#1 'Bama leads the way
For the sixth year in a row, Alabama leads the way with the most Bassmaster Classic qualifiers — 10 (including Steve Kennedy, pictured here). In fact, in the 42 year history of the Classic, most of Alabama's 114 qualifiers have come in that six year period. Texas leads the way with 283 total qualifiers.
#2 Together again
Jamie Horton (pictured here) and Chris Price both qualified for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic through the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation. The last time they made it to the championship was in 2002, also through the Federation Nation. The 10-year gap between appearances is one of the longest in Classic history.
#3 Pro/Am
In 2012 Brandon Palaniuk becomes the 11th angler to fish the Classic both as an amateur (through the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation) and as a professional. He's the fifth to do it in back-to-back years. O.T. Fears was the first in 1983-84.
#4 Home sweet home?
This will be Greg Hackney's fourth try at winning a Classic in his home state. The Gonzalez, La., resident fished the 2003 and 2011 Classics on the Louisiana Delta and the 2009 Classic on the Red River. His best finish in those events was 20th in 2009. No other angler has fished more than three Classics on home state waters.
#5 Experience counts
The 2012 Bassmaster Classic field is the second most experienced in history. The average competitor has already fished 5.67 Classics before launching on the Red River. The only more experienced field was in 2006 on the Kissimmee Chain. Kevin VanDam has been to more Classics than anyone else in the field — 22 straight.
#6 Brothers in rods
Bobby (pictured here) and Chris Lane are back in the Bassmaster Classic together for the first time since 2008. They're the third pair of siblings to compete against each other in the championship and the first to do it more than once. Tom and Don Mann made it in 1975 and Kevin and David Johnson did it in 1980.
#7 Former champs
There are six former Bassmaster Classic champions in the field for 2012 — Denny Brauer, Davy Hite, Michael Iaconelli, Alton Jones, Takahiro Omori (pictured here from 2004) and Kevin VanDam. After winning the championship in 2010 and 2011, KVD will have a chance to "three-peat." In 1978, when Rick Clunn attempted the first "three-peat," he fell just short, finishing second to Bobby Murray on Ross Barnett Reservoir in Mississippi.
#8 The AOYs
There are seven former Bassmaster Anglers of the Year in the 2012 Classic field — Denny Brauer, Davy Hite, Tim Horton, Michael Iaconelli, Aaron Martens, Gerald Swindle (pictured here from 2004) and Kevin VanDam. Between them, they have 14 AOY titles, including seven of the last eight. KVD leads the way with seven AOYs.
#9 Young guns
At 24, Brandon Palaniuk is the youngest angler in the Classic field for the second year in a row. For the three previous years it was Casey Ashley (pictured above). Only twice has the youngest angler in the field won the Classic: Stanley Mitchell in 1981 and Luke Clausen in 2006. Mitchell was the youngest winner in history at 21 years, 5 months and 19 days. The youngest angler ever to fish a Classic was Gregory Ward (grandson of Virgil Ward) in 1975. He was 19 years and 11 days old. Two other teenagers have fished a Classic: David Brind (1979) and David Dudley (1995).
#10 Old guard
At 63, Denny Brauer is the oldest angler in the Classic field for the second time in three years. Only twice has the oldest angler in the field won the Classic: Charlie Reed in 1986 and Woo Daves in 2000. Roland Martin was the oldest qualifier in six different Bassmaster Classics. Rick Clunn has been the elder statesman five times, most recently in 2009. The oldest angler ever to fish a Classic was Shorty Evans in 1978. He was 65.
