The Bassmaster Elite Series is the highest level of professional bass fishing tournaments. Competitors must qualify for the series through the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens or the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation, and anglers who are already on the Elite Series must re-qualify each year by maintaining enough points throughout the season. The pro anglers compete all season for the opportunity to win points toward the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year award and to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic.
The series was founded in 2006. Its predecessors were the Bassmaster Tour, Top 150 and Top 100.
The Latest
I’ve got to get better
I’m sitting at home after the end of the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series season, and I would call it a subpar season. I finished 67th in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler...
Sitting in the stands
Now that the Bassmaster Elite Series is over for the year I’m able to kind of sit back and truly be a fan of the sport. During the season I’m...
Looking back at 2022
When I look back at the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series season, I have to say that, without winning an event, it was definitely my best year. It was my most...
Aoki retires from Elite Series
Three-time Japanese Angler of the Year and Bassmaster Classic qualifier Daisuke Aoki has announced his retirement from the Bassmaster Elite Series. The 39-year-old angler hailing from Yamanashi, Japan, has fished...
Daily Limit: Yelas retires from Elites to serve youth
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jay Yelas, a Bass Fishing Hall of Famer, is retiring from tournament competition to concentrate on his work getting disabled children fishing. “I just let folks...
Rookie roundup: With Przekurat, a star is born
Jay Przekurat entered his first season on the Bassmaster Elite Series with two goals: 1) win the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year title, and 2) qualify for the...
Radio: Lester, Thompkins and Kolodzinski
Listen to the latest episode of Bassmaster Radio featuring Brandon Lester, JT Thompkins and Jeff Kolodzinski.
Stories abound as 2022 Elite season ends
Brandon Palaniuk’s 1 1/4-pound crucial catch late in Day 2 at the Mississippi River has been thoroughly documented at this point. It was the difference in him winning the Progressive...
Rivers make sense to me
Winning the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River was surreal. Sometimes you really know when you are about to win, but this one, nobody knew. Chris Johnston and...
ADVBassStats: Mississippi River
Can you tell the story of a bass fishing tournament without pictures of fish and boats and anglers? We’re trying. In this episode of ADVBassStats (Advanced Bass Fishing Statistics) event reviews...
Palaniuk’s sentimental appreciation of Yamaha
Brandon Palaniuk’s words after receiving a $15,000 Power Pay bonus check from Yamaha for winning the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title were refreshingly genuine, and he got emotional...
Perspective and process
I left the St. Lawrence River Elite in July pretty mad at my performance that resulted in a 25th-place finish there. It’s a venue that has been very good to...
