Just a few months back, a young angler from Eva, Alabama, was wrapping up his last high school fishing event. Fast forward to now, and 19-year-old Fisher Anaya is living out what many guys spend a lifetime chasing: a spot in the big leagues of bass fishing. He topped the points in the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier presented by Bass Pro Shops, pulling in 264 points over three tough tournaments. That win locked him and nine other hard-charging fishermen into the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.
Anaya's path wasn't some overnight fluke. He's been out there grinding as a boater in grown-up tournaments for years, stacking wins in BFLs, Toyota Series events, and Alabama Bass Trail runs alongside his dad, Ryan. Those family outings built his skills, but stepping up to the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN was a whole new ballgame. Facing off against seasoned pros, he came out on top, proving that betting on yourself pays off big.
“It’s awesome. I’m ready to go. I wish we started tomorrow,” Anaya said, his excitement clear as day.
The conditions in Division II—and the whole qualifier setup—were all over the place, with weather and water throwing curveballs left and right. But Anaya zeroed in on key spots each time, places he trusted for those quality bites that kept him in the fight. It wasn't smooth sailing, though; every event felt like a slog, testing his grit from sunup to sundown.
“I knew I had a chance,” he explained. “Like, if you are going to fish this stuff you have to bet on yourself. You have to have confidence. I told myself I could do it. I came out here, worked my rear end off daylight to dark every day and it paid off.”
He leaned on one solid area per tournament to pull through the rough patches. “I would land on one area each tournament that would have big ones and I could bank on those to help me survive,” Anaya said. “Really and truly, it looks great on paper, but all my tournaments were super slow and were always a grind. I think it bettered me.”
That kind of toughness—pushing through the bad days when the fish just aren't cooperating—is exactly what separates the weekend warriors from the pros. It's the stuff that builds character, and it'll serve Anaya well when he hits the Elite Series circuit, where every cast counts toward big paydays and lasting respect.
Anaya's story is inspiring, but he's not alone in this breakthrough. The top 10 qualifiers each brought their own battles and triumphs to the table, earning their shots at the Elite level through sheer determination and smart fishing. These guys navigated a brutal schedule, from regular-season events to the high-stakes EQ rounds, and came out swinging. Here's a closer look at how they got there, starting with the points leader himself.
Fisher Anaya took first with 264 points and a $45,000 payout, proving he's got what it takes right out of the gate. He was among the 50 who handled Division II's chaos best, ending the regular season just two points behind Pake South in second place overall. His season kicked off strong with a ninth at Sam Rayburn, a spot that boosted his belief in himself.
“After catching them in the first one, I was like, ‘I can do this,’” Anaya said. “I caught them at a place I’d never seen before. I just had to carry my momentum and keep going.”
He kept the consistency rolling with 11th-place finishes at both Kentucky Lake and Norfork Lake, then wrapped the regular season with a 24th at Leech Lake. Once the EQ events fired up, he stayed hot: 19th at Champlain, fifth at Wheeler, and third at Okeechobee. It's the kind of steady performance that shows why he's ready for the pros—adapting to new waters, finding those hidden gems, and grinding out results when others falter.
Right behind him in second was Russ Lane, a battle-tested vet who's no stranger to the grind. With 244 points and $12,000 in his pocket, Lane is set to make his comeback to the Elite Series after a couple years off. He's already crossed the million-dollar mark in B.A.S.S. earnings, a testament to his long-haul success. Lane tackled both divisions of the Opens, securing his EQ spot with a sixth in Division II. That included a top-10 at the Tombigbee River and solid top-35s at Clarks Hill and Chesapeake Bay. In the EQ, he delivered top-20s across the board, capped by a top-10 at Lake Champlain. For guys who've been around the block, seeing someone like Lane bounce back reminds us that experience never goes out of style—it's about showing up and putting in the work, no matter how many seasons you've logged.
Aaron Jagdfeld grabbed third with 242 points and $10,000, fresh off being the runner-up in the 2024 College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s. He didn't waste any time climbing the ladder, even after a rough 197th at Kentucky Lake. Jagdfeld clawed his way into the EQ with three top-40s in Division II. Then he turned it up in the qualifiers: eighth at Lake Champlain, 12th at Wheeler Lake, and a gritty 29th at Okeechobee that required a strong Day 2 push. It's the comeback kid story that hits home—shaking off a bad start and focusing on what you can control, cast by cast.
In fourth, Austin Cranford from Oklahoma racked up 240 points and $9,000, adding another Sooner to the Elite roster. He'd been knocking on the door for years, but 2025 was when it all clicked. Cranford finished seventh in Division II points, thanks to three top-35s and a 55th at Sam Rayburn. He flexed in the EQ with top-30s at Champlain and Wheeler, then sealed the deal with a fourth at Okeechobee. For those of us who've chased that elusive breakthrough in our own pursuits, whether it's fishing or fixing up the boat in the garage, Cranford's persistence is a solid reminder that timing and hard prep can turn close calls into wins.
Sam Hanggi, an Auburn alum, landed fifth with 238 points and $8,000, becoming the fourth Tiger to make the Elite cut alongside Logan Parks, Tucker Smith, and Jordan Lee. Hanggi went all-in, fishing both divisions and double-qualifying for the EQ—28th in Division I and 10th in Division II. He started strong with a fifth at Champlain, slipped to 36th at Wheeler, but bounced back with a 13th at Okeechobee. College fishing roots run deep here, showing how those early team efforts lay the groundwork for solo success later on.
Matt Messer from Kentucky took sixth with 237 points and $7,000, a guy known for clutch moments like winning a College Series event and a 2023 Open that got him into the 2024 Bassmaster Classic. He earned his EQ invite with a 16th in Division I, then nearly won the Champlain opener, settling for second. A 16th at Wheeler put him in the lead temporarily, but he had to rally on Day 2 at Okeechobee for a 35th and his Elite ticket. Messer's big-game experience is the kind that gets you excited—thinking about those high-pressure days on the water where one good decision turns everything around.
Caleb Hudson snagged seventh with 228 points and $6,000, fresh from facing Jagdfeld in the semis of the 2024 College Classic Bracket. He was in a tough spot after the first two EQs, sitting 20th going into Okeechobee. But a massive 25-pound limit on Day 2 propelled him to the win there, punching his Elite pass. It's that underdog surge that resonates—starting behind but finding that hot streak when it matters most, like hitting the perfect spot after a slow morning.
Tied in points but eighth via tiebreaker was Tristan McCormick, a two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier who earned 228 points and $5,000. His 2025 was rock-solid, finishing 15th in Division I and adding a 15th at Sam Rayburn and 26th at Kentucky Lake in Division II. After a 44th at Champlain, he rallied with a 14th at Wheeler and seventh at Okeechobee to crack the top 10. As a former College Bracket champ, McCormick's journey highlights how stacking experiences leads to that long-awaited breakthrough.
Pake South, another young gun at 25 or under, took ninth with 226 points and $4,500. He was Mr. Consistency, winning Division II points with two top-fives en route to the EQ. A 51st at Champlain was a hiccup, but he recovered with sixth at Wheeler and 10th at Okeechobee. South's steady approach is something to admire—avoiding the big swings and just chipping away, much like budgeting your casts over a long day on the lake.
Rounding out the top 10 was Brock Reinkemeyer from Missouri, with 222 points and $3,500. As a Team Series Fish-Off runner-up, he overcame a 100th at Sam Rayburn to finish 19th in Division II. Then in the EQ, he posted 27th at Champlain, 13th at Wheeler, and 30th at Okeechobee. Reinkemeyer's rebound shows the value of shaking off early setbacks and focusing on the next bite—lessons that apply whether you're tournament fishing or tackling projects around the house.
These qualifiers represent a mix of fresh talent and returning pros, all set to shake up the 2026 Elite Series. From Anaya's rapid rise to the veterans reclaiming their spots, it's a lineup that promises intense competition and maybe a few upsets. For bass fishing fans, it's a reminder that the sport rewards those who put in the hours, adapt on the fly, and never stop believing in their gut instincts. As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on these guys to see who makes the biggest splash.
