By BassFan Staff

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

Charlie Hartley – Grove City, Ohio
> Qualified through: James River Northern Open winner
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 15th (2008 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: None
> Current world rank: 278
> Insight: Even the amateurs in the field likely aren't as thrilled to be competing in the Classic as the 53-year-old Ohioan who's widely renowned for his unfettered enthusiasm for the sport. Nine years ago, he caught 21 pounds on day 1 at Lake Hartwell to lead the field. He likely won't make that type of splash this time, be he'll have a lot of fun trying.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Matt Herren – Trussville, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 6
> Best Classic finish: 7th (2010 – Lay Lake)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: 15th (2012 TTBC)
> Current world rank: 31
> Insight: He's finished among the top 20 just one time in the Classic, but this one sets up better for him than any of the previous editions he's competed in. He can pitch a jig with the best of them and should be able to discern what the big fish are doing. A guy who could definitely make some noise.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Brett Hite – Phoenix, Ariz.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 4
> Best Classic finish: 7th (2015 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: None
> Current world rank: 44
> Insight: He's shown plenty of times that he can dominate events when he gets dialed in, particularly when he gets on a bladed-jig bite. Other times he can miss the boat entirely and end up at the bottom of the field, but Conroe in March seems to be a good scenario for him. He's a guy to keep an eye on.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Randy Howell – Guntersville, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 14
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2014 – Lake Guntersville)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: 17th (2011 TTBC)
> Current world rank: 60
> Insight: He had to stage a furious rally at last fall's AOY Championship to get into the field, and now he'll attempt to capitalize. His always-positive attitude will allow him put aside a poor start to the current season (two non-money finishes) and focus entirely on this event. His shallow-cranking prowess could serve him well.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Mike Iaconelli – Pittsgrove, N.J.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 16
> Best Classic finish: 1st (1999 – Louisiana Delta)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: 2nd (2010 TTBC), 2nd (2011 TTBC), 9th (2013 TTBC)
> Current world rank: 42
> Insight: He hasn't posted a top-10 finish at the tour level since the summer of 2015, but he knows and loves Conroe and usually brings his "A" game to the sport's biggest event (he's finished 10th or better in the Classic on nine occasions). Very likely to be in the mix.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.



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

Alton Jones has one Classic title and would certainly like to garner another in his home state.

Alton Jones – Lorena, Texas
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 17
> Best Classic finish: 1st (2008 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: 10th (2011 TTBC), 12th (2013 TTBC)
> Current world rank: 22
> Insight: He turned in a stinker last month at Lake Okeechobee (75th), but he'd been hot prior to that and now gets a crack at his second Classic title on a home-state venue that he knows well. A lot of eyes will be on him this week.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Alton Jones Jr. – Lorena, Texas
> Qualified through: Red River Central Open winner
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: None
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: He's been around the top level of the sport for his entire life and already displays the skills and poise of a seasoned pro. He's started his tour-level career with solid finishes on two very diverse fisheries, and this one should be configured to his liking. It would be no surprise to see him in the hunt.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Steve Kennedy – Auburn, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 7
> Best Classic finish: 8th (2007 – Lay Lake)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: 23rd (2009 TTBC), 35th (2010 TTBC), 5th (2011 TTBC), 13th (2012 TTBC)
> Current world rank: 58
> Insight: He performed well in his first Classic (8th at Lay Lake in 2007), but has been no factor whatsoever in his other six appearances. He undoubtedly has the skill set to do well at Conroe at this time of year.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Timothy Klinger – Boulder City, Nev.
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation Championship
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: None
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: This is no amateur – he's a former FLW Tour winner with several years of top-level experience. A strong showing could help him re-launch his career and the venue will allow him to fish his preferred style. Not a total darkhorse.

Bobby Lane – Lakeland, Fla.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 9
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (2015 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: 34th (2009 TTBC), 27th (2010 TTBC), 6th (2012 TTBC), 4th (2013 TTBC)
> Current world rank: 26
> Insight: He comes into the event on a strong roll and big-fish venues are his game. He's very close to the top of the list of best anglers who've never won a Classic or an AOY and it wouldn't shock anybody to see him depart that list entirely come Sunday.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Ryan Lavigne – Gonzales, La.
> Qualified through: B.A.S.S. Nation champion
> Classics fished: 0
> Best Classic finish: N/A
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: None
> Current world rank: N/A
> Insight: He's back at the site where he completely dominated the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship last fall. The setup will be different this time, but he's shown that he can catch Conroe bruisers on a crankbait and a flipping stick. The big question is whether he can do it again.

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

Third-year pro Jordan Lee comes to Conroe as one of the hottest anglers in the game.

Jordan Lee – Vinemont, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 2
> Best Classic finish: 6th (2014 – Lake Guntersville)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: None
> Current world rank: 8
> Insight: He's just a little ways into his third season as a tour pro, but he's already become one of the most consistent anglers on the Elite circuit and is also one of the hottest. He'd be more comfortable if Conroe had a lot of grass, but he can catch them anywhere. Could be a contender.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Dave Lefebre – Erie, Pa.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 1
> Best Classic finish: 22nd (2003 – Louisiana Delta)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: 1st (2009 TTBC), 5th (2010 TTBC), 41st (2011 TTBC), 35th (2012 TTBC)
> Current world rank: 37
> Insight: Many of his best career finishes have occurred in March and he has a lot of experience at Conroe, although not at this time of year. If he can keep his best bites hooked up, he'll be a guy to keep an eye on.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Jared Lintner – Arroyo Grande, Calif.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 5
> Best Classic finish: 18th (2015 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: None
> Current world rank: 86
> Insight: He's never seriously contended in a Classic, but he'll have a real opportunity to change that this week. He's won a ton of money pulling big largemouths from shallow water at Clear Lake and the California Delta in his home state, and some of that experience should be relevant at Conroe.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Bill Lowen – Brookville, Ind.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 8
> Best Classic finish: 4th (2016 – Grand Lake)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: 18th (2012 TTBC)
> Current world rank: 29
> Insight: The 4th-place finish he posted in last year's Classic at Grand Lake was his career-best in the event and he's off to a good start this season. He's as likely as anybody to find a good group of shallow fish that he has all to himself and if that happens, he'll make some noise.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Justin Lucas – Guntersville, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 2
> Best Classic finish: 9th (2015 – Lake Hartwell)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: 12th (2013 TTBC)
> Current world rank: 33
> Insight: There'd be a lot more buzz around him if he weren't coming in off the two worst finishes of his Elite Series career (100th at Cherokee and 85th at Okeechobee). He certainly hasn't lost the skills that have brought him Elite Series victories in each of the past two seasons, though, and a strong showing this week wouldn't be a shocker.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

Aaron Martens – Leeds, Ala.
> Qualified through: Elite Series points
> Classics fished: 17
> Best Classic finish: 2nd (2002, 2004, 2005, 2011)
> Tour-level finishes at Conroe: 4th (2009 TTBC), 27th (2010 TTBC), 25th (2011 TTBC), 28th (2012 TTBC)
> Current world rank: 27
> Insight: The four-time Classic runner-up will try again for the title that's eluded him for so long, and he'll have a lot of people pulling for him. He hasn't caught much the last three times he's competed at Conroe, but that doesn't mean much. His phenomenal versatility should lead him to something that'll keep his name in the game throughout the event.
> View his BassFan Angler Profile here.

End part 2 (of 3)