When dozens of anglers bailed from the Bassmaster Elite Series five years ago, one of my chief questions was would they ever be allowed back?
From the beginning, the answer was clear: Only if they requalified.
Obviously, there have been exceptions to that rule by way of the Legends Exemption. Anglers who’ve built up points through the years by winning the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors or by winning the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year title are eligible for the Legends Exemption — but only if it’s extended to them by B.A.S.S. officials.
The others have to requalify through the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN — and that mission is harder than it’s ever been in the 57-year history of B.A.S.S. There are no longer any three-tournament divisions that lead back to the Bassmaster Elite Series. If you want to make the Elites, you have to fish all three divisions — nine events total — and finish in the Top 9 of the overall season standings.
If you’re sitting there and thinking that’s easily doable, consider this.
Virginia angling veteran Jacob Powroznik, a five-time B.A.S.S. winner, requalified in 2021 and said in no uncertain terms that he wouldn’t have tried again if he hadn’t made it. In 2023, Florida pro Bobby Lane Jr. tried his hand at requalifying through the Opens and finished in 11th place, just 27 points back of an Elite berth.
Those are two of the best anglers in the world. One scraped his way to a spot while saying, “Never again,” and the other took his talents elsewhere after a near miss.
Last year, I was thrilled to hear California pro Ish Monroe was making another run at the Elites. But after nine events, he finished well below the requalification cut line in 41st place.
Monroe is back at it this year, and he’s making a good run. With three tournaments left to fish as of this writing, he’s in 21st place in the Tackle Warehouse Opens Elite Qualifiers standings, well within striking distance of a ninth-place finish if he closes strong.
Others, like former Classic champion Cliff Pace from Mississippi, are also still in the running in 30th place, along with popular Louisiana pro Darold Gleason, who was cut from the Elites after two subpar seasons but is now sitting in 36th place in the EQs.
Others aren’t faring as well in the requalifying efforts.
Mike McClelland, a former Elite from Arkansas and an eight-time B.A.S.S. winner, is in 46th place. That likely means his season is teetering on the brink — within range of a comeback if he notches a couple of strong finishes but over if he has one bomb.
Also further down the line than some might expect is Randall Tharp, a Florida pro and the owner of four B.A.S.S. trophies.
That such spectacular anglers have struggled to get back or are currently hanging on for dear life in the standings speaks to the competition in the Opens.
These veteran anglers left a world where they were kings and returned to find their thrones occupied.
Are they temporarily occupied with young, new anglers just momentarily keeping their seats warm, or are there no seats left to be had?
Only the remainder of the schedule will tell.
