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
Line choices for beginners
When I started tournament fishing in the early 1990s, we didn’t have many choices when it came to fishing line. We had a couple different brands of monofilament and that...
Elite Man Caves: Randy Howell
Take a tour of Randy Howell's Man Cave shared with his son Laker.
New Elite: Andrew Loberg
After living in California for the first of his 29 years on planet Earth, Andrew Loberg left his family and friends on the West Coast and moved to Guntersville, Ala....
Working on weaknesses
I’m fortunate to have open water through the winter months near my home in Idaho where I can launch my bass boat to stay sharp. If you don’t fish for...
Revelations through the ice
A solid layer of ice has formed on my home lake, which is something that doesn’t happen very often. I took advantage of it recently and went ice fishing for...
Mentality of success
Bassmaster Elite Series angler Gerald Swindle refers to a positive mental attitude as PMA. It can completely change how you fish. It took me years to tap into PMA. I...
Daily Limit: Marks looks to make mark in Elites
The realization of reaching B.A.S.S.’s top circuit is still sinking in for Paul Marks Jr. The 23-year-old from Cumming, Ga., is pinching himself after an uber-successful 2024, including his serendipitous...
New Elite: Emil Wagner
After graduating from Ole Miss University in 2021 with a degree in marketing, Georgia bass fanatic Emil Wagner landed a dream job at Pure Fishing. His workdays would be all...
Tackle Tip Tuesday: Choosing the right hooks for lipless crankbaits
In this Tackle Tip Tuesday, Bryan Schmitt showcases a few versions of the SPRO Aruku Shad and how changing hook sizes maximizes its effectiveness given the time of year, cover...
My finest hour: Rivet goes off-script for Okeechobee win
Fishing for dinner revealed the winning area for Tyler Rivet during an Elite Series event in Florida.
New Elite: Paul Marks
After landing in the Top 10 four times during the 2024 Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifier events, Georgia’s Paul Marks finished the season ranked fourth in the overall Angler of the...
Day on the Lake: John Garrett
Put a Bassmaster Elite Series pro on a small lake he’s never seen before. Give him seven hours to locate and catch bass while we log his every move.
Celebrating the 20th
As I get older, time becomes slippery. For example, it’s hard for me to grasp that it’s been 35 years since I graduated high school. I remain a proud alumni...
