Winning the Bassmaster Classic has a way of accelerating a pro’s career.

In the case of Chris Lane, he may not have needed the extra horsepower. His career was already speeding up in the right direction.

While few if any had Lane as a favorite heading down to the Classic at the Red River, according to the numbers, perhaps we all should have. After taking his lumps his first five years on the BASS Elite Series, Lane has emerged as one of the hottest pros in the sport, even before his Classic victory.

It’s time to take a look at the rise of Lane from punching bag to champion.