B.A.S.S. officials have announced the talented field of anglers set to compete in the 2026 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers (EQ) Series presented by Bass Pro Shops.
https://www.fishermanswarehouse.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials have announced the talented field of anglers set to compete in the 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers (EQ) Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, the proving ground where competitors battle for a coveted berth on the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.
The lineup features a mix of rising stars, seasoned veterans and international competitors, representing a wide range of regions and fishing backgrounds. Anglers will compete across the three-event EQ schedule for a chance to advance to bass fishing’s highest level.
“The inaugural EQ field is incredibly talented and diverse,” said Hank Weldon, executive director of tournaments. “From young up-and-comers to Elite Series veterans looking to requalify, the competition will be fierce. Every stop will test their versatility and consistency, and fans are going to see incredible storylines unfold as these anglers chase their Elite dreams.”
The winner of each Elite Qualifier event will receive a berth to the coveted 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. The Top 10 anglers in EQ Angler of the Year points after the final tournament will receive an invitation to the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.
The Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Lake Champlain presented by Bass Pro Shops kicks off Sept. 18-20 at 7 a.m. ET with weigh-ins to follow at 3 p.m. ET each day.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Field
Matt Adams — Guntersville, Ala.
Dylan Akins — Flowery Branch, Ga.
Fisher Anaya — Eva, Ala.
Yui Aoki — Minamitsuru-gun, Japan
Tai Au — Glendale, Ariz.
Kyle Austin — Ridgeville, S.C.
Matt Baker — Glenwood, Ark.
Bobby Bakewell — Orlando, Fla.
Chris Beaudrie — Princeton, Ky.
Andrew Behnke — Fond du Lac, Wis.
Buddy Benson — Dahlonega, Ga.
Chris Blanchette — Edisto Island, S.C.
Bailey Bleser — Burlington, Wis.
Ryan Broughman — Corapeake, N.C.
Beau Browning — Hot Springs, Ark.
Stephen Browning — Hot Springs, Ark.
Erik Brztowski — Lemont, Ill.
Grae Buck — Green Lane, Pa.
Blaine Bunney — Claremore, Okla.
Tyler Campbell — Martin, Ga.
James Chandler — Liberty, Texas
Chase Clarke — Virginia Beach, Va.
Michael Corbishley — Raleigh, N.C.
Brandon Coulter — Knoxville, Tenn.
Evan Cox-VanVliet — Loveland, Colo.
Austin Cranford — Moore, Okla.
Colby Dark — West Monroe, La.
Jack Dice — Lynchburg, Va.
Cole Drummond — Effingham, S.C.
Tim Dube — Nashua, N.H.
John Duvall — Madison, Ga.
Ty Faber — Pagosa Springs, Colo.
Dillon Falardeau — Hixson, Tenn.
Ethan Fields — Carlyle, Ill.
Hayden Gaddis — Dandridge, Tenn.
Bailey Gay — Union, Ky.
Robert Gee — Knoxville, Tenn.
Zachary Goutremout — Chaumont, N.Y.
Parker Guy — Appling, Ga.
Tanner Hadden — Appling, Ga.
Sam Hanggi — Knoxville, Tenn.
Dillon Harrell — New Caney, Texas
Chris Hellebuyck — White Lake, Mich.
Laker Howell — Guntersville, Ala.
Caleb Hudson — Lincolnton, Ga.
Connor Jacob — Guntersville, Ala.
Aaron Jagdfeld — Rochester Hills, Mich.
Brad Jelinek — Lincoln, Mo.
Clint Knight — Russellville, Ky.
Ryan Lachniet — Gum Spring, Va.
Russ Lane — Prattville, Ala.
River Lee — Diboll, Texas
Jace Lindsay — Beckville, Texas
Lucas Lindsay — Auburn, Ala.
Ed Loughran III — Richmond, Va.
Wyatt Marler — Oldfield, Mo.
Cameron Mattison — Benton, La.
Tristan McCormick — Bon Aqua, Tenn.
Danny McGarry — Newcastle, Ontario, Canada
Brandon McMillan — Clewiston, Fla.
Mark Menendez — Paducah, Ky.
Matt Messer — Warfield, Ky.
Alec Morrison — Peru, N.Y.
Paul Mueller — Naugatuck, Conn.
Lucas Murphy — West Columbia, S.C.
Joey Nania — Cropwell, Ala.
Christian Nash — Allons, Tenn.
Michael Neal — Dayton, Tenn.
Riley Nielsen — Salt Lake City, Utah
Lane Olson — Forest Grove, Ore.
Bryson Osteen — Live Oak, Fla.
Christian Ostrander — Turlock, Calif.
Garrett Paquette — Canton, Mich.
Jaden Parrish — Liberty, Texas
Bryan Partak — Marseilles, Ill.
Chad Pipkens — DeWitt, Mich.
Brian Post — Janesville, Wis.
Nic Rand — Paw Paw, Mich.
Adam Rasmussen — Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
Brock Reinkemeyer — Warsaw, Mo.
Ryan Salzman — Huntsville, Ala.
Casey Scanlon — Eldon, Mo.
Trey Schroeder — Theodosia, Mo.
Blake Smith — Lakeland, Fla.
Casey Smith — Victor, N.Y.
Pake South — Winnsboro, Texas
Cody Stahl — Barnsville, Ga.
Trey Swindle — Cleveland, Ala.
Bo Thomas — Edwardsburg, Mich.
Brady Vernon — Sterrett, Ala.
Jimmy Washam — Stantonville, Tenn.
Ian Waterer — East Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
Alex Wetherell — Middletown, Conn.
Joe Wieberg — Freeburg, Mo.
Tommy Wood — Peregian Springs, Australia
Aaron Yavorsky — Palm Harbor, Fla.
Jack York — Emory, Texas
The EQs will test anglers across diverse fisheries, with competition streamed live on Bassmaster.com and Roku and covered across B.A.S.S. social, digital and print platforms.
Advertising