Clearing up the Classic picture

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Every year, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of anglers attempting to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic, whether from the Bassmaster Elite Series, the Bass Pro Shops Opens, the Carhartt College Series, the B.A.S.S. Nation and even the Bassmaster Team Series.
Every year, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of anglers attempting to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic, whether from the Bassmaster Elite Series, the Bass Pro Shops Opens, the Carhartt College Series, the B.A.S.S. Nation and even the Bassmaster Team Series.
With a few events left in the Bassmaster calendar year, spots are filling up fast.
With a few events left in the Bassmaster calendar year, spots are filling up fast.
Currently, the Top 35 in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings clinched their spots in the 2019 Classic.
Currently, the Top 35 in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings clinched their spots in the 2019 Classic.
Jordan Lee has been qualified since March when he won the 2018 Classic. The reigning Classic champ has a spot reserved at the next Classic, and Lee will be pursuing an unprecedented third consecutive Classic title in 2019.
Jordan Lee has been qualified since March when he won the 2018 Classic. The reigning Classic champ has a spot reserved at the next Classic, and Lee will be pursuing an unprecedented third consecutive Classic title in 2019.
Another Classic spot is awarded to the winner of Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, formerly known as BASSfest. Drew Benton won the event this year on Lake Travis.
Another Classic spot is awarded to the winner of Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, formerly known as BASSfest. Drew Benton won the event this year on Lake Travis.
One berth is reserved for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Classic Bracket Champion, which was won this year by Nick Ratliff of Campbellsville University.
One berth is reserved for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Classic Bracket Champion, which was won this year by Nick Ratliff of Campbellsville University.
With the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Championship this week and the Classic Bracket next week, here are some scenarios that can take place as Classic spots are distributed. If Bobby Lane successfully weighs a bass in the Opens Championship, he will double qualify for the Classic.
With the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Championship this week and the Classic Bracket next week, here are some scenarios that can take place as Classic spots are distributed. If Bobby Lane successfully weighs a bass in the Opens Championship, he will double qualify for the Classic.
That would punch Keith Poche's ticket to the Classic. Poche finished 36th in the Toyota AOY points race and is the first man out of an automatic Classic berth.
That would punch Keith Poche’s ticket to the Classic. Poche finished 36th in the Toyota AOY points race and is the first man out of an automatic Classic berth.
If Lane puts Poche in the Classic, Poche won't have to fish the Classic Bracket, and his spot in that event will bump down to Mike McClelland, who is 53rd in AOY points.
If Lane puts Poche in the Classic, Poche won’t have to fish the Classic Bracket, and his spot in that event will bump down to Mike McClelland, who is 53rd in AOY points.
Brandon Lester also needs weigh a bass at the Opens Championship to punch his ticket to the Classic. At 51st in AOY points, Lester is currently in the mix for the Classic Bracket, but qualifying would remove his name.
Brandon Lester also needs weigh a bass at the Opens Championship to punch his ticket to the Classic. At 51st in AOY points, Lester is currently in the mix for the Classic Bracket, but qualifying would remove his name.
Removing Lester from the Bracket would add Drew Benton to the Bracket ... but wait. Benton is already in via his Texas Fest title. So the Bracket field would skip Benton and jump to 55th in AOY points.
Removing Lester from the Bracket would add Drew Benton to the Bracket … but wait. Benton is already in via his Texas Fest title. So the Bracket field would skip Benton and jump to 55th in AOY points.
That spot is occupied by Ray Hanselman Jr., who would then be in the Classic Bracket with a shot at the Classic. There are no 100 percent guarantee's in bass fishing, but it's highly probably Lane and Lester will weigh at least one bass. Basically, Hanselman needs to have a bag packed and the truck gassed up while watching Thursday's Day 1 weigh-in at Table Rock.
That spot is occupied by Ray Hanselman Jr., who would then be in the Classic Bracket with a shot at the Classic. There are no 100 percent guarantee’s in bass fishing, but it’s highly probably Lane and Lester will weigh at least one bass. Basically, Hanselman needs to have a bag packed and the truck gassed up while watching Thursday’s Day 1 weigh-in at Table Rock.
Chad Pipkens has two opportunities at a Classic spot. If he wins the Opens Championship, he would take his name out of the Bracket contention and bump the list down to Fred Roumbanis, who is 56th in the AOY standings. Bumping to Roumbanis is contingent that Lane and Lester do indeed weigh that crucial bass on Day 1 or Day 2.
Chad Pipkens has two opportunities at a Classic spot. If he wins the Opens Championship, he would take his name out of the Bracket contention and bump the list down to Fred Roumbanis, who is 56th in the AOY standings. Bumping to Roumbanis is contingent that Lane and Lester do indeed weigh that crucial bass on Day 1 or Day 2.
Jared Lintner is in the same situation as Pipkens. Roumbanis is rooting for both of them to do well, with one of them winning the event. Again, bumping to Roumbanis is contingent that Lane and Lester weigh a bass.
Jared Lintner is in the same situation as Pipkens. Roumbanis is rooting for both of them to do well, with one of them winning the event. Again, bumping to Roumbanis is contingent that Lane and Lester weigh a bass.
Roumbanis has two ways he can make it to the Classic Bracket. If Pipkens or Lintner wins the event, and both Lane and Lester weigh a fish.
Roumbanis has two ways he can make it to the Classic Bracket. If Pipkens or Lintner wins the event, and both Lane and Lester weigh a fish.
The other option for Roumbanis is in Wesley Strader's hands. Strader snuck into the Classic in 35th in AOY, the last angler in the initial Classic cut. Strader sits fifth in the Eastern Opens and can't double qualify for the Classic unless he wins the event outright. If Strader wins, he punches a Classic ticket for Greg Vinson via AOY points and bumps the Bracket down one spot to Roumbanis as well.
The other option for Roumbanis is in Wesley Strader’s hands. Strader snuck into the Classic in 35th in AOY, the last angler in the initial Classic cut. Strader sits fifth in the Eastern Opens and can’t double qualify for the Classic unless he wins the event outright. If Strader wins, he punches a Classic ticket for Greg Vinson via AOY points and bumps the Bracket down one spot to Roumbanis as well.
Vinson sits in 37th and will be intently watching the Opens Championship. His only option to make the Classic is if Strader wins. There are no other Elite Series anglers already in the Classic who could double qualify and punch his ticket. His other option will be the Classic Bracket, where he would battle 15 other anglers for three Classic spots.
Vinson sits in 37th and will be intently watching the Opens Championship. His only option to make the Classic is if Strader wins. There are no other Elite Series anglers already in the Classic who could double qualify and punch his ticket. His other option will be the Classic Bracket, where he would battle 15 other anglers for three Classic spots.
Caleb Sumrall has three potential scenarios to make the Bassmaster Classic. He is fishing the Opens Championship and trails third-place Toby Hartsell by 21 points. Not impossible, but it's improbable he can make up that gap with only 28 anglers. He also can win the event to punch his ticket. If he doesn't get it done at Table Rock, he will have a chance at the B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship, where he will compete to defend his crown from 2017.
Caleb Sumrall has three potential scenarios to make the Bassmaster Classic. He is fishing the Opens Championship and trails third-place Toby Hartsell by 21 points. Not impossible, but it’s improbable he can make up that gap with only 28 anglers. He also can win the event to punch his ticket. If he doesn’t get it done at Table Rock, he will have a chance at the B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship, where he will compete to defend his crown from 2017.
Brock Mosley is fishing the Opens Championship and is hoping to win in order to make the Classic. Mosley, 73rd in Elite points, is the only Elite angler with all of his Classic hopes in the Opens Championship basket.
Brock Mosley is fishing the Opens Championship and is hoping to win in order to make the Classic. Mosley, 73rd in Elite points, is the only Elite angler with all of his Classic hopes in the Opens Championship basket.
Opens pro Frank Talley has a 32-point lead over fourth place in the Central Opens points. If he catches a bass, he will clinch a Classic spot.
Opens pro Frank Talley has a 32-point lead over fourth place in the Central Opens points. If he catches a bass, he will clinch a Classic spot.
Toby Hartsell sits third in Central Opens points and holds an 8-point lead over Derek Hudnall, who is fourth and 16 points ahead of Mark Rose in fifth. Hartsell also trails second-place Brad Whatley by 6 points. In theory, there are seven anglers vying for three spots in the Central division, four if one of them were to win.
Toby Hartsell sits third in Central Opens points and holds an 8-point lead over Derek Hudnall, who is fourth and 16 points ahead of Mark Rose in fifth. Hartsell also trails second-place Brad Whatley by 6 points. In theory, there are seven anglers vying for three spots in the Central division, four if one of them were to win.
Derek Hudnall is the closest pursuer to Hartsell. He trails by only 8 points and hopes to make up that gap for a Classic spot.
Derek Hudnall is the closest pursuer to Hartsell. He trails by only 8 points and hopes to make up that gap for a Classic spot.
Garrett Paquette holds the coveted third place in the Eastern Opens points. He only trails first-place Bobby Lane by 10 and second-place Brandon Lester by 9. Paquette has a 19-point lead over fourth-place John Cox.
Garrett Paquette holds the coveted third place in the Eastern Opens points. He only trails first-place Bobby Lane by 10 and second-place Brandon Lester by 9. Paquette has a 19-point lead over fourth-place John Cox.
Cox is in a battle with Paquette. Lester is one point in the clear as Cox can't catch Lester in the points race, but Paquette is in range for Cox.
Cox is in a battle with Paquette. Lester is one point in the clear as Cox can’t catch Lester in the points race, but Paquette is in range for Cox.
There are five Bassmaster College alumni competitors in the Opens Championship who aren't already professional anglers. Patrick Walters, Mike Huff, Drew Cook, Garrett Paquette and Tyler Rivet are all in their first few years after graduating from the Carhartt College Series. If you add Brock Mosley and Justin Atkins, then 25 percent of the field are a product of the Bassmaster College series.
There are five Bassmaster College alumni competitors in the Opens Championship who aren’t already professional anglers. Patrick Walters, Mike Huff, Drew Cook, Garrett Paquette and Tyler Rivet are all in their first few years after graduating from the Carhartt College Series. If you add Brock Mosley and Justin Atkins, then 25 percent of the field are a product of the Bassmaster College series.
There are some noteworthy firsts for current Classic qualifiers. There are three anglers who are locked in to compete in their first Bassmaster Classic. Two rookies, Jake Whitaker and Roy Hawk, made their first Classic. Meanwhile second-year pro Gerald Spohrer punched his ticket via the Elite Series AOY points as well.
There are some noteworthy firsts for current Classic qualifiers. There are three anglers who are locked in to compete in their first Bassmaster Classic. Two rookies, Jake Whitaker and Roy Hawk, made their first Classic. Meanwhile second-year pro Gerald Spohrer punched his ticket via the Elite Series AOY points as well.
Veteran Scott Rook will fish in the Classic Bracket in hopes of qualifying for perhaps his final Bassmaster Classic. Rook is set to retire after the Classic Bracket and would like to go out with a bang and qualify for the 2019 Classic.
Veteran Scott Rook will fish in the Classic Bracket in hopes of qualifying for perhaps his final Bassmaster Classic. Rook is set to retire after the Classic Bracket and would like to go out with a bang and qualify for the 2019 Classic.
The B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship will take place on Pickwick Lake on November 8-10, 2018, where three anglers will qualify for the Classic.
The B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship will take place on Pickwick Lake on November 8-10, 2018, where three anglers will qualify for the Classic.
The final event of 2018 is the Bassmaster Team Championship. One angler will qualify for the Classic in this event. The top three teams after the team portion will fish in a six person fish-off for the final spot. Missouri's Ryan Butler won the fish-off in 2017 to make the Lake Hartwell Classic.
The final event of 2018 is the Bassmaster Team Championship. One angler will qualify for the Classic in this event. The top three teams after the team portion will fish in a six person fish-off for the final spot. Missouri’s Ryan Butler won the fish-off in 2017 to make the Lake Hartwell Classic.