FULL FIELD OF 50 SET FOR BASSMASTER CLASSIC

The full field is now set for professional bass fishing's most prestigious event, the 37th Bassmaster Classic, scheduled for Feb. 23-25 on Lay Lake near Birmingham, Ala.

Fifty of the world's top bass anglers have earned their way into the Bassmaster Classic and will fish for a $500,000 first prize, a piece of the $1.2 million total payout. Most of the anglers qualified for the event based on their stellar performance in the Bassmaster Elite Series' 2006 season.

Seven bass anglers earned Classic spots this month. Six anglers qualified through the BASS Federation Nation National Championship tournament, Jan. 17-19, in Gadsden, Ala on Lake Neely Henry. On Saturday, Russell Colwell of Baltimore, Md., won the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series Championship in Guntersville, Ala., clinching the final spot.

This group of anglers will write another page in BASS' prestigious history, said Trip Weldon, BASS tournament director. Birmingham provides a fantastic venue for the best anglers in the world.

Under BASS rules, Lay Lake is off limits to Bassmaster Classic participants until the three-day pre-fish period, Feb. 13-15. After that, anglers will again have to stay away from the fishery until the official practice day, Feb. 21. Competition begins Feb 23. Take-off each morning is 7 a.m. from Paradise Point Marina near Columbiana, Ala.

The daily Bassmaster Classic festivities, featuring the weigh-in of the 50 competitors, will begin at 3:00 p.m. Feb. 23-25 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.

2007 Bassmaster Classic Contenders

1. Lee Bailey Boaz, Ala.

2. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla.

3. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo.

4. James Charlesworth St. Cloud, Fla.

5. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo.

6. Russell Colwell Baltimore, Md.

7. John Crews Salem, Va.

8. Royce Dennington Barnsdall, Okla.

9. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala.

10. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla.

11. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas

12. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La.

13. Tom Hamlin Lizella, Ga.

14. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala.

15. Randy Howell Springville, Ala.

16. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J.

17. Alton Jones Waco, Texas

18. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas

19. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala.

20. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas

21. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla.

22. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala.

23. Sam Lashlee Camden, Tenn.

24. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif.

25. Brent Long Catawba, N.C.

26. Bill Lowen North Bend, Ohio

27. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala.

28. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark.

29. Terry McWilliams Greenfield, Ind.

30. Ish Monroe Hughson, Calif.

31. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz.

32. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas

33. Chris Novack Willington, Conn.

34. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas

35. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C.

36. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas

37. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif.

38. Derek Remitz Hemphill, Texas

39. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla.

40. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas

41. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas

42. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla.

43. Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala.

44. Peter Thliveros Jacksonville , Fla.

45. Shigeru Tsukiyama Tokyo, Japan

46. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo.

47. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich.

48. Kevin Waterman La Plata, Md.

49. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky.

50. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark.

My hat is off to Terry McWilliams from Greenfield, Indiana, Northern Division for making the classic.  He is a a great guy and a great stick.

Good luck Terry!

Brad

What r they highlighted 4? :-?

My hat is off to Terry McWilliams from Greenfield, Indiana, Northern Division for making the classic. He is a a great guy and a great stick.

Good luck Terry!

Brad

Yeah thats awesome, not many Indiana anglers. Good Luck!

Thats great to see the guys from the federation go to the classic!!!!  Thats one long road to get there through the federation.  My hat goes off to all of them.  GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

What r they highlighted 4? :-?

Just highlighted the more well known professionals.  No rhyme or reason for it other than that.

The date is coming up fast.

Look out for KVD!

Look out for KVD!

Yeah, that guy is definitely on my list of sleepers this year.  One of these days he's going to break out and put up a good season.  When he does, the other guys could really be in trouble.   ;D

Way to go out on a limb!

What kind of weights win tournaments on Lay lake in late February?  I'm guessing around 50lbs would take the win.

Cabela10

I think thats going to be about right!!! (50lbs.)

This is the list I just got today.  I wonder why they are different? :-/

Full Field Of 50 Set For Bassmaster Classic Baltimore, Md., 'Weekend Angler' Russell Colwell Grabs Last Spot for Bass Fishing's Biggest Event

CELEBRATION, Fla. The full field is now set for professional bass fishing's most prestigious event, the 37th Bassmaster Classic, scheduled for Feb. 23-25 on Lay Lake near Birmingham, Ala.

Fifty of the world's top bass anglers have earned their way into the Bassmaster Classic and will fish for a $500,000 first prize, a piece of the $1.2 million total payout. Most of the anglers qualified for the event based on their stellar performance in the Bassmaster Elite Series' 2006 season.

Seven bass anglers earned Classic spots this month. Six anglers qualified through the BASS Federation Nation National Championship tournament, Jan. 17-19, in Gadsden, Ala on Lake Neely Henry. On Saturday, Russell Colwell of Baltimore, Md., won the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series Championship in Guntersville, Ala., clinching the final spot. (An alphabetical list of qualifiers is below.)

"This group of anglers will write another page in BASS' prestigious history," said Trip Weldon, BASS tournament director. "Birmingham provides a fantastic venue for the best anglers in the world."

Under BASS rules, Lay Lake is off limits to Bassmaster Classic participants until the three-day pre-fish period, Feb. 13-15. After that, anglers will again have to stay away from the fishery until the official practice day, Feb. 21. Competition begins Feb 23. Take-off each morning is 7 a.m. from Paradise Point Marina near Columbiana, Ala.

The daily Bassmaster Classic festivities, featuring the weigh-in of the 50 competitors, will begin at 3:00 p.m. Feb. 23-25 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.

2007 BASSMASTER CLASSIC FIELD

Anglers Hometown

1 Michael Iaconelli   Runnemede, N.J.

2 Steve Kennedy    Auburn, Ala.

3 Kevin VanDam     Kalamazoo, Mich.

4 Aaron Martens     Leeds, Ala.

5 Dean Rojas         Lake Havasu,Ariz.

6 Kevin Wirth        Crestwood, Ky.

7 Skeet Reese      Auburn, Calif.

8 Edwin Evers       Mannsville, Okla.

9 Tommy Biffle     Wagoner, Okla.

10 Kelly Jordon     Mineola, Texas

11 Greg Hackney  Gonzales, La.

12 Jason Quinn     York, S.C.

13 Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala.

14 Denny Brauer   Camdenton, Mo.

15 Russ Lane        Prattville, Ala.

16 Alton Jones      Waco, Texas

17 John Murray    Phoenix, Ariz.

18 Jared Lintner   Arroyo Grande, Calif.

19 Peter Thliveros  Jacksonville, Fla.

20 John Crews     Jetersville, Va.

21 Matt Reed        Madisonville, Texas

22 Mike McClelland   Bella Vista, Ark.

23 Todd Faircloth   Jasper, Texas

24 Randy Howell   Springville, Ala.

25 Mike Wurm   Hot Springs, Ark.

26 Bill Lowen   Cincinnati, Ohio

27 Jeff Reynolds   Platter, Okla.

28 Lee Bailey   Boaz, Ala.

29 Mark Tucker   St. Louis, Mo.

30 Timmy Horton   Muscle Shoals, Ala.

31 Terry Scroggins    Palatka, Fla.

32 Zell Rowland   Montgomery, Texas

33 Jeff Kriet   Ardmore, Okla.

34 Rick Clunn   Ava, Mo.

35 Takahiro Omori    Emory, Texas

36 Gary Klein   Weatherford, Texas

37 Ishama Monroe   Hughson, Calif.

38 Derek Remitz   Hemphill, Texas

39 Sam Lashlee   Camden, Tenn.

40 James Charlesworth    St. Cloud, Fla.

41 James Niggemeyer   Lindale, Texas

42 Tom Hamlin   Lizella, Geor.

43 Boyd Duckett   Demopolis, Ala.

44 Royce Dennington   Barnsdall, Okla.

45 Brent Long    Catawba, N. Car.

46 Terry McWilliams   Greenfield, Ind.

47 Kevin Waterman   Laplata, Mar.

48 Chris Novack    Willington, Conn.

49 Shigeru Tsukiyama   Tokyo, Japan

50 Russell Colwell     Baltimore, Md.

IT looks like one is just in alphabetical order i think all the anglers are the though.

One is alphabetical and one is angler of the year standings through 37 then the other qualifiers.