MLF, BASS or FLW – Who’s Going Where in 2019? UPDATED 10.25
Here is a running list of Anglers who have made a public statement with their decisions in regards to where they will fish in 2019.
11.15.18 Update -With both the MLF & BASS fields set, FLW’s deadline is today and several new additions to the FLW Tour are making their decisions known.
FLW
1. Bryan Thrift – Declined Elite & MLF Invitation
2. Hunter Freeman 2019 Rookie Class
3. Joel Willert – 2019 Rookie Class
4. Nick LeBrun – All American Winner – 2019 Rookie Class
5. David Dudley – Declined Elite Invitation
6. Larry Nixon
7. Cody Kelley
8. Scott Martin
9. Chad Grigsby
10. James Niggemeyer – Declined Elite Invitation
11. David Williams – Declined Elite Invitation
12. Andrew Upshaw
13. Sam George – 2019 Rookie Class
14. Jordan Osbourne
BASS
1. Chris Zaldain (Invitee – Declined)
2. Keith Combs
3. Matt Herren
4. Kelley Jaye
5. Bill Lowen (Invitee – Declined)
6. Seth Feider (Invitee – Declined)
7. Brandon Card
8. John Crews
9. Steve Kennedy (Invitee – Declined)
10. Drew Benton – (Invitee – Declined)
11. Mark Menendez
12. Micah Frazier
13. Cliff Pirch
14. Brandon Lester
15. Chad Pipkens
16. Cliff Prince
17. Hank Cherry
18. Stetson Blaylock (Invitee – Declined)
19. Jason Williamson
20. Patrick Walters – BASS Open Invite
21. Yusuke Miyazaki – FLW – Former Elite Pro – Returing to BASS
22. Tyler Rivet – BASS Open Invite
23. Gary Clouse – BASS Open Invite
24. Jeff Gustafson – Former FLW Pro
25. Clark Wendlandt – Former FLW Pro
26. Matt Arey – Former FLW Pro
27. Jake Whitaker – 2018 BASS ROY
28. Brandon Cobb – Former FLW Pro
29. Chris Johnston – Former FLW Pro
30. Cory Johnston – Former FLW Pro
31 – Scott Canterbury – Former FLW Pro
32. Chad Morganthaler – FLW – Former Elite Pro – Returing to BASS
33. Drew Cook – BASS Open Invite
34. Brad Whatley – BASS Open Invite
35. Clent Davis – FLW – Former Elite Pro – Returing to BASS
37. Derek Hudnall – BASS Open Invite
38. Harvey Horne – BASS Open Invite
39. Quentin Cappo – BASS Open Invite
40. Lee Livesay – BASS Open Invite
41. Shane Lehew – Former FLW Pro
42. Carl Jocumsen – FLW – Former Elite Pro – Returning to BASS
43. Skylar Hamilton
44. Brian Snowden
Full List:
| Bernie Schultz |
| Bill Lowen |
| Bill Weidler |
| Brad Whatley |
| Brandon Card |
| Brandon Cobb |
| Brandon Lester |
| Brett Pruett |
| Brian Snowden |
| Brock Mosley |
| Caleb Sumrall |
| Carl Jocumsen |
| Chad Morganthaler |
| Chad Pipkens |
| Chris Groh |
| Chris Johnston |
| Chris Zaldain |
| Clark Wendlandt |
| Clent Davis |
| Cliff Prince |
| Clifford Pirch |
| Cory Johnston |
| Dale Hightower |
| Darrell Ocamica |
| David Fritts |
| David Mullins |
| Derek Hudnall |
| Drew Benton |
| Drew Cook |
| Ed Loughran III |
| Frank Talley |
| Garrett Paquette |
| Gary Clouse |
| Greg DiPalma |
| Hank Cherry |
| Harvey Horne |
| Hunter Schryock |
| Jake Whittaker |
| Jamie Hartman |
| Jason Williamson |
| Jay Yelas |
| Jeff Gustafson |
| Jesse Tacoronte |
| John Crews |
| Keith Combs |
| Kelley Jaye |
| Koby Kreiger |
| Kyle Monti |
| Lee Livesay |
| Luke Palmer |
| Mark Menendez |
| Matt Arey |
| Matt Herren |
| Micah Frazier |
| Mike Huff |
| Patrick Walters |
| Paul Mueller |
| Quentin Cappo |
| Randy Sullivan |
| Ray Hanselman Jr. |
| Rick Clunn |
| Rick Morris |
| Rob Digh |
| Robbie Latuso |
| Scott Canterbury |
| Seth Fieder |
| Shane Lehew |
| Shane Lineberger |
| Skylar Hamilton |
| Stetson Blaylock |
| Steve Kennedy |
| Todd Auten |
| Tyler Carriere |
| Tyler Rivet |
| Yusuke Miyazaki |
10.24.18 MLF BPT Updates:
*Gary Clouse removes name from MLF BPT and accepts invite to fish BASS Elites
*Anthony Gagliardi accepts invitation to join MLF BPT in spot vacated by Clouse.
*JT Kinney removes name from MLF BPT to become Live Color Analyst with MLF
*Jeff Sprague accepts invitation to join MLF BPT in spot vacated by JT Kinney
MLF/Bass Pro Tour Commitments & Tour they fished in 2018
| 1 | Aaron Martens | BASS |
| 2 | Adrian Avena | BASS |
| 3 | Alton Jones | BASS |
| 4 | Alton Jones Jr | BASS |
| 5 | Andy Montgomery | BASS |
| 6 | Bobby Lane | BASS |
| 7 | Boyd Duckett | BASS |
| 8 | Bradley Roy | BASS |
| 9 | Brandon Coulter | BASS |
| 10 | Brandon Paulaniuk | BASS |
| 11 | Brent Chapman | BASS |
| 12 | Brent Ehrler | BASS |
| 13 | Brett Hite | BASS |
| 14 | Casey Ashley | BASS |
| 15 | Chris Lane | BASS |
| 16 | Cliff Crochet | BASS |
| 17 | Cliff Pace | BASS |
| 18 | Dave Lefebre | BASS |
| 19 | David Walker | BASS |
| 20 | Dean Rojas | BASS |
| 21 | Dustin Connell | BASS |
| 22 | Edwin Evers | BASS |
| 23 | Fletcher Shryock | BASS |
| 24 | Fred Roumbanis | BASS |
| 25 | Gary Klein | BASS |
| 26 | Gerald Sphorer | BASS |
| 27 | Gerald Swindle | BASS |
| 28 | Greg Hackney | BASS |
| 29 | Greg Vinson | BASS |
| 30 | Ish Monroe | BASS |
| 31 | Jacob Powroznik | BASS |
| 32 | Jacob Wheeler | BASS |
| 33 | James Elam | BASS |
| 34 | Jared Lintner | BASS |
| 35 | Jason Christie | BASS |
| 36 | Jeff Kriet | BASS |
| 37 | Jesse Wiggins | BASS |
| 38 | John Murray | BASS |
| 39 | Johnathon Van Dam | BASS |
| 40 | Jordan Lee | BASS |
| 41 | Josh Bertrand | BASS |
| 42 | Justin Lucas | BASS |
| 43 | Keith Poche | BASS |
| 44 | Kelly Jordon | BASS |
| 45 | Kevin Van Dam | BASS |
| 46 | Luke Clausen | BASS |
| 47 | Mark Daniels | BASS |
| 48 | Mark Davis | BASS |
| 49 | Marty Robinson | BASS |
| 50 | Matt Lee | BASS |
| 51 | Mike Iaconelli | BASS |
| 52 | Mike McClelland | BASS |
| 53 | Ott DeFoe | BASS |
| 54 | Paul Elias | BASS |
| 55 | Randall Tharp | BASS |
| 56 | Randy Howell | BASS |
| 57 | Roy Hawk | BASS |
| 58 | Russ Lane | BASS |
| 59 | Shaw Grigsby | BASS |
| 60 | Shin Fukae | BASS |
| 61 | Skeet Reese | BASS |
| 62 | Stephen Browning | BASS |
| 63 | Takahiro Omori | BASS |
| 64 | Terry Scroggins | BASS |
| 65 | Tim Horton | BASS |
| 66 | Todd Faircloth | BASS |
| 67 | Tommy Biffle | BASS |
| 68 | Wesley Strader | BASS |
| 69 | Andy Morgan | FLW |
| 70 | Anthony Gagliardi | FLW |
| 71 | Britt Meyers | FLW |
| 72 | Cody Meyer | FLW |
| 73 | James Watson | FLW |
| 74 | Jason Lambert | FLW |
| 75 | Jeff Sprague | FLW |
| 76 | Justin Atkins | FLW |
| 77 | Mark Rose | FLW |
| 78 | Michael Neal | FLW |
| 79 | Scott Suggs | FLW |
| 80 | Zack Birge | FLW |
Does it matter cause yall canceled the west coast portion.
So far mlf is like the sr tour of golf. I prefer bass and if the young guys stay and they get the flw young stars to join I say bass wins. Almost worth it getting rid of the stale vets with exemptions.
Look at that list again. Almost half the field so far is under 40 with some hammers under 30. You don’t see that on the senior tour.
Gooding great for 2019 and beyond!
Hate to see some of them leave elite but enjoy watching MLF so good luck to all on there future
Am very excited and happy for the guys who stay in bass or mlf it’s all for the bettering of the sport of bass fishing would like to see kvd going to mlf but I think he’s stuck because of sponsor dollars but if he’s smart he’ll follow the bread crumb trail to mlf it’s the new bass I believe it will be on TV more and it will be the future of our beloved sport!
His biggest sponsor is the main sponsor for MLF
My concern is will these be watered down , for instance will a classic title still be the huge deal it has historically always been if the field is weaker so to top guys fishing other circuits?
The classic will always be the pinnacle of bass fishing that’s why the ones who left are fishing the opens so they can qualify for it
All of the owners of MlLF will go MLF,KVD included. Why would they stay and put money in what would be a competitive business..(BASS)
Bass has had multiple yeara to step up and do this bigger money deal but failed. If you were working a job and the one down the street had better of everything what would you do?
Everything Boyd Duckett touches turns to gold, smart dude. Wish I could invest some money in MLF at groud level. Mark my words.
Anyone heard how this will affect the field of competitors for the 2019 Bassmaster Classic? Quite a few of the anglers headed to the MLF had qualified for the Classic. Just wondering if they will still compete in that event or if it will open up more spots down the list? The latter option seems like it would sure dilute the prestige of such a great tournament.
BASS reminds me of K-MART. One day K-mart woke up and there was a WLL-MART across the street and they said “we will keep doing things our way”. In my home town the K-MART closed and now we have a SUPER WALL-MART.
Swindle,Strader,and Morgan are fishing together again those three will do major damage on the bass pro tour they will make pros cry like babies
Yo what about Jamie Hartman he’s staying on the elites ! You missed the AOY or 2109 HAMMER 🔨 hartman
He’s on our list, We’ve got you covered! Thanks!
I think the MLF tour just gives a lot of anglers the opportunity they have always wanted, but there weren’t enough slots for them in the FLW and Elite Series . I ain’t mad, more fishing to watch!!!!
I think MLF is better for the fish instead of riding around your live well all day the get released instantly, Why not have a BASS, vs MLF vs FLW end of season championship ? Preserve what makes this sport great and challenging first , take the top five finishers from each and throw them together for a super classic !!
Gotta like that Super Classic idea with top finishers on each tour competing (either individually or as a team event)!