What Is The Bassmaster Classic That's Coming To Tulsa?

Its official name is the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. But what exactly is it?

The Bassmaster Classic is an annual fishing tournament hosted by the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society fishing organization at a different location every year.

The fishing part of this year's tournament takes place at Grand Lake. Everything else associated with it takes place in Tulsa.

This year is the 43rd edition of the classic. It's called the Super Bowl of fishing because it brings together the top names in bass fishing who compete for $1.2 million in prize money, with $500,000 going to the champion.

See Full Bassmaster Classic Coverage

B.A.S.S. has held tournaments on Grand Lake before, but this is the first time it's ever held the Classic here. This is also the farthest west the tournament has been held since the 1979 championship on Lake Texoma.

With that many top anglers and fans in one place, the Classic has become a huge draw for fishing-related businesses, which participate in the Classic Outdoor Expo. The 2013 Expo will be held in the Tulsa Convention Center and admission is free. It will feature almost 200 exhibitors.

Each competitor in the tournament will bring his daily catch in for a weigh-in. The weigh-ins for the 2013 Classic will be held in the BOK Center in Tulsa and are free to the public. They begin each day at 3 p.m.

The tournament also allows spectators to watch the anglers head out onto the water each day of the event. The launches as they're called, will take place at Wolf Creek Park on Grand Lake each morning at 7 a.m. Tournament officials recommend spectators be in place before 7 a.m. to see the launch program.

For more information, visit the Bassmaster web site.