During Paul Elias' 42-year career as a B.A.S.S. pro, he won six tournaments, including the 1982 Bassmaster Classic at the Alabama River in Montgomery, Ala. In that tournament, he introduced his kneel 'n reel technique for deep cranking. He used the tactic years later to establish the all-time winning weight record for a five-bass-limit tournament with 132 pounds, 8 ounces during an Elite Series event in April 2008 at Falcon Lake in Texas. In between those tournaments, he became a recognized expert and innovator in the technique of deep cranking. He qualified for 15 Bassmaster Classics, finishing in the Top 10 eight times, and posting 41 Top 10 finishes in other B.A.S.S. events. A true pro's pro, Elias has been an ambassador for the sport and especially for the profession of competitive bass fishing.

Hometown Pachuta, Mississippi Age May 19, 1951 Married Kristy Elias Children Erin, Paula, Angie, Morgan, Tommy, and Gary

Stats Years Pro 29 Top 10 Finishes (Wins)* 46 (7) As of 6/4/2010 Career Earnings* $1.32 million As of 6/4/2010 Best Finish in 2010 6 - Lake Guntersville, 5/6/2010 Bassmaster Classics Fished (Won) 14 (1) As of 6/4/2010 FLW Championships Fished (Won) 5 (0) As of 6/4/2010 Titles/Honors Won 1982 Bassmaster Classic. Angling Stuff Angling Hero "I probably have the most respect for Rick Clunn and Larry Nixon for what they've accomplished over their careers, but I'm more or less in awe of Kevin VanDam's ability." Favorite Lake Lake Eddins (MS) - "It's the lake I live on, and has more big fish per acre than any lake I've ever fished." Least Favorite Lake "I don't really have a least-favorite lake." Favorite Technique Open-lake structure fishing Boat Triton Motor Mercury Personal Stuff Favorite Food Spaghetti with meatballs Favorite Music Bob Dylan Favorite Book/Movie Wyatt Earp (movie) When Not Fishing "I like to spend time with my wife and kids." Why He Fishes "Because I love the sport and I love competition." Tournament Finishes   Date Tour Event Place 6/16/2011 BElite Lake Wheeler 27   6/9/2011 BElite Arkansas River 63   5/12/2011 BElite Lake Murray 42   5/5/2011 BElite West Point Lake 75   4/14/2011 BElite Toledo Bend Reservoir 27   4/6/2011 BElite Lake Pickwick 39   3/17/2011 BElite St. Johns River 26   3/10/2011 BElite Harris Chain 95   2/18/2011 BElite Louisiana Delta 25   6/17/2010 BElite Ft. Gibson 16   6/9/2010 BElite Kentucky Lake 53   5/20/2010 BElite Clarks Hill Lake 73   5/6/2010 BElite Lake Guntersville 6   4/29/2010 BElite Pickwick Lake 24   4/15/2010 BElite Smith Mountain Lake 62   3/18/2010 BElite Clear Lake 82   3/11/2010 BElite California Delta 28   8/13/2009 BElite Oneida Lake 58   6/11/2009 BElite Mississippi River 96   6/3/2009 BElite Kentucky Lake 16   5/7/2009 BElite Lake Guntersville 71   4/23/2009 BElite Smith Mountain Lake 73   4/2/2009 BElite Lake Wheeler 68   3/26/2009 BElite Lake Dardanelle 74   3/12/2009 BElite Lake Amistad 54   8/7/2008 BElite Lake Oneida 70   7/31/2008 BElite Lake Erie/Niagara River 76   6/26/2008 BElite Old Hickory 70   6/12/2008 BElite Kentucky Lake 5   6/5/2008 BElite Lake Wheeler 87   5/15/2008 BElite Lake Murray 104   5/1/2008 BElite Clarks Hill 106   4/10/2008 BElite Lake Amistad 85   4/3/2008 BElite Falcon Lake 1   3/13/2008 BElite Lake Toho 59   3/6/2008 BElite Harris Chain 74   9/13/2007 BElite Lake Tohopekaliga 27   8/9/2007 BElite Potomac River 72   7/19/2007 BElite Lake Erie/Niagara River 61   7/12/2007 BElite Lake Champlain 70   6/21/2007 BElite Grand Lake 91   6/7/2007 BElite Smith Mountain Lake 73   5/17/2007 BMajor-a High Rock Lake 42   4/26/2007 BElite Lake Guntersville 26   4/19/2007 BElite Clarks Hill 31   3/29/2007 BElite Clear Lake 7   3/22/2007 BElite California Delta 84   3/8/2007 BElite Lake Amistad 57   9/14/2006 BElite Table Rock Lake 71   8/24/2006 BMajor-l Arkansas River 37   8/10/2006 BElite Potomac River 65   7/27/2006 BMajor-a Lake Wylie 54   7/13/2006 BElite Lake Champlain 10   7/6/2006 BElite Oneida Lake 17   6/15/2006 BElite Kentucky Lake 67   6/1/2006 BElite Grand Lake 6   5/18/2006 BMajor-m Eagle Mountain Lake 44   5/4/2006 BElite Clarks Hill Reservoir 72   4/20/2006 BElite Lake Guntersville 53   3/30/2006 BElite Santee-Cooper 23   3/16/2006 BElite Sam Rayburn Reservoir 99   3/9/2006 BElite Lake Amistad 79   6/22/2005 FLW Potomac River 115   5/11/2005 FLW Wheeler Lake 104   4/13/2005 FLW Beaver Lake 183   3/31/2005 BT Table Rock Lake 124   3/17/2005 BT Lake Norman 38   3/9/2005 FLW Ouachita River 66   3/3/2005 BT Strom Thurmond Reservoir (Clarks Hill) 93   2/24/2005 BT Lake Guntersville 27   2/9/2005 FLW Lake Toho 168   2/3/2005 BT Harris Chain 45   1/27/2005 BT Lake Toho 114   1/19/2005 FLW Lake Okeechobee 127   7/30/2004 BASS Lake Wylie 36   6/23/2004 FLW Lake Champlain 37   6/16/2004 E50 Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee Rivers 39   6/2/2004 E50 Alabama River 38   5/19/2004 E50 Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway 44   5/12/2004 FLW Kentucky Lake 109   4/14/2004 E50 Lake Dardanelle 30   3/31/2004 FLW Beaver Lake 146   3/25/2004 BT Santee Cooper Lakes 52   3/18/2004 BT Lake Eufaula 62   3/10/2004 FLW Old Hickory Lake 117   3/4/2004 BT Table Rock Lake 6   2/26/2004 BT Lake Guntersville 10   2/11/2004 FLW Atchafalaya Basin 94   2/5/2004 BT Smith Lake 123   1/29/2004 BT Harris Chain of Lakes 126   1/21/2004 FLW Lake Okeechobee 46   9/10/2003 FLW* James River 10   6/18/2003 FLW Wheeler Lake (Forrest Wood Open) 98   5/14/2003 FLW Kentucky Lake 52   4/9/2003 FLW Beaver Lake (Wal-Mart Open) 93   4/3/2003 BT California Delta (San Joaquin River Delta) 97   3/20/2003 BT Santee Cooper 133   3/12/2003 FLW Lake Murray 48   3/6/2003 BT Lake Eufaula 50   2/20/2003 BT Toledo Bend 169   2/12/2003 FLW Atchafalaya Basin 1   2/6/2003 BT Lake Seminole 9   1/22/2003 FLW Lake Okeechobee 33   1/16/2003 BT Lake Okeechobee 47   1/9/2003 BT Harris Chain of Lakes 74   9/11/2002 FLW* Cross Lake 35   6/19/2002 FLW Lake Champlain 25   5/15/2002 FLW Old Hickory Lake 32   5/8/2002 BT Lake Eufaula 82   4/17/2002 FLW Beaver Lake 119   4/10/2002 BT Lake Guntersville 90   3/13/2002 FLW Lake Ouachita 7   2/13/2002 FLW Lake Wheeler 159   2/6/2002 BT Lake Seminole 11   1/23/2002 FLW Lake Okeechobee 61   12/12/2001 BT Lake Toho 33   10/31/2001 BT Red River 115   8/22/2001 BT Lake St. Clair 40   8/2/2001 BT* Lower Mississippi 9