If you didn’t enjoy Semifinal Saturday of the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River, you need to check your pulse… or you were Chris Johnston, Trey McKinney or one of the other anglers stressing out about valuable points on the second to last day of competition for 2025.
Most of the points race questions have been decided now at the Upper Mississippi. Here’s a breakdown of what transpired on Day 3.
Progressive Angler of the Year
Trey McKinney certainly pushed Chris Johnston to the brink on Semifinal Saturday, but in the end the second-year pro from Carbondale, Ill. had dug himself a hole too deep to climb out of. Johnston became the fourth angler to win back-to-back Angler of the Years in Bassmaster history and did so without making a single Top 10 cut. He did notch five Top 15 finishes, however, and did not finish worse than 33rd all year.
Since joining the Elite Series in 2019, the Ontario pro has never missed a Bassmaster Classic and has AOY finishes of 13th, 33rd, second, third, 18th, first and first.
McKinney will no doubt have his time. He’s already finished runner-up in Angler of the Year twice, has two blue trophies and so many prime years ahead of him, but this will no doubt sting for a long time. Jay Przekurat, who led the race up until Lake St. Clair, expressed no regrets about his season when talking to Dave Mercer on Day 3. It is only a matter of time before the Wisconsin pro wins an AOY too. He has yet to finish outside the Top 10 in Angler of the Year.
Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year
After clinching Rookie of the Year on Day 2, Tucker Smith decided to go ahead and make the Top 10 for an encore, his fourth final day cut of the year. His roommate, Andrew Loberg, just missed the final day by 6 ounces.
Bassmaster Classic Cutline
Nine of the 10 anglers fishing on Championship Sunday are well above 42nd place in Angler of the Year standings. What does that mean? It means that, in all likelihood, the winner will double qualify for the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, and the angler who finishes in 43rd in points will be the new “last man in”.
Stetson Blaylock, who trails leader Caleb Kuphall by more than 4 pounds, is the only angler who could win tomorrow and not help another angler reach the Classic. Blaylock, I’m sure, would be perfectly happy with that result.
Here’s how the Classic cut looks currently and will almost certainly look at tournament’s end:
38. Wesley Gore, 537 points
39. Alex Redwine, 528 points
40. Justin Hamner, 525 points
41. Andrew Loberg, 520 points
42. Brandon Palaniuk, 516 points
43. Dakota Ebare, 515 points
44. John Crews, 510 points
45. Kyle Norsetter, 503 points
46. Cole Sands, 492 points
47. Robert Gee, 490 points.
Even after the standings become final tomorrow, hope is not all lost for Crews, Norsetter and Sands in particular. Three Nitro Boats Elite Qualifier events remain on the schedule, and if an angler who is already Classic qualified wins one of those, that berth will be given back to the Elite Series.
Elite anglers not Classic qualified currently also have the option to fish the EQ’s and could earn a spot that way. Gee stated he will be one of the anglers doing that.
Elite Series Requalification
As it turns out, Ray Hanselman’s solid performance at the Upper Mississippi is likely going to be enough to keep him in the Elite Series for 2026. The same unfortunately can’t be said for Paul Mueller, who finished 14th at the Upper Mississippi and finished in the Top 10 at Lake St. Clair last week. A good finish to his run as an Elite Series pro if it is indeed the end of the road.
Yesterday I touched on Bernie Schultz and his likely departure from the Elite Series. Today, it hit me that Mark Menendez is also in a perilous position. Menendez is certainly held in high regard by his fellow Elite Series competitors as well as fans. He is one of the great teachers in this sport and one of the first anglers I ever worked with when I started writing for B.A.S.S. Times. It’s hard to fathom that he may not be crossing the big stage anymore, but if that time has come, I feel like he would be an excellent addition to the Bassmaster LIVE team.
All of this is still speculation on some level and definitely unofficial. It will be unofficial for the next several months more than likely. The standings need to be finalized, and even then there is plenty of uncertainty. Retirements or departures from anglers above the cutline could happen in the coming months. While unlikely at this stage of the game, an angler who finishes Top 10 in the EQ points race could decline their invitation to the Elite Series.
Those Elite anglers who feel they are in danger now are also eligible to fish the EQ’s and could solidify their spot for 2026 that way. Chad Pipkens will for sure be attempting that feat starting in mid-September at Lake Champlain.
