There's nothing quite like the Bassmaster Elite Series. Since its inception in 2006, the Series has featured the best professional bass anglers in the world on some of the best waters to be found anywhere. If you're looking for the true test of the best, look no further. The 2013 Elite Series is it. Here are the 100 anglers who will be battling it out for the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year award and dozens of berths in the Bassmaster Classic.
Aaron Martens (40)
Leeds, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.8756
Elite pro since 2006
"The Natural" has famously been the Bassmaster Classic runner up on four occasions, but he's best known as one of the tour's best finesse anglers, a 14-time Classic qualifier and the 2005 Bassmaster Angler of the Year.
Alton Jones (49)
Lorena, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7380
Elite pro since 2006
Since winning the Bassmaster Classic in 2008, Jones has been gunning for the Angler of the Year, and has come close several times, including top nine finishes in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
Billy McCaghren (41)
Mayflower, Ark.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6000
Elite pro since 2009
McCaghren had a disappointing year in 2012 and is looking to turn things around this season. His best finish last year was 44th at Toledo Bend. He last qualified for the Bassmaster Classic in 2010.
Boyd Duckett (52)
Demopolis, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5874
Elite pro since 2007
Duckett won the 2007 Bassmaster Classic as a rookie, becoming the first (and thus far only) champion to win in his home state. He won the 2012 Elite event on Oneida Lake.
Brandon Card (26)
Knoxville, Tenn.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7727
Elite pro since 2012
Card was the 2012 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year and finished in the top 41 of the first five Elite events last year. He fishes his first Bassmaster Classic in 2013.
Brent Chapman (40)
Lake Quivira, Kan.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7747
Elite pro since 2006
Chapman was the 2012 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year in a dream season that saw him a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open and an Elite Series event.
Casey Ashley (29)
Donalds, S.C.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7379
Elite pro since 2007
Ashley has won two Elite Series events and an All-Star Semifinal (2011). In 2007 he became the youngest Elite winner in history at the age of 23 years, 4 months and 9 days.
Clark Reehm (33)
Shreveport, La.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.3981
Elite pro since 2008
Reehm was a disappointing 86th in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year rankings last year, earning just two checks in eight events. His best performance was 13th at Bull Shoals Lake.
Cliff Crochet (29)
Pierre Part, La.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.3115
Elite pro since 2010
The "Cajun Baby" had his best Elite finish in 2010 when he was runner-up at Clarks Hill. He finished seventh at the St. Johns to start the 2012 season.
Davy Hite (47)
Ninety Six, S.C.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6763
Elite pro since 2006
Hite is a two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year (1997 and 2002) and Classic champ (1999). He's also an eight-time B.A.S.S. winner, including two victories in Elite competition.
Dean Rojas (41)
Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7566
Elite pro since 2006
Rojas holds one of the most renowned records in tournament fishing history. His five bass limit weighing 45 pounds, 2 ounces from Florida's Lake Tohopekaliga in 2001 is on every angler's mind when sight-fishing on a trophy lake.
Edwin Evers (38)
Talala, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7692
Elite pro since 2006
Evers is one of the most versatile anglers on tour and will be competing in his 12th Bassmaster Classic in 2013. He's finished in the top eight of the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings four out of the last five seasons.
Gary Klein (55)
Weatherford, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6570
Elite pro since 2006
Klein is the only angler who has qualified to fish the Bassmaster Classic in every decade of its existence. His 29 total Classics rank second only to Rick Clunn's 32. Klein is a two-time Angler of the Year (1989 and 1993).
Gerald Swindle (42)
Warrior, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.8398
Elite pro since 2006
The "G-Man" is a 13-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and the 2004 Bassmaster Angler of the Year. Known as much for his humor as his fishing talent, Swindle is one of the best "junk" fishermen on tour and rarely comes to the scales without a limit.
Grant Goldbeck (42)
Boerne, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 3.9184
Elite pro since 2006
Goldbeck made the biggest comeback in Elite history at the 2011 Harris Chain tournament. After a disastrous first day that put him near the bottom of the standings, he rebounded mightily to finish second.
Greg Hackney (39)
Gonzales, La.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7579
Elite pro since 2006
The "Hack Attack" is one of the most successful and consistent Elite pros. He's qualified for 11 consecutive Bassmaster Classics and has finished in the top 25 in the Angler of the Year race in eight of the last nine seasons.
Hank Cherry (43)
Maiden, N.C.
Elite Bassing Average: NA
Elite pro since 2013
Cherry won the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on Alabama's Smith Lake using a finesse approach, but he's a flipper and pitcher when he can get away with it.
B.J. Haseotes (39)
Centerville, Mass.
Elite Bassing Average: 3.8824
Elite pro since: 2013 (also 2010)
Haseotes sat out the 2011 and 2012 seasons for family medical reasons, but is back in 2013 to resume his career as a tournament professional. His best Elite finish was 42nd on Smith Mountain Lake in 2010.
Kevin Hawk (34)
Guntersville, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: NA
Elite pro since 2013
Hawk may be new to the Elite Series, but he's a familiar face to fishing fans after winning the 2010 FLW Championship. Originally from California, he's someone to watch in 2013.
Ish Monroe (38)
Hughson, Calif.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5819
Elite pro since 2006
Monroe won the very first Elite Series event on Lake Amistad in 2006, cracking the 100-pound mark in the process. Last year, he won at Lake Okeechobee, again weighing in more than 100 pounds.
James Elam (26)
Tulsa, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: NA
Elite pro since 2013
In terms of prior B.A.S.S. events, Elam is the least experienced angler ever to qualify
for the Elite Series. He's fished just three B.A.S.S. tournaments — all 2012 Bassmaster
Central Opens — finishing between 11th and 36th.
Jami Fralick (37)
Martin, S.D.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4534
Elite pro since 2006
Fralick qualified for the Elite Series through the B.A.S.S. Nation. He's been to three Bassmaster Classics and is the only angler from South Dakota ever to fish the championship.
Jason Christie (39)
Park Hill, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: NA
Elite pro since 2013
Christie won two Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens in 2012, earning his way into the Elite Series and the 2013 Bassmaster Classic, where he is one of the favorites to win.
John Crews (34)
Salem, Va.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7584
Elite pro since 2006
Crews has qualified for seven Bassmaster Classics and won the 2010 Elite event on the California Delta. He's earned a check in nearly 60 percents of his Elite tournaments.
Josh Bertrand (24)
Gilbert, Ariz.
Elite Bassing Average: NA
Elite pro since 2013
Bertrand is an Elite rookie in 2013. He qualified for the Elites with a first-place finish in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Central Division.
Keith Combs (37)
Huntington, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.8636
Elite pro since 2011
In his two-year Elite career, Combs' best finishes both happened on the St. Johns River in Florida. He was ninth there in 2011 and third in 2012.
Keith Poche (31)
Pike Road, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.3438
Elite pro since 2010
Poche's 2012 started strong —he led the first day of his very first Bassmaster Classic, ultimately finishing third —but things went downhill from there. He missed the cut in six of the eight Elite events and looks to rebound this season.
Kelley Jaye (40)
Dadeville, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: NA
Elite pro since 2013
Jaye qualified for the Elite Series by finishing eighth in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open points standings. He's finished in the top 20 on a quarter of the B.A.S.S. events he's fished.
Kelly Jordon (42)
Palestine, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6739
Elite pro since 2006
When the weather's hot and bass are holding offshore or in the heaviest cover, "KJ" is the man to beat. He has a well-deserved reputation for catching lunkers and is one of the best deep crankers on tour.
Kenyon Hill (48)
Norman, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5644
Elite pro since 2006
Hill is a four-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and three-time B.A.S.S. winner. He had a disappointing year in 2012 and is looking to regain the form that got him an Elite win in 2008.
Kevin Short (52)
Mayflower, Ark.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6398
Elite pro since 2006
The man in pink is one of the best in the business when fishing's tough, limits are hard to come by and weights are down. Short won the toughest Elite event in history in 2009 on the Mississippi River.
Kevin VanDam (45)
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.8779
Elite pro since 2006
KVD is a seven-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year and four-time Bassmaster Classic champion. He has earned more prize money than the second and third ranked anglers combined. In short, he is the greatest of all time.
Kurt Dove (40)
Del Rio, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4189
Elite pro since 2013 (also 2006-07)
After two years as an Elite pro, Dove dropped out, moved from Virginia to Texas and started guiding on Lake Amistad. He is the first angler to leave the Elite Series and re-qualify.
Mark Davis (49)
Mount Ida, Ark.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7881
Elite pro since 2008
Davis is a three-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year (1995, 1998 and 2001) and the 1995 Bassmaster Classic champion. He's one of the most versatile anglers on tour.
Matt Greenblatt (43)
Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5000
Elite pro since 2010
Greenblatt's best Elite finish was 10th place at the 2010 tournament on Kentucky Lake. He has three other top 20 finishes, including the 2012 season finale on Oneida Lake.
Matt Reed (50)
Madisonville, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6000
Elite pro since 2006
Though Reed earned a check in five of the eight Elite events in 2012, he only ranked 50th in the Angler of the Year race and missed the Bassmaster Classic. His best finish was 13th at Douglas Lake.
Matt Herren (50)
Trussville, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6778
Elite pro since 2009
Herren is coming off his best season as an Elite pro. He finished sixth in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year race and had four top 14 finishes. The 2013 Classic was his fourth.
Michael Iaconelli (40)
Pittsgrove, N.J.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.8280
Elite pro since 2006
"Ike" has truly done it all in the world of bass fishing. He's won the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship (1999), the Bassmaster Classic (2003), the Angler of the Year award (2006), earned over $1 million in prize money and caught over 100 pounds in a tournament.
Mike McClelland (45)
Bella Vista, Ark.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7278
Elite pro since 2006
McClelland is a nine-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and six-time B.A.S.S. winner. He's regarded as one of the best jig and jerkbait anglers in the world. His best finish in 2012 was 10th at Douglas Lake.
Ott DeFoe (26)
Knoxville, Tenn.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.9615
Elite pro since 2011
DeFoe leads all Elite pros in Bassing Average. In two seasons on the Elite Series, he has failed to earn a check only once. In 2011, he was the Bassmaster Rookie of the Year.
Brandon Palaniuk (25)
Rathdrum, Idaho
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4318
Elite pro since 2011
Qualifying for the Elites through the B.A.S.S. Nation, Palaniuk won his first Elite title (on Bull Shoals Reservoir) in 2012 and fished his third consecutive Bassmaster Classic in 2013.
Paul Elias (62)
Laurel, Miss.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4906
Elite pro since 2006
Elias is the 1982 Bassmaster Classic champion, a 15-time Classic qualifier and holds the record for heaviest tournament weight in the five-bass-limit era. At Falcon Lake in 2008, he won with 132 pounds, 8 ounces.
Randy Howell (39)
Springville, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7809
Elite pro since 2006
Howell is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He finished fifth in Angler of the Year points and had six finishes in the top 14. He was in the thick of the AOY race for much of the year.
Rick Clunn (66)
Ava, Mo.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5667
Elite pro since 2006
Clunn won the ESPN Greatest Angler Debate in 2005, has won four Bassmaster Classics and was the 1988 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year.
Russ Lane (40)
Prattville, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5852
Elite pro since 2006
Lane's best season as an Elite pro came in 2010, when he finished seventh in the Angler of the Year standings and made a serious run at the title during the postseason on Alabama waters near his home.
Scott Ashmore (46)
Broken Arrow, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.1887
Elite pro since 2010
Ashmore qualified for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic through the Bassmaster Opens. His best finish in an Elite event was 13th at Toledo Bend in 2012.
Scott Rook (52)
Little Rock, Ark.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6864
Elite pro since 2006
Rook narrowly missed qualifying for his ninth Bassmaster Classic last year. Though he had three Elite finishes in the top eight, he also had three of 77th or worse, and those tarnished his season.
Shaw Grigsby (56)
Gainesville, Fla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7191
Elite pro since 2006
Grigsby is one of the most liked and accomplished pros in B.A.S.S. history. He's won nine B.A.S.S. events and qualified for 15 Bassmaster Classics, including the last five in a row.
Skeet Reese (43)
Auburn, Calif.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7980
Elite pro since 2006
Reese is a 13-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, a six-time B.A.S.S. winner, the 2007 Bassmaster Angler of the Year and the 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion. He ranks second in career B.A.S.S. earnings and is one of the sports all-time greats.
Stephen Browning (47)
Hot Springs, Ark.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6802
Elite pro since 2006
Browning is an 8-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and a former B.A.S.S. tournament winner. His best Elite finish was third at the Harris Chain in 2011.
Terry Scroggins (44)
San Mateo, Fla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7330
Elite pro since 2006
"Big Show" had a stellar 2012 and would likely have secured his first Bassmaster Angler of the Title but for a 92nd place finish at Bull Shoals. At every other tournament, he was in the top 21, and four times he was in the top 10.
Timmy Horton (40)
Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6243
Elite pro since 2006
After winning the Angler of Year title in 2000 as a rookie, Horton rattled off 10 consecutive Classic qualifications before being derailed in 2010. His best finish in 2012 was sixth at Toledo Bend.
Todd Faircloth (37)
Jasper, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.8608
Elite pro since 2006
Faircloth has caught more daily big bass than anyone else in Elite history. He's qualified for 11 Bassmaster Classics (including seven in a row) and has three Elite wins.
Tommy Biffle (55)
Wagoner, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7166
Elite pro since 2006
Biffle is a legend in the sport, a two-time runner-up in the Bassmaster Classic and an 18-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest jig fishermen in history.
Zell Rowland (55)
Montgomery, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.3464
Elite pro since 2006
Rowland is universally regarded as the best topwater angler in B.A.S.S. history. He's qualified for 16 Bassmaster Classics and won five B.A.S.S. events. His best finish in 2012 was 16th at Bull Shoals Lake.
Yusuke Miyazaki (42)
Forney, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4935
Elite pro since 2006
Miyazaki is coming off the best year of his career and hopes to keep the magic alive in 2013. He earned a check in all but two events last year, including a 10th place finish at Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Takahiro Omori (42)
Emory, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6000
Elite pro since 2006
The 2004 Bassmaster Classic champion has now qualified for nine Classics and won five B.A.S.S. events since deciding his pursue his dream as a professional bass angler and make the move from Japan to the U.S.
Steve Kennedy (43)
Auburn, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7684
Elite pro since 2006
Ever wearing an Auburn cap, Kennedy missed the Bassmaster Classic in 2013 for the first time in his career. He had just one top 12 finish last season and looks to rebound this year.
Rick Morris (51)
Virginia Beach, Va.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4176
Elite pro since 2006
Morris is a four-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and was the runner-up in the 2006 Classic on Florida's Kissimmee Chain. His best finish in 2012 was 17th place on the St. Johns River.
Pete Ponds (53)
Madison, Miss.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4145
Elite pro since 2006
Ponds made half the first cuts in 2012, but his best finish was still a disappointing 41st at Lake Michigan. He ended the year 75th in Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.
Morizo Shimizu (42)
Osaka, Japan
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4691
Elite pro since 2006
Last year was a forgettable one for the man who made "Big Mama" a household phrase in the bass community. Shimizu was 80th in the Angler of the Year race, and his best finish was 38th at Lake Okeechobee.
Michael Simonton (32)
Fremont, Ohio
Elite Bassing Average: 3.6471
Elite pro since 2012
It's tough to be an Elite rookie, but Simonton was prepared for that and calls 2012 a learning experience. He ranked 96th in the Angler of the Year race and had his best finish at the Mississippi River, where he was 47th.
Marty Robinson (39)
Lyman, S.C.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5259
Elite pro since 2007
After doing a little "shag" dancing on the Classic stage in 2012, Robinson seems to be making qualifying for the big dance a regular thing. His best Elite finish in 2012 was third at Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Kotaro Kiriyama (42)
Moody, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4759
Elite pro since 2006
Kiriyama turned in one of the most impressive tournament performances in B.A.S.S. history in 2008 when he won the Elite event on Lake Erie with almost 100 pounds of smallmouth bass.
Kevin Ledoux (34)
Choctaw, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: 3.8421
Elite pro since 2012
As a rookie in 2012, Ledoux's best finish was 24th at Toledo Bend Reservoir. He finished 79th in the Angler of the Year standings and looks to move way up this year.
Andy Montgomery (30)
Blacksburg, S.C.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7209
Elite pro since 2011
Montgomery has just barely missed qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic the past two seasons. Missing cuts at the end of the year has cost him dearly, and he looks to correct that in 2013.
Jonathon VanDam (24)
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5000
Elite pro since 2011
JVD joins his Uncle Kevin at the Bassmaster Classic in 2013 after winning the "mystery lake" event on Lake Michigan. It was the second B.A.S.S. win for the young pro and his first Elite title. He ranked 71st in Angler of the Year points last season.
Bernie Schultz (58)
Gainesville, Fla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5610
Elite pro since 2006
For most of his Elite career, Schultz has saved the best for last, notching his finest finishes at season's end on northern waters. He'll need to get an earlier start this year if he hopes to qualify for his ninth Bassmaster Classic.
John Murray (48)
Phoenix, Ariz.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6450
Elite pro since 2006
Murray is a two-time winner of the U.S. Open on Lake Mead and a six-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier. His best Elite finish in 2012 was 27th place at Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Bill Lowen (38)
Brookville, Ind.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7333
Elite pro since 2006
"Turtle" cut his bass fishing teeth on the stingy Ohio River, where he learned to catch bass shallow under some of the toughest conditions imaginable. He's a master with a jig and always a threat, especially on moving water.
Jeremy Starks (39)
Scott Depot, W.V.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.3986
Elite pro since 2006
Starks made his way to his first Bassmaster Classic with an Elite win on Douglas Lake, where he put "long-lining" into the spotlight. He has two Elite wins in his career and ranked 53th in Angler of the Year points in 2012.
Jeff Kriet (42)
Ardmore, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7045
Elite pro since 2006
"Squirrel" earned his nickname after being upstaged at a tackle show by a water-skiing rodent, but he's far better known as an exceptional finesse angler and master of the drop shot and shaky head techniques.
Bobby Lane (38)
Lakeland, Fla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7563
Elite pro since 2008
Lane has been remarkably solid since joining the Elites in 2008, qualifying for every Bassmaster Classic and winning one Elite title. He had his strongest Angler of the Year finish in 2012, when he was 12th.
Jason Williamson (32)
Aiken, S.C.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7286
Elite pro since 2007
"J-Will" has won a couple of Elite events, but only qualified for one Bassmaster Classic in six years on tour. Every year but 2011 finishes in the 80s —or worse —have knocked him out of contention.
Bradley Roy (22)
Lancaster, Ky.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4833
Elite pro since 2010
Roy will again be the youngest angler on the Elite tour, just as he was when he won the Rookie of the Year title in 2010. He seemed a lock to qualify for his first Bassmaster Classic last year before a trio of dismal finishes in the last three events derailed him.
Jason Quinn (40)
Lake Wylie, S.C.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6437
Elite pro since 2006
"Hardware" may be best known for all the jewelry he wears, but he's probably the best Elite angler who's never won a B.A.S.S. event. Quinn is a six-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier.
Britt Myers (38)
Lake Wylie, S.C.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4500
Elite pro since 2006
Back-to-back second place finishes on Bull Shoals and Douglas lakes highlighted Myers' 2012 season. He fell just short of qualifying for his first Bassmaster Classic after missing critical cuts in the last three tournaments.
Jared Miller (29)
Norman, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: 3.9412
Elite pro since 2012
Miller struggled as a rookie in 2012, making just one cut in eight Elite events. His best finish was 34th on the Mississippi River, and he looks to regain the form that saw him excel in the Bassmaster Opens in 2011.
Casey Scanlon (28)
Lenexa, Kan.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.3889
Elite pro since 2012
Scanlon qualified for his first Bassmaster Classic last year, but not through the Elite Series. His rookie campaign was nothing to write home about; he finished 84th. Instead, an Open win punched his ticket for Grand Lake.
Jared Lintner (39)
Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7401
Elite pro since 2006
The California milkman fishes his fourth Bassmaster Classic (and second in a row) in 2013. He's quietly putting together a solid career and is just an Elite victory away from really establishing himself.
Chad Pipkens (29)
Holt, Mich.
Elite Bassing Average: NA
Elite pro since 2013
Pipkens earned his way to the Elite Series after finishing first in the Bassmaster Northern Opens points standings. He's only fished eight B.A.S.S. events in his career, but was in the top 20 in three of them.
James Niggemeyer (41)
Van, Texas
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5493
Elite pro since 2007
Niggemeyer is a two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and two-time B.A.S.S. winner. His best finish in 2012 was sixth place at Lake Michigan in the season's "mystery lake" event.
Chip Porche (25)
Bixby, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: NA
Elite pro since 2013
Porche will be one of the youngest anglers in the Elite Series when he makes his debut. He earned his way here by finishing fourth in the Central Opens points standings. He's fished only 13 B.A.S.S. events, but finished in the top 20 nearly half the time.
Fred Roumbanis (34)
Bixby, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6279
Elite pro since 2006
"Boom Boom" struggled a bit in 2012, finishing 58th in the Angler of the Year standings after being 12th in 2007 and 18th in 2008. His best finish last year was 21st at Toledo Bend.
Chris Lane (37)
Guntersville, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6457
Elite pro since 2006
Last season was a breakout year for Chris Lane. He kicked it off by winning a Southern Open and locking up a 2013 Bassmaster Classic berth. Then he won the 2012 Classic and had his best Elite season ever. He's looking to build on that this year.
Fletcher Shryock (27)
Newcomerstown, Ohio
Elite Bassing Average: 4.1905
Elite pro since 2012
This ex-Motocross racer showed glimpses of just how good he can be in his rookie season. Though he finished just 62nd in the Angler of the Year race, he came on strong at the end with an 11th-place finish at Oneida Lake.
Clifford Pirch (37)
Payson, Ariz.
Elite Bassing Average: NA
Elite pro since 2013
Pirch is a two-time U.S. Open champion and qualified for the Elite Series by finishing second in the Northern Opens. Because he has a track record of success as a professional, a lot of pundits expect him to challenge for Rookie of the Year.
Derek Remitz (30)
Grant, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6056
Elite pro since 2007
No one has had a better Elite debut than the "Wolverine." He won his first Elite tournament in 2007 on Lake Amistad and backed it up with a second place finish at the next event on the California Delta on his way to the Rookie of the Year award.
Cliff Pace (32)
Petal, Miss.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7059
Elite pro since 2007
Pace has been very steady since his Elite debut in 2007. He's qualified for five Bassmaster Classics and won two B.A.S.S. events. In 2012, he had back-to-back second place finishes at Toledo Bend and the Mississippi River.
Cliff Prince (43)
Palatka, Fla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6087
Elite pro since 2012
Prince qualified for his first Bassmaster Classic last year on the strength of his 29th-place finish in the Angler of the Year race. Two top 12 finishes anchored his impressive rookie season.
Dennis Tietje (48)
Roanoke, La.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.1389
Elite pro since 2013 (also 2010-11)
After sitting out 2012 with a medical exemption, Tietje returns to the Elite Series in 2013. The best finish of his Elite career came in 2011 on Toledo Bend where he was 41st.
David Walker (47)
Sevierville, Tenn.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6957
Elite pro since 2011
He may have started his Elite career in 2011, but Walker is a tournament-tested veteran, a perennial Bassmaster Classic qualifier and one of the best in the business. He ranked 15th in Angler of the Year points last season.
Charlie Hartley (48)
Grove City, Ohio
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4483
Elite pro since 2006
Hartley led the first day of his first Bassmaster Classic (2008). His best Elite finish was sixth at the Potomac River in 2007.
Jamie Horton (45)
Centreville, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5714
Elite pro since 2012
Horton qualified for the Elite Series after winning the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in 2011. His best finish in 2012 was fourth place on the Mississippi River.
David Smith (67)
Del City, Okla.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.3475
Elite pro since 2006
The Elite veteran ranked 92nd in Bassmaster Angler of the Year points and finished 33rd at Lake Michigan for his top tournament of the season in an otherwise disappointing year.
Brian Snowden (40)
Reeds Spring, Mo.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6131
Elite pro since 2006
Snowden has qualified for five Bassmaster Classics and ranked as high as 13th in the Angler of the Year race (2010), so 2012 was a letdown. He ranked 65th for the season and had his best tournament at Toledo Bend, where he was 26th.
J Todd Tucker (39)
Moultrie, Ga.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.4250
Elite pro since 2009
Tucker is a notorious fast starter, especially on Florida waters, but has struggled late in the season, dashing hopes of Classic berths. His best finish of 2012 came on the St. Johns River where he was 12th.
Greg Vinson (35)
Wetumpka, Ala.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.6471
Elite pro since 2009
Just when he seemed to have everything on track, "V" stumbled in 2012. Things started well enough with a runner-up finish in the Bassmaster Classic, but his best finish of the regular season was just 25th place at the Mississippi River.
Nate Wellman (30)
Newaygo, Mich.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.5778
Elite pro since 2011
Wellman had a strong 2012, finishing 17th in the Angler of the Year race and qualifying for his first Bassmaster Classic. He's young and obviously has some skills. Fishing fans will be watching to see if last year was "for real."
Chris Zaldain (28)
San Jose, Calif.
Elite Bassing Average: 4.7500
Elite pro since 2012
Zaldain ranked 69th in Angler of the Year points in 2012 — his rookie season — but showed flashes of excellence, like his 12th-place finish at Toledo Bend and 14th place at Lake Michigan.
