101 anglers set to compete on 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Coming off the heels of a record-breaking 2025 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series season that awarded 11 century belts, saw four-first time champions (two of which were members of the 2025 rookie class) and garnered over 183 million social media impressions, B.A.S.S. has announced the 101-angler field for an exciting 2026 Elite Series season.

Next year, anglers will be put to the test with the use of forward-facing sonar only being allowed at five of the nine regular-season Elite events. Anglers will be competing for a $100,000 first-place prize at each stop of the season, while also accumulating valuable Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points in hopes of making it to the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.

“Each season, the Bassmaster Elite Series showcases the very best in professional bass fishing, and 2026 will be no exception,” said B.A.S.S. Elite Series Tournament Director Lisa Talmadge. “We’re excited to welcome 101 incredibly talented anglers who represent the heart of this sport — a mix of proven champions, rising stars and hungry newcomers all ready to compete on some of the most iconic fisheries in the country. It’s going to be an unforgettable season for our anglers and fans alike.”

With the exception of one angler, every 2025 Elite Series angler who qualified is returning next year. The list of anglers includes 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour champion Easton Fothergill of Grand Rapids, Minn., who won the most coveted trophy in bass fishing during his freshman season on the Elites. Two-time Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year Chris Johnston will also join the ranks of returning anglers alongside Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year Tucker Smith, who took home his first blue trophy at the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork with a 127-pound, 8-ounce winning weight that also earned him a century belt .

Ten anglers from the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers presented by Bass Pro Shops will also be joining the 2026 Elite roster, including 20-year-old Alabama phenom Fisher Anaya who claimed the 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers presented by Bass Pro Shops Angler of the Year title. Wisconsin’s Nick Trim clinched an Elite Series spot for himself alongside his big win at the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance.

The 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series kicks off on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville February 5. From there the tournament trail will wind through six states as anglers battle for cash prizes and attempt to qualify for the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.

Each tournament will begin with the full field of anglers on Days 1 and 2 before the field is cut to the Top 50 on Semifinal Saturday. Only the Top 10 anglers will fish the final day of the event, with a $100,000 first-place prize and a blue trophy on the line.

Keep up with all the action from the 2026 Elite Series season on Bassmaster.com as well as the B.A.S.S. social channels and the FAST Channel on Roku.

2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series Field

Fisher Anaya, Eva, Ala.

Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C.

Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala.

Drew Benton, Panama City, Fla.

Stetson Blaylock, Benton, Ark.

Beau Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.

Scott Canterbury, Odenville, Ala.

Blake Capps, Muskogee, Okla.

Brandon Card, Salisbury, N.C.

Hank Cherry, Lincolnton, N.C.

Jason Christie, Welling, Okla.

Joey Cifuentes, Clinton, Ark.

Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C.

Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas

Drew Cook, Cairo, Ga.

John Cox, DeBary, Fla.

Austin Cranford, Moore, Okla.

John Crews, Salem, Va.

Will Davis Jr., Sylacauga, Ala.

Greg DiPalma, Millville, N.J.

Bob Downey, Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas

Seth Feider, New Market, Minn.

Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn.

Easton Fothergill, Grand Rapids, Minn.

Jacob Foutz, Charleston, Tenn.

Kyoya Fujita, Minamitsuru, Yamanashi, Japan

Cooper Gallant, Bowmanville, Canada

John Garrett, Union City, Tenn.

David Gaston, Sylacauga, Ala.

Robert Gee, Knoxville, Tenn.

Wesley Gore, Clanton, Ala.

Buddy Gross, Chickamauga, Ga.

Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Canada

Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La.

Justin Hamner, Northport, Ala.

Sam Hanggi, Knoxville, Tenn.

Jamie Hartman, Plumerville, Ark.

Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala.

Caleb Hudson, Lincolnton, Ga.

Cody Huff, Ava, Mo.

Mike Iaconelli, Pittsgrove, N.J.

Taku Ito, Chiba, Japan

Aaron Jadgfeld, Rochester Hills, Mich.

Carl Jocumsen, Toowoomba, Australia

Chris Johnston, Otonabee, Canada

Cory Johnston, Otonabee, Canada

Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala.

Kenta Kimura, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan

Evan Kung, Pickering, Canada

Caleb Kuphall, Mukwonago, Wis.

Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala.

Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala.

Shane LeHew, Catawba, N.C.

Brandon Lester, Fayetteville, Tenn.

Lee Livesay, Longview, Texas

Andrew Loberg, Guntersville, Ala.

Wes Logan, Springville, Ala.

Bill Lowen, Brookville, Ind.

Paul Marks, Cumming, Ga.

Tristan McCormick, Bon Aqua, Tenn.

Trey McKinney, Carbondale, Ill.

Mark Menendez, Paducah, Ky.

Matt Messer, Warfield, Ky.

Cody Meyer, Eagle, Idaho

Brock Mosley, Collinsville, Miss.

David Mullins, Mt. Carmel, Tenn.

Bryan New, Leesville, S.C.

Kyle Norsetter, Cottage Grove, Wis.

Cliff Pace, Ovett, Miss.

Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho

Luke Palmer, Coalgate, Okla.

Logan Parks, Auburn, Ala.

Kyle Patrick, Cooperstown, N.Y.

Clifford Pirch, Payson, Ariz.

Jacob Powroznik, North Prince George, Va.

Jay Przekurat, Plover, Wis.

KJ Queen, Catawba, N.C.

Alex Redwine, Blue Ash, Ohio

Brock Reinkemeyer, Warsaw, Mo.

Tyler Rivet, Raceland, La.

Matt Robertson, Kuttawa, Ky.

Cole Sands, Johnson City, Tenn.

Pat Schlapper, Eleva, Wis.

Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md.

Hunter Shryock, Ooltewah, Tenn.

Bryant Smith, Roseville, Calif.

Tucker Smith, Birmingham, Ala.

Pake South, Winnsboro, Texas

Caleb Sumrall, New Iberia, La.

Gerald Swindle, Guntersville, Ala.

JT Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Nick Trim, Galesville, Wis.

Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga.

Patrick Walters, Eutawville, S.C.

Kyle Welcher, Valley, Ala.

Brad Whatley, Bivins, Texas

Jake Whitaker, Hendersonville, N.C.

Tyler Williams, Belgrade, Maine

Jason Williamson, Aiken, S.C.

Chris Zaldain, Boyd, Texas

 

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.