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The 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Field Is Set
The 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series field is set with a total of 111 of the world’s best bass anglers, including 15 former Bassmaster Classic champions. Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala. (above), won the Classic in 2012.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Entering its 11th season, the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series field has been filled with 111 professional anglers, including both new and familiar names.
Most are veteran tournament anglers; 98 are returning Elite Series anglers, while many of the 13 newcomers have long and distinguished résumés from other fishing circuits. All will be battling for hundreds of thousands of dollars, plus the prestigious Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title and coveted 2017 Bassmaster Classic spots, in competition on some of America’s top bass fisheries.
Headlining the field is Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., the reigning Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year. Martens clinched the 2015 AOY title after turning in one of the most dominant performances in recent history, including two Elite Series victories. Joining him are other members of the Top 5 in 2015 AOY points, including Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., who won the 2015 Sacramento Bassmaster Elite at Sacramento River; four-time tournament winner Dean Rojas; 10-time champion Edwin Evers, who also won back-to-back events in 2015; and three-time winner Jacob Powroznik.
Fifteen former Classic winners will be competing in the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series, including the 2015 champion, Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C.; Luke Clausen of Otis Orchards, Wash.; Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo.; Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark.; Boyd Duckett of Guntersville, Ala.; Paul Elias of Laurel, Miss.; Davy Hite of Ninety Six, S.C.; Randy Howell of Guntersville, Ala.; Michael Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J.; Alton Jones of Lorena, Texas; Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala.; Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas; Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss.; Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif.; and Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich.
Joining the veteran Elite anglers are 12 newcomers to the Elite Series who qualified through the rigorous Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series: Adrian Avena of Vineland, N.J.; Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa.; Shane Lineberger, Lincolnton, N.C.; Matt Vermilyea, Perrysburg, Ohio; John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.; Drew Benton, Panama City, Fla.; Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala.; Chad Grigsby, Maple Grove, Minn.; Jay Brainard, Enid, Okla.; Brett Preuett, Monroe, La.; Brock Mosley, Collinsville, Miss.; and Clausen. In addition, Fabian Rodriguez of Ocean City, Md., earned an Elite Series invitation as a B.A.S.S. Nation divisional champion.
Pros and fans alike are expressing their enthusiasm with the 2016 Elite Series schedule, which is being expanded from nine tournaments, including the AOY Championship, to 11. The season kicks off with the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, March 4-6. The Classic winner, if he is not already in the Elite Series will be invited to join the tour, which begins at the St. Johns River out of Palatka, Fla., March 17-20.
Each regular-season Elite Series event will feature a $658,000 purse, with $100,000 going to the winner and at least $10,000 being paid out through 52nd place, based on a full field of 111. BASSfest will pay out a total of $700,000, with $100,000 going to first place.
The 2016 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship will pay a total purse of $1 million, with the Angler of the Year claiming $100,000, and the rest distributed to the remainder of the field of Top 50 Elite anglers based on AOY standings after the championship.
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series field
(Anglers marked with an asterisk (*) are new to the Elite Series.)
Randy Allen, Shreveport, La.
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
*Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
*Drew Benton, Panama City, Fla.
Josh Bertrand, Gilbert, Ariz.
Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla.
*Jay Brainard, Enid, Okla.
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
Brandon Card, Caryville, Tenn.
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Hank Cherry, Maiden, N.C.
Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla.
*Luke Clausen, Otis Orchards, Wash.
Rick Clunn, Ava, Mo.
Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
John Crews, Salem, Va.
Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La.
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
*Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala.
Ott DeFoe, Knoxville, Tenn.
Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala.
Brent Ehrler, Newport Beach, Calif.
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss.
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Seth Feider, Bloomington, Minn.
Micah Frazier, Newnan, Ga.
*Chad Grigsby, Maple Grove, Minn.
Shaw Grigsby, Gainseville, Fla.
Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La.
Matt Herren, Ashville, Ala.
Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz.
Davy Hite, Ninety Six, S.C.
Tim Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala.
*John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.
Michael Iaconelli, Pittsgrove, N.J.
Ken Iyobe, Tokoname Aichi, Japan
Kelly Jaye, Dadeville, Ala.
Carl Jocumsen, Frisco, Texas
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas
Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala.
Kotaro Kiriyama, Moody, Ala.
Gary Klein, Weatherford, Texas
Koby Kreiger, Bokeelia, Fla.
Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla.
Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala.
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala.
Jordan Lee, Vinemont, Ala.
Matt Lee, Guntersville, Ala.
*Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa.
Brandon Lester, Fayetteville, Tenn.
*Shane Lineberger, Lincolnton, N.C.
Jared Lintner, Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Bill Lowen, Brookville, Ind.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Aaron Martens, Leeds, Ala.
Billy McCaghren, Mayflower, Ark.
Mike McClelland, Bella Vista, Ark.
Mark Menendez, Paducah, Ky.
Yusuke Miyazaki, Forney, Texas
Ish Monroe, Hughson, Calif.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
Chad Morgenthaler, Reeds Spring, Mo.
*Brock Mosley, Collinsville, Miss.
Paul Mueller, Naugatuck, Conn.
David Mullins, Mt. Carmel, Tenn.
John Murray, Phoenix, Ariz.
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C.
James Niggemeyer, Van, Texas
Takahiro Omori, Emory, Texas
Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss.
Brandon Palaniuk, Hayden, Idaho
Chad Pipkens, Holt, Mich.
Clifford Pirch, Payson, Ariz.
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala.
Jacob Powroznik, Port Haywood, Va.
*Brett Preuett, Monroe, La.
Cliff Prince, Palatka, Fla.
Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C.
*Fabian Rodriguez, Ocean City, Md.
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Scott Rook, Little Rock, Ark.
Fred Roumbanis, Bixby, Okla.
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Casey Scanlon, Rocky Mount, Mo.
Bernie Schultz, Gainesville, Fla.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
Morizo Shimizu, Suita, Osaka, Japan
Fletcher Shryock, New Philadelphia, Ohio
Brian Snowden, Reeds Spring, Mo.
Gerald Swindle, Warrior, Ala.
Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe, Fla.
Dennis Tietje, Roanoke, La.
J Todd Tucker, Moultrie Ga.
Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Bryon Velvick, Boerne, Texas
*Matt Vermilyea, Perrysburg, Ohio
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn.
Nate Wellman, Newaygo, Mich.
David Williams, Newton, N.C.
Jason Williamson, Wagener, S.C.
Chris Zaldain, San Jose, Calif.
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Berkley, GoPro, Huk Performance Fishing, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series presented by Carhartt, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.
Pro vs. Joe: Episode 6 presented by Realtree Now Available
In Episode 6, Brent Chapman faces off with Max Gresham, a former race car driver turned collegiate angler. Max, a member of the Valdosta State fishing team in Georgia, challenged Chapman to a head to head battle at Live Oak Plantation. Live Oak Plantation is a hunting and fishing lodge near Adel, Georgia with eight lakes that are open to the public with a small visitors fee.
Live Oak Plantation was a spectacular setting for Pro vs. Joe Episode 6 and Gresham prove to be a formidable opponent for Chapman, the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year.
For more information on Live Oak Plantation please visit HuntLiveOak.com
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How “G” Tames His Rods
There isn’t much worse than a mess of rods tangled up on the front deck unless they fly over the side on you way to the fish. Here is a look at how Gerald Swindle avoids that problem and why he elects not to use the retractable straps that come standard on his Triton.
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Martens Auctioning Off Winning Rods for Wounded Warriors
ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 3, 2015) – In 2015, Aaron Martens won his third Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year title with stunning dominance. During the Elite Series season, Martens recorded five top-10 finishes, including two victories. In the end, he won the coveted Angler of the Year award by a historical 112-point margin.
Now Martens is auctioning off the very Enigma rods he used to win the 2015 Angler of the Year award. All of the proceeds received from the auctions will go directly to the Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation (WWIAF) to fund world-class outdoor experiences for these Heroes.
“I can’t think of a better cause to contribute these rods to than an organization dedicated to getting Wounded Warriors in the outdoors,” Martens said. “Those injured soldiers put our freedoms above their own personal safety to protect our way of life. No price can be put on that.”
In all, some 30 rods will be auctioned off on eBay. Some of the rods are casting, some are spinning and they vary in actions and sizes.
“All of these are the Enigma rods I used all season on the Elite Series,” Martens said. “Some of them are one-of-a-kind prototypes that I was experimenting with when designing the rods. Some of them are the ones I used to win on Havasu and on the Chesapeake. They are special rods to me, but I want people across the country to bid on them to raise money so we can get these amazing Warriors into the great outdoors where they can experience miracles.”
All of the money raised in the auctions will be donated to WWIAF, a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to provide world-class outdoor sporting activities to wounded combat veterans who have received the Purple Heart Award.
WWIAF was founded in 2007 by retired Lieutenant Colonel John McDaniel who served in the U.S. Army for 20 years. McDaniel’s vision was to harness the healing powers of the great outdoors by arranging exceptional fishing and hunting experiences for combat wounded veterans at no cost to them.
Today WWIAF serves more than 200 Wounded Warriors a year across 36 states and three foreign countries. The sporting adventures are vast and varied; some of the more popular destinations include muskie fishing in Wisconsin, bass fishing in Texas, offshore fishing in Mexico, bear hunting in British Columbia, pheasant hunting in South Dakota and even gator hunting in Florida.
“We are extremely humbled and honored that Aaron would think of the Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation as a place to donate the contributions from his Enigma rod auctions,” McDaniel said. “When great champions like Aaron and quality companies like Enigma team up and work together to do good things, everybody wins – and this partnership is tremendous example of that.”
“Our foundation works very hard to get wounded combat veterans back in action in the outdoors,” McDaniel added. “The activities of fishing and hunting serve as tremendous catalysts for the healing process for these great Heroes. And because of partnerships like this, these outdoor pursuits do not cost them a single penny. So to all who bid on these proven tournament-winning rods, I wish you the best of luck.”
In all there will be four sets of auctions for Martens’ Enigma rods. The auctions will be held each quarter on eBay. Every rod will include a rod sock, Enigma hat, and a certificate of authenticity as a rod used by Martens during his 2015 Angler of the Year campaign.
The first set of auctions will be held Dec. 4, 5, 6 and 7. Two rods per day will be auctioned off. Each of the auctions will last for a period of 7 days. Rods in this December auction will ship before Christmas.
Some of the highlights of the first auctions will include Martens’ famous dropshot rod (6’10” medium-light), his favorite shakey head rod (6’11” medium-light), a cranking rod (7’2” medium), a flipping stick (7’8” heavy), a jig and toad rod (7’3” heavy) and several more.
For more information on the auctions visit www.enigmafishing.com
For more information on the Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation visit www.woundedwarriorsinaction.org
Classic Berth Awaits Winner Of Toyota Bonus Bucks Team Championship
Photo by Seigo Saito/Bassmaster
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. – When bass fishing enthusiasts hear mention of Lake Guntersville, many think right away of a lake that’s played host to some of the sport’s biggest moments.
During the past six years alone, the historic Tennessee River fishery has been the site of three Bassmaster Elite Series events and the 2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
On Dec. 9-12, another historic moment will take place when the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship is held from Guntersville State Park with a 2016 Classic berth on the line. Daily launches will take place at 6:30 a.m. CT, with weigh-ins held back at the park each day at 2:30 p.m.
A full field of about 400 anglers from across the country will fish as two-man teams Dec. 9-10, with the top pair being crowned national team champions. Then on Dec. 11-12, the six anglers from the top three teams will compete individually in the Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-Off.
The winner of the individual competition will earn a bid to the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, March 4-6.
“For the average guy who has heard so much about Guntersville, I know they’re excited just to fish the lake,” said Jon Stewart, Bassmaster Team Championship director. “Anytime you make a cast at Guntersville, you feel like you have a chance to catch the fish of a lifetime. To experience that and also have a chance to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic is a pretty amazing thing.”
Though Guntersville is indeed nationally known for producing big numbers of trophy-sized bass, the fishing has been tough of late — perhaps due to a mild fall that has seen daytime temperatures remain in the upper 60s and low 70s into early December across the southeastern United States.
Some of the top anglers in the world have struggled on the lake recently, including 2015 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Aaron Martens. During a live video presentation on Bassmaster.com in late October, Martens landed just one fish for the camera between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Justin Lucas, an Elite Series pro from Alabama who finished just behind Martens in this year’s AOY standings, had an even harder time recently figuring out the Guntersville bass.
“I spent some time out there a while back, and I fished four hours and never got a bite,” said Lucas, who lives just minutes from the lake. “Guntersville was actually better in September and October this year than it had been in September and October of years past. But since then — since all the mats have gone away — it’s gotten really tough.”
Though he said he wouldn’t be surprised to see low weights across much of the field, Lucas is confident some anglers will find good fish. He listed a variety of baits he would use if he were taking part in the event.
“I would be using lipless cranks, swimbaits, ChatterBaits — all moving baits — in less than 10 feet of water,” Lucas said. “And I’d be looking for places where I could get multiple bites.”
He said those types of places are common on Guntersville if the anglers can only find the right ones.
“One thing about the Tennessee River is the fish do tend to school up — whether they’re in big, giant schools on ledges or on the edge of the grass,” Lucas said. “If you catch one, you can typically catch another one or two from that area.
“That’s what you need to find. To me, if I’m out there with the trolling motor down all day only catching one here and there, that doesn’t give me a lot of confidence to go back out the next day in a multiday tournament.”
Anglers qualified for the Team Championship through various independently operated team trails sanctioned by B.A.S.S. A complete list of those sanctioned events is available at Bassmaster.com.
In last year’s inaugural Team Championship at DeGray Lake in Arkansas, teammates Flannagan Fife and Royce Davis from the Fishers of Men circuit clinched the team title in their home state and advanced to the Classic Fish-Off. However, North Carolina angler Brandon Gray from the Anglers Choice team trail won the fish-off and qualified for the 2015 Classic on Lake Hartwell out of Greenville, S.C.
Gray finished 37th out of 55 anglers in the Classic with a two-day total of 15-10, earning $10,000. A weekend angler who had fished only one Bassmaster event prior to the Classic, Gray finished ahead of several veteran pros, including Paul Elias, Cliff Crochet and Brandon Palaniuk.
2015 Bassmaster Team Championship Title Sponsor: Toyota Bonus Bucks
2015 Bassmaster Team Championship Premier Sponsors: GoPro, Mercury, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2015 Bassmaster Team Championship Supporting Sponsors: Huk, Livingston Lures
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.