2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Will Be a No-Entry-Fee Tournament Trail

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Professional bass fishing is entering a new era as B.A.S.S. announces a groundbreaking change: the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series will be a no-entry-fee tournament trail. For the first time in B.A.S.S. history, Elite Series pros will no longer pay to compete, marking a major shift that aligns bass fishing with other top individual sports like golf and tennis.

After extensive analysis and record-breaking viewership on Bassmaster LIVE and Bassmaster.com, B.A.S.S. has decided to waive entry fees, driven by strong partnerships and increased sponsorship investment. B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson explains, “We have been looking at this model for some time, and we wanted to ensure its long-term sustainability. With careful planning, we realized we could offer attractive payouts without putting angler money at risk. This change reduces financial strain for anglers and elevates the Elite Series to a level on par with other major sports.”

Under the no-entry-fee model, the economic landscape of professional bass fishing will be transformed. Retrospective analysis of the past four years revealed that 85% of Elite anglers would have benefited under this structure in at least one year, with two-thirds of the field realizing higher payouts overall.

To support this model, B.A.S.S. is increasing its contribution to the 2025 Elite Series payouts by $200,000, bringing total prize money for the Elite Series and the Bassmaster Classic to more than $4.1 million, which is the highest of any major bass fishing league.

New Optimized Payout Structure

The payout structure for 2025 now emphasizes “pay for performance,” enhancing overall winnings by 23% compared to previous models. The new structure replaces the older model, which spread payouts down to 75th place but resulted in payouts lower than entry fees for many anglers. Now, only the top 40 will receive payouts, creating a more competitive environment.

• Regular Season Events:

First-place finishers will continue to receive $100,000, and a more graduated scale will reward finishes down to 40th place. Placements from 11th through 18th will see higher earnings under the new model.

• Bassmaster Classic:

The payout scale has been similarly refined, with the top 11 earning the same as in past years. For finishers in 12th through 25th place, there will be a graduated payout, while those placing 26th to 56th will continue to receive checks. Angler of the Year will remain a $100,000 award, while payouts for second to fifth place will also see increases.

The decision was also spurred by feedback from Elite Series pros, who have shared that the high cost of entry fees—previously set at $45,000—was a significant financial hurdle. With entry fees eliminated, talented anglers can compete without the barrier of a large bankroll, opening up opportunities for the most skilled bass anglers to join the Elite Series ranks.

Reflecting on the decision, Anderson said, “We’ve essentially improved each angler’s bottom line by $45,000 through removing entry fees while boosting payouts. This not only benefits anglers but encourages them to fish more freely, which should make for an even more exciting viewing experience for our fans. We’re incredibly optimistic about what lies ahead for bass fishing.”

The redefined Elite Series kicks off its 2025 season at the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, from February 20-23, where fans can witness history in the making. For more details, visit Bassmaster.com.

Connect with #Bassmaster and the #BassmasterClassic on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster
and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.

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Source: https://bassanglermag.com/2025-bassmaster-elite-series-will-be-a-no-entry-fee-tournament-trail/

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