Survive and advance. Those are the watchwords of the Elite Series pros who must make "cuts" to move up and cash checks. Here's a countdown of the 50 best at getting into the money. To be considered, an angler must have fished at least 20 Elite events. By Ken Duke
#50 – James Niggemeyer is tied for 49th place among Elite anglers, making 54.35 percent of the cuts to 50 anglers. He made half the cuts in 2011.
#49 – Boyd Duckett is tied for 49th with a score of 54.35 percent. He struggled in 2011, making just two of eight cuts.
#48 – Brian Snowden is in a five-way tie for 44th at 54.39 percent. He finished in the money three times in 2011.
#47 – Fred Roumbanis is tied for 44th at 54.39 percent. He's qualified for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic after finishing in the money six times (all in a row) in 2011.
#46 – Kotaro Kiriyama tied for 44th at 54.39 percent but struggled in 2011 with just two top 50 finishes.
#45 – Tim Horton bounced back this year after struggling for a couple of seasons. He makes the cut 54.39 percent of the time.
#44 – Davy Hite scores 54.39 percent and qualified for the 2012 Classic by winning at Pickwick this year. He was in the money every time but one in 2011.
#43 – Mark Tucker is no longer in the Elite Series, but he'll be going to the 2012 Classic after winning a Central Open event. He ranks 43rd on our list, finishing in the money 55.10 percent of the time.
#42 – John Crews is in 42nd place, finishing in the money 56.14 percent of the time. He made the cut five times out of eight in 2011.
#41 – Jason Williamson is tied for 40th at 56.52 percent. He missed the Classic despite making six cuts in 2011.
#40 – Casey Ashley comes in at 56.52 percent, tied for 40th. He's Classic bound because of an Elite win in 2011 and missed only one cut all year long.
#39 – Dave Wolak is tied for 38th place at 57.89 percent. He made half the cuts in 2011, but missed the Classic.
#38 – Mark Menendez tied for 38th with 57.89 percent. He made five cuts in 2011, but lacked a top 12 finish or two to get him into the Classic.
#37 – Peter Thliveros is part of a big tie 31st place at 59.65 percent. He's money in Florida and when summertime bass slow down and eschew fast presentations.
#36 – Jason Quinn is tied for 31st at 59.65 percent. He made five cuts in 2011, but missed the Classic.
#35 – Takahiro Omori has been in the money 59.65 percent of the time, tied for 31st. The 2004 Classic champ made six cuts in 2011, including the last five.
#34 – Ish Monroe has been a bit inconsistent in his career, but no one doubts his talent. How could you? He ranks tied for 31st at 59.65 percent.
#33 – Shaw Grigsby doesn't need "One More Cast" to make most cuts. The affable Floridian is tied for 31st with 59.65 percent.
#32 – Stephen Browning makes the first cut to 50 an impressive 59.65 percent of the time. Good enough to tie him for 31st place and send him to the 2012 Classic.
#31 – Denny Brauer is part of the big tie for 31st place at 59.65 percent. He's also Classic bound in 2012, for the 21st time.
#30 – Matthew Sphar dropped out of the Elites a few years back. That's a shame. This talented angler ranks tied for 29th at making the top 50 cut with a score of 60.00 percent, but he's not the top ranked Elite dropout on our list.
#29 – Bobby Lane is tied for 29th at 60.00 percent and has qualified for the Classic every season of his Elite Series career.
#28 – Dustin Wilks began his Elite career with an injury that sidelined him for a couple of seasons. Since then, he's bounced back and finished in the money 61.11 percent of the time — good enough to rank 28th.
#27 – Mark Davis has three AOY titles and a Classic championship because he knows how to survive and advance, making 62.86 percent of cuts in his Elite career. That's good enough for 27th place.
#26 – Bill Lowen is part of a four-way tie for 23rd place at 63.16 percent. He's going to the 2012 Classic after making five of eight cuts in 2011.
#25 – Russ Lane is tied for 23rd at 63.16 percent. He made five cuts in 2011, but missed a Classic berth despite a very strong finish to the season.
#24 – Kelly Jordon is currently the Classic bubble boy, sitting just one spot out of the championship. Jordon makes the cut 63.16 percent of the time — tied for 23rd.
#23 – Michael Iaconelli is tied for 23rd with 63.16 percent. He makes the top 50 cut less often than many would guess, but makes up for it by getting to the top 12 often.
#22 – Bryan Hudgins is the top ranked angler no longer fishing the Elite Series at 63.64 percent — 22nd overall. The talented pro dropped out after missing the last two cuts in the 2008 season.
#21 – Mike McClelland suffered through a tough 2011 season that saw him make only one top-50 cut. Nevertheless, he ranks tied for 20th at 64.91 percent.
#20 – Gary Klein was another top pro who struggled in 2011, missing five of the last six cuts. He's tied for 20th overall at 64.91 percent.
#19 – Greg Vinson is a young pro making a name for himself by making cuts — two-thirds of them, to be exact. Vinson is in a four-way tie for 16th at 66.67 percent.
#18 – Terry Scroggins made seven of eight cuts in 2011 and nearly won an event. Big Show makes the cut 66.67 percent of the time — good enough to tie for 16th.
#17 – Dean Rojas is another angler in that four-way tie for 16th at 66.67 percent. He made six of eight cuts in 2011 and won at Toledo Bend.
#16 – Jared Lintner is an underrated talent in the Elite Series. He makes the first cut two thirds of the time and is headed for his third Classic in 2012.
#15 – Kevin Wirth quietly gets it done, year after year. He's remarkably consistent, making 68.42 percent of the cuts, tied for 12th.
#14 – Jeff Kriet may be known as "Squirrel," but he's a rock when it comes to making cut. The likeable Oklahoman finishes in the money 68.42 percent of the time and ranks 12th in that important category.
#13 – Brent Chapman bookended two good finishes at the beginning and end of the 2011 season to earn his 11th Classic appearance. He makes the first cut 68.42 percent of the time — good enough to tie for 12th.
#12 – Tommy Biffle is tied for 12th at 68.42 percent, but would rank even higher if not for a disappointing season in 2011 that saw him make just two of eight cuts.
#11 – Randy Howell is another cut-making machine, ranking 11th with 69.64 percent. He fishes his 10th Classic in 2012.
#10 – Steve Kennedy may be underrated by fans, but his fellow pros know how good he is. He's tied for ninth at cut-making with 70.18 percent.
#9 – Edwin Evers is tied for ninth, making 70.18 percent of the cuts. That number would be even higher if not for an uncharacteristically tough season in 2009.
#8 – Gerald Swindle has a reputation as the sport's best "junk" fisherman. It's deserved and has carried him to eighth place overall at 71.93 percent.
#7 – Alton Jones wants a Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year award to go with his 2008 Classic title. He'll likely get one, too, if he can continue to make cuts 73.21 percent of the time — good enough for 7th overall.
#6 – Aaron Martens makes the money cut 73.68 percent of time — good enough to tie for fifth. The 2005 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year missed only one cut in 2011.
#5 – Greg Hackney is tied for fifth place at 73.68 percent. He had a subpar 2011 but still made six of eight cuts.
#4 – Cliff Pace might be a surprise fourth-place finisher to some fishing fanatics, but the Mississippi pro makes the first cut 76.09 percent of the time.
#3 – Todd Faircloth is one of the most underrated pros in the Elites, but his numbers speak volumes. The Texas pro ranks third in making cuts at an impressive 80.70 percent.
#2 – Skeet Reese would have challenged for the top spot but for a rough 2011 season that saw him miss three cuts. He finished second with 84.21 percent. No doubt he'll pick up the pace again in 2012.
#1 – Was there ever any doubt? Kevin VanDam makes the cut to the top 50 an astounding 92.86 percent of the time. Just call him "The Knife."
