Three other Classics have been held on Lay Lake, in 1996, 2002 and 2007. Boyd Duckett won the 2007 Classic, Jay Yelas won there in 2002 and George Cochran won on Lay in 1996.
The 2010 Classic will launch from Beeswax Creek and weigh-in will be held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in downtown Birmingham, AL about 35 miles away. The Classic Outdoor Expo will draw thousands of visitors each day.
The Classic is arguably the most prestigious tournament in bass fishing. The winner will take home $500,000 in cash but it is worth much more in endorsements and sponsorships.
Skeet Reese, winner of the 2009 Bassmasters Classic, is the only angler with a guarenteed entry into the 2010 Classic. The other 50 will qualify through the BASS Elite Series, BASS Regionals, the BASS Weekend Series, BASS Federation Nation and Women's Bass Tour.
