Mark Hicks

The primary goal for anyone who fishes the Bassmaster Elite Qualifier series is to become a professional Bassmaster Elite Series angler. For most of them, qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic by winning one of the events is a secondary objective.

From 2006 through 2018, Prattville, Ala., homie Russ Lane had the distinction of being an Elite Series angler. He earned a payday more than 50% of the time and competed in seven Bassmaster Classics.

A week after graduating from high school in 2022, Texan Pake South became a full-time guide at Lake Fork and other east Texas reservoirs. Many legendary bass pros were fishing guides prior to becoming tournament competitors. The list includes Bassmaster Classic Champions Rick Clunn, Guido Hibdon, Larry Nixon and Tommy Martin.

Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., claimed second place at the first Bassmaster Open of 2026 on Florida's Kissimmee Chain, putting him in the fast lane as he strives to qualify for the Elite Series. He made a strong run the previous season via the Bassmaster Opens but fell short in the EQs.

At age 21, Georgian Buddy Benson has already competed in 22 Bassmaster Opens and Elite Qualifiers. He earned a check in 11 of those events, giving him a very respectable .500 batting average.

In his third consecutive year of competing in the Bassmaster Opens, Oklahoma's Kollin Crawford is right on track to fish the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers. After the first two Opens tournaments in Division 2 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir and Grand Lake, the 21-year-old sits atop the division's Angler of the Year standings.

This unique free-sliding presentation adds a finesse spin to a classic power-fishing rig.

After the first three tournaments in Division 1 of the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens presented by Battery Tender, Florida's Bryson O'Steen occupies second place in the division's Angler of the Year standings. He's right on track to achieve his fervent goal of qualifying for the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.

Michael Harlin of Osage Beach, Mo., fished the Upper Mississippi River for the first time in 2015 while competing with the University of Missouri's bass team. He didn't fare well at that event but returned and got redemption by winning a Turtlebox Bassmaster Open presented by Battery Tender in 2026 with a frog.

After fishing all four Division 2 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open presented by Battery Tender tournaments in 2026, Alabama's Brody Robison leads the point standings. In his first season fishing the Opens, the 23-year-old finished fourth at Sam Rayburn, 35th at Grand Lake, 11th at Kentucky Lake and 14th on the Upper Mississippi River.