classic)
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Don’t have Collins on your radar as a dark horse? You should. Despite his struggles at the ’13 Classic, the Texas resident has been a consistent performer across the Midwest for a few years now and always seems to rise to the occasion in high-stakes events. Not only does he have a Weekend Series championship and a B.A.S.S. Nation title to his credit, he won an FLW Series event in 2014. He’s a big fan of Grand and shouldn’t be in awe this time around.
Keith Combs – Huntington, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 4
> Best Classic finish: 16th (2012 – Red River)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: 20
> Insight: Combs has established himself as one of the more steady performers on the Elite Series with five Top-10s over the past two seasons. This tournament presents a bit of a challenge in that he’s not competed at Grand before. That shouldn’t hinder him a great deal, but his track record in late February/early March has not been strong.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
John Crews – Salem, Va.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 9
> Best Classic finish: 16th (2008 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 22nd (2013 Classic), 46th (2007 Elite Series), 42nd (2006 Elite Series)
> Current world rank: 33
> Insight: As consistent as Crews has been over his career, the Classic has not been one of his strong suits. This will be his 10th turn in the event and he’s still looking for his first Top-15 result. He took 22nd at Grand 3 years ago, so the law of averages dictates he could be due for a breakthrough.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Mark Davis – Mt. Ida, Ark.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 18
> Best Classic finish: 1st (1995 – High Rock Lake)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 32nd (2013 Classic)
> Current world rank: 45
> Insight: One of the more seasoned anglers in the field, Davis has the perfect demeanor for the Classic. He never gets too high or too low and his deliberate style might line up perfectly with the conditions. He’ll be looking to improve on his middle-of-the-pack finish at Grand in 2013.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Ott DeFoe – Knoxville, Tenn.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 4
> Best Classic finish: 4th (2014 – Lake Guntersville)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 11th (2013 Classic)
> Current world rank: 75
> Insight: DeFoe has established himself as a perennial contender at the Classic. He’s yet to finish outside the Top 11 in four tries and he seems to thrive in cold-weather scenarios. He had to scramble at the end of last season to qualify for his 5th Classic and with his ability to make quick adjustments and fish for the right quality of bites it takes to contend, he could again be in the mix in Tulsa.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Chris Dillow – Waynesboro, Va.
> Qualified through: James River Northern Open winner
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Dillow will be out of his comfort zone at Grand. He’s used to the friendly tidal confines of the James River, but he took down a field that included past Classic winners en route to his James River Open win last July. How he’ll perform on the big stage is anyone’s guess.
Boyd Duckett is back in the Classic for the first time since 2013, the last time Tulsa was the host city.
Boyd Duckett – Guntersville, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 6
> Best Classic finish: 1 (2007 – Lay Lake)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 21st (2013 Classic), 8th (2007 Elite Series)
> Current world rank: 100
> Insight: Duckett’s most recent Classic was the ’13 version at Grand and that qualification came via his win at Onedia Lake in 2012. He put together a solid 2015 campaign and made it back via the AOY points. The man who won the first Classic he competed in would dearly love to add another to his mantle.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Brent Ehrler – Newport Beach, Calif.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 47th (2013 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 16
> Insight: Ehrler will be one of the more fascinating follows at the Classic. A former Cup champ with six top-level wins to his credit, the California native will get his first taste of the Classic atmosphere. He has few weaknesses so expect him to be in the mix, if not contend, right off the bat.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
James Elam – Tulsa, Okla.
> Qualified through: Arkansas River Central Open winner & Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: 99
> Insight: While Christie and Edwin Evers will snag most of the “local favorite” headlines as the Classic draws nearer, Elam will be worth paying attention to as well. Coming off his best Elite Series season (he was 26th in points) and still riding the high of his Central Open win, Elam will be brimming with confidence as the Classic comes to his hometown.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Edwin Evers – Talala, Okla.
> Qualified through: BASSFest winner
> Classics fished: 14
> Best Classic finish: 3rd (2014 – Lake Guntersville)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 25th (2013 Classic), 3rd (2007 Elite Series), 4th (2006 Elite Series)
> Current world rank: 5
> Insight: Is this the year that Evers finally breaks through and wins the big one? He’d certainly like that and it’s hard to make a case against such a thing happening, especially after the year he had in 2015 (two wins, three Top-3s). He’ll have the support (and pressure) that comes with being one of the local residents competing in the Classic, but there’s a sense he’s ready to break through on the biggest of stages.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Greg Hackney has a decent record at Grand Lake, but he'd sure like a Classic win to complete the career grand slam.
Todd Faircloth – Jasper, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 13
> Best Classic finish: 3rd (Lay Lake – 2010)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 9th (2013 Classic), 16th (2007 Elite Series), 101st (2006 Elite Series)
> Current world rank: 22
> Insight: Faircloth’s in the same boat as Evers as being one of the most decorated anglers of this era without a Classic or AOY title to his credit. He overcame a miserable slump last season to qualify for his 14th career Classic and the Texan dearly wants to kick off the year with a signature win. He saw his string of five straight Top-10 Classic finishes end last year, so he’ll be looking to start a new streak at Grand.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Micah Frazier – Newnan, Ga.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: 73
> Insight: Acquitted himself nicely during his Elite Series debut season and will be among the group competing in a major event at Grand for the first time. He’s competed in one Forrest Wood Cup (27th at Lake Lanier in 2012), but the Classic is a different animal. He’s still considered young (27), but has 4-plus years of Tour-level competition under his belt, which should help him deal with Classic week.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
Greg Hackney – Gonzales, La.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 12
> Best Classic finish: 5th (2008)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 13th (2013 Classic), 32nd (2007 Elite Series), 35th (2006 Elite Series)
> Current world rank: 8
> Insight: Hackney has the rare opportunity to become bass fishing’s first Grand Slam winner if he wins the Classic. That’ll give him a Cup win, a Classic win and AOY titles on both circuits. The stars have to align just right, though, and Hackney has had success in tournaments where he can hunker down in one area and milk it for days. Grand sets up that way – he just needs to find the right area.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.
End Part 1 (of 3)
