Predictions for the 2025 Elite Series

Is Jay Przekurat set to claim his first Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title?

Old man winter may still be hanging around most of the country, but the good news is, you can warm your spirits knowing the Bassmaster Elite Series season is almost here. To get you ready for the season, here are a couple of predictions I have in mind for the 2025 season. 

Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year: Jay Przekurat — Here are Przekurat’s AOY finishes since entering the Elite Series in 2022: 10th (Rookie of the Year), sixth and seventh. The Wisconsin native has excelled down south, and he’s even better up north. It’s really only a matter of time until he wins Angler of the Year and another Elite Series tournament, and I think this year he may very well get both things accomplished. 

Keep an eye on: Stetson Blaylock — This schedule feels a lot like the 2019 season when Blaylock nearly edged out Scott Canterbury for Angler of the Year. 

Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year: Easton Fothergill — Fothergill is the obvious choice after he tore through the Opens schedule in 2024. He won two events — Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma and Leech Lake — the first to do so since Randall Tharp in 2008. The calm, cool, collected attitude he has also reminds me of Przekurat, and that has been a successful formula so far. 

Keep an eye on: Andrew Loberg — The California native flew somewhat under the radar in his 2024 Opens campaign. I don’t think that will be the case during his first Elite Series season. He has proven he can catch them from coast to coast and anywhere in between.

Comeback angler of the year: Brandon Cobb — There are plenty of worthy candidates for this award, but Cobb sticks out. After nearly winning Angler of the Year in 2023, Cobb struggled in 2024, finishing 67th in AOY points and missing the Classic cut. The 2025 season sets up perfectly for the normally consistent Cobb to jump back up towards the top of the standings. 

Secondary selection: Joey Cifuentes — After winning two tournaments and Rookie of the Year in 2023, I don’t think anyone imagined Cifuentes would finish 96th in Angler of the Year his sophomore season. Qualifying for the 2026 Classic I’m sure will be at the top of his to-do list this season

Classic champion: Justin Hamner — Don’t think for a second Hamner didn’t recognize how Hank Cherry won the last time the Classic was at Lake Ray Roberts. A jerkbait and a jig are the Alabama pro’s best weapons — and what he used to win at Grand Lake last year. Expect more of the same from Hamner, who also excelled at Lake Fork in 2024 during a similar time of year. 

Keep an eye on: Ben Milliken — If there is someone who knows how to catch giant Texas bass, it is Milliken.

First-time winner (non-rookie division): Cody Huff — Lake Hartwell and Lake Fork in particular are two events that I like for Huff. Winning an event would be a nice way to keep the momentum after a breakout 2024 season. 

Keep an eye on: John Cox — It really is crazy to think Cox has yet to win an Elite Series event after so many good finishes. Surely that blue trophy will come soon.

The 10 Elite Qualifiers: The new format for the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN makes this exercise even more difficult than it was last year. But here are the 10 anglers I think you will see rise to the top (in no particular order): Kyle Austin, Fisher Anaya, Tyler Campbell, Grae Buck, Laker Howell, Garrett Paquette, Jack York, Michael Neal, Logan Johnson and Ish Monroe.