The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is the only event to bring together the top performers from the Bassmaster Elite Series, the FLW Tour and the Professional Anglers Association tournament trail.

As such, it is a true world championship of bass fishing.

Slated for Friday, October 4^th through Sunday, October 6^th, the TTBC pits 50 of this year’s most accomplished tournament anglers in competition on 22,000-acre Lake Conroe.

The field will be cut to the top 10 anglers for Sunday’s final round but all participants will cut a check and there is no entry fee.

And the anglers aren’t the only ones who benefit. According to TTBC officials, “Over the last six years, the Toyota Texas Bass Classic has donated over $1.5 million to the TPWD, an effort that will continue again this year.”

Anglers will take off at 8 a.m. each morning from Waterway Plaza –address:  15256 Texas Hwy 105 West.

The bass are, reportedly, scattered as usual for this time of year on Conroe. Pros haven’t whacked a ton of big ones in practice, but most of the guys don’t want to do that in practice anyway. The guys who have fished past TTBC’s on Conroe know what to expect and seem content to ride, look, and just get a feel for the lake.

Conroe is just 45 miles outside of Houston and is actually farther south than a good chunk of Mexico so there’s a strong offshore bite left over from the heat of a South Texas summer. There are also plenty of fish up shallow. Winners here tend to find a pattern as the tournament unfolds – if they find one at all.

Little fish are plentiful and 5-fish limits should be common place on the weigh in stage but a big bite each day will set an angler apart. Two such fish could make a winner of him.

A full-blown carnival is held in conjunction with the TTBC. According to The Courier of Montgomery County, “The tournament will feature an Outdoor Adventures Area, hosted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, with a climbing wall, archery and other outdoor-themed educational and interactive exhibits.

“Barbecue aficionados can also look forward to the TTBC’s second annual cook-off, where over 50 teams will compete to cook up the best brisket, ribs and chicken. Donald Canterbury with “We Be Smokin” will return to defend their 2012 titles. A number of award-winning food trucks will also be on-site, along with a 25,000 square foot Yamaha Test Track and a Toyota Drive Center.”

A concert series will feature top music artist including:  Eli Young Band, The Band Perry, Southern Slang, Lee Brice, Thompson Square and Gloriana.

Event gates open at 2 p.m. and the free festivities will take place at Lone Star Convention Center – 9055 Airport Road. There will be a parking fee of $15 – cash only.

Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur said, “We’re very excited about this amazing group of anglers that have qualified, there are some true legends of the sport along with some new faces that will get to compete for not one but two Toyota Texas Bass Classics in a row.”

The field of competitors for the 2013 Toyota Texas Bass Classic:

Angler:        Hometown: Qualified Through:

Matt Arey   Shelby, North Carolina  PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Adrian Avena       Vineland, New Jersey    FLW Tour AOY Points

Tommy Biffle       Wagoner, Oklahoma      Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Stetson Blaylock Benton, Arkansas FLW Tour AOY Points

Tommy Brown     Louisville, Tennessee     PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Hank Cherry        Maiden, North Carolina Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Jason Christie      Park Hill, Oklahoma      FLW Tour AOY Points

Luke Clausen       Otis Orchards, Washington     FLW Tour AOY Points

Keith Combs        Huntington, Texas         Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Brandon Coulter  Knoxville, Tennessee     PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

John Crews          Salem, Virginia    Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Cliff Crochet        Pierre Part, Louisiana    Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Ott DeFoe   Knoxville, Tennessee     Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Jim Dillard  West Monroe, Louisiana         PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

David Dudley       Lynchburg, Virginia       FLW Tour AOY Points

Brent Ehrler         Redlands, California      FLW Tour AOY Points

Edwin Evers         Talala, Oklahoma Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Todd Faircloth     Jasper, Texas       Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Shinichi Fukae     Palestine, Texas   PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Randy Haynes      Counce, Tennessee         PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Mike Iaconelli       Pittsgrove, New Jersey  Sponsor Exemption

Alton Jones          Lorena, Texas      Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Kelly Jordon        Palestine, Texas   Sponsor Exemption

Brad Knight         Wartsburg, Tennessee    PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Russ Lane   Prattville, Alabama        PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Bobby Lane          Lakeland, Florida Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Justin Lucas         Guntersville, Alabama   FLW Tour AOY Points

Aaron Martens     Leeds, Alabama    Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Mike McClelland  Bella Vista, Arkansas    PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Cody Meyer         Auburn, California        FLW Tour AOY Points

Ish Monroe           Hughson, California      Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

David Hendrick    Cherryville, NC    PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Andy Morgan       Dayton, Tennessee         FLW Tour AOY Points

Brandon Palaniuk          Rathdrum, Idaho  PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Jacob Powroznik Prince George, Virginia  FLW Tour AOY Points

Matt Reed   Madisonville, Texas       PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Mark Rose  West Memphis, Arkansas       FLW Tour AOY Points

Fred Roumbanis   Bixby, Oklahoma PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Terry Scroggins    San Mateo, Florida        Sponsor Exemption

Spencer Shuffield Hot Springs, Arkansas  FLW Tour AOY Points

Brian Snowden    Reeds Spring, Missouri PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Wesley Strader     Spring City, Tennessee  PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Gerald Swindle     Warrior, Alabama          Sponsor Exemption

Randall Tharp      Port Saint Joe, Florida   FLW Tour AOY Points

Bryan Thrift         Shelby, North Carolina  2012 TTBC Defending Champion

Kevin VanDam    Kalamazoo, Michigan    Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

Greg Vinson         Wetumpka, Alabama     Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

James Watson      Waynesville, Missouri   PAA Tournament Series AOY Points

Jay Yelas    Corvallis, Oregon FLW Tour AOY Points

Chris Zaldain       San Jose, California       Bassmaster Elite Series AOY Points

 

– See more at: http://www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com/2013/09/19/final-field-announced-2/#sthash.JDP30Q8b.dpuf