Predicting the Elite Series qualifiers from the 2026 EQs

• Brock Bila – To finish the year as the overall points leader in the Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens, you must be fishing at the top of your game. Considering Bila is an Ozarks angler, the season starting off at Norfork sets up perfectly for his strengths.
• Brody Robison – Winner of the Division 2 points in the Opens, Robison has been on an absolute tear in 2026. In addition to his Opens success, he and his partner Peyton Sorrow have three top 10 finishes in the Bassmaster College Series this year, including a win at the National Championship.
• Connor Jacob – I’ve been thoroughly impressed by the former Auburn Tiger Jacob for many years now dating back to his years on the College trail. Jacob finished third in the Opens Division 1 points race and barely missed a shot at the Elite Series two years ago with his second-place finish at the 2024 Nation Championship.
• Trey Schroeder – Outside of a bomb in the first event of the Opens season, Schroeder has had an excellent year on the Opens finishing third in the overall Opens points. Getting off to a hot start in the EQs is critical, and getting to start the season on a White River lake is perfect considering Bull Shoals Lake is his home lake. He also notched a 28th-place finish at Toledo Bend in a 2020 College event.
• Beau Browning – After coming so close to rallying back in the Elite Series to requalify for 2027, Browning has to feel good with a little bit of momentum heading into the EQs. Even though he is young, he excels without forward-facing sonar so the coin flip leaning 2:1 in favor of no-FFS should be a benefit. Starting the EQs in his home state of Arkansas where he won a college event back in 2022 is also beneficial. I honestly believe the schedule sets up great for Beau and Stephen Browning both. I like both of their chances equally.
• Cody Stahl – Winner of the Division 1 Opens points, Cody Stahl has had a tremendous year on the Opens. The Georgia pro has several years of experience on the Opens and fished the EQs a year ago which should work to his benefit.
• Grae Buck – While Buck hasn’t had the greatest year on the Opens in 2026, he is a battle-tested veteran who has unfinished business in the EQs after coming very close to closing the deal a year ago.
• Tanner Hadden – A year ago, Caleb Hudson stormed up the EQ points with a win in the final event of the season, punching his ticket to the Elites. He then continued on to win the Pro-Guide Bassmaster Rookie of the Year award. Tanner Hadden is Caleb Hudson’s college fishing partner and could very well be on the same trajectory. He finished just 30 points shy of qualifying a year ago.
• Jack Dice – For me, it’s a matter of when, not if, Jack Dice qualifies for the Bassmaster Elite Series. The former Liberty University angler has a proven track record of success in the College Series as well as the Opens. Dice fell just 12 points shy of qualifying a year ago.
• Ty Faber – There’s a massive list of anglers I’d like to throw in the final spot, but I’ll ride with Ty Faber to make some noise this year. The Colorado pro fell 16 points short a year ago in the EQs, and the schedule should work out in his favor.

• Brock Bila – It’s hard not to pick a guy like Bila who showed up and performed at every stop on the schedule this year. Averaging a 30th over an eight-event Opens season is strong. Starting in the Ozarks is a good thing for Bila to keep the momentum rolling.
• Brody Robison – Guys who fish have just done tremendous these last few years. By “fish” I’m talking about living, breathing and competing at any and every level possible. Robison has done just that by winning an Opens division points race while also winning the College Series Championship. It’ll be a busy fall for him with EQs and the Bassmaster College Cup.
• Dillon Falardeau – What a joy it is to watch Falardeau compete. He has fun, he fishes hard and he’s been dialed in for two years. This is the year it ends strong for him, finishing at Lake Guntersville on the Tennessee River.
• Stephen Browning – Every year it seems an OG breaks through to reclaim a spot on the Elites. Last year it was Russ Lane; veteran Cody Meyer got it done two years ago. Browning seems motivated and poised while the three-event EQ schedule lines up well with non-FFS tournaments at Norfork and Guntersville and FFS being allowed on an old-school fishery like Toledo Bend.
• Garrett Paquette – Mixed regular season results can bode well for anglers in this three-event sprint. For Paquette, what I like about his 61st, 17th, fifth and 94th was equal representation of good finishes in FFS (Kentucky Lake) and non-FFS (Grand Lake) tourneys during Division 2.
• Brad Jelinek – Starting strong is essential in this series. Last year, eight of the eventual 10 qualifiers were 34th or better after the first EQ event. Only McCormick (44th) and South (51st) were below that. Starting in the Ozarks could be a catalyst for Jelinek who has a great track record in his home state of Missouri and the surrounding areas.
• Lucas Murphy – A standout College angler at Grand Valley State, Murphy jumped into the industry with the likes of Strike King and Lew’s. He relocated to Lake Murray as a result, and in my opinion, grew his fishing potential for the next level. I wouldn’t be shocked if Murphy ends up as the EQ AOY.
• Garrett Smith – Smith is half of the back-to-back College Championship duo from Lander (along with Andrew Blanton). Smith is a shallow-water junky and one that prefers no FFS vs. using it. With two events landing on the no FFS side of the coin, Smith has to feel good about the clean slate after the Opens regular season wrapped up.
• Cody Stahl – Too good, done this too long, been too close. That’s how I feel about Cody Stahl. He’s knocked on the door and the wait will be worth it because after Guntersville he will successfully have a Classic and Elite berth in hand for his 2027 calendar.
• Ty Faber – Every season there is “that guy.” That guy meaning someone that most people don’t know well and wonder how he slid into the qualification cut. Well, I know Ty Faber. He’s been at this game for a good long while in the Bassmaster Team Series through B.A.S.S. Nation and Opens as well. Faber’s had some big moments, and these three events will put a Colorado angler into the Elite Series since ever?

• Dillon Falardeau – Remember the excitement of the Day 2 Classic weigh-in at the 2026 Knoxville Classic? Get ready to see that infectious energy at every Elite event. Falardeau continues to prove he can succeed at any venue as he finished second in the overall Opens standings. His positive attitude and relentless drive will make him a fan favorite for years to come.
• Brody Robison – Robison won Division 2 points and then immediately won the College National Championship at Leech Lake. With or without FFS, Robison is a force to be reckoned with. A coronation at his home lake to wrap up the year would be something special.
• Bailey Gay – Gay should have made the Elite Series last year, but an unforced error at Lake Okeechobee left him a few points short. He came back in 2026 and finished seventh in Division 2 points. A product of grimy fisheries, Gay isn’t going to let the opportunity slip away again.
• Beau Browning – Browning’s Elite Series absence won’t last long. He has a College Series win at Norfork and certainly wants to prove his two years in the big show wasn’t just a fluke. Some Guntersville redemption would definitely be nice as well.
• Brock Bila – If the EQ slate is an extension of the Opens, Bila will be a shoo-in. He won the overall points race and finished no worse than 66th all year long after a rather disappointing 2025 season. In year two, the former College Series angler has shown tremendous growth.
• Cody Stahl – The Georgia pro has paid his dues. He has two Opens victories over the last three seasons and won the Division 1 points with consistent excellence. He’d certainly love to fish Lake Seminole next year as an Elite pro.
• Harmon Marien – The McKendree University product has been quietly awesome in both B.A.S.S. Nation and Opens competition over the last two years. Yet another Wisconsin angler could make his way to the big stage.
• Connor Jacob – The Auburn product has been very consistent with B.A.S.S. and other tournament trails. He finished third this year in Division 1 points and he should carry that momentum into the EQs.
• Fred Roumbanis – Two lakes with grass in them? That’s right up the veteran’s alley. He finished 15th in Division 1 points, recovering nicely from a 119th at Kissimmee Chain. It will be a treat to see “Boom Boom” back throwing a frog on a big stage.
• Cody Abbott – The 20-year-old is going to automatically get the “‘Scoper” label, but two of his three best finishes in Division 1 were non-FFS events. He’ll fit in nicely with the young gun class already on the Elite Series.
• First man out: Garrett Smith – Smith has shined brightest in the biggest moments, winning back-to-back College Championships before finishing 25th in Division 1 in his first Opens season. If he had his way, he would stay shallow most of the time, which may pay off in a big way.

• Trey Schroeder – Outside of a rocky start at the Kissimmee Chain, Schroeder put together an incredibly solid Opens season on his way to third in the overall points. Take away that one stumble, and he was right there in the AOY conversation. He seems to thrive in scrappy events, and after being in the mix for a couple of years now, this could be his chance to break through.
• Stephen Browning – Browning has been a threat on the tournament scene for a long time, and even through an up-and-down Opens season, he still managed to finish 20th overall in points. Experience should be a major asset in this three-event sprint, and with the fall EQ schedule starting on Lake Norfork, this seems like a stretch that could line up well for him.
• Zane Parker – Parker was one of the most consistent anglers in the Opens this season. Until the final event of Division 2, he hadn’t finished outside the top 20, and his “tough” was a 54th. Two non-FFS events add an interesting wrinkle to the EQs, but Parker has already shown he can hold his own without it. The wave of young anglers reaching the Elites doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
• Brody Robison – The Division 2 Opens AOY winner has been on an absolute tear this year. Robison also claimed the College National Championship and will fish for a Classic berth in the College Cup. He enters the EQs with plenty of momentum, and if he can navigate Norfork, the final two events look like they could fit him extremely well.
• Alex Wetherell – The former Elite Series pro looks primed to make a run at returning to the big stage. Wetherell was steady throughout the Opens season, with Lake Erie and Kentucky Lake accounting for his two biggest stumbles. He still finished seventh in the overall points. His experience and versatility should be valuable in an EQ schedule that will require anglers to adjust without FFS at two of the three stops.
• Brock Bila – Bar none, Bila put together the best Opens season of anyone this year, capturing the overall AOY title with remarkable consistency. Even his two worst finishes landed in the 60s. The challenge now is carrying that same consistency into a three-event sprint where every stumble is magnified. If he can, he’ll put himself in a great position to earn an Elite Series berth.
• Chase Clarke – Clarke has been knocking on the door in the Opens for several seasons, and this year was no different. Even after cooling off some over the final few events, he held on to fifth in the overall standings. He has shown he can contend across a variety of fisheries, and the EQs give him another opportunity to turn several years of strong Opens performances into an Elite qualification.
• Laker Howell – Howell knows what it takes to contend in the EQ format after a strong showing in the series last year. This time around, the schedule gives him an intriguing path, especially with his success in Texas and the series finale taking place on his home lake. There’s also an added storyline: the opportunity to join his dad on the Elite Series.
• Garrett Smith – The former back-to-back College National Champion is no stranger to high-pressure tournament fishing. His biggest stumble this season came during the Erie smallmouth slugfest, a type of fishery he won’t have to deal with during the EQs. Even with two non-FFS events on the schedule, his versatility and track record make this an interesting three-event stretch for him.
• Cody Stahl – Stahl only competed in Division 1, but he made the most of every opportunity. After opening the season with a win on the Kissimmee Chain, he backed it up with finishes of 33rd, 30th and 24th. More importantly, his style of fishing looks well suited to this fall’s EQ schedule. He enters the three-event stretch with consistency, confidence and a win already under his belt.

• Brody Robison – Robison won the Opens Division 2 AOY, showing his versatility with and without FFS. Growing up in Alabama and competing collegiately has given him plenty of experience on southeastern reservoirs.
• Beau Browning – A Top 10 finish in the second-to-last Elite, along with his motivation to requalify, should help Beau in the EQs. The schedule setup and limited FFS use could also play to his advantage.
• Cody Stahl – Stahl won Opens Division 1 AOY this year. After winning an Open in 2024 and 2026 and qualifying for the Classic twice, I believe it is just a matter of time for Stahl. This schedule could play to his strengths.
• Dillon Falardeau – Falardeau won an Open in 2025, finished second in Division 1 points, and is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Open on Lake Erie. His consistent finishes could push him into the mix.
• Laker Howell – Howell has had consistent finishes over the last two seasons, including an Open win and an EQ win. Howell finished 25th in Division 2 Opens and would have been significantly higher without a 120th-place finish at the Upper Mississippi River.
• Brock Bila – After winning the overall AOY for the Opens, including two Top 10 finishes, Bila could be a player in the EQs. Growing up around Ozark lakes could help him understand patterns in both FFS and non-FFS tournaments with this southeastern schedule.
• Stephen Browning – Browning has had consistent finishes on shallow-water fisheries over the last two Opens seasons. His years of tournament experience and expertise in non-FFS techniques could help him make a run at requalifying for the Elites.
• Connor Jacob – Having found success throughout the B.A.S.S. Nation, Opens and College Series over the past few years, Jacob has proven to be a versatile angler. His tournament experience from competing collegiately could give him an advantage on these fisheries.
• Lucas Lindsay – Lindsay won AOY in an Opens division in 2025. With experience on southern grass and standing timber lakes with and without FFS, Lindsay could be a prospect for an Elite invitation.
• Wyatt Burkhalter – Earlier this year, Burkhalter won the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Grand Lake and had notably high finishes throughout the Opens over the last two seasons. With the schedule revisiting some of these lakes, Burkhalter is a solid pick.