Who Stays, Who Goes? Inside the Bassmaster Elite Cut Rules

If you’ve ever tried to follow the ins and outs of the Bassmaster Elite Series roster changes, you know it can feel like trying to read tournament rules in a thunderstorm—technically possible, but not without frustration.

Our Instagram follower Nate Casarella summed it up perfectly:

“Break down what needs to happen in order for this angler to stay on tour or this angler to head back to the Opens. It’s super confusing to us with all the rules for who stays and who goes.”

So here’s the clear, fan-friendly breakdown of how it works—straight from an inside source at B.A.S.S.

The Golden Rule: Finish in the Top 70

To keep your spot on the Elites for the following season, you need to finish inside the top 70 in the Angler of the Year (AOY) points standings.

Fall below that mark, and you could be on the chopping block.

How Many Anglers Are Cut Each Year?

The baseline number of cuts is 11 anglers:

10 spots go to the top anglers from the Bassmaster Opens EQ (Elite Qualifiers) standings.
1 spot goes to the B.A.S.S. Nation Champion.

But there’s a twist: if the Elite field has more than 100 anglers in it, the extra spots above 100 are also cut.

Example:

This year’s field = 104 anglers
Baseline cuts = 11
Extra over 100 = 4
Total cut = 15 anglers

How the Cut Works

When the season ends:

Take everyone from 71st place down to last in AOY points.
Rank them by career AOY average (with your worst season dropped every five years).
The 15 lowest-ranked anglers in that list are cut.

Special Cases That Shift the Cut Line

B.A.S.S. also has exceptions that can slide the cut line by a spot or two:

For example, Kyle Patrick’s medical exemption means he’s already locked into the 2026 season and retains his career average from when he stepped away. If he also finishes inside the top 70 this year, everyone effectively moves up one spot. In that case, 71st place would be safe. Lucky them!

Building the Next Year’s Field

Here’s how the 2025 Elite field could shake out under the current system:

89 anglers from AOY points standings (104 – 15 cut = 89)
10 EQ qualifiers from the Opens (hardest field in the sport—top Opens anglers plus any Elite who wants to fish it).
1 Nation Champion.

That’s a target of 100 anglers, plus any Legends or medical exemptions B.A.S.S. decides to grant.

1 medical exemption (Kyle Patrick).
Possible legends exemption?

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Why the EQ Path Is So Brutal

The Opens EQ schedule is intentionally diverse, covering all types of fisheries. The goal is to prove that qualifiers aren’t just specialists—they’re well-rounded enough to compete anywhere the Elites go. It’s the toughest proving ground in professional bass fishing.

Bottom line:

Stay in the top 70 to sleep easy. Fall below that, and you’re relying on your career average and hoping the cut line doesn’t catch you. For Opens anglers, the path in is harder than ever, but the reward is one of the most coveted spots in pro fishing.