I am wondering if certain 2017 Elite Series fishermen maintained enough points to qualify for the 2018 season.  Here are just a few of the questionable big names.   Out of 110 fishermen, Chris Lane finished 95th in Angler of the Year

                                               David Fritts 97th

                                               Rick Clunn 101st

                                               Shaw Grigsby 104th

As far as I know, B.A.S.S. has not revealed precisely where the cut line is, or possible other factors involved.  (I have heard rumor of the number "70" mentioned as a cut line).

   I wonder if B.A.S.S. is giving any "Legends Exemptions" for the 2018 season.  I would think Clunn and Grigsby would qualify as "Legends".  However, it would be nice if B.A.S.S. let the public know what constitutes being a "legend".   Fritts and Paul Elias were granted Legend Exemptions last year.   I do not think Clunn is the kind of guy who would accept an exemption, however, I believe he knows he still has the drive and ability to perform well, and I think he WOULD accept an exemption if offered.  What are your thoughts, BassResource viewers?

You can't ever count out Rick,He will go till his last day.He has won everything serveral times over.Im sure they will make room for the old school boys.They built Bassmasters.

I think Elite anglers can stay in two years regardless of their AOY standings. Those guys will mostly like be in next year but might have to re-qualify for 2019 if they are below the cut after 2018.  

Here Ya Go - The 2018 Elite Series Fisherman 

 

Casey Ashley	Donalds, S.C.	Elite Series
Adrian Avena	Vineland, N.J.	Elite Series
Drew Benton	Panama City, Fla.	Elite Series
Josh Bertrand	San Tan Valley, Ariz.	Elite Series
Tommy Biffle	Wagoner, Okla.	Elite Series
Stetson Blaylock	Benton, Ark.	Elite Series
Stephen Browning	Hot Springs, Ark.	Elite Series
Brandon Card	Knoxville, Tenn.	Elite Series
Tyler Carriere	Youngsville, La.	Elite Series
Brent Chapman	Lake Quivira, Kan.	Elite Series
Hank Cherry Jr.	Lincolnton, N.C.	Elite Series
Jason Christie	Park Hill, Okla.	Elite Series
Luke Clausen	Otis Orchards, Wash.	Elite Series
Rick Clunn	Ava, Mo.	Legend
Keith Combs	Huntington, Texas	Elite Series
Dustin Connell	Clanton, Ala.	Elite Series
Brandon Coulter	Knoxville, Tenn.	Elite Series
John Crews Jr.	Salem, Va.	Elite Series
Cliff Crochet	Pierre Part, La.	Elite Series
Mark Daniels Jr.	Tuskegee, Ala.	Elite Series
Mark Davis	Mount Ida, Ark.	Elite Series
Ott DeFoe	Knoxville, Tenn.	Elite Series
Boyd Duckett	Guntersville, Ala.	Elite Series
Brent Ehrler	Redlands, Calif.	Elite Series
James Elam	Tulsa, Okla.	Elite Series
Paul Elias	Laurel, Miss.	Legend
Edwin Evers	Talala, Okla.	Elite Series
Todd Faircloth	Jasper, Texas	Elite Series
Seth Feider	Bloomington, Minn.	Elite Series
Micah Frazier	Newnan, Ga.	Elite Series
David Fritts	Lexington, N.C.	Legend
Shin Fukae	Palestine, Texas	Southern Opens	Newcomer
Shaw Grigsby Jr.	Gainesville, Fla.	Elite Series
Chris Groh	Spring Grove, Ill.	Northern Opens	Rookie
Greg Hackney	Gonzales, La.	Elite Series
Skylar Hamilton	Dandridge, Tenn.	Elite Series
Ray Hanselman Jr.	Del Rio, Texas	Central Opens	Rookie
Jamie Hartman	Newport, N.Y.	Elite Series
Roy Hawk	Lake Havasu, Ariz.	Central Opens	Rookie
Matt Herren	Ashville, Ala.	Elite Series
Brett Hite	Phoenix, Ariz.	Elite Series
Timmy Horton	Muscle Shoals, Ala.	Elite Series
Randy Howell	Guntersville, Ala.	Elite Series
Michael Iaconelli	Pittsgrove, N.J.	Elite Series
Kelley Jaye	Dadeville, Ala.	Elite Series
Alton Jones Jr.	Lorena, Texas	Elite Series
Alton Jones	Lorena, Texas	Elite Series
Kelly Jordon	Flint, Texas	Elite Series
Steve Kennedy	Auburn, Ala.	Elite Series
Gary Klein	Mingus, Texas	Elite Series
Jeff Kriet	Ardmore, Okla.	Elite Series
Chris Lane	Guntersville, Ala.	Elite Series
Bobby Lane	Lakeland, Fla.	Elite Series
Russ Lane	Prattville, Ala.	Elite Series
Robbie Latuso	Gonzales, La.	Elite Series
Jordan Lee	Guntersville, Ala.	Elite Series
Matt Lee	Guntersville, Ala.	Elite Series
Dave Lefebre	Erie, Pa.	Elite Series
Brandon Lester	Fayetteville, Tenn.	Elite Series
Jared Lintner	Arroyo Grande, Calif.	Elite Series
Bill Lowen	Brookeville, Ind.	Elite Series
Justin Lucas	Guntersville, Ala.	Elite Series
Aaron Martens	Leeds, Ala.	Elite Series
Mike McClelland	Bella Vista, Ark.	Elite Series
Mark Menendez	Paducah, Ky.	Elite Series
Ish Monroe	Hughson, Calif.	Elite Series
Andy Montgomery	Blacksburg, S.C.	Elite Series
Kyle Monti	Okeechobee, Fla.	Southern Opens	Rookie
Rick Morris	Lake Gaston, Va.	Southern Opens	Elite veteran
Brock Mosley	Collinsville, Miss.	Elite Series
Paul Mueller	Naugatuck, Conn.	Elite Series
David Mullins	Mt. Carmel, Tenn.	Elite Series
John Murray	Spring City, Tenn.	Elite Series
Darrell Ocamica	New Plymouth, Idaho	Elite Series
Takahiro Omori	Emory, Texas	Elite Series
Cliff Pace	Petal, Miss.	Elite Series
Brandon Palaniuk	Hayden, Idaho	Elite Series
Chad Pipkens	Lansing, Mich.	Northern Opens	Elite veteran
Clifford Pirch	Payson, Ariz.	Elite Series
Keith Poche	Pike Road, Ala.	Elite Series
Jacob Powroznik	N. Prince George, Va.	Elite Series
Cliff Prince	Palatka, Fla.	Elite Series
Skeet Reese	Auburn, Calif.	Elite Series
Marty Robinson	Lyman, S.C.	Elite Series
Dean Rojas	Lake Havasu City, Ariz.	Elite Series
Scott Rook	Little Rock, Ark.	Elite Series
Fred Roumbanis	Russellville, Ark.	Elite Series
Bradley Roy	Lancaster, Ky.	Elite Series
Bernie Schultz	Gainesville, Fla.	Elite Series
Terry Scroggins	San Mateo, Fla.	Elite Series
Morizo Shimizu	Osaka, Japan	Elite Series
Fletcher Shryock	Dennison, Ohio	Elite Series
Hunter Shryock	Newcomerstown, Ohio	Southern Opens	Rookie
Brian Snowden	Reeds Spring, Mo.	Elite Series
Gerald Spohrer	Gonzales, La.	Elite Series
Wesley Strader	Spring City, Tenn.	Northern Opens	Newcomer
Randy Sullivan	Breckenridge, Texas	Central Opens	Rookie
Caleb Sumrall	New Iberia, La.	B.A.S.S. Nation	Rookie
Gerald Swindle	Guntersville, Ala.	Elite Series
Jesse Tacoronte	Orlando, Fla.	Elite Series
Randall Tharp	Port St. Joe, Fla.	Elite Series
Jonathon VanDam	Kalamazoo, Mich.	Elite Series
Kevin VanDam	Kalamazoo, Mich.	Elite Series
Greg Vinson	Wetumpka, Ala.	Elite Series
David Walker	Sevierville, Tenn.	Elite Series
Bill Weidler	Helena, Ala.	Southern Opens	Rookie
Jacob Wheeler	Harrison, Tenn.	Elite Series
Jake Whitaker	Fairview, N.C.	Northern Opens	Rookie
Jesse Wiggins	Cullman, Ala.	Elite Series
Jason Williamson	Wagener, S.C.	Elite Series
Chris Zaldain	Laughlin, Nev.	Elite Series

 

A-Jay

Looks like these guys are the ones out of BASS for 2018

 

Koby Kreiger

Shane Lineberger

David Williams

Chad Morgenthaler

James Niggemeyer

Clent Davis

Brett Pruett

Brit Myers

John Hunter Jr

Chad Grigsby

Jay Brainerd

 

I believe the legend status is anglers who have won a Bassmasters Classic or AOY.