2017 Bassmasters Classic

[Ketchup]

Houston Tx. Got the bid for the next Classic, held March 24-26 on Lake Conroe.  Should be a great event and weather. 

[Quillback]

Seems to be a good lake from what I have seen on TV.  They had that Texas Bass contest there  for a couple of years in the fall where they have FLW and Elite anglers compete.  Keith Coombs won it twice, I'd say he might be the favorite IF he can qualify.  I think they have some kind of slot limit there, but I could be wrong about that.

[moguy1973]

Seems like a smallish lake for a Classic.  It's about half the size of Grand, and Grand isn't really that big either.  Going to stack the anglers up on top of each other.  Weather should be better down south for them.

No slot limit. 

Black bass

For largemouth bass, minimum length limit = 16 inches. For smallmouth bass, minimum length = 14 inches. No minimum length for spotted and Guadalupe bass. Daily bag for all four species of black bass = 5 in any combination.

[LarrySTL]

Coombs would be tough there.  If Clunn can qualify he could be a beast on that lake.

[moguy1973]

6 hours ago, LarrySTL said:

Coombs would be tough there.  If Clunn can qualify he could be a beast on that lake.

Clunn qualified by winning the first elite event this year

[LarrySTL]

Hmm..... I thought they stopped "win and you're in" about the Elite tournaments after 2014.   I think they still do it for the Opens if you also fish all 3 in that division.  I could be wrong though.

[Jerry Rapp]

5 hours ago, LarrySTL said:

Hmm..... I thought they stopped "win and you're in" about the Elite tournaments after 2014.   I think they still do it for the Opens if you also fish all 3 in that division.  I could be wrong though.

this, weird rule in my opinion.  Open winners get in, but an Elite win doesn't.  Open winners should just get an automatic invite to the Elites, not a Classic berth.  IMHO.

[Ketchup]

That's my thinking, Jerry.   In my opinion, the Elite guys should be the cut for the "win your in" standard.  Granted, to win in an Elite or an Open field is a pat on the back either way. 

[moguy1973]

I can't find anything on who qualifies for the 2017 Classic, but here's what the qualifiers for the 2015 Classic were:

29 Bassmaster Angler of the Year points leaders

7 Bassmaster Elite Series 2014 tournament champions

6 B.A.S.S. Nation division champions

3 2014 Bassmaster Southern Opens champions

3 2014 Bassmaster Northern Opens champions

3 2014 Bassmaster Central Opens champions

1 defending Bassmaster Classic champion (2014)

1 defending Bassmaster Classic champion (2013)*

1 BASSfest champion

1 Bassmaster College Series champion

1 Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-Off champion

*2013 champion Cliff Pace received exemption for 2015 after missing 2014 Classic with injury

[Quillback]

They changed it last year for the 2016 Classic, no longer does winning an Elite event put you into the Classic.  As far as I know, that is the rule for 2017 also.  I don't like it.