The Pressure of Being a Bassmaster Classic Winner
It is obvious that winning a Bassmaster Classic brings a lot of publicity to an angler. Ask any past winner of a Classic and he will tell you the same thing, that winning a classic is life changing. Of course, a $300,000 winning purse is life-changing, but the money is not the only reason an angler’s life has changed after winning a Classic. The publicity that an angler gets after winning a Classic is what changes their life forever. There is a reason why many people call it “the Super Bowl of bass fishing”. It is because nobody will forget a Bassmaster Classic winner. As media platforms are more present now than they have ever been, it seems difficult for a recent Classic champ to not be distracted by interviews, phone calls, and sponsorship responsibilities. Let’s look at which Bassmaster Classic champs in the last 20 years have handled the pressure with great follow-up finishes.
There have been 4 top 10 finishes in the last 20 years from a Bassmaster Classic champion in the tournament following their Classic win. Those four with a top ten finish are highlighted in bold below. These top 10 finishes are from Jordan Lee (2018), Kevin VanDam (2011 & 2005), and Michael Iaconelli (2003). Is it a coincidence that these anglers just so happen to have won AOY titles on major tour-level platforms? We think not. Anglers who can handle the pressure are the ones who will be the most successful.
Classic Champs (Last 20 years)
2022 Champ: Jason Christie
Next Tournament: Santee Cooper Lakes
Place: 93
2021 Champ: Hank Cherry
Next Tournament: Lake Champlain
Place: 69
2020 Champ: Hank Cherry
Next Tournament: Lake Eufaula (3 months later due to COVID)
Place: 18
2019 Champ: Ott Defoe
Next Tournament: BPT at Kissimmee Chain
Place: 16
2018 Champ: Jordan Lee
Next Tournament: Grand Lake
Place: 10
2017 Champ: Jordan Lee
Next Tournament: Toledo Bend
Place: 38
2016 Champ: Edwin Evers
Next Tournament: St. Johns River
Place: 16
2015 Champ: Casey Ashley
Next Tournament: Sabine River
Place: 44
2014 Champ: Randy Howell
Next Tournament: Lake Seminole
Place: 106
2013 Champ: Cliff Pace
Next Tournament: Sabine River
Place: 28
2012 Champ: Chris Lane
Next Tournament: St. Johns River
Place: 33
2011 Champ: Kevin VanDam
Next Tournament: Harris Chain of Lakes
Place: 4
2010 Champ: Kevin VanDam
Next Tournament: California Delta
Place: 29
2009 Champ: Skeet Reese
Next Tournament: Lake Amistad
Place: 22
2008 Champ: Alton Jones
Next Tournament: Harris Chain of Lakes
Place: 37
2007 Champ: Boyd Duckett
Next Tournament: Lake Amistad
Place: 93
2006 Champ: Luke Clausen
Next Tournament: Lake Okeechobee
Place: 80
2005: Champ: Kevin VanDam
Next Tournament: Table Rock Lake
Place: 2
2004 Champ: Takahiro Omori
Next Tournament: Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
Place: 41
2003 Champ: Michael Iaconelli
Next Tournament: Harris Chain of Lakes
Place: 4