B.A.S.S. Releases 2026 Elite Qualifiers Schedule and Latest Winter Fishing Reports
B.A.S.S. announced the 2026 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers schedule on December 12, 2025 (source). This three-event series will feature top performers from the Bassmaster Opens competing on diverse fisheries. The format includes varied rules for forward-facing sonar: allowed at one event, prohibited at another, and decided by coin flip for the third. A total of $110,000 in Angler of the Year prizes is up for grabs, with 10 spots available for qualification into the Elite Series.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!As winter sets in across the U.S., fishing reports indicate classic cold-water patterns. In the Northeast, striped bass action has slowed in areas like Long Island and New Jersey, with anglers targeting holdover fish in bays or shifting to tautog and black sea bass offshore. Black sea bass seasons are closing in several states, including December 31 in Maryland waters (Maryland DNR report).
In Louisiana, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries released 140 adult Florida-strain largemouth bass into Lake Buhlow on December 10, 2025 (official announcement). These retired broodstock fish are expected to contribute to the lake’s bass population for years.
Southern reports from lakes like Allatoona in Georgia show largemouth bass moving to deeper structure (20-40 feet) as temperatures drop into the 50s, with slow presentations yielding results (Georgia Outdoor News report).
Anglers are reminded to check local regulations as seasons wind down and cold fronts impact activity.
Tight lines!







