Best Bass Anglers

The Top Ten
1 Kevin Van Dam

In 2022, KVD is still the greatest bass angler of all time, and still by an almost insurmountable margin. 29 total career wins at the highest level (25 B.A.S.S. wins, 4 MLF wins including 3 cup championships and a BPT win). Over 120 career top tens and an otherworldly 81 percent of the time throughout his career he has been in the money. Nobody else who has fished at least 300 pro level events is even close to that. He is an 8 time angler of the year (7 B.A.S.S. AOY's and 1 FLW AOY) and was the Bassmaster Elite 50 Points champion in 2004 and 2005 so essentially he has 10 AOY titles to his name at the highest level (for some reason nobody ever mentions the Elite 50 circuits, he won the points championship both of the years the circuit existed). All time money winner in the sport and the next closest competitor is almost $3 million behind! KVD still is and most likely always will be the GOAT!

Not only does he have 26 BASS wins, 4 classic wins, abd 7 AOY's as well as hundreds of top ten finishes and several hundred times in the money (80 percent of all BASS tournaments he's fished), but he has an FLW AOY abd 2 MLF cup titles. He dominates everything he's in and he's an awesome guy. Very knowledgeable and puts so much time and effort into making the sport better. Truly the undisputed GOAT (though Bill Dance is a not too distant second! )

2 Bill Dance

Bill is the OG bass angler. He was the sport's first megastar and can hang with any of the other stars of this sport. He has had a tremendous impact on the sport. He also has some of the best stats of any angler ever, which is especially impressive when you consider he only fished as a touring pro for 7 seasons, and won AOY in 3 of those 7 years. One of the most dominant anglers of all time. Truly one of the very best!

Inspired me to fish. Great guy, great angler, and followed me on Instagram and likes my photos regularly. 7 BASS wins and 3 AOY's, as well as 23 tour level national titles and around 70 percent of the time he was in the money. Definitely think his spot on this list is good though, as VanDam barely edges him out even though he keeps widening the gap! True legends!

Had the most dominant tournament stretch of all time. Definite top 2!

3 Gary Klein

Gary has competed at a high level for many years and has had a tremendous impact on the sport, namely popularizing flipping and pitching and the drop shot technique, as well as co-founding MLF with Boyd Duckett. He has the stats to back it all up too, several wins and several AOY victories as well! One of the very best!

One of the most accurate casters out there, extremely talented and knowledgeable and understands every part of the game well!

One of the true legends of the sport. Co-founded Major League Fishing and had qualified for 30 bassmaster classics. Great guy and amazing fisherman!

4 Rick Clunn

We want the Niles North Wide Receivers to catch the ball like Rick Clunn catches Bass fish!

5 Roland Martin

Roland is like a fishing encyclopedia. He is a master at every form of the art. He has done a fantastic job bringing Scott into the ranks. Fantastic Dad. Incredible fisherman. Really nice man.

Roland is the best. Better than KVD because of age and experience he should be number 1. KVD is getting there though.

The real American fisherman. Solid competitor for generations.

6 Jimmy Houston

15 BASSMaster Classics and won the B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year title in both 1976 and 1986

7 Woo Daves

Many relate Woo to crappie fishing, but this guy was dominant on the BASS circuit. He won the 2000 classic and has an extensive tournament record.

Finished top 5 all 3 years in hometown on James river,good ol guy that made it big WOO WOO WOO!

8 Aaron Martens

Incredible angler! He had it all, king of finesse fishing and so much more. If he'd cashed in on a couple classics he'd be knocking on KVDs door, he was that good.

BASS angler of the year title in 2004, 6 wins, 55 top-ten finishes (including three 2nd place finishes in the Bassmaster Classic as of 2010), and over $2 million in career winnings across FLW and BASS.

9 Mike Iaconelli

Ike is one of the most exciting anglers on the planet. He has truly bettered the sport by attracting younger people to fish by utilizing his wild charisma and "never quit" attitude. Ike is one of the best, hands down.

One of the more colorful characters on the circuit, but the guy can also fish. He has a Bassmaster Classic win to prove it. He placed 2nd in 2009 and won Angler of the Year in 2006.

Exciting and fun to watch. Does a great job of promoting fishing and getting kids involved in fishing.

10 Skeet Reese

He only has one Bassmaster Classic title, but plenty of other wins and earnings.

Skeet reese has designed many top of the range lures and rods for bass, he is one of my favorite bass fisherman drawing with dave mercer

The Contenders
11 Alton Jones

The 2008 Classic champion which was overdue after making it to 11 of them.

12 Scott Martin

Great personality I enjoy watching his YouTube videos it's almost like your in the boat with him. Definitely a icon!

Love this guy, I have learned a lot watching his you tube channel, would love the chance to fish with him someday!

Dude is rocking with a great personality and loves giving back!

13 Jacob Wheeler

Jacob Wheeler is a natural . Confident, never quit attitude. Love this guy fun to watch

Profession caring and giving overall person.

I have all of has rods and his baits he is the best fisherman I have ever seen

14 Gerald Swindle

Most versatile fisherman out there!

He is a good person, and role model.

15 Greg Hackney
16 Hank Parker

High percentage, in big tournaments fished. He could have stayed in and won lots more!

17 Jordan Lee
18 Edwin Evers

Just won his first classic so he can't be in the top ten, but he deserves to be somewhere, but KVD is still the best bass angler of all time!

19 Ish Monroe

An infamous shallow-water angler, Ish Monroe utilizes frogs to catch big fish and haul in tournament wins.

20 Mark Zona
21 Larry Nixon

Top money winner prior to the current $$ being paid...Top five for sure

22 Mark Davis
23 Alex Peric

Incredibly cool dude, I wish she would go back to doing plain old YouTube videos

24 "Lunker" Bill Murphy

Never fished tournaments, but was THE pioneer in the "monster bass" fishery in San Diego. Caught more bass over 16 pounds than anyone in history.

25 Al Lindner

The best all around angler in my opinion.

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