Bassmaster Classic 2016 Schedule: Dates, TV Coverage, Live Stream and Event Info

The Bassmaster Classic is one of the biggest events in fishing, and it kicks off on Thursday from Grand Lake O' the Cherokees in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Here's everything you need to know about the Classic.

Date	Stream	Schedule (ET)	TV	TV Air Date	TV Time (ET)
Friday, March 4	Bassmaster LIVE	8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.	ESPN2	Saturday, March 19	7 a.m.
Saturday, March 5	Bassmaster LIVE	8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.	ESPN2	Saturday, March 19	8 a.m.
Sunday, March 6	Bassmaster LIVE	8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.	ESPN2	Sunday, March 20	12 p.m.

There will be 55 experienced anglers competing for the Bassmaster Classic crown as they bring some stacked resumes to fishing's biggest stage.

No.	Fisher	Note
1	Casey Ashley	Won 2015 Bassmaster Classic
2	Edwin Evers	Won 2015 BASSfest
3	Chad Morgenthaler	Won Southern Open #1
4	Brandon McMillan	Won Southern Open #3
5	Chris Dillow	Won Northern Open #1
6	Whitney Stephens	Won Northern Open #3
7	Gene Bishop	Won Central Open #1
8	James Elam	Won Central Open #2
9	James Watson	Won Central Open #3
10	Trevor Lo	Won College Classic Bracket
11	Aaron Martens	First in Angler of the Year points
12	Justin Lucas	Second in Angler of the Year points
13	Dean Rojas	Third in Angler of the Year points
14	Jacob Powroznik	Fifth in Angler of the Year points
15	Chris Zaldain	Sixth in Angler of the Year points
16	Brent Ehrler	Seventh in Angler of the Year points
17	Greg Hackney	Eighth in Angler of the Year points
18	Jordan Lee	Ninth in Angler of the Year points
19	Brandon Palaniuk	10th in Angler of the Year points
20	Matt Herren	11th in Angler of the Year points
21	Skeet Reese	Won 2009 Bassmaster Classic
22	Jason Christie	13th in Angler of the Year points
23	Keith Combs	14th in Angler of the Year points
24	Bill Lowen	15th in Angler of the Year points
25	Greg Vinson	16th in Angler of the Year points
26	Alton Jones	Won 2008 Bassmaster Classic
27	Bernie Schultz	18th in Angler of the Year points
28	Chris Lane	Won 2012 Bassmaster Classic
29	Cliff Pirch	20th in Angler of the Year points
30	Bobby Lane	21st in Angler of the Year points
31	John Crews	22nd in Angler of the Year points
32	David Walker	23rd in Angler of the Year points
33	Kevin VanDam	Four-time Bassmaster Classic Winner
34	Randy Howell	Won 2014 Bassmaster Classic
35	Chad Pipkens	27th in Angler of the Year points
36	Micah Frazier	28th in Angler of the Year points
37	Russ Lane	29th in Angler of the Year points
38	Ott DeFoe	30th in Angler of the Year points
39	Brett Hite	31st in Angler of the Year points
40	Todd Faircloth	32nd in Angler of the Year points
41	Josh Bertrand	33rd in Angler of the Year points
42	Boyd Duckett	Won 2007 Bassmaster Classic
43	Marty Robinson	35th in Angler of the Year points
44	Mark Davis	36th in Angler of the Year points
45	Brandon Lester	37th in Angler of the Year points
46	Brandon Card	38th in Angler of the Year points
47	Michael Iaconelli	Won 2003 Bassmaster Classic
48	Billy McCaghren	40th in Angler of the Year points
49	Greg Vance	Won B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Division
50	Albert Collins	Won B.A.S.S. Nation Central Division
51	John Proctor	Won B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Division
52	Fabian Rodriguez	Won B.A.S.S. Nation Mid-Atlantic Division
53	Levi McNeill	Won B.A.S.S. Nation Western Division
54	Charles Sim	Won B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Division
55	Thomas Martens	Won Team Championship Classic Bracket

Kevin VanDam has been in a drought of sorts having not won a Bassmaster Classic in the last four years. From 2001-11, VanDam won the Bassmaster four times. Only Rick Clunn has won the competition four times, too. 

VanDam will have plenty of company when it comes to past Bassmaster winners. The past four winners will be in the field, and each will look to start a VanDam-like dynasty of his own. 

But this isn't a tournament to see who can catch the most fish. At the Bassmaster Classic, it's all about weight. The angler who catches the heaviest fish is the winner, but they must be at least 12 inches long. The fish also have to be alive at the time of the weigh-in, or else the competitor will be penalized. 

Because there is limited space on their boats, anglers might have to pick and choose which fish they bring into the weigh-ins, so strategy will play a large part in this competition as well.

Stats courtesy of Bassmaster.com.