Bob Downey
Representing both St. Croix Rod and SEVIIN Reels, Bob Downey earned a pair of 5th-place finishes at the 2025 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller and the 2025 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee to finish 34th in the 2025 Bassmaster Elite AOY standings. This will be Ol’ Bob’s fourth Bassmaster Classic. He earned a 12th place finish on the Tennessee River during the 2021 Bassmaster Elite season.
Pat Schlapper
Fishing on Team St. Croix, the Northwoods Ninja caught fire in the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Season, earning wins at both the Sabine River and the Mississippi River and fiishing 29th in the 2025 AOY standings. This will be Schlapper’s fifth Bassmaster Classic appearance.
Caleb Kuphall
A 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Champion, the St. Croix Pro finished 2nd at the 2025 Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River and fished consistently throughout the season to finish 24th in the 2025 Bassmaster AOY standings. Known as one of the world’s best jig fishermen, this will be Kuphall’s third Bassmaster Classic.
Trey McKinney
Trey McKinney is 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year and is a 2024 and 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Champion. Fishing with Team St. Croix, McKinney finished 2nd in AOY during both of his seasons in the Bassmaster Elite Series and finished 2nd at last year’s 2025 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Ray Roberts. This is McKinney’s second Bassmaster Classic.
JT Thompkins
Representing both St. Croix Rod and SEVIIN Reels, Thompkins is entering his third Bassmaster Classic. JT won the inaugural Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Angler of the Year title in 2023 and has earned top-ten Bassmaster Elite Series finishes at Lake Fork, Smith Lake, Lake Murray, and Harris Chain in his first two seasons in the Elites. He finished both the 2024 and 2025 Bassmaster Elite seasons in 15th place in the AOY standings.
John Crews The longest-tenured angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series, SEVIIN Pro, John Crews, has fished the Elites for 20 seasons. A 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series Champion, Crews has 23 Elite Series top-tens and has qualified for a remarkable 14 Bassmaster Classics. Crews finished 44th in the 2025 Bassmaster Elite AOY standings.
Competition at the 2026 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River begins tomorrow. Follow all the action at bassmaster.com.
About St. Croix Rod
Headquartered in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has been proudly crafting the “Best Rods on Earth” for nearly 80 years. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing processes with skilled craftsmanship, St. Croix is the only major producer to still build rods entirely from design through manufacturing. The company remains family-owned and operates duplicate manufacturing facilities in Park Falls and Fresnillo, Mexico. With popular trademarked series such as Legend®, Legend Xtreme®, Avid®, Premier®, Imperial®, Triumph® and Mojo, St. Croix is revered by all types of anglers from around the world. The St. Croix Family of Brands includes St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks.
About SEVIIN Reels
Wherever and however you fish, the reel in your hand should help create better experiences. Born from St. Croix Rod’s seven decades of design and manufacturing expertise, industry-leading customer service, and unbroken private ownership by the Schluter family dating back to 1977, SEVIIN reels are meticulously engineered and purpose-built to help anglers conquer every species on every piece of water on the planet. SEVIIN focuses on reels and reels only, designing and marketing products that improve the angling experience, regardless of the rods anglers choose. Seven seas, seven continents, seven days a week, SEVIIN reels are fueled by a collective love of fishing surpassed only by a passion to deliver the most reliable reels on the water. The St. Croix Family of Brands includes St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks.
