The gang’s all here

Classic competitors register, grab their SWAG and attend angler meeting.

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A Carhartt worker prepares duffel bags filled with clothing for the 55 anglers who will compete in the 2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic present by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.
A Carhartt worker prepares duffel bags filled with clothing for the 55 anglers who will compete in the 2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic present by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.
Bassmaster College champion Jordan Lee is interviewed by Bassmaster.com writer Steve Wright as the anglers assembled at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
Bassmaster College champion Jordan Lee is interviewed by Bassmaster.com writer Steve Wright as the anglers assembled at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
Waiting for the official registration to begin, Cody Carden and David Kilgore enjoy a story from Patrick Bone.
Waiting for the official registration to begin, Cody Carden and David Kilgore enjoy a story from Patrick Bone.
Jerry McKinnis and Kevin VanDam are all smiles.
Jerry McKinnis and Kevin VanDam are all smiles.
Mark Davis arrived for the proceedings wearing ribbons for cancer awareness as some friends and family are battling the disease.
Mark Davis arrived for the proceedings wearing ribbons for cancer awareness as some friends and family are battling the disease.
Steve Kennedy does an interview for TV in one of the BJCC rooms.
Steve Kennedy does an interview for TV in one of the BJCC rooms.
Cliff Crochet gets a laugh out of John Murray.
Cliff Crochet gets a laugh out of John Murray.
Randall Tharp is interviewed by Bassmaster.com’s Chris Mitchell for a Basscam video.
Randall Tharp is interviewed by Bassmaster.com’s Chris Mitchell for a Basscam video.
Dean Rojas and writer Steve Wright strike similar poses as they chat.
Dean Rojas and writer Steve Wright strike similar poses as they chat.
Gerald Swindle and Skeet Reese arrive at the lobby area filled with anglers.
Gerald Swindle and Skeet Reese arrive at the lobby area filled with anglers.
David Walker converses with Bassmaster TV host Tommy Sanders.
David Walker converses with Bassmaster TV host Tommy Sanders.
Brandon Palaniuk gives an interview with Bassmaster.com writer Pete Robbins.
Brandon Palaniuk gives an interview with Bassmaster.com writer Pete Robbins.
Richard Howes, Gary Klein, Bill Lowen and Cliff Pirch watch a video Pirch took of a close encounter with an elk. Pirch guides for elk in Arizona.
Richard Howes, Gary Klein, Bill Lowen and Cliff Pirch watch a video Pirch took of a close encounter with an elk. Pirch guides for elk in Arizona.
Mark Dove visits the ‘head shot’ room, where anglers were taped for images to be shown at the weigh-ins.
Mark Dove visits the ‘head shot’ room, where anglers were taped for images to be shown at the weigh-ins.
Aaron Martens is shown where to stand for his head shots by Carey Barrett.
Aaron Martens is shown where to stand for his head shots by Carey Barrett.
Chris Lane, who lives on Guntersville where the fishing will begin Friday, doesn’t seem blue at all.
Chris Lane, who lives on Guntersville where the fishing will begin Friday, doesn’t seem blue at all.
<p>Terry Scroggins grabs his SWAG from Yamaha</p>
Terry Scroggins grabs his SWAG from Yamaha
Todd Faircloth grabs a backpack from B.A.S.S. with his name embroidered and moves to the next freebie.
Todd Faircloth grabs a backpack from B.A.S.S. with his name embroidered and moves to the next freebie.
Josh Bertrand and Keith Combs check in with B.A.S.S. official Max Leatherwood.
Josh Bertrand and Keith Combs check in with B.A.S.S. official Max Leatherwood.
Jordan Lee hogs a pile of Carhartt bags as Alan McGuckin photographs him.
Jordan Lee hogs a pile of Carhartt bags as Alan McGuckin photographs him.
Tim Johnston gets a welcome from tournament director Trip Weldon.
Tim Johnston gets a welcome from tournament director Trip Weldon.
The Japanese contingent of anglers, Takahiro Omori, Yusuke Miyazaki and Morizo Shimizu, arrive to register.
The Japanese contingent of anglers, Takahiro Omori, Yusuke Miyazaki and Morizo Shimizu, arrive to register.
Jeff Lugar, the B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier from McGaheysville, Va., shows off his load of products given to the anglers.
Jeff Lugar, the B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier from McGaheysville, Va., shows off his load of products given to the anglers.
Paul Mueller of Southbury, Conn., gets a hat from Bass Pro Shops.
Paul Mueller of Southbury, Conn., gets a hat from Bass Pro Shops.
Mike Iaconelli showed up with a full beard and an intense look. “I’m always intense,” he said.
Mike Iaconelli showed up with a full beard and an intense look. “I’m always intense,” he said.
Bobby Lane puts his license back in his wallet after proving he was legal to fish the Classic.
Bobby Lane puts his license back in his wallet after proving he was legal to fish the Classic.
Randy Howell showed up with his ‘high and tight’ ‘do.
Randy Howell showed up with his ‘high and tight’ ‘do.
Morizo Shimizu of Osaka, Japan, flashes his infectious smile to everyone he meets.
Morizo Shimizu of Osaka, Japan, flashes his infectious smile to everyone he meets.
Several of the B.A.S.S. Nation qualifiers banded together at the Classic, months after battling one another.
Several of the B.A.S.S. Nation qualifiers banded together at the Classic, months after battling one another.
Trip Weldon begins the angler meeting with the Classic trophy taking center stage.
Trip Weldon begins the angler meeting with the Classic trophy taking center stage.
From the front row, Kevin VanDam peruses the information sheets given to the anglers.
From the front row, Kevin VanDam peruses the information sheets given to the anglers.
Mark Dove looks the part of a criminal defense attorney as he reads the sheet.
Mark Dove looks the part of a criminal defense attorney as he reads the sheet.
Ott DeFoe stretches his legs in the theater.
Ott DeFoe stretches his legs in the theater.
Paul Mueller has his pencil at the ready for any notes.
Paul Mueller has his pencil at the ready for any notes.
Doug Thompson shows off his cheaters.
Doug Thompson shows off his cheaters.
Chad Morganthaler still has his golden ticket smile as the last man into the Classic by winning the Wild Card event.
Chad Morganthaler still has his golden ticket smile as the last man into the Classic by winning the Wild Card event.
Alton Jones and Cliff Pirch get a shot of the Classic trophy – their real shot starts Friday.
Alton Jones and Cliff Pirch get a shot of the Classic trophy – their real shot starts Friday.
Chris Lane jokes with some of the law enforcement assisting with the tournament. Trip Weldon ribbed Lane during the angler meeting that he couldn’t fish until he paid off some parking tickets in his hometown of Guntersville.
Chris Lane jokes with some of the law enforcement assisting with the tournament. Trip Weldon ribbed Lane during the angler meeting that he couldn’t fish until he paid off some parking tickets in his hometown of Guntersville.
Bassmaster emcee Dave Mercer gives some of the Classic first-time entrants tips on how to carry themselves on stage during the weigh-ins.
Bassmaster emcee Dave Mercer gives some of the Classic first-time entrants tips on how to carry themselves on stage during the weigh-ins.