BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2021 Bassmaster Elite season ended in July, but there may still be movement in the list of Elite Series anglers who qualify for the 2022 Bassmaster Classic. One unique wrinkle this year is that each Elite angler drops his lowest finish. “The drop,” as it has been called, came about early this year when Elite anglers voted-in the ability to drop their worst tournament should someone miss an event for a COVID-related illness. That happened when David Fritts fell ill for the first tournament.
The drop only impacted Classic berths, not Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings or requalification to the Elites for 2022. Those berths are awarded to the Top 39 Elites and move down the standings with each double qualifier.
B.A.S.S. recently sent out the updated AOY point standings with each Elite angler’s worst event excluded. Four additional Elite anglers have qualified for the Classic because Hank Cherry, Brandon Palaniuk and Taku Ito double qualified and Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens at Oneida Lake winner Bill Perkins is not fishing all three tournaments in the Northern division.
With four Opens tournaments remaining, it is mathematically possible more Elites will qualify. There will be drama in those tournaments with Classic qualifications, Elite Series invitations and the Falcon Rods Opens Angler of the Year title on the line.
Remaining Classic berths will go to the three current Opens winners — Keith Tuma, Daisuke Aoki and Joey Nania — assuming that they fish all three tournaments in their respective division. Nine berths are still to be decided from the four remaining Opens events, the Top 3 finishers at the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, the Team Champion and the College Classic Bracket Champion.
Elite Series Anglers Currently Qualified For 2022 Bassmaster Classic
1. Seth Feider
2. Chris Johnston
3. Brandon Palaniuk
4. Patrick Walters
5. Caleb Sumrall
6. Lee Livesay
7. Cory Johnston
8. Brandon Cobb
9. Jason Christie
10. Greg Hackney
11. Drew Cook
12. Austin Felix
13. Wes Logan
14. Brock Mosley
15. Luke Palmer
16. Taku Ito
17. Gerald Swindle
18. Hank Cherry
19. Shane LeHew
20. Jeff Gustafson
21. Kyle Welcher
22. Brandon Lester
23. Drew Benton
24. Chad Pipkens
25. John Crews
26. Bryan Schmitt
27. Matt Herren
28. Brandon Card
29. Josh Stracner
30. Steve Kennedy
31. KJ Queen
32. Buddy Gross
33. Bryan New
34. Hunter Shryock
35. David Mullins
36. Justin Hamner
37. Marc Frazier
38. Chris Zaldain
39. Matt Robertson
40. Matt Arey
41. Stetson Blaylock
42. John Cox
43. Ray Hanselman