bassmaster classic

159 epic shots from the Classic Expo

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Written by
David A. Brown
Photography by
David A. Brown
Beneath Knoxville’s iconic Sunsphere, bass fishing fans lined up for the official opening of the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by U.S. Army.
Lines wrapped around the Knoxville Convention Center.
Waiting for the doors to open.
With the official ribbon cutting, led by B.A.S.S. Chairman Chase Anderson (center), the Expo was under way.
Buckets for all.
Academy Sports + Outdoors sponsored the Bassmaster Classic.
Classic qualifier Stetson Blaylock helped Academy design the H2OX Evo rods.
Casting games at the Academy Sports + Outdoors booth.
Behind the scenes at the Bassmaster LIVE set.
B.A.S.S. Life and Nation members check in.
Triton introduced the new 20XP.
Phoenix Boats displayed the distinctive “Rocky Top” color.
The U.S. Army was well represented.
The TVA brought a message of education and awareness.
Fans of the G-Man saw the Elite legend’s likeness at the Mercury booth.
Hank Parker joins two-time Classic winner Hank Cherry and Steve Bowman for Bass LIVE Mix at the Mercury display.
Progressive Insurance offered fun activities.
The new Power-Pole Move trolling motor shows its stuff.
Bass Pro Shops, Ranger and Tracker.
Tracker Lithium batteries.
Elite pro Clark Wendlandt, center.
Visit Bass Pro Shops or deal with this guy!
Lots of Bass Pro Shops merchandise.
Who needs a hat?
Nitro Boats.
Four-time Classic winner Rick Clunn with a young fan.
Toyota Tundra.
The Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry.
Toyota activity registration.
Lots of fun at the Toyota space.
More Toyota activities.
Elite pro Darold Gleason at Toyota.
Elite pro Larry Nixon won the 1983 Classic.
Larry Nixon poses with Stella Cifuentes, daughter of his good friend and fellow Elite, Joey Cifuentes.
Escalators carried a constant flow of Expo visitors.
The Knoxville Convention Center was packed.
The Expo floor was a sea of bass fans.
Can you spot 2003 Classic winner Mike Iaconelli?
Buckets of fishing gear.
Bassmaster LIVE personality Davy Hite with fans.
Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer signs autographs.
Bassmaster LIVE personality Mark Zona’s always up for a fan photo.
Challenger, the bald eagle has appeared at major sporting events.
Minn Kota trolling motors show their stuff.
Humminbird electronics.
Daiwa casting games.
Opens EQ pro Ish Monroe shows off Daiwa’s new Steez A reel.
Evergreen crankbaits.
Elite pro Derek Hudnall with the St. Croix Legend Tournament rods.
Skeeter’s ZXR20.
TNT Fireworks.
The Bass University.
Dakota Lithium.
Visit Knoxville.
Strike King’s new Carolina Chrome soft baits.
Lew’s introduced the new Custom Lite Shallow Spool reel.
Mach baits.
Yamaha pros.
More pros from Yamaha.
Shimano gear.
Costa and the B.A.S.S. Hall of Champions.
Costa Corbina Pro.
Abu Garcia Revo reels.
Berkley’s Cull Shad.
Abu Garcia Zenon rods.
Berkley Money Badger crankbaits.
Two-time Classic champion, Hank Cherry.
Lots of shopping opportunities at the Expo.
And more shopping.
Bass Pro Shops welcomes Expo visitors.
B.A.S.S. merchandise.
Mossy Oak.
B.A.S.S. Legend Bill Dance greets fans.
Expo visitors on the way up to the second floor.
Non-stop activity.
Striker.
Falcon Rods.
YETI.
Cashion Rods.
Friends gather at the Expo.
Classic qualifier John Cox’s family visits the Expo.
Ashley Wages positions the boom camera.
Real Tree Fishing.
SIMMS displays its high-tech rain wear.
Missile Baits.
Mustad’s innovative Arm Lock spinnerbait.
A wall of Megabass jerkbaits.
Livingston Lures.
Advantage Baits.
Bull Shad.
Bizz Baits.
Jackall’s Blast Bone Jr.
Vexus Boats.
The Lithium Pros Charger boat.
XPress Boats Z21 Pro.
Elite pro Kyle Welcher and Caymas boats.
Bullet Boats.
Elite pro Bradley Hallman at Beatdown Outdoors.
Falcon Boats.
The Lowrance Ghost trolling motor.
Hobie Lynx.
Garmin.
AFTCO.
Big Bite Baits.
Sunline.
Denali Rods.
Bassmaster Opens pro Blake Smith.
HUK’s casting game.
HUK merch.
Seaguar.
Hercules Tires.
Hillary Martin in the Star Tron booth.
Suzuki.
Elite pros Derek Hudnall and Matt Herren at the Yamaha autograph table.
Kids enjoy fun activities at the Ike Foundation booth.
X2 Power.
Old Town’s Minn Kota powered model.
Don’t Die.
Black Rifle Coffee Company.
Photo session with a giant bass.
The legendary Bob Cobb.
Phenix Rods.
Bajio Sunglasses.
Z-Man’s unique Hellraizer.
Ark reels.
Gill Hydro Short Boots.
Flock Chicken Skin Crisps.
Tackle Direct.
G.Loomis
Power Pro.
Under Armor
American Baitworks introduced the new Rad crankbaits.
Bait Fuel.
American Bait Works product designer Andrew Gardner shows off one of his hand carved baits.
Gaspo Dixon of American Bait Works levels up a Scum Frog with his famous seasoning.
The TVA fish tank.
Food trucks on the Terrace.
Expo visitors strolling between the Knoxville Convention Center and the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.
Expo visitors checking the map.
Pleasant weather for strolling between venues.
Matt Robertson’s ON ‘EM gear.
The Bassmaster Go Outside Experience presented by U.S. Army.
Perfect weather for an outside event.
Lots of interest in this part of the Expo.
QR codes facilitate promotions.
Casting activity.
The fishing pond is always a popular element.
The little ones love this activity.
Nice when the fish cooperate.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
U.S. Air Force.
The dog jumps never fail to entertain the crowds.
Returning for another jump.
Trent Steel and Camille, the highly athletic Belgian Malinois.
C’mon, Camille! Get it…
Get it…
Got it! Great jump, Camille!
A handy shuttle.
Thank you, Knoxville!

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