There will be 2 legends Exemptions opening up for the Bassmaster 2025 Elite Series. Clunn retired and Jordan Lee has enough points from this season to requalify therefore opening up 2 spots.
If you aren't familiar, 2 legends Exemptions are offered to past Bassmaster Classic champions and Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year winners.
Who do you think they will be?
My guess is:
Cliff Pace. He's a definite that left MLF and has been trying to requalify for the Elite Series from the opens.
Randy Howell. Just a hunch. I think he's lower on the MLF BPT list and could struggle to requalify.
I know Pace and Howell both have Classic wins but is there anything else needed like an AOY which I don't think either have. Would be nice to have either back at BASS.
Legends Exemptions can be granted for either Bassmaster Classic winners or Angler of the Year winners.
Looking over the list, I'm thinking Brent Chapman might be a possibility since he is a former AOY winner and is not setting the world on fire at MLF.
I don't know how they'll pick but I'd like to see Howell and Chapman if it comes down to personality. Pace has never really but a person I enjoyed watching, but he can catch them as proven with his classic win.
My hunch was right. Just announced, Randy Howell and Cliff Pace are returning to the Elites via the 2 legends exemptions.
https://www.bassmaster.com/elite/news/bassmaster-elite-series-welcomes-legendary-qualifiers-pace-howell-back-to-field/
Just went through the list of Elites and I only knew 11 of these guys. I'm not religious follower of the tournament scene, but twenty years ago I knew 95% of the pro circuit. How times have changed! ~b~
Congrats to both anglers. I enjoy watching both of those guys fish. I got to met Randy Howell at one of our Central Texas Fishing for Freedom events.
(https://i.imgur.com/ntp0UBeh.jpg)