More than three months away from the 2011 Bassmaster Classic, the full field of 51 anglers was finalized Saturday with Ryan McMurtury or Abbeville, South Carolina, winning the Bassmaster Weekend Series Championship Operated by American Bass Anglers and scoring the final Classic berth.
The 41st edition of the Classic will be held Feb. 18-20 on Louisiana Delta out of New Orleans, La. The field is highlighted by reigning Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Angler of the Year Champion Kevin VanDam.
VanDam, who won his first Bassmaster Classic in 2001 on the Louisiana Delta, is only the second angler in BASS history to hold both the Classic and Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles simultaneously. He now owns three Classic and six AOY titles.
Also qualifying were the top 36 anglers in the 2010 Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings derived from the 20010 Bassmaster Elite Series; the top two anglers in the Bassmaster Open points standings in each of three 2010 Opens Divisions; and six amateur competitors through the 2010 Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship. The full list of competitors can be found below arranged alphabetically.
According to BASS rules, the Louisiana Delta will become off-limits to Bassmaster Classic participants beginning Monday, December 13, 2010. Anglers will get another crack at the fishery during the official practice period, set for February 11-13, 2011, and a final look on February 16, 2011.
The competition will feature daily launches February 18-20 at the Bayou Segnette State Park. Daily weigh-ins will take place at the New Orleans Arena, and the New Orleans Convention Center will play host to the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo.
2011 BASSMASTER CLASSIC QUALIFIERS Defending Champion (1) Name (No. of Classics) Home state Kevin VanDam (21) MI Bassmaster Elite Series (36) Name (No. of Classics) Home state Edwin Evers (10) OK Skeet Reese (12) CA Terry Butcher (2) OK Aaron Martens (12) AL Cliff Pace (4) MS Russ Lane (4) AL Greg Hackney (9) LA Tommy Biffle (17) OK Gary Klein (29) TX Derek Remitz (3) AL John Crews (5) VA Brian Snowden (5) MO Mark Davis (15) AR Mike McClelland (8) AR Todd Faircloth (9) TX Scott Rook (8) AR Morizo Shimizu (1) JP Matt Herren (3) AL Bill Lowen (3) OH Stephen Browning (7) AR Michael Iaconelli (12) NJ Dave Wolak (5) NC Shaw Grigsby (13) FL Boyd Duckett (5) AL Bobby Lane (4) FL Jeff Kriet (7) OK Gerald Swindle (11) AL Jason Williamson (1) SC Greg Vinson (1) AL Steve Kennedy (5) AL Dean Rojas (9) AZ Brent Chapman (10) KS Kevin Wirth (12) KY Kelly Jordon (9) TX Terry Scroggins (8) FL Paul Elias (15) MS Southern Opens (2) Name (No. of Classics) Home state Randall Tharp (1) AL Andy Montgomery (1) SC Central Opens (2) Name (No. of Classics) Home state Keith Combs (1) TX Clark Reehm (2) TX Northern Opens (2) Name (No. of Classics) Home state Ryan Said (1) MI Tracy Adams (1) NC Federation Nation (6) Name (No. of Classics) Home state Sean Alvarez (1) VT George Crain (1) AL Dale Hightower (1) OK Brian LaClair (1) DE Brandon Palaniuk (1) ID David Watson (1) IN Weekend Series (1) Name (No. of Classics) Home state Ryan McMurtury (1) SC