Elite Series Roster Tops Out at 101 For 2026

The 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series roster will feature 101 anglers, B.A.S.S. announced Wednesday.

When the schedule kicks off in early February at Lake Guntersville, the field will feature 11 new names, including 10 rookies, as Chris Johnston begins his quest to win a third straight Angler of the Year title. With the exception of one angler, every 2025 Elite Series angler who qualified is returning next year.

The newcomers are: Fisher Anaya, Austin Cranford, Sam Hanggi, Caleb Hudson, Aaron Jadgfeld, Russ Lane (second Elite Series stint), Tristan McCormick, Matt Messer, Brock Reinkemeyer, Pake South and Nick Trim.

The anglers who competed in 2025, but will not return in 2026 are: Tim Dube, Marc Frazier, Ray Hanselman, Matt Herren, Jonathan Kelley, Logan Latuso, Ed Loughran, Scott Martin, Ben Milliken, Paul Mueller, Chad Pipkens, Bernie Schultz, Alex Wetherell and Matty Wong.

During the 2026 season, anglers will be limited on their use of forward-facing sonar as Bassmaster will only allow its use at five of the nine regular-season Elite events.

“Each season, the Bassmaster Elite Series showcases the very best in professional bass fishing, and 2026 will be no exception,” B.A.S.S. Elite Series Tournament Director Lisa Talmadge said in a release announcing the roster. “We’re excited to welcome 101 incredibly talented anglers who represent the heart of this sport — a mix of proven champions, rising stars and hungry newcomers all ready to compete on some of the most iconic fisheries in the country. It’s going to be an unforgettable season for our anglers and fans alike.”

Below is the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series field (* indicates 2026 newcomer):

• Fisher Anaya, Eva, Ala. *
• Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C.
• Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala.
• Drew Benton, Panama City, Fla.
• Stetson Blaylock, Benton, Ark.
• Beau Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
• Scott Canterbury, Odenville, Ala.
• Blake Capps, Muskogee, Okla.
• Brandon Card, Salisbury, N.C.
• Hank Cherry, Lincolnton, N.C.
• Jason Christie, Welling, Okla.
• Joey Cifuentes, Clinton, Ark.
• Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C.
• Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas
• Drew Cook, Cairo, Ga.
• John Cox, DeBary, Fla.
• Austin Cranford, Moore, Okla. *
• John Crews, Salem, Va.
• Will Davis Jr., Sylacauga, Ala.
• Greg DiPalma, Millville, N.J.
• Bob Downey, Detroit Lakes, Minn.
• Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas
• Seth Feider, New Market, Minn.
• Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn.
• Easton Fothergill, Grand Rapids, Minn.
• Jacob Foutz, Charleston, Tenn.
• Kyoya Fujita, Minamitsuru, Yamanashi, Japan
• Cooper Gallant, Bowmanville, Canada
• John Garrett, Union City, Tenn.
• David Gaston, Sylacauga, Ala.
• Robert Gee, Knoxville, Tenn.
• Wesley Gore, Clanton, Ala.
• Buddy Gross, Chickamauga, Ga.
• Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Canada
• Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La.
• Justin Hamner, Northport, Ala.
• Sam Hanggi, Knoxville, Tenn. *
• Jamie Hartman, Plumerville, Ark.
• Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala.
• Caleb Hudson, Lincolnton, Ga. *
• Cody Huff, Ava, Mo.
• Mike Iaconelli, Pittsgrove, N.J.
• Taku Ito, Chiba, Japan
• Aaron Jadgfeld, Rochester Hills, Mich. *
• Carl Jocumsen, Toowoomba, Australia
• Chris Johnston, Otonabee, Canada
• Cory Johnston, Otonabee, Canada
• Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala.
• Kenta Kimura, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
• Evan Kung, Pickering, Canada
• Caleb Kuphall, Mukwonago, Wis.
• Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala. 
• Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala.
• Shane LeHew, Catawba, N.C.
• Brandon Lester, Fayetteville, Tenn.
• Lee Livesay, Longview, Texas
• Andrew Loberg, Guntersville, Ala.
• Wes Logan, Springville, Ala.
• Bill Lowen, Brookville, Ind.
• Paul Marks, Cumming, Ga.
• Tristan McCormick, Bon Aqua, Tenn. *
• Trey McKinney, Carbondale, Ill.
• Mark Menendez, Paducah, Ky.
• Matt Messer, Warfield, Ky. *
• Cody Meyer, Eagle, Idaho
• Brock Mosley, Collinsville, Miss.
• David Mullins, Mt. Carmel, Tenn.
• Bryan New, Leesville, S.C.
• Kyle Norsetter, Cottage Grove, Wis.
• Cliff Pace, Ovett, Miss.
• Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho
• Luke Palmer, Coalgate, Okla.
• Logan Parks, Auburn, Ala.
• Kyle Patrick, Cooperstown, N.Y.
• Clifford Pirch, Payson, Ariz.
• Jacob Powroznik, North Prince George, Va.
• Jay Przekurat, Plover, Wis.
• KJ Queen, Catawba, N.C.
• Alex Redwine, Blue Ash, Ohio
• Brock Reinkemeyer, Warsaw, Mo. *
• Tyler Rivet, Raceland, La.
• Matt Robertson, Kuttawa, Ky.
• Cole Sands, Johnson City, Tenn.
• Pat Schlapper, Eleva, Wis.
• Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md.
• Hunter Shryock, Ooltewah, Tenn.
• Bryant Smith, Roseville, Calif.
• Tucker Smith, Birmingham, Ala.
• Pake South, Winnsboro, Texas *
• Caleb Sumrall, New Iberia, La.
• Gerald Swindle, Guntersville, Ala.
• JT Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
• Nick Trim, Galesville, Wis. *
• Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga.
• Patrick Walters, Eutawville, S.C.
• Kyle Welcher, Valley, Ala.
• Brad Whatley, Bivins, Texas
• Jake Whitaker, Hendersonville, N.C.
• Tyler Williams, Belgrade, Maine
• Jason Williamson, Aiken, S.C.
• Chris Zaldain, Boyd, Texas

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