Kevin VanDam

Classic by the Numbers

February 29, 2008
(bassmaster.com, February 28, 2008)

Let’s a take a look at the 2008 Bassmaster Classic by the numbers. It was a great event — well attended, exciting, and a great new champion was crowned, but few records were broken this year. Here’s what happened … by the numbers.

First of all, the fishing was pretty good. Hartwell produced the third heaviest total poundage of bass in Classic history — behind, ironically, the other two February Classics in 2006 and 2007. The move to the early part of the year has paid off if you like bigger catches.

Similarly, Hartwell produced the third best catch per angler day. Over the three day event, the average angler brought 10.91 pounds of bass to the scales each day — again, just behind the 2006 and 2007 Classics on the Kissimmee Chain in Florida and Alabama’s Lay Lake.

Alton Jones is far from the oldest Classic champion, but at 44 years, 7 months and 11 days, he’s closer to the oldest than he is to the youngest. In fact, Alton ranks sixth among the Classic’s oldest winners. Woo Daves still holds the top spot at 54 years, 2 months and 28 days.

With Jones, Texas claims its ninth Classic. Rick Clunn, of course, grabbed 4 of those. The others belonged to Larry Nixon, Tommy Martin, Jay Yelas and Takahiro Omori. The next closest state is Arkansas with 5.

Alton didn’t go wire-to-wire in claiming his championship, but he did take the lead on Day 2 and hold on for the victory, making him the 23rd angler to take the Day 2 lead and never let go.

The Classic is not a tournament of big comebacks, but Alton did come from 10th place on Day 1 to grab the lead. That places him in a big tie for third among Classic champs who moved after the first day. Don Butler (1972) and Rick Clunn (1990) were both in 14th place after Day 1 when they won the event. Jack Hains (1975) and Woo Daves (2000), like Jones, were in 10th after the first day.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/news/story?page=b_classic_08_bythenumbers

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