Mystery Lake Classics

The "Mystery Lake" concept is an important part of B.A.S.S.' rich history. The first six Bassmaster Classics were held at mystery locations; Classic qualifiers had boarded a plane en route to the secret fishery before they ever found out where they'd be fishing. In this photo, champagne is served to Classic contenders who will toast the announcement of that year’s secret fishery from 30,000-plus feet in the air.

The first time many of the contestants in the 1972 Classic ever saw Percy Priest Lake near Nashville was when the chartered flight banked over the lake in preparation for landing.

Rick Clunn weighs in during the 1976 Bassmaster Classic on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, the first of his four Classic victories.

Tommy Martin, who qualified for the 1974 Classic on Wheeler Lake, Ala., receives the check for his Classic championship.

Bobby Murray used a spinnerbait to win the Classic on Lake Mead, Nev., in 1971. After that event, all B.A.S.S. tournaments were catch-and-release affairs.

At Lake Guntersville in 1976, Ricky Green weighed in an 8 pound, 9-ounce largemouth that stood as the Classic heavyweight record for 30 years.

For the first six years, Classic qualifiers and members of the media were flown by charter jet to the Mystery Lake destination.

To make the “playing field” as level as possible, each competitor was issued an identical bass boat rig. The boats often were shipped at night from the manufacturing plant to the secret destinations.

Ray Scott chats with anglers while en route to an early Bassmaster Classic. Few contenders ever guessed the secret location.

Anglers and media members walk up the ramp to board the mystery flight for a Bassmaster Classic. Only two dozen or so fishermen competed in the early Classics, compared to about 50 today.

Country music stars often were special guests in the early days and enjoyed mingling with the anglers and other Classic attendees. Roy Clark (right) was one of the more popular stars to attend.

Bill Dance (left) finished second to Arkansas pro Ray Breckenridge in the 1973 Bassmaster Classic on Clarks Hill Lake.

1972 Bassmaster Classic contenders and their observers await the blastoff for a morning of competition on Percy Priest Lake, near Nashville.

Miniskirts, like the Mystery Lake aspect of the early Bassmaster Classics, are things of the past.

Everything from video equipment to dress codes has changed remarkably since the 1970s, when the annual Bassmaster Classics were held on Mystery Lakes.

Bass boat designs have gone through several stages of evolution, including the tri-hull platforms of Classic rigs the 1970s.

Legendary lure manufacturer Tom Mann (right) qualified for the first five Bassmaster Classics, finishing in the Top 5 in four of them. He was runner-up to Bobby Murray in the 1971 championship.

Outdoor writers —members of the entourage on mystery flights to Bassmaster Classic destinations — snap photos of Classic contenders lining up to board the plane.

Competition in early Classics began with the “blastoff,” when Ray Scott fired a flare into the air. As the number of competitors grew, so-called shotgun starts were deemed unsafe and were replaced by “ooze-off” starts.

Forrest Wood of Ranger Boats knew the location of the 1972 Classic on Percy Priest Lake, so Ray Scott had him “incarcerated” overnight in Memphis to keep him from revealing the secret. Wood also was qualified to fish that Classic championship.

Arkansas pro Bobby Murray won the very first Bassmaster Classic in 1971 on Lake Mead near Las Vegas, Nev.

Classic anglers and media are welcomed to Guntersville, Ala., host of the 1976 Bassmaster Classic.

Outdoor writers were assigned as observers to ride along with contenders early Classics. Not only did they help keep the competition honest, they helped the Classic become the premier event in fishing.

The Classic has long been a showcase for state-of-the-art bass boats and fishing equipment.