FORT WORTH, Texas – It’s been said everything’s bigger in Texas, and the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour could be the biggest ever.
The field qualifying from various circuits is set to embark on Lake Ray Roberts any minute. They hope to cut through the wind and bring in 15 bass over three days. Let’s take a look at the event by the numbers.
2 – Previous Classic champs in the field: Justin Hamner (2024); Jeff Gustafson (2023); Jordan Lee (2017, 2018)
2 – Classics at Lake Ray Roberts
4 – Number of Classics in Texas
4 – Anglers who have won back-to-back Classics (Rick Clunn 1976-77; Kevin VanDam 2010-11; Jordan Lee 2017-18; Hank Cherry 2021-22)
7 – Anglers who have won more than one Classic
8-3 – Frank Talley’s big bass of 2021 Fort Worth Classic
9 – Classic qualifications of Chris Zaldain, Jacob Powroznik, Brandon Lester, tied for second-most in the field
11-10 – Preston Clark’s big bass at 2006 Kissimmee Classic, largest ever caught in championship
12-8 – Lee Livesay’s catch in practice this week
14 – Inches long for a scorable bass this week
18 – First-time Classic qualifiers this year
19 – Classic appearances for Greg Hackney, most in the field by more than double
15.18 – Ray Roberts lake record bass caught by Shannon Lee Elvington on March 7, 2015
21-23 – Dates of competition
25 – Anglers with top weights who advance to Championship Sunday
29 – Different bodies of water on which Classics have been held
43 – Number of anglers who won Classics
50-15 – Total weight of 2021 Ray Roberts Classic winner Hank Cherry
54 – Previous Classics, a.k.a. The Super Bowl of Bass Fishing
57 – Miles from the Isle Du Bois blastoff to weigh-ins at Dickies Arena
69-11 – Record total weight in Classics in five-fish era, set by Kevin VanDam in 2011 on Louisiana Delta
1,000 – Dollars for the daily big bass
2,500 – Dollars for overall Mercury Big Bass of event
7,000 – Dollars for Rapala CrushCity Monster bag
10,000 – Seating capacity of Dickies Arena, site of daily weigh-ins
10,000 – Dollars in Toyota Bonus Bucks for highest placing eligible entrant
20,000 – Dollars in Yamaha Power Pay bonus to highest placing eligible entrant
29,000 – Surface acres of Lake Ray Roberts, which is 23 miles long, averages 24 feet deep and has 160 miles of shoreline
147,197 – Attendees at the 2021 Fort Worth Classic, second largest ever
300,000 – Dollars going to the winner
25 million – Dollars of economic impact expected for the region
