EUFAULA, Ala. – The field of 358 anglers (179 teams) that began the Bassmaster Team Championship Wednesday on Lake Eufaula has been trimmed to a group of six as the Classic Fish-Off starts Friday.
Both anglers from the top three duos in the team portion of the championship had their weights zeroed after the Day 2 weigh-in, and now they’ll fish individually for two days. The man with the highest two-day weight will clinch the final berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk when it’s held March 4-6 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.
Here’s a look at each of the six anglers aiming for a shot at glory!
NAME: Tim Fox
AGE: 50
RESIDES: Merdian, Miss.
OCCUPATION: Sells advertising specialty items.
TEAM TRAIL: Alabama Bass Trail
HOME WATER: Ross Barnett Reservoir
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Fishing shallow
FAVORITE LURE: Chatter-bait
BIGGEST BASS CAUGHT: 10 pounds
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “I’ve been a fanatic about bass fishing my whole adult life. I started doing this when I was 15.”
WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “It’ll be 14 or 15 pounds a day.”
WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “It’ll be a miracle because I’m happy with what we’ve done. My personal mission has been to make it this far with Shane. This is his home lake. And we made it.”
NAME: David Lowery
AGE: 49
RESIDES: Milledgeville, Ga.
OCCUPATION: Works for Air Concepts of Middle Georgia, his brother’s AC and heating company.
TEAM TRAIL: Berry’s Team Trail
HOME WATER: “I grew up on Lake Eufaula, but also Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair in Georgia.”
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Flipping
FAVORITE LURE: Jigs, swim jigs, frogs.
BIGGEST BASS CAUGHT: “11-5, out of this lake.”
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “Laid back.”
WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “14 pounds a day.”
WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “There will be a lot of excitement. I’ve been wanting to do it my whole life.”
NAME: James Murphy
AGE: 50
RESIDES: Columbus, Ga.
OCCUPATION: Works for Georgia Crown Distributing.
TEAM TRAIL: Berry’s Team Trail
HOME WATER: Lake Eufaula
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Flipping
FAVORITE LURE: Jigs
BIGGEST BASS CAUGHT: “It was 8-something.”
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “I’m new. I wasn’t expecting it. This will be the first tournament I’ll fish by myself.”
WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “About 14 pounds or so each day.”
WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “I can’t tell you. I’ve fished as a co-angler for years and now I’m going as a boater for the first time.”
NAME: Shane Powell
AGE: 32
HOMETOWN: Dothan, Ala.
OCCUPATION: Works for family’s garage door business.
TEAM TRAIL: Alabama Bass Trail
HOME WATER: Lake Eufaula
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: “I like power-fishing, swimming a jig, anything on the grass.”
FAVORITE LURE: Swim jig
BIGGEST BASS CAUGHT: 8 ½ pounds.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “Laid back. I don’t let the highs get too high or the lows get too low.”
WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “I think someone in the 12-pound range on both days will win it. The lake is a lot better than that, but if things stay the way they are right now, 12 a day will give you a good chance.”
WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “I’ve got a couple college buddies (from Auburn University) who’ve made the Classic. I’m the odd man out right now. I have to complete the circle.”
NAME: Gary Thompson
AGE: 49
HOMETOWN: Dallas, Ga.
OCCUPATION: Owns a roofing company and manages a plumbing company.
TEAM TRAIL: Alabama Bass Trail
HOME WATER: Weiss Lake (Ala.)
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Flipping
FAVORITE LURE: Jig
BIGGEST BASS CAUGHT: 13-2
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “That’s a scary question. I’m not shy. I’ll talk to anybody…I’m confident, but humble.”
WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “Maybe 24 pounds total.”
WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “We’re going to Hartwell.”
NAME: Randy Tolbert
AGE: 33
HOMETOWN: Rome, Ga.
OCCUPATION: Outside sales representative
TEAM TRAIL: Alabama Bass Trail
HOME WATER: Weiss Lake (Ala.)
FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Offshore
FAVORITE LURE: Crankbait
BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: 10 pounds
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “I’m fairly outgoing. Loyal. Reliable.”
WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “It’ll be 27 to 29 pounds.”
WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “I hold a lot of (emotion) in. I can be a little guarded in public (but we’ll party afterward.)”