Elite

Meet the 2026 Elite rookies and returns

Meet the 11 anglers who are joining the Elite Series in 2026. Both rookies and a return angler will look to make their mark on the biggest stage in bass fishing.

Posted on
Another year, another incredible rookie class for the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series season, featuring 10 anglers from the new Elite Qualifiers format and one from the B.A.S.S. Nation. All of these anglers have truly proven their abilities and are sure to be threats in their rookie season on the Elites.
Wisconsin local Nick Trim put on a magical performance on the Mississippi River to win wire-to-wire at the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. Trim adds his name to the very talented group of anglers who have qualified through the B.A.S.S. Nation.
Lake Okeechobee saw the crowing of 10 anglers who have battled all season long. They all had to make the top 50 in one of the Opens divisions and then claim a Top 10 spot in points over the three fall events in the all-new EQs. This group was led by 20-year-old Fisher Anaya, who claimed the EQ Angler of the Year.
Nick Trim
Galesville, Wisconsin
Trim qualified via his 2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship victory.
Brock Reinkemeyer
Warsaw, Missouri
Reinkemeyer qualified via his 10th-place finish in the 2025 Bassmaster Opens EQ points.
Pake South
Winnsboro, Texas
South qualified via his ninth-place finish in the 2025 Bassmaster Opens EQ points.
Tristan McCormick
Bon Aqua, Tennessee
McCormick qualified via his eighth-place finish in the 2025 Bassmaster Opens EQ points.
Caleb Hudson
Lincolnton, Georgia
Hudson qualified via his seventh-place finish in the 2025 Bassmaster Opens EQ points.
Matt Messer
Warfield, Kentucky
Messer qualified via his sixth-place finish in the 2025 Bassmaster Opens EQ points.
Sam Hanggi
Knoxville, Tennessee
Hanggi qualified via his fifth-place finish in the 2025 Bassmaster Opens EQ points.
Austin Cranford
Norman, Oklahoma
Cranford qualified via his fourth-place finish in the 2025 Bassmaster Opens EQ points.
Aaron Jagdfeld
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Jagdfeld qualified via his third-place finish in the 2025 Bassmaster Opens EQ points.
Russ Lane
Prattville, Alabama
Lane qualified via his second-place finish in the 2025 Bassmaster Opens EQ points.
Fisher Anaya
Ava, Alabama
Anaya qualified via his first-place finish in the 2025 Bassmaster Opens EQ points.

Related