Toyota Texas Bass Classic Announces Field of Anglers

Media Contact: Lenny Francoeur, Tournament Director: (479) 715-6103 icle__media__contact">Media Contact: Lenny Francoeur, Tournament Director: (479) 715-6103 or lenny@toyotatexasbassclassic.com; Adam Harris, Marketing & Communications Senior Manager: (919) 531-0500 or adam@toyotatexasbassclassic.com; Larry Hodge, TPWD, (903) 670-2255; larry.hodge@tpwd.texas.gov

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Fifty best anglers to compete for world championship

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Conroe – The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC), the world championship of professional bass fishing, announced its final field of competitors today. The three-day event, to be held on Lake Conroe, combines the top Professional Anglers Association members from the Walmart FLW Tour, Bassmaster Elite Series and Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series. The field of 50 anglers will compete for the unified world championship Oct. 28-30.

“The quality of anglers and competition in our tournament is unmatched by any other fishing tournament in the world,” said Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur. “We have created an event that truly determines the world champion of bass fishing and sets the standard for tournament fish conservation. We want everyone to experience this great event, so we are now offering free tickets to come and enjoy the festivities.”

The TTBC field of 50 professionals is comprised of 2010 defending champion Brian Snowden, the top 15 anglers from the 2011 Walmart FLW Tour Angler of the Year standings, the top 15 from the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year standings, the top 15 from the 2011 Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series Angler of the Year standings and four tournament exemptions. Mike Iaconelli, Kelly Jordon, Gary Klein and David Walker have been selected as the four exemptions.

The TTBC qualification criteria ensure that the field is representative of the best anglers in the world. The tournament is the only event in the world of professional bass fishing that brings the best anglers from the major tours together on the same lake to compete for one title.

The anglers in the field have combined for at least 136 major tournament wins among 36 professionals, led by Kevin VanDam’s 20 titles and 17 for Denny Brauer. In addition, 13 anglers in the field have earned 22 Angler of the Year titles across three leagues. There are also 15 championship titles from the TTBC, Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Cup. All totaled, the TTBC anglers have combined to earn over $60 million in tournament fishing. Texas has the most anglers in the field with 10, followed by Alabama with nine.

Headlining the field of competitors is the top-ranked angler in the world, Kevin VanDam. VanDam is the all-time leading money winner in professional fishing with over $5.5 million earned. He is a seven-time Bassmaster Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year and 2001 FLW Tour Angler of the Year. VanDam has also won four Bassmaster Classic titles including back-to-back championships in 2010 and 2011.

Also returning to Lake Conroe is 2010 runner-up Mike Iaconelli. Iaconelli, the 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion, is a fan favorite because of his outgoing personality and passion for fishing.

David Dudley, the 2011 Walmart FLW Tour Angler of the Year, will also bring his talents to Lake Conroe. He will be joined by 2011 PAA Angler of the Year Todd Auten. Auten has back-to-back top-10 finishes in the TTBC, eighth in 2010 and third in 2009.

Limited quantities of tickets are free this year to the three-day outdoor music festival and professional bass fishing world championship through exclusive tournament partners. Free tickets are only available while supplies last through respective sponsor promotions, by visiting Houston-area Toyota dealerships or Academy Sports + Outdoors stores and online at toyotatexasbassclassic.com. Walk-up tickets the day of the event will require a donation towards the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and all days are subject to sell out. The daily tickets are valid for admission into the festival grounds for angler weigh-ins and the live concert of that particular day. All activities, including concerts, weigh-ins, interactive expo areas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Adventures Area will take place at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center’s festival grounds in Conroe.

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic tournament functions are operated by the Professional Anglers Association with technical assistance and support from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries Division. Title sponsor for the event is Toyota. Additional sponsors include Evinrude, IKON, Oakley, Carrot Stix, US Reel and Mustang CAT. Corporate partnership opportunities are available for 2011. For additional information, visit toyotatexasbassclassic.com or call 1-866-907-0143.

For more tournament information visit toyotatexasbassclassic.com, Facebook.com/ToyotaTexasBassClassic, Twitter: @TxBassClassic

2011 Field of Anglers
First Name Last Name Hometown State Qualified Through
Brian Snowden Reeds Spring Missouri 2010 Defending Champion
Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo Michigan Bassmaster Elite Series
Edwin Evers Talala Oklahoma Bassmaster Elite Series
Gerald Swindle Warrior Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Ott Defoe Knoxville Tennessee Bassmaster Elite Series
Steve Kennedy Auburn Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Terry Scroggins San Mateo Florida Bassmaster Elite Series
Casey Ashley Donalds South Carolina Bassmaster Elite Series
Alton Jones Waco Texas Bassmaster Elite Series
Keith Poche Pike Road Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Greg Vinson Wetumpka Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Chris Lane Guntersville Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Randy Howell Springville Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Keith Combs Huntington Texas Bassmaster Elite Series
Aaron Martens Leeds Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Denny Brauer Macks Creek Missouri Bassmaster Elite Series
David Dudley Lynchburg Virginia FLW Tour
Brent Ehrler Redlands California FLW Tour
Mark Rose Marion Arkansas FLW Tour
Jason Christie Park Hill Oklahoma FLW Tour
Tom Monsoor La Crosse Wisconsin FLW Tour
Stacey King Reeds Spring Missouri FLW Tour
Wesley Strader Spring City Tennessee FLW Tour
Bryan Thrift Shelby North Carolina FLW Tour
Darrel Robertson Jay Oklahoma FLW Tour
Scott Martin Clewiston Florida FLW Tour
Shad Schenck Waynetown Indiana FLW Tour
Shinichi Fukae Palestine Texas FLW Tour
Stetson Blaylock Benton Arkansas FLW Tour
Cody Meyer Grass Valley California FLW Tour
Scott Canterbury Springville Alabama FLW Tour
Todd Auten Lake Wylie South Carolina PAA Tournament Series
Mike McClelland Bella Vista Arkansas PAA Tournament Series
Takahiro Omori Emory Texas PAA Tournament Series
Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville Illinois PAA Tournament Series
Gary Yamamoto Mineola Texas PAA Tournament Series
Derek Remitz Grant Alabama PAA Tournament Series
Tommy Biffle Wagoner Oklahoma PAA Tournament Series
Terry Butcher Talala Oklahoma PAA Tournament Series
Cody Bird Granbury Texas PAA Tournament Series
Brian Travis Conover North Carolina PAA Tournament Series
Chris Brasher Spring Texas PAA Tournament Series
Shane Long Sarcoxie Missouri PAA Tournament Series
Gary Clouse Lavergne Tennessee PAA Tournament Series
James Watson Waynesville Missouri PAA Tournament Series
Harold Allen Shelbyville Texas PAA Tournament Series
Kelly Jordon Mineola Texas Sponsor Exemption
Gary Klein Weatherford Texas Sponsor Exemption
David Walker Sevierville Tennessee Sponsor Exemption
Mike Iaconelli Pittsgrove New Jersey Sponsor Exemption