Bassmaster Classic 2011: 41st annual competition begins

(CBS) - 50 of the best anglers in the world are on the hunt this Friday off the coast of New Orleans with one goal in mind: master the bass.

The 3-day tournament will challenge the competitors by offering the entire Louisiana Delta as a hunting ground. "This is one place where you can't cover all the water," Skeet Reese, 2009 champion, told ESPN.

The Classic is the most prestigious competition in the fishing world. In addition to the $500,000 in prize money comes the recognition that can only be gained from winning it all: the title of Angler of the Year. In his first year in the tournament, Ryan Said understands the stakes. "Winning the Classic would mean a whole new life for me. I remember picking up a Bassmaster Magazine in 1996 and reading about George Cochran winning the Classic. Ever since then, there's nothing else I'd rather do."

Chilly waters will make the competition even more fierce than usual. Cold fish don't bite, and with the vast amount of ocean to cover, fisherman will need to move quickly to find a spot with some activity.

This first day of competition is critical for the anglers. Getting off to a good start is essential in making a serious bid for world's best fisherman. Of the 40 past winners, 37 ended the first day in the top ten.

Gary Klein was a contender the last time the Classic was in Louisiana. Like all the competitors, he knows the stakes, but thinks this might be his year. "What my past history here shows is I like fishing down here. If there is any Classic I can win, it's this one," he told ESPN.

Klein went on, "This is a great week and conditions are setting up for a great Classic."

For complete online coverage of this year's Classic, cast your line over to the ESPN website.