Top 38 anglers in the world to compete at Lake Ray Roberts

Frisco, TX  – As part of the 2016 Toyota Texas Fest presented by JBL (TTF), the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) will feature 36 of the world’s best professional anglers from May 20 – 22, 2016 at Lake Ray Roberts in Denton, TX. The field for the tenth anniversary of TTBC is highlighted by defending champion Brent Ehrler and 2016 Bassmaster Classic champion Edwin Evers.

The field is made up of the top 15 anglers from the 2015 Angler of the Year (AOY) points from both the FLW Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series as well as eight exemptions. Other notable anglers include 2015 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Aaron Martens, 2015 FLW Angler of the Year Scott Martin and Keith Combs, three-time TTBC champion.

“Over the past nine years the priority of the TTBC has been to promote fishing, outdoor recreation and the conservation efforts of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,” said Lenny Francoeur, tournament director. “Each year we host the world’s best anglers on Texas’ premier fisheries, and we are excited to see these anglers take on Lake Ray Roberts, one of the Texas’ top fisheries.”

The overall field is highlighted by a combined 16 Angler of the Year titles, including eight Bassmaster AOYs and eight FLW Tour AOYs; 19 major championship titles, including eight TTBCs, six Bassmaster Classics, and five Forrest Wood Cups; 179 tour wins and over $60 million in career earnings. The field will also include exemptions Randy Howell, Mike Iaconelli, Kelly Jordon, Terry Scroggins, Gerald Swindle and 2015 TTBC champion Brent Ehrler.

“Winning the Toyota Texas Bass Classic last year was one of the biggest achievements in my career,” said Ehrler.  “The TTBC is the most difficult event to qualify for in professional bass fishing, and to raise the trophy on the final day, you had to have beaten the most elite group of anglers on the planet. I am excited to get back to Texas and defend my title on Lake Ray Roberts in May.”

Along with the coveted title of TTBC champion, the anglers will be competing for two additional awards. The angler who catches the single heaviest fish from any of the three days of competition will win the Toyota Tundra Big Bass Award and a new 2016 Toyota Tundra. The LEER Heavy Weight Award, a new LEER truck cap, will be given to the angler with the heaviest single-day weight from any one of the three days of the tournament.

NAME

HOMETOWN

QUALIFIED THROUGH

Tracy Adams

Wilkesboro, North Carolina

FLW Tour

Adrian Avena

Vineland, New Jersey

FLW Tour

Jason Christie

Park Hill, Oklahoma

Bassmaster Elite Series

Luke Clausen

Spokane, Washington

FLW Tour

Brandon Cobb

Greenwood, South Carolina

FLW Tour

Keith Combs

Huntington, Texas

Bassmaster Elite Series

John Cox

Debary, Florida

FLW Tour

Brent Ehrler

Redlands, California

2015 TTBC champion

Edwin Evers

Talala, Oklahoma

Bassmaster Elite Series

Shinichi Fukae

Palestine, Texas

FLW Tour

Anthony Gagliardi

Prosperity, South Carolina

FLW Tour

Greg Hackney

Gonzales, Louisiana

Bassmaster Elite Series

Matthew Herren

Ashville, Alabama

Bassmaster Elite Series

Randy Howell

Guntersville, Alabama

Exemption

Mike Iaconelli

Pittsgrove, New Jersey

Exemption

Alton Jones

Lorena, Texas

Bassmaster Elite Series

Kelly Jordon

Flint, Texas

Exemption

Jordan Lee

Vinemont, Alabama

Bassmaster Elite Series

Dave Lefebre

Erie, Pennsylvania

FLW Tour

Bill Lowen

Brookville, Indiana

Bassmaster Elite Series

Justin Lucas

Guntersville, Alabama

Bassmaster Elite Series

Aaron Martens

Leeds, Alabama

Bassmaster Elite Series

Scott Martin

Clewiston, Florida

FLW Tour

Cody Meyer

Auburn, California

FLW Tour

Ish Monroe

Hughson, California

FLW Tour

Andy Morgan

Dayton, Tennessee

FLW Tour

Larry Nixon

Bee Branch, Arkansas

FLW Tour

Brandon Palaniuk

Hayden, Idaho

Bassmaster Elite Series

Jacob Powroznik

Port Haywood, Virginia

Bassmaster Elite Series

Dean Rojas

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Bassmaster Elite Series

Terry Scroggins

San Mateo, Florida

Exemption

Brian Snowden

Reeds Spring, Missouri

Exemption

Gerald Swindle

Warrior, Alabama

Exemption

Peter Thliveros

St. Augustine, Florida

FLW Tour

Bryan Thrift

Shelby, North Carolina

FLW Tour

Kevin VanDam

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Exemption

Greg Vinson

Wetumpka, Alabama

Bassmaster Elite Series

Chris Zaldain

San Jose, California

Bassmaster Elite Series

- See more at: http://www.toyotatexasfest.com/2016/04/07/toyota-texas-bass-classic-announces-2016-field/#sthash.Wih3AdGh.dpuf