With the conclusion of the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series, the majority of the 2014 Bassmaster Classic field is now set. Forty-four of the 56 eventual competitors in the “Super Bowl” of bass fishing have been identified. The remainder of the field will be determined via three remaining Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens, the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Bassmaster Classic Bracket, the Toyota Bassmaster Weekend Series operated by American Bass Anglers and the Bassmaster Wild Card tournament.
The Wild Card — a new event in the Bassmaster lineup — will be held Dec. 7 at Lake Okeechobee, Fla. It is open to Elite Series anglers and pros who fished three or more Bassmaster Opens this year but failed to qualify through those circuits.
The 56 qualifiers will vie for first-place prize money of $500,000 at the 44th Bassmaster Classic on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, Feb. 21-23, 2014. Birmingham, which is headquarters for B.A.S.S., will be the host city.
Though the field of competitors is not complete, it is already star-studded and rich in history. It boasts seven former Classic champions (including reigning champ Cliff Pace and four-time winner Kevin VanDam) and seven reigning and former Toyota Bassmaster Anglers of the Year (including newly crowned AOY Aaron Martens).
Texas pro Gary Klein will be fishing his 30th Classic (only the legendary Rick Clunn has qualified for more with 32), and Arkansas will be represented once again — as it has been in every previous championship — with at least one competitor. Stephen Browning and Mark Davis (winner of the 1995 Classic) both reside in the Natural State. And for the first time, three anglers born in Japan will be competing, including 2004 champion Takahiro Omori.
Six of the qualifiers will be making their Classic debuts (Josh Bertrand, Patrick Bone, Rich Howes, David Kilgore, Clifford Pirch and Chris Zaldain). More Classic rookies will certainly come from the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, the Weekend Series and the College Series Classic Bracket.
Fred Roumbanis of Bixby, Okla., is breathing a sigh of relief. He’s the last of the Elite Anglers to make the cut at this point. One or more of the next three pros in the points ranking could gain entry, depending upon who wins the three remaining Opens. According to B.A.S.S. rules, an angler who wins an Open and fishes all three Opens in a division gains a berth. If he or she does not fish the entire division, or if the winner is an Elite Series angler who is already qualified, the invitation goes to the next Elite pro on the list.
On the watch list are, in order, Jason Williamson of Aiken, S.C.; Boyd Duckett of Demopolis, Ala.; and Brandon Card of Caryville, Tenn.
Here is an alphabetical list of competitors and their hometowns:
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Josh Bertrand, Gilbert, Ariz.
Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla.
Patrick Bone, Cleveland, Ga.
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark. (contingent on his competing in two remaining Central Opens)
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Hank Cherry, Maiden, N.C.
Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla.
Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas
John Crews, Salem, Va.
Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La.
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Ott DeFoe, Knoxville, Tenn.
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Randy Howell, Springville, Ala.
Richard Howes, Oviedo, Fla.
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala.
David Kilgore, Jasper, Ala.
Gary Klein, Weatherford, Texas
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala.
Bill Lowen, Brookville, Ind.
Aaron Martens, Leeds, Ala.
Yusuke Miyazaki, Forney, Texas
Ish Monroe, Hughson, Calif.
Rick Morris, Virginia Beach, Va.
John Murray, Phoenix, Ariz.
Takahiro Omori, Emory, Texas
Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss.
Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho
Clifford Pirch, Payson, Ariz.
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Fred Roumbanis, Bixby, Okla.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
Morizo Shimizu, Osaka, Japan
Gerald Swindle, Warrior, Ala.
Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn.
Chris Zaldain, San Jose, Calif.
2013 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2013 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Carhartt, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Luck-E-Strike, Power-Pole, Ramada, Shimano
2013 Bassmaster Elite Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival
About B.A.S.S.
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.
The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster Wild Card, B.A.S.S. Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.
B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.