The BassFan.com Rookie of the Year (ROY) race -- which is across both pro tours -- is once again underway, and Texas' Jason Barber leads after a huge 3rd- place finish at the Harris Chain BASSMASTER.

With one event down out of a possible 16 for the year, several firsts are already apparent. One is the sheer number of rookies. According to a list provided by B.A.S.S., 56 rookies are fishing its Tour this year. That large number is due to several factors, notably the expansion of the BASSMASTER Tour field to 175 for the first 6 events (same as the FLW Tour).

Ten of the B.A.S.S. rookies are ineligible for the BassFan.com Rookie Race:
> John Crews -- VA -- was a rookie on the FLW Tour last year
> Bo Fraser -- Lorton, VA -- fished the pro side of the FLW Tour in 1999 and 2000
> Mike Gough -- Gainesville, FL -- fished the FLW Tour in 1996, 1997 and 1999
> Wayne Jeffcoat -- Chapin, SC -- fished as a pro in one 2002 FLW Tour event
> J.T. Kenney -- MD -- was a rookie on the FLW Tour last year
> Mark Kile -- Payson, AZ -- fished one FLW Tour event in 2001
> Koby Kreiger -- IN -- is an FLW Tour pro
> Gregory Pugh -- Cullman, AL -- fished the FLW Tour in 2000 and 2002
> Brooks Rogers -- Quitman, TX -- fished the FLW Tour in 2000
> Mark Rogers -- Naples, FL -- fished the FLW Tour in 2002

However, the above anglers will be eligible for the new B.A.S.S. ROY award (it's unknown whether the FLW Tour will have its own ROY race and award this year).

The other first, as you'll notice from the standings below, is that 5 rookies finished in the Top 20 (2 in the Top 10) at the Harris Chain BASSMASTER. That is incredible, and might reflect any number of factors:
1) Unorthodox styles worked during the Harris Chain's tough conditions
2) Rookies are more familiar with fishing in crowds due to the bigger fields in non-Tour events
3) They had nothing to lose and no worries about points, and simply went for it

Whatever the reason, so far it looks like the B.A.S.S. rookies are out to make a statement this year.

Notes:
- Two then-rookies -- Maryland's J.T. Kenney and Connecticut's "Spinnin' Jimmi" Leuthner -- finished 1st and 2nd at the FLW Tour opener last year.
- The BassFan.com Rookie of the Year race uses an adjusted 150-point scale regardless of the size of the field