With today's conclusion of the Toho Bassmaster Elite Series, the 2007 Elite Series season is officially over. To view the year-end BASS Angler of the Year points standings, click here.
A few notable items about Bassmaster Classic qualification:
The Top 36 in the points are guaranteed a spot in the Bassmaster Classic. Gerald Swindle, with some day-3 heroics at Toho, ended the year at 36th and made the Classic.
Boyd Duckett finished 17th in the points, but as Classic champion, he's already got an automatic berth. Therefore, Kota Kiriyama (at 37th) is in. Remember that Kiriyama was first out of the Classic last year, when he finished 3 points behind Ish Monroe.
Consider Mark Menendez the single biggest fan of Terry Scroggins right now. Scroggins leads the Bassmaster Southern Opens points with one event left to fish. If Scroggins finishes that series in the Top 3, he'll get a Classic invite that way, in which case BASS will move down the Elite Series list and Menendez will make the Classic.
Dave Wolak is still alive for the Classic – he's currently 2nd in the Central points with one event to go. Same goes for Charlie Hartley, who's 2nd in the Southern points.
For the record, those who moved up into Classic qualification at Toho were: Kevin Short (42nd to 34th), Mike Wurm (48th to 35th), Swindle (49th to 36th), and Kiriyama (46th to 37th).
Those who fell out of the Classic at Toho were: Wolak (37th to 39th, but still alive), Randy Howell (32nd to 40th), Mark Tyler (30th to 42nd), and Jason Quinn (35th to 46th).
If Scroggins double-qualifies, also count Matt Reed in the "fell out" group – he tumbled from 38th to 49th. And Davy Hite would be in that group too – he was tied with Reed at 38th heading in, and fell to 53rd.
Other big guns not fishing the Classic: Dean Rojas (51st), Denny Brauer (60th), and Rick Clunn (67th).
A few notable items about Elite Series requalification:
The Top 84 in the year-end points automatically requalify for the 2008 Elite Series. Those below must requalify via other routes. Grant Goldbeck and Bill Smith, Jr. tied for the 84th spot, but Goldbeck gets in via tiebreaker (total weight caught on regular-season full-field days). Smith must fish the Wildcard Qualifier if he wants back in.
Rookie Glenn Delong was the only pro to move into a requalifying position at Toho. He finished 4th at the event and moved up from 92nd to 81st.
Paul Hirosky was the only pro who fell out of requalification at Toho. After an 82nd, he slipped from 83rd to 86th in the points.
Marty Stone did not requalify. He must fish the Wildcard, or get back in through the Central Opens, where he's 29th in the points. Note that he must finish that division at 5th or better for an invite, although BASS may potentially move down to 10th in the Central standings in order to draw five anglers.
Guy Eaker (88th) and Zell Rowland (96th) did not requalify, although both are invited back based on an exemption (10 or more Classics fished).
