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Bassmaster
Classic
From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia
The
Bassmaster Classic is a competition in professional bass
fishing. It was first held in 1971 on Lake Mead, Nevada.
Originally it was a fall event (1971-1983), but it
switched to the summer in 1984 and then to the late
winter in 2006. The winner of the tournament is widely
considered to be the world champion of bass fishing, as
is stated on the winner's trophy.
The event has turned into a three-day spectacle,
complete with a theatrical presentation of the weigh-ins
and hours of television coverage. ESPN purchased Bass
Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS), which organizes the
event, and increased coverage of the event and the
Classic's profile.
Rick Clunn and Kevin VanDam have each won the event four
times. Bobby Murray, Hank Parker and George Cochran have
won twice each.
First-place money has grown from $10,000 in 1971 to
$500,000 in 2006.
The field has ranged from 24 to 61 players. In 2011, the
field was 50 anglers. The 2009 competition included
women for the first time. However, neither of the two
women qualified within the top 20 and 2010 was the last
year for women to be given a classic spot. As in
previous years, they have to earn a spot in the opens.
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