Meet the Fish-Off competitors

Competitors: Top (L-R) - Tim Fox, David Lowery and James Murphy. Bottom (L-R) - Shane Powell, Gary Thompson and Randy Tolbert.

EUFAULA, Ala. – The field of 358 anglers (179 teams) that began the Bassmaster Team Championship Wednesday on Lake Eufaula has been trimmed to a group of six as the Classic Fish-Off starts Friday.

Both anglers from the top three duos in the team portion of the championship had their weights zeroed after the Day 2 weigh-in, and now they’ll fish individually for two days. The man with the highest two-day weight will clinch the final berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk when it’s held March 4-6 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.

Here’s a look at each of the six anglers aiming for a shot at glory!

NAME: Tim Fox

AGE: 50

RESIDES: Merdian, Miss.

OCCUPATION: Sells advertising specialty items.

TEAM TRAIL: Alabama Bass Trail

HOME WATER: Ross Barnett Reservoir

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Fishing shallow

FAVORITE LURE: Chatter-bait

BIGGEST BASS CAUGHT: 10 pounds

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “I’ve been a fanatic about bass fishing my whole adult life. I started doing this when I was 15.”

WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “It’ll be 14 or 15 pounds a day.”

WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “It’ll be a miracle because I’m happy with what we’ve done. My personal mission has been to make it this far with Shane. This is his home lake. And we made it.”

NAME: David Lowery

AGE: 49

RESIDES: Milledgeville, Ga.

OCCUPATION: Works for Air Concepts of Middle Georgia, his brother’s AC and heating company.

TEAM TRAIL: Berry’s Team Trail

HOME WATER: “I grew up on Lake Eufaula, but also Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair in Georgia.”

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Flipping

FAVORITE LURE: Jigs, swim jigs, frogs.

BIGGEST BASS CAUGHT: “11-5, out of this lake.”

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “Laid back.”

WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “14 pounds a day.”

WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “There will be a lot of excitement. I’ve been wanting to do it my whole life.”

NAME: James Murphy

AGE: 50

RESIDES: Columbus, Ga.

OCCUPATION: Works for Georgia Crown Distributing.

TEAM TRAIL: Berry’s Team Trail

HOME WATER: Lake Eufaula

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Flipping

FAVORITE LURE: Jigs

BIGGEST BASS CAUGHT: “It was 8-something.”

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “I’m new. I wasn’t expecting it. This will be the first tournament I’ll fish by myself.”

WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “About 14 pounds or so each day.”

WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “I can’t tell you. I’ve fished as a co-angler for years and now I’m going as a boater for the first time.”

NAME: Shane Powell

AGE: 32

HOMETOWN: Dothan, Ala.

OCCUPATION: Works for family’s garage door business.

TEAM TRAIL: Alabama Bass Trail

HOME WATER: Lake Eufaula

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: “I like power-fishing, swimming a jig, anything on the grass.”

FAVORITE LURE: Swim jig

BIGGEST BASS CAUGHT: 8 ½ pounds.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “Laid back. I don’t let the highs get too high or the lows get too low.”

WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “I think someone in the 12-pound range on both days will win it. The lake is a lot better than that, but if things stay the way they are right now, 12 a day will give you a good chance.”

WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “I’ve got a couple college buddies (from Auburn University) who’ve made the Classic. I’m the odd man out right now. I have to complete the circle.”

NAME: Gary Thompson

AGE: 49

HOMETOWN: Dallas, Ga.

OCCUPATION: Owns a roofing company and manages a plumbing company.

TEAM TRAIL: Alabama Bass Trail

HOME WATER: Weiss Lake (Ala.)

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Flipping

FAVORITE LURE: Jig

BIGGEST BASS CAUGHT: 13-2

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “That’s a scary question. I’m not shy. I’ll talk to anybody…I’m confident, but humble.”

WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “Maybe 24 pounds total.”

WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “We’re going to Hartwell.”

NAME: Randy Tolbert

AGE: 33

HOMETOWN: Rome, Ga.

OCCUPATION: Outside sales representative

TEAM TRAIL: Alabama Bass Trail

HOME WATER: Weiss Lake (Ala.)

FAVORITE FISHING STYLE: Offshore

FAVORITE LURE: Crankbait

BIGGEST BASS EVER CAUGHT: 10 pounds

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: “I’m fairly outgoing. Loyal. Reliable.”

WINNING WEIGHT IN THE CLASSIC FISH-OFF: “It’ll be 27 to 29 pounds.”

WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY WHEN YOU WIN THE FISH-OFF?: “I hold a lot of (emotion) in. I can be a little guarded in public (but we’ll party afterward.)”