BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 2002 - Massachusetts angler Danny Correia came within 6 ounces of winning it in 1986. Dalton Bobo of Alabama came even closer in 1997 when he came up a single ounce short.
Connecticut phenomenon Bryan Kerchal did the unthinkable in 1994 when he became the first fisherman from the B.A.S.S. Federation ranks - the first amateur - to surprise the more seasoned pros and capture the sport's Holy Grail and became the hero of weekend anglers throughout America.
The exploits of those three Federation anglers give hope and confidence to five select contenders in this year's Classic, set for July 25-27 on Alabama's Lay Lake. They are the five Federation club members who rose through the ranks of thousands of amateur anglers and survived a grueling, yearlong elimination process to earn the right to compete against the world's best tournament pros for the most important title in professional fishing.
The highest profile member of this exclusive club is Ken Christ, who won the B.A.S.S. Federation Championship two months ago. The 47-year-old federal railroad inspector, who recently moved from Butler, Mo., to Chicago, is a member of the Norfolk Bassmasters and has represented his state team in several B.A.S.S. Divisionals since 1992.
"I can't put into words what it means to me to make the Classic," said Christ, who placed fifth in last week's ESPN Great Outdoor Games, topping reigning Classic champion Kevin VanDam's weights on both days of competition. "The dream of making the Classic is always in the back of your mind when you're fishing club tournaments or sitting around with the guys shooting the breeze.
"You always think, 'Boy, wouldn't it be great to fish the Classic?' But as an amateur, that's almost too big of a dream. So this is extremely exciting."
Ron Colby once lived in Alabama before moving to Utah, where he established a career as a professional bowler. A computer systems engineer, Colby, 41, won the B.A.S.S. Federation Western Divisional to reach the Championship where he earned his first Classic invitation. Impressively, he has already qualified for the 2003 Championship by winning the Western Divisional that was held a month ago.
"Thousands of guys dream about this all of their lives, and I get a chance to actually live it," said Colby, a member of the Intermountain Bass Club who holds records for trout and mule deer in his home state. "It's been a dream of mine since getting involved with the Federation in '88.
"I think I'm prepared to handle the (pressure and hoopla) of the Classic. I was in situations where I had to stand before the TV cameras and throw a strike with half a million dollars on the line. I bowled some big games under that kind of pressure."
Representing the B.A.S.S. Federation Eastern Division is Chris Price, a 30-year-old roofing contractor who qualified for the Classic by finishing second at the Championship. The Maryland angler says he doesn't feel any pressure fishing the sport's big show because Federation anglers "aren't supposed to win the Classic anyway.
"Without blowing my own horn, I feel pretty proud to have made the Classic," Price said. "You have to really do well and finish high in a lot of Federation tournaments to get to the Classic. I didn't really hit me what I had accomplished until I went down to Lay Lake to pre-fish and saw some of the big dogs riding around the lake, like Jay Yelas. I thought 'What am I doing with these fellas?' It's all pretty interesting."
Given his occupation, Price figures he should be able to withstand the stifling Alabama heat and humidity in July better than most Classic contenders. "I'll be able to withstand the 100-degree days down there," he said, "after all of the time I've spent nailing shingles on hot roofs."
One Federation angler who will be burdened by higher-than-normal expectations is Jamie Horton, the B.A.S.S. Southern Division representative from Centerville, Ala., who is intimately familiar with Lay Lake. In fact, Alabama Classic pro Tim Horton (no relation) calls him the pre-Classic favorite.
"Making the Classic was great," said the 34-year-old supervisor at a pipe fabrication shop who has qualified for three other Federation Championships. "It's something I've always wanted to do and dreamed of doing, but I thought it was impossible. It seemed impossible, the way I missed making it the first two times. But it just all seemed to fall into place for me this time.
"I don't know about being the favorite like Tim Horton says, but I think the Lord really blessed me in making this Classic because it's in Birmingham. I could have made the other two and not done anything in those Classics, and maybe not be able to keep fishing. So maybe this is the ticket - waiting this long - because I know a lot more about fishing than what I did four years ago.
"I know Lay Lake pretty well, but I really don't know if I have an advantage because I'm fishing against 51 of the best fishermen in the world. I don't see how I can have an advantage over any of them."
Horton, a member of the Bigbee Bass Club, has qualified for his state team every year since 1996.
The other Federation angler in the 2002 Classic is Erhardt "Hardy" Tulgestka, a 38-year-old small business owner from Alpena, Mich. He earned a trip to the Classic as the highest finisher in the B.A.S.S. Federation Championship from the Northern Division.
The Classic is much more than just the crowning event of the Tournament Trail. Classic Week is the annual celebration of the sport of bass fishing that attracts B.A.S.S. members and other sports fans from across the country, who come to meet their fishing heroes, attend the weigh-ins and participate in youth and other fan-friendly events.
The launch venue for the event will be Paradise Point Marina. The exciting Classic weigh-in show and the Classic Outdoor Show will take place in the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. With the exception of the launch site, all of the venues for the event are in close proximity.