Enthusiasm reached an all-time high for the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens in 2023 as B.A.S.S. unveiled a new “Elite Qualifiers” division that required anglers to fish all nine events across three divisions to qualify for one of nine spots on the Bassmaster Elite Series.
That momentum shows no signs of slowing down as more than 150 anglers have already signed up for the EQs in 2024, including, once again, some of the biggest names in professional bass fishing.
This all comes on the heels of B.A.S.S. officials announcing increased payouts and widely expanded coverage for 2024.
Live coverage from all nine Bassmaster Opens will be streamed on Bassmaster.com, with expanded coverage for the 2024 season on FS1, FS2, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms. Also beginning in 2024, Bassmaster Opens EQ anglers will be competing for a combined Angler of the Year purse of $110,000, which includes an increased first-place cash prize of $45,000. The prize payouts for every tournament will also increase, with the top 45 anglers earning a check. Alongside the new AOY purse, that totals a prize purse of more than $3.1 million over the course of the season.
“The field just keeps getting tougher and more impressive for the EQs,” said Chris Bowes, vice president of tournaments for B.A.S.S. “That’s the way it should be for a trail that is the proving ground for the Bassmaster Elite Series. When anglers survive the grind of fishing nine tournaments against this roster, they can feel confident they’re ready for a shot at the top level of professional bass fishing.”
Like last year, the field is an incredible mix of established stars and up-and-coming young talent — with both lists growing even longer than before.
Among the notables are three current Japanese Elite Series pros, Kyoya Fujita, Kenta Kimura and Masayuki Matsushita. In 2023, Fujita claimed an Elite Series win at Lake Champlain as well as four other Top 10 finishes, while Kimura earned three Top 10s and finished fifth in the Opens EQ points standings.
Mississippi pro Cliff Pace, winner of the 2013 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, will join this year’s EQs lineup, along with four-time B.A.S.S. winner Randall Tharp. Other former Elite Series pros in the field will include Darold Gleason, Chad Grigsby, Brett Hite, Charlie Hartley, Mike McClelland, Ish Monroe, James Niggemeyer, Garrett Paquette, Russ Lane, Gary Clouse, Yusuke Miyazaki, Casey Scanlon and Shane Lineberger.
Those veteran pros and current Elites, who have an amazing 59 Classic appearances among them, will be joined by talented young anglers like University of Montevallo star Easton Fothergill, who qualified for the 2024 Classic by winning the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, and decorated Auburn University angler and college national champion Tucker Smith.
B.A.S.S. Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon, who oversees the Opens trail, says no one should shy away from Opens competition. But he says everyone should enter with their eyes wide open, knowing just how tough this field will be.
“Everywhere you look on this roster of anglers you see guys who are capable of winning major events,” Weldon said. “I thought it was tough last year when we drew 173 guys for the first-ever EQ field. But this list may be even more loaded with big-time talent — and with the schedule we have, it’s going to make for some really exciting events.”
Other recognizable names in the field include Idaho pro Cody Meyer, a former FLW Tour angler with more than $1.4 million in career earnings, and Alabama pro Joey Nania, who won his second Open at Lake Eufaula, Okla., in 2023 — and qualified for his second Classic — before finishing 18th in the EQ standings, less than 100 points from an Elite berth.
“This field is not for the faint of heart,” Weldon said. “Some of the guys who just missed last year — like Keith Tuma, Sam George, Kyle Austin — will no doubt be even hungrier this second time around.”
The field is down slightly from last season but loaded with more established names, suggesting many anglers might have decided they need more time to prepare for a shot at fishing all nine events. Those who survived the gauntlet say that could be a wise decision.
During the 2023 season, anglers like JT Thompkins — the very first Opens EQ Angler of the Year — expressed just how difficult it was knowing every event could be the one that made the difference between qualifying for the Elites or being forced to make another round through the Opens. But he also said the rigorous Opens format was the perfect preparation for an Elite Series slate that will be even tougher.
“I think everyone can see clearly that (the EQ format) was a very good thing because it brought the best out of every angler in the field,” Thompkins said. “I think it’s the best thing that we could have done.
“I think this 2024 Elite rookie class will be the best rookie class of all time, and I think that’s all thanks to the format that (B.A.S.S.) put out.”
With the schedule still split into three divisions, winners of all Opens will still earn a spot in the 2025 Classic, provided they fish all three events in that division.
Registration for both boaters and nonboaters remains open for all 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens tournaments at Bassmaster.com/Opens.
The complete Elite Qualifiers field is as follows:
Alabama
Matthew Adams, Oxford Josh Butler, Hayden Cody Detweiler, Guntersville Jacopo Gallelli, Horton Sam George, Athens Laker Howell, Guntersville Connor Jacob, Auburn Logan Johnson, Jasper Russ Lane, Prattville Andrew Loberg, GrantJoey Nania, Cropwell
Tripp Noojin, Bryant
Tucker Smith, Birmingham
Trey Swindle, Cleveland
Brady Vernon, Sterrett
Garrett Warren, Hoover
Arizona
Tai Au, Glendale Brett Hite, PhoenixArkansas
Greg Bohannan, BentonvilleBeau Browning, Hot Springs National Park Scout Echols, Monticello
California
Seiji Kato, Los Alamitos Ish Monroe, Oakdale Christian Ostrander, TurlockColorado
Ty Faber, Pagosa SpringsFlorida
Bobby Bakewell, Orlando Tommy Dunaway, Havana Tim Frederick, Leesburg Teb Jones, Yalaha Scott Kerslake, OkeechobeeChris Kingree, Inverness
Clint Leonard, Saint Cloud Brandon McMillan, Clewiston Blake Smith, Lakeland Mike Surman, Boca Raton Jackson Swisher, Lake City Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe
Georgia
Allen Armour, Cumming Elijah Benson, Dawsonville Tony Dumitras, Winston Paul Marks, Cumming Cody Stahl, Barnsville Emil Wagner, Marietta Kelvin Wilcox, HazlehurstIdaho
Cody Meyer, Eagle Brent Shores, BoiseIllinois
Richard Lowitzki, Hampshire Trevor McKinney, Noble Bryan Partak, Marseilles Bart Stanisz, ChicagoIndiana
Billy McDonald, Greenwood John Voyles, PetersburgIowa
Chancy Walters, West Des MoinesKentucky
Chris Beaudrie, Princeton Lafe Messer, Warfield Matt Messer, Warfield Dalton Smith, TaylorsvilleLouisiana
Darold Gleason, Many Alex Heintze, Denham Springs Alex Murray, Lake Charles Clark Reehm, Elm GroveMaryland
Brian Mullaney, IjamsvilleMichigan
Chris Hellebuyck, White Lake Garrett Paquette, Canton Bo Thomas, EdwardsburgMinnesota
Easton Fothergill, Grand Rapids Chad Grigsby, Maple Grove Brad Leuthner, Victoria Jim Moynagh, Shakopee Nathan Thompson, Eagan Keith Tuma, BrainerdMississippi
Keith Brumfield, Vicksburg Brett Cannon, Kiln Cliff Pace, OvettMissouri
Mike McClelland, Blue Eye Andy Newcomb, Camdenton Casey Scanlon, Eldon Trey Schroeder, Theodosia Joe Wieberg, Freeburg Zachry Williams, Shell KnobNebraska
Brock Belik, OrchardNevada
Cody Steckel, Las VegasNew York
Billy Gilbert, Hamburg Zach Goutremout, ChaumontPhillip Kroll, Otego
North Carolina
Shane Lineberger, Lincolnton Brayden Rakes, Winston-SalemOhio
Charlie Hartley, Grove City Richard Kaluba, Litchfield Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus GroveOklahoma
Austin Cranford, Norman Kollin Crawford, Broken Bow Lance Crawford, Broken Bow Allan Nail, Sand Springs Matt Pangrac, ShawneePennsylvania
Jonathan Dietz, Corry Derrick Sadlowski, MonacaSouth Carolina
Sean Anderson, Leesville Kyle Austin, Ridgeville Chris Blanchette, Edisto Island Sean Clayton, Clover Cole Drummond, Effingham Derek Lehtonen, Woodruff Lance Owen, Greer Jacob Thompkins, Myrtle Beach Tucker Veronee, Gilbert Avery Williams, Murrells InletTennessee
Jason Abram, Piney Flats Miles Burghoff, Dayton Gary Clouse, Winchester Sam Hanggi, Knoxville Jason Lambert, Savannah Tristan McCormick, Burns Freddy Palmer, Estill Springs Kyle Palmer, Winchester Jimmy Washam, StantonvilleTexas
Jason Borofka, LavonPaul Browning, Monahans Caden Cowan, Stephenville Kevin Dritschler, Prosper Bryan Finch, Belton Joey Hanna, Corsicana Andrew Hargrove, Moody
Andrew Harp, Linden Scott Isaacs, Ladonia Dylan Mayo, Athens Mike Mayo, Athens Mike Mitchell, Seven Points Yusuke Miyazaki, Forney James Niggemeyer, Van Danny Ramsey, Trinidad Blake Schroeder, Whitehouse Jack Tindel III, Orange Tim Tyndell, Mineola Andrew Upshaw, Hemphill Wyatt Wimberley, Broaddus Jack York, Emory
Virginia
Chase Clarke, Virginia Beach Jack Dice, Lynchburg Jeremy Radford, HuntlyWisconsin
Andrew Behnke, Fond du Lac Jacob Bigelow, Cecil Bailey Bleser, Burlington Brian Post, Janesville Adam Rasmussen, Sturgeon Bay Nick Trim, Galesville Josh Wiesner, Fond du LacCanada
Paul Bouvier, Kingston Evan Kung, Pickering Danny McGarry, NewcastleJapan
Yui Aoki, Minamitsurugun Kyoya Fujita, Yamanashi Kenta Kimura, Hirakata Osaka Daisuke Kita, Otsu Shiga Masayuki Matsushita, Tokoname-Aichi