By BassFan Staff

(Part 3 of a 3-part examination of the 2016 Bassmaster Classic field, with anglers listed in alphabetical order. To read part 1, click here. To read part 2, click here).

Chad Morgenthaler – Reeds Spring, Mo.
> Qualified through: Lake Toho Southern Open winner
> Classics fished: 5
> Best Classic finish: 23rd (2014 – Lake Guntersville)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 68th (2013 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 90
> Insight: Morgenthaler was among the first to qualify for this year’s Classic – his Toho victory came in mid-January 2015 – but unfortunately his success didn’t carry over to the 2015 Elite Series. His cashed two checks and finished well off the pace in points. He’s more at home on grass fisheries, but his experience and preference for pre-spawn scenarios might make him a factor at Grand.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Brandon Palaniuk – Rathdrum, Id.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 5
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (2013 – Grand Lake)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 2nd (2013 Classic)
> Current world rank: 25
> Insight: Palaniuk posted the lowest Classic finish of his career last year, so you know he was fired up to get another shot at Grand, where he was the runner-up to Cliff Pace in 2013. He’s coming off a strong season (10th in AOY points) that saw him miss just one check over the final seven events. He’ll be on plenty of people’s watch lists this time around.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Chad Pipkens – Holt, Mich.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 41st (Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: 83
> Insight: Probably didn’t want the 2015 season to end considering the way he finished up – three straight Top-5s – but that strong finish has him preparing for his second straight Classic. While most of his best outcomes have been on smallmouth fisheries, if he’s able to recapture his mojo from the end of last year, he could find himself in the thick of things at Grand.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Clifford Pirch – Payson, Ariz.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 2
> Best Classic finish: 13th (2015 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: 40
> Insight: Pirch has been a touring pro for a number of years now, but he cut his teeth on deep, clear lakes out west. Based on his track record of finishes in late February/early March, Pirch won’t be considered a threat, especially if the water is on a cooling trend. He did finish 13th at Lake Hartwell last year amid frigid conditions so he can build on that effort.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.



B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito
Photo: B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito

Jacob Powroznik has established himself as one of the most well-rounded anglers and figures to be a threat at the Classic this year.

Jacob Powroznik – Prince George, Va.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 5th (2015 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 21st (2013 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 7
> Insight: Powroznik has established himself as one of the more versatile pros on tour over the past couple years. He’s at his best sight-fishing, but has demonstrated proficiency in virtually every other scenario, including the cold-water, pre-spawn situation that he figures to encounter at Grand. He has the demeanor to keep his emotions in check during the Classic fervor as well.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

John Proctor – Conway, S.C.
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Division champion
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: A Classic newcomer, Proctor could get caught up in the moment as B.A.S.S. Nation qualifiers are apt to do. Or he could, as Brandon Palaniuk and Paul Mueller have done in recent years, surprise everyone and turn into an instant contender. He says he favors rocky lakes so he’s got that going for him at Grand.

Skeet Reese – Auburn, Calif.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 15
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2009 – Red River)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 37th (2013 Classic)
> Current world rank: 14
> Insight: Although he was in 2nd after day 1 last year, Reese has been mostly a non-factor in the five Classics he’s fished since his win at Shreveport in 2009. He’s got the game to compete anywhere, any time so it’ll be a matter of him getting into a comfort zone at Grand, which wasn’t kind to him 3 years ago (37th).
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Marty Robinson – Lyman, S.C.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 2
> Best Classic finish: 20th (2013 – Grand Lake)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 20th (2013 Classic)
> Current world rank: 95
> Insight: What does Marty the Party have in store for his stage appearance on day 1? We shall see – maybe he’ll do the Dap. He’d like to have some big fish to show off as well. His first two Classics resulted in mid-pack finishes and single-digit finishes have been a rarity in his career, but a lot can happen if things fall his way in Tulsa.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Fabian Rodriguez – Ocean City, Md.
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation Championship – Mid-Atlantic Division
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: At Grand, Rodriguez won’t find any of the warm coastal breezes he’s used to having in Ocean City, Md., but he’s a plumber by trade and this Classic figures to require some roll-up-the-sleeves kind of hard work he’s used to. He’ll have nothing to lose, but he’ll want to at least get 2016 off to a good start as he will be the B.A.S.S. Nation representative on the Elite Series this season.

B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina
Photo: B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina

Dean Rojas has competed in 13 Classics and was the day-1 leader a year ago at Lake Hartwell.

Dean Rojas – Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 13
> Best Classic finish: 4th (2015 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 14th (2013 Classic)
> Current world rank: 13
> Insight: Fewer anglers hold the Classic in higher regard than Rojas. He was the day-1 leader at Hartwell (and finished 4th) a year ago and would like nothing more than to be there at the end on Sunday. His skillset is as diversified as anyone in the field so he’ll be ready for whatever Grand has in store.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Charles Sim – Ottawa, Ontario
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation Championship – East Division
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Sim’s first taste of the Classic will come in the same town he got his first look at the big show. He attended the 2013 event in Tulsa and now he’ll be the second Canadian to ever compete in the tournament. The pre-spawn phase will be a new endeavor for him – bass season in Ontario doesn’t open until June – so the practice session will be invaluable for him.

Bernie Schultz – Gainesville, Fla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 8
> Best Classic finish: 11th (1991 – Chesapeake Bay)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: 58
> Insight: Don’t bet against the oldest competitor in this year’s field. While he’s not spent a ton of time on Grand, he has plenty of experience in pre-spawn situations outside of his home state. This is his first Classic since 2009 so he’s going to want to maximize this opportunity.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Whitney Stephens – Waverly, Ohio
> Qualified through: Lake Erie Northern Open winner
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: Usually, Stephens does a good bit of ice fishing in the winter around Ohio. This year, though, his thoughts have centered on Grand and how to tap into the pre-spawn fish that swim there. This will be his first tournament in Oklahoma so he’ll be lumped in with the other long shots.

Greg Vance – Dubuque, Ia.
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation Championship – North Division
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: At 21, Vance will be among the event’s youngest participants. His family used to vacation at Grand, but he only fished from a dock. He likes to throw a jerkbait, jig and crankbait, three items that should come into play next month. He needs to guard against being overwhelmed by the moment and just go fishing.

BassFan
Photo: BassFan

Greg Vinson knows what it's like to challenge for a Classic win. He'll compete in his fourth career Classic this year.

Kevin VanDam – Kalamazoo, Mich.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 24
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2001 – Louisiana Delta, 2005 – Three Rivers, 2010 – Lay Lake, 2011 – Louisiana Delta)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 8th (2013 Classic), 1st (2007 Elite Series), 22nd (2006 Elite Series)
> Current world rank: 46
> Insight: VanDam had a rare view of last year’s Classic – from the sidelines – but he’s back in the event for the 25th time in his storied career and oh, he’d love nothing more than to signal his return with a record fifth win. He’s proficient in every discipline that will be a factor at Grand and he’s wired to fish only for winning-quality bass.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Greg Vinson – Wetumpka, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 3
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (2012 – Red River)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: 82
> Insight: Count him among the group of competitors with little to no experience on Midwestern reservoirs in the late winter/pre-spawn phase. He could use that to his advantage, though, and find a groove in practice that carries through the tournament.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

David Walker – Sevierville, Tenn.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 10
> Best Classic finish: 3rd (2001 – Louisiana Delta)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 38th (2013 Classic)
> Current world rank: 56
> Insight: It’s been a while since he contended at a Classic and Grand was not kind to him last time around so he’ll look for a fresh approach next month. He’s seasoned enough to be able to handle whatever the lake throws at him. Early March has resulted in some good finishes through his career so he’ll look to build on that.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

James Watson – Springfield, Mo.
> Qualified through: Table Rock Lake Central Open winner
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: 98th (2013 FLW Tour)
> Current world rank: 173
> Insight: The affable FLW Tour regular will make his Classic debut and he’ll do it on a lake he really enjoys and understands. He’s worked on his jerkbait game recently and is well suited to understand Midwestern lakes in the pre-spawn given his Missouri residency.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Chris Zaldain – Laughlin, Nev.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 52nd (2014 – Lake Guntersville)
> Tour-level finishes at Grand: N/A
> Current world rank: 47
> Insight: The newlywed is poised for his second career Classic after a stellar 2015 campaign. He’s a cerebral angler who’s pretty adept and putting the puzzle together in short order. If he has a good practice under stable conditions at Grand, he could be a threat.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

End part 3 (of 3).