Oklahoma's Elite Series Anglers
BY KELLY BOSTIAN World Outdoors Writer
Friday, February 24, 2012
2/24/12 at 5:36 AM
Scott Ashmore
Hometown: Broken Arrow
Age: 34
Years pro: 5
Qualified for the Classic: 1 time
Highlight: Qualified for Bassmaster Classic and joined Elite Series in 2010
Quote: "Once you've gotten to go the Classic and then you don't, man, you got spoiled early on. I'm really hopeful for a great year and I'm hoping to do it again on my home lake."
Tommy Biffle
Hometown: Wagoner
Age: 53
Years pro: 21
Qualified for the Classic: 17 times
Highlight: Twice runner-up in Bassmaster Classic
Quote: "There's just not a lot of room for error. That's always the goal; to make it every year. But you're not going to make it every year."
Fred Roumbanis
Hometown: Bixby
Age: 33
Years pro: 12
Qualified for the Classic: 3 times
Highlight: Bassmaster tournament wins 2007 Major American and 2008 Carolina Clash
Quote: "I'll be thinking about it the very first cast I make at the St. Johns River, how important it is to stay focused with every cast, because that's how you get there."
David Smith
Hometown: Edmond
Age: 66
Years pro: 21
Qualified for the Classic: 0 times
Highlight: 2008 Texas Bass Classic tournament winner
Quote: "I wouldn't have gone to Florida to practice last week if it wasn't at Grand. ... This year I'm going to put my best foot forward and I think I'll be competitive. I like my chances."
Kenyon Hill
Hometown: Norman
Age: 47
Years pro: 27
Qualified for the Classic: 4 times
Highlight: Twice in the Bassmaster Classic top 10
Quote: "I take it one event at a time. I don't worry about a year down the road because if you focus on that you'll lose everything. It would be great, obviously, but I've got miles to go before I sleep."
Jeff Kriet
Hometown: Ardmore
Age: 42
Years pro: 16
Qualified for the Classic: 8 times
Highlight: Bassmaster Classic runner-up in 2010
Quote: "You want to make every Classic, but I really like Grand and I like the way Grand sets up. That lake fits my style. ... I just don't want to miss it."
Jared Miller
Hometown: Norman
Age: 27
Years pro: 2
Qualified for the Classic: 0 times
Highlight: Qualified to join Elite Series in 2012
Quote: "It's unbelievable. It would be amazing to me. I've fished Grand hundreds of times. I've struggled against locals up there, but I love fishing up there and I'm super, super excited to have it here and bring all that bass interest here."
Kevin Ledoux
Hometown: Choctaw
Age: 33
Years pro: 3
Qualified for the Classic: 0 times
Highlight: Qualified to join Elite Series in 2012
Quote: "It would mean a lot for me just to qualify. It would obviously be my first classic and then on Grand, which is pretty much where my competitive side got started. It would be huge for a guy like me to qualify."
Terry Butcher
Hometown: Talala
Age: 40
Years pro: 7
Qualified for the Classic: 2 times
Highlight: Two Bassmaster Open wins: Texoma and Sam Rayburn
Quote: "It would be a dream to fish the Bassmaster Classic right here on a lake that pretty much got me started in big tournament fishing."
Edwin Evers
Hometown: Talala
Age: 37
Years pro: 14
Qualified for the Classic: 11 times
Highlight: Twice in Bassmaster Classic top 10 and consecutive runner-up finishes in Angler of the Year race, 2010-2011
Quote: "I don't want to put added pressure on myself. That's my goal every year is being in the Classic but, how awesome would it be."
Original Print Headline: Oklahoma's Elite Series Anglers
