1. BRENT CHAPMAN
Nickname: Chappie
Age: 40
Hometown: Lake Quivira, Kan.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 1st
Best Finish: 1st at Toledo Bend Battle on Toledo Bend Reservoir, La.
Bassing Average: 5.0000 (tied for 1st)
Average Bass Weight: 3.2577 lbs. (1st)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 201
Wins: 4
Prize Money: $1,499,583.00
AOY Titles: 1 (2012)
AOY Best Finish: 1st in 2012
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 11
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 5th in 2010 on Lay Lake, Ala., and in 2011 on the Louisiana Delta
Notes
Chapman had a year for the ages in 2012. He started the season with a win at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on Lake Lewisville in Texas, earning an early berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic and unleashing him to approach the Elite Series season differently than ever before. It led to the greatest year of his career. Chapman won the Toledo Bend Battle and finished in the top six of four other events on his way to the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title, his first and the first won by anyone other than Kevin VanDam since 2007.
2. OTT DEFOE
Nickname: “Ott” is a nickname; his real name is Arthur
Age: 27
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 2nd
Best Finish: 5th at Lake Michigan and Oneida Lake
Bassing Average: 4.9630 (tied for 5th)
Average Bass Weight: 2.9723 lbs. (9th)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 28
Wins: 1
Prize Money: $423,771.86
AOY Titles: 0
AOY Best Finish: 2nd in 2012
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 1
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 5th in 2012 on the Red River, La.
Notes
DeFoe is the defending All-Star Week champion, having taken the title on the Alabama River a year ago. In his brief Elite career (two seasons), he’s established himself as a star and the heir apparent to the sport’s all-time greats. In 16 Elite tournaments, DeFoe has earned a check 15 times.
3. TERRY SCROGGINS
Nickname: Big Show
Age: 43
Hometown: San Mateo, Fla.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 210
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 3rd
Best Finish: 6th at the St. Johns River Showdown and the Mississippi River Rumble
Bassing Average: 4.9630 (tied for 5th)
Average Bass Weight: 2.9310 (13th)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 147
Wins: 5
Prize Money: $1,544,995.33
AOY Titles: 0
AOY Best Finish: 3rd in 2005 and 2012
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 9
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 4th in 2006 on the Kissimmee Chain, Fla.
Notes
Big Show has finished in the top nine of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings five times in the last eight seasons. While many Florida anglers have historically struggled outside the Sunshine State, Scroggins excels everywhere. If not for one poor performance at Bull Shoals Lake this year, he would have made a serious run at AOY.
4. TODD FAIRCLOTH
Nickname: None
Age: 37
Hometown: Jasper, Texas
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 4th
Best Finish: 1st at Mississippi River
Bassing Average: 4.9231 (10th)
Average Bass Weight: 3.1183 (3rd)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 162
Wins: 3
Prize Money: $1,533,412.31
AOY Titles: 0
AOY Best Finish: 2nd in 2008
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 10
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 3rd in 2010 on Lay Lake, Ala.
Notes
Faircloth is one of the most consistently excellent anglers in the world. In 2012, he posted four top 15 finishes in Elite events, including a won on the Mississippi River and second place on the St. Johns River. This season is the third time he’s finished in the top six in AOY standings. He was runner up to Kevin VanDam in 2008.
5. RANDY HOWELL
Nickname: None
Age: 38
Hometown: Springville, Ala.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 5th
Best Finish: 2nd at Oneida Lake
Bassing Average: 4.9615 (7th)
Average Bass Weight: 2.9099 (15th)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 211
Wins: 1
Prize Money: $1,077,327.00
AOY Titles: 0
AOY Best Finish: 5th in 2009 and 2012
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 10
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 11th in 1999 on the Louisiana Delta
Notes
Howell is remarkably consistent and solid. It looked like 2012 would be his breakout year (he made a run at Angler of the Year and nearly won his first Elite Series event on Oneida Lake) and it could be yet with a win at All-Star Week. There’s no question that he has the talent and has paid his dues. He’s ranked in the top 10 in the AOY standings five times in his career.
6. MATT HERREN
Nickname: None
Age: 49
Hometown: Trussville, Ala.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 225
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 6
Best Finish: 3rd at Bull Shoals Lake
Bassing Average: 4.8000 (tied for 28th)
Average Bass Weight: 2.9391 (12th)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 57
Wins: 0
Prize Money: $361,710.31
AOY Titles: 0
AOY Best Finish: 6th in 2012
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 3
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 7th in 2010 on Lay Lake, Ala.
Notes
He may be 49 years old (and the oldest angler in the All-Star Week field), but Herren is an up-and-comer. This was his best year in the Bassmaster Elite Series, by far, and he’s got all the skills to do well in All-Star competition. Herren has a well-deserved reputation as a master with a spinnerbait, but it was versatility that made him an all star.
7. KEVIN VANDAM
Nickname: KVD, Kalamazoo Kid
Age: 44
Hometown: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 175
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 7
Best Finish: 8th at Lake Okeechobee
Bassing Average: 4.8400 (22nd)
Average Bass Weight: 2.8836 (18th)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 251
Wins: 20
Prize Money: $5,406,476.33
AOY Titles: 7 (1992, 1996, 1999, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011)
AOY Best Finish: 1st in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 22
Wins: 4
Best Finish: 1st in 2001 and 2011 on the Louisiana Delta; in 2005 at Three Rivers; and in 2010 on Lay Lake, Ala.
Notes
KVD is the best that ever was when it comes to competitive bass fishing. He owns or shares just about every BASS record worth having, including career wins (20), Classic championships (4, tied with Rick Clunn) and career prize money (more than $5 million). What he doesn’t have — at least not yet — is an All-Star title.
8. EDWIN EVERS
Nickname: Easy E, E-Squared
Age: 37
Hometown: Talala, Okla.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 8
Best Finish: 4th at Bull Shoals Lake
Bassing Average: 4.9167 (tied for 11th)
Average Bass Weight: 2.7887 (23rd)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 165
Wins: 6
Prize Money: $1,836,058.00
AOY Titles: 0
AOY Best Finish: 2nd in 2010 and 2011
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 11
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 5th in 2009 on the Red River, La.
Notes
Evers has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most versatile bass anglers in the world. He’s twice been runner-up in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, and he has a couple of top five finishes in the Bassmaster Classic. He has everything, in fact, except a major championship, and absolutely everyone who follows the sport expects that to come very soon.
9. MICHAEL IACONELLI
Nickname: Ike
Age: 40
Hometown: Pittsgrove, N.J.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 31
Best Finish: 19th at Bull Shoals Lake
Bassing Average: 4.8095 (tied for 25th)
Average Bass Weight: 2.6105 (43rd)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 173
Wins: 6
Prize Money: $1,892,868.00
AOY Titles: 1 (2006)
AOY Best Finish: 1st in 2006
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 13
Wins: 1 (2003)
Best Finish: 1st in 2003 on the Louisiana Delta
Notes
Long a fan favorite, Ike had a respectable but disappointing season in 2012, failing to post a single top 12 finish for the first time in his career. He’s the only angler in B.A.S.S. history to have won AOY, a Classic, the Federation Nation Championship, weighed in over 100 pounds of bass in an Elite tournament and won over a $1 million in prize money.
10. GERALD SWINDLE
Nickname: G-Man
Age: 42
Hometown: Warrior, Ala.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 23
Best Finish: 18th at the St. Johns River
Bassing Average: 5.0000 (tied for 1st)
Average Bass Weight: 2.5588 (54th)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 192
Wins: 1
Prize Money: $1,398,499.14
AOY Titles: 1 (2004)
AOY Best Finish: 1st in 2004
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 12
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 3rd in 2005 on Three Rivers, Pa.
Notes
Wherever he goes, the clown prince of bass fishing gets laughs and catches bass. Expect the same in Illinois for All-Star Week. Swindle’s skills as the tour’s best “junk fisherman” should serve him well on waters that are unfamiliar to the field and with the very limited practice period. He’s one of the very best at figuring out how to catch ’em when the fishing’s tough.
11. SKEET REESE
Nickname: None
Age: 43
Hometown: Auburn, Calif.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 11
Best Finish: 3rd at Lake Okeechobee
Bassing Average: 4.8750 (tied for 16th)
Average Bass Weight: 3.0218 (5th)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 173
Wins: 6
Prize Money: $2,594,553.64
AOY Titles: 1 (2007)
AOY Best Finish: 1st in 2007
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 12
Wins: 1
Best Finish: 1st in 2009 on the Red River, La.
Notes
After a challenging 2011, Reese is back to form this season, posting three top seven finishes, grabbing the early lead in the AOY race and easily qualifying for his 13th Bassmaster Classic. He has a record 18 top five finishes in Elite competition and once made the finals (top 12) six straight times, a record that may never be equaled.
12. AARON MARTENS
Nickname: The Natural, A-Mart
Age: 40
Hometown: Leeds, Ala.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
2012 Elite Series Stats
AOY rank: 10th
Best Finish: 3rd at Douglas Lake and Lake Michigan
Bassing Average: 4.9583 (8th)
Average Bass Weight: 2.9777 (7th)
B.A.S.S. Career
Appearances: 169
Wins: 5
Prize Money: $1,828,262.19
AOY Titles: 1 (2005)
AOY Best Finish: 1st in 2005
Bassmaster Classic
Appearances: 13
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 2nd in 2002 on Lay Lake, Ala.; in 2004 on Lake Wylie, N.C.; in 2005 on Three Rivers in Pa.; and in 2011 on the Louisiana Delta
Notes
Martens was AOY in 2005 and is the only angler to finish second in the Bassmaster Classic four times. His close calls on fishing’s biggest stage have made him a star and one of the most popular anglers in the Elite Series. His attention to detail is legendary, and his ability to catch bass everywhere the tournament trail takes him has earned him the nickname, “The Natural.”