Bassmaster Classic Angler Qualification Update

August 9, 2021

Bassmaster Classic Angler Qualification Update

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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 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

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 Feider2.    Chris Johnston3.    Brandon Palaniuk4.    Patrick Walters5.    Caleb Sumrall6.    Lee Livesay7.    Cory Johnston8.    Brandon Cobb9.    Jason Christie10.  Greg Hackney11.  Drew Cook12.  Austin Felix13.  Wes Logan14.  Brock Mosley15.  Luke Palmer16.  Taku Ito17.  Gerald Swindle18.  Hank Cherry19.  Shane LeHew20.  Jeff Gustafson21.  Kyle Welcher22.  Brandon Lester23.  Drew Benton24.  Chad Pipkens25.  John Crews26.  Bryan Schmitt27.  Matt Herren28.  Brandon Card29.  Josh Stracner30.  Steve Kennedy31.  KJ Queen32.  Buddy Gross33.  Bryan New34.  Hunter Shryock35.  David Mullins36.  Justin Hamner37.  Marc Frazier38.  Chris Zaldain39.  Matt Robertson40.  Matt Arey41.  Stetson Blaylock42.  John Cox43.  Ray Hanselman

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