Elite

Photos: 2025 Elite Series schedule

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With the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series season completed, B.A.S.S. is already set with a full lineup of diverse fisheries for 2025 as next year’s Elite schedule was announced today.
February 20-23 – St. Johns River – Palatka, Fla.
The opener visits St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla., Feb. 20-23. In 2024, a four-day total of 93 pounds, 6 ounces gave Cory Johnston of Otonabee, Canada, a winning margin of 21-2 over Texan Brad Whatley. Of note, Johnston’s Day 3 total — 73-13 — would have edged Whatley’s tournament total of 72-4 by 1-9.
February 27-March 2 – Lake Okeechobee – Okeechobee, Fla.
The Elites will travel south to Okeechobee, Fla., Feb. 27-March 2 to return to Lake Okeechobee, which covers 730 square miles and has an average depth of only 9 feet. Louisiana pro Tyler Rivet called his win in 2023 on Day 1 of the competition. Rivet coaxed a four-day total of 86 pounds, 15 ounces from the largest freshwater lake in Florida by throwing a jerkbait and punching mats and grass.The Elites will travel south to Okeechobee, Fla., Feb. 27-March 2 to return to Lake Okeechobee, which covers 730 square miles and has an average depth of only 9 feet.
April 10-13 – Pasquotank River/Ablemarle Bay Sound – Elizabeth City, NC
The Elite Series resumes at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound in Elizabeth City, N.C., April 10-13. The event marks the first time B.A.S.S. has visited the area since 1981 for the North Carolina Invitational, where Basil Bacon won with 46-12. This tidal fishery is a power fisherman’s dream, where traditional, old-school tactics should prevail.
April 24 – 27 – Lake Hartwell – Anderson, S.C.
Next on the schedule is Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., April 24-27. Lake Hartwell hosted the Bassmaster Classic in 2022, where Oklahoma pro Jason Christie won with 54 pounds even, just 5 ounces over Alabama’s Kyle Welcher after they shared the lead going into the final day of competition.
May 8-11 – Lake Fork – Yantis, Texas
A Texas swing kicks off May 8-11 when the Elite pros head to Lake Fork, Texas, to visit a fishery that made the Top 10 in the 2024 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes list.  Illinois Elite angler and eventual 2024 Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year Trey McKinney became the youngest angler to win an Elite Series event when he took the blue trophy at Lake Fork at the age of 19. It was also only McKinney’s second Elite Series event.
May 15-18 – Sabine River – Orange, Texas
Next up for Elites is the Sabine River in Orange, Texas, May 15-18. Veteran Elite angler Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., won the 2023 event here with an overall weight of 44-3, outpacing runner-up Clark Wendlandt by almost 3 pounds.
June 12-15 – Lake Tenkiller – Cookson, Okla.
After the Texas swing, Lake Tenkiller hosts the Elite anglers June 12-15 for the first time since 2019, when Australian pro Carl Jocumsen notched a victory by fishing offshore for a four-day total of 54-15. Second-place finisher Chris Zaldain ran shallow points with a wobblehead jig as well as a swimbait.
August 7-10 – Lake St. Clair – Macomb County, Mich.
The Elites will then head to another Top 10 finisher in the 2024 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes list when they stop at Michigan’s Lake St. Clair Aug. 7-10. In 2023, the last time the Elites visited, Arkansas pro Joey Cifuentes III showed why this lake is ranked as one of the best in the country when he landed 91 pounds, 8 ounces over four days.
August 21-24 – Mississippi River – La Crosse, Wis.
The final stop of the year for the 2025 Elite Series will be Aug. 21-24 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis. In 2022, Maryland’s Bryan Schmitt squeaked out the win against Canada’s Chris Johnston by a mere 4 ounces for his second Elite Series title.

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