Complete List of Every Bassmaster AOY (2026 UPDATED)
Looking for the list of every Bassmaster Rookie of the Year? Click here.
There are only 30 people who have earned the title of B.A.S.S. AOY / Bassmaster Angler of the Year: Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Jimmy Houston, Larry Nixon, Hank Parker, Denny Brauer, Rick Clunn, Gary Klein, Guido Hibdon, Kevin VanDam, David Fritts, Mark Davis, Davy Hite, Tim Horton, Jay Yelas, Gerald Swindle, Aaron Martens, Michael Iaconelli, Skeet Reese, Brent Chapman, Greg Hackney, Brandon Palaniuk, Justin Lucas, Scott Canterbury, Clark Wendlandt, Seth Feider, Kyle Welcher, Chris Johnston, & Trey McKinney.
Here is the complete list in chronological order:
After the list we will discuss those who have won more than once*, and those who have won in consecutive years+ (extremely rare!)
1970 — Bill Dance*
1971 — Roland Martin*+
1972 — Roland Martin*+
1973 — Roland Martin*+
1974 — Bill Dance*
1975 — Roland Martin*+
1976 — Jimmy Houston*
1977 — Bill Dance*
1978 — Roland Martin*+
1979 — Roland Martin*+
1980 — Larry Nixon*
1981 — Roland Martin*+
1982 — Larry Nixon*
1983 — Hank Parker
1984 — Roland Martin*+
1985 — Roland Martin*+
1986 — Jimmy Houston*
1987 — Denny Brauer
1988 — Rick Clunn
1989 — Gary Klein*
1990 — Guido Hibdon*+
1991 — Guido Hibdon*+
1992 — Kevin VanDam*+
1993 — Gary Klein*
1994 — David Fritts
1995 — Mark Davis*
1996 — Kevin VanDam*+
1997 — Davy Hite*
1998 — Mark Davis*
1999 — Kevin VanDam*+
2000 — Tim Horton
2001 — Mark Davis*
2002 — Davy Hite*
2003 — Jay Yelas
2004 — Gerald Swindle*
2005 — Aaron Martens*
2006 — Michael Iaconelli
2007 — Skeet Reese
2008 — Kevin VanDam*+
2009 — Kevin VanDam*+
2010 — Kevin VanDam*+
2011 — Kevin VanDam*+
2012 — Brent Chapman
2013 — Aaron Martens*
2014 — Greg Hackney
2015 — Aaron Martens*
2016 — Gerald Swindle*
2017 — Brandon Palaniuk*
2018 — Justin Lucas
2019 — Scott Canterbury
2020 — Clark Wendlandt
2021 — Seth Feider
2022 — Brandon Palaniuk*
2023 — Kyle Welcher
2024 — Chris Johnston*
2025 — Chris Johnston*
2026 — Trey McKinney
Multiple Bassmaster AOY Winners*
Only 13 anglers have more than one BASS AOY to their name (denoted with a * in above list):
Roland Martin — 9
Kevin VanDam — 7
Bill Dance — 3
Mark Davis — 3
Aaron Martens — 3
Larry Nixon — 2
Jimmy Houston — 2
Gary Klein — 2
Guido Hibdon — 2
Davy Hite — 2
Gerald Swindle — 2
Brandon Palaniuk — 2
Chris Johnston — 2
Back-to-back Bassmaster AOY Winners+
Even fewer anglers (only 4) have consecutive year AOY titles (denoted with a + in above list).
With his win in 2025, Chris Johnston joins the short list of legends with consecutive Angler of the Year titles:
Roland Martin
1971–1973 (3 in a row)
1978–1979 (back-to-back)
1984–1985 (back -to-back)
Guido Hibdon
1990–1991 (back-to-back)
Kevin VanDam
2008–2011 (4 in a row)
Chris Johnston
2024–2025 (back-to-back)
To view the official Bassmaster AOY slideshow, click here.
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