Bernie and Pipkens didn't get cut?! They are using some fuzzy math.

I like Bernie, but he needs to go as well.

I like Bernie too but I want to see the rules they use to re-qualify, I would think Hartman would have been gone to but did he use ANOTHER medical exemption?

Yeah the “medical exemption” gets used too often. Hasn’t one of the guys used it like 2-3 years in a row.

Pretty sure Pipkens has made the classic 3 out of the past 5 years. The qualification/re-qualification process is below, unless they adjusted it for '25, which I haven't heard. So change the years from '23 and '24 to '24 and '25 and you have your answer....I haven't done the math for the 18 years of AOY standings but they are on BASS' site if you'd like to. I did hear Swindle say something about anglers that left for MLF and have come back don't get their history on the Elites counted....meaning, the year they came back is their "first" in their average. Which he seemed to be complaining about......but I guess, if anglers have a problem with that they shouldn't have left in the first place. And all they have to do coming back is finish in the top 70 so.....



For starters, if the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic champ or any first-year qualifier for the 2023 Elite Series isn’t in the top 70 in AOY, those anglers are guaranteed re-entry into the Elites Series in 2024. This keeps rookies from having one-and-done Elite careers after having often spent years trying to qualify, and obviously protects a Classic champ in the event of some unlikely disastrous combination of circumstances. In addition to the automatic re-entry by finishing in the top 70, the previous year’s Classic champ would almost certainly re-qualify through the following provision.

Again attempting to hit 100 anglers, the remainder of the field will be filled based on a lifetime career average, using regular season AOY points from 2006 to 2023. Anglers are also allowed one drop year for every five years they’ve been on the Elites, prioritizing the careers of anglers who have made professional fishing their livelihood and built lasting careers.

There are a few additional exemptions available. This is how all of these criteria are expressly communicated to the anglers by B.A.S.S. tournament staff.

2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Qualifications and Field Size:

Top 70 in the 2023 Progressive AOY Standings
2023 Classic champion (If not in the Top 70)
First-year qualifiers for the 2023 season automatically get a second year and are not subject to being cut for 2024 season [up to 13]. (If not in the Top 70)
Nine qualify from Overall Points in the Opens
One invitation from Top 3 in B.A.S.S. Nation Championship
Remainder filled through lifetime (2006 to 2023) AOY average (regular season) with one drop for every five years (minimum of six additional qualifiers)
Target field size of 100 plus exemptions
B.A.S.S. reserves the right to determine final field size and exemption (hardship, legends, etc.) criteria at its own discretion. All exemptions will be added to the field size.

Pipkens last 5 years:
2024 - 101
2023 - 85
2022 - 39
2021 - 31
2020 - 36

Gives him an average of 47.75. His last two years put him in the target area for possible cut but his three years before that keeps him in.

Not herren.