Well it's almost that time agin, the Bassmaster Classic.  So I was wondering who you guys think might win or hope to see win this years classic.   Any guesses on what the winning weight might be.  

KVD

Alabama's Lay Lake during pre-spawn  

Keep an eye on Steve Kennedy, Aaron Martins, Tim Horton & Gerald Swindle they are from Alabama.

I don't know why but Greg Hackney comes to mind so he's my pick

I think Edwin Evers has a good chance this year.

KVD

Aaron Martens, 42 lbs 8 oz.

Someone we have not heard about before.

Around 40 pounds or greater.

Luke Clausen

38 pounds

Aaron Martins - Dark horse Jeff Kriet!

Luke Clausen

38 pounds

I do not believe Luke Clausen is fishing the Classic this year on Lay Lake.  He forfeited his automatic berth by not entering the Elite Series.

Cabela10

I think your right!!! There was a big artical in bassmaster last year after the classic. It talked indepth about what you said and why he didn't enter the elite series. The other way he could of qulified for the classic would be to have fished in either the northern or southern tour and finish no less then third. They also talked about he will be only the second person in history to not attempt to defend his title. It was a very interesting artical.

Bitman: If he was fishing I would also say Luke Clausen.

I'M GOING WITH IKE (if he doesn't have a blow up) or ISH!!!!!!!

cbfishalot,

I'm assuming the first person not to defend the Classic title was Brian Kershel, since he dead 6 months after his Classic win.   Clausen might be the first to not defend by not wanting to fish B.A.S.S.  

I would be willing to bet that FLW and his Chevy sponsor wanted him to fish strictly FLW Outdoors events.

Cabela10,

The artical talked about Luke missed the deadline to enter the elite series.  After winning the classic he was able to enter and gave BASS his credit card number to reserve a spot in the elite series.  A couple of days to a week later he called BASS and withdrew his entry.  It had something to do with a injury  to his elbow.  Many people believe it had something to do with sponsership and of course the FLW.  Look at it however you want he is the FLW's poster boy.  I  think it's a shame that he's not going to  fish in this years classic.

Hackney or Ike

I'd like to see KVD or Aaron Martens win it. Edwin Evers is deserving too. I'm not sure about the Clausen thing. Historically speaking before the Elite series was created, the winner of the previous years Classic got an automatic birth to the following years Classic. The logic was that the winner would be out touring and not concentrating on the qualifying fishing so he got a bone. I do not know much about the Elite series because it doesn't really interest me but I do know that FLW had a problem with Clausen fishing BASS and vice versa, wondering if the rule was created to save face and eliminate the FLW's boy, I think I rember him commiting to their season over BASS.

I'll stay true to S.C. and say Davey Hite, he's due another one.

I will go with IKE or KVD.  Luke was about to go with BASS then went and met with the FLW boys then changed his mind.  My guess it has alot to do with not wanting him to compete on both same reason after IKE has blown up tons of time and acted like a fool on the water Ranger drops him when he says he isn't doing FLW this year.

I'd like to see KVD or Aaron Martens win it. Edwin Evers is deserving too. I'm not sure about the Clausen thing. Historically speaking before the Elite series was created, the winner of the previous years Classic got an automatic birth to the following years Classic.

The winner of the Classic does get a automatic berth into next years Classic, but they also have to fish all the qualifying events and pay for it.  So it doesn't matter if would finish dead last with Velvick, he would still be able to fish the Classic.

The stories I heard on Clausen was that he immediately declined to fish the Elite Series right after his Classic win.  I heard they approached him within 30 minutes after he won the event and he said that he wasn't interested and wanted to focus on FLW.

Where can I find the list of participants for this years Classic. I've looked and can't find.

Cabela10

The night we first started talking about the whole Luke Clausen thing I looked on several web searches and couldn't find it either.  I would think the field would be set already.

The field is not set yet because you got the Federation championship and the Series championship to go. Thats 7 spots left, out of 50.

Okay, is there a list of the 43 guys then?

7 spots left, d**n that seems a lot for having just the federation and weekend series left.

I thought only 1 or 2 guys from each would make it... not a total of 7.

Michael Iaconelli

Steve Kennedy

Kevin VanDam

Aaron MartensD

Dean Rojas

Kevin Wirth

Skeet Reese

Edwin Evers

Tommy Biffle

Kelly Jordon

Greg Hackney

Jason Quinn

Gerald Swindle

Denny Brauer

Russ Lane

Alton Jones

John Murray

Jared Lintner

Peter Thliveros

John Crews

Matt Reed

Mike McClelland

Todd Faircloth

Randy Howell

Mike Wurm

Bill Lowen

Jeff Reynolds

Lee Bailey

Mark Tucker

Timmy Horton

Terry Scroggins

Zell Rowland

Jeff Kriet

Rick Clunn

Takahiro Omori

Gary Klein

Ishama Monroe

James Niggemeyer (Southern Tour)

Tom Hamlin (Southern Tour)

Boyd Duckett (Southern Tour)

Heres 40 that have qualified.

Awaiting the 3 northern qualifiers, the top six federation anglers and the Outdoor Series Champion to be determined later in jan 07 = 50 anglers.

James Niggemeyer is a local angler from Texas, great stick.     I'll be rooting for my fellow Texans.   Kelly Jordan and Tak would be wise choices.      Tak is deadly during pre spawn with the lipless baits, and KJ is deadly with the jig.

Matt

mattfly, where can this list be found on the bassmaster website?

I'd like to see Bill Lowen take it home.