Jacob Wheeler, professional bass fishing’s top-ranked angler for most of the past decade, will not be part of the U.S. team that’ll compete in the Bass Fishing World Championship this fall. He’ll be replaced by Dakota Ebare on the six-man squad for the 20th edition of the event, set for Oct. 1-3 at Lake Hamilton in Arkansas.

Wheeler has opted to spend the time tending to family obligations. “There are things in life that take priority and family has to be No. 1,” said Wheeler, who’s in contention for his fifth MLF Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year title in the past six seasons with one regular-season event remaining. “The whole thing has been a lot to unpack, but we think we have a good gameplan for it now and that makes it a lot easier.”

Wheeler, who won the REDCREST championship event for the first time earlier this year, will compete in the final BPT regular-season tournament Aug. 6-9 on Lake Erie out of Sandusky, Ohio. He’s in 2nd place in the AOY standings, 12 points behind Zack Birge.

Ebare is 17th in this year’s Bassmaster Elite Series points standings and on track to qualify for his second Bassmaster Classic in 2 years on the circuit. He was invited to be part of the USA Bass Team for last year’s World Championship in South Africa, but declined due to the impending birth of his first child.

He’s compiled two Top-10 finishes this year, including a runner-up showing in the Classic on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

“It’s an honor to be considered for Team USA in any year, but with our country’s 250th birthday this year, it’s a special opportunity,” he said. “Those are a bunch of great guys and I’m just very thankful to get the opportunity.”

He has a history of performing well on Lake Hamilton – he was 3rd in the 2019 Forrest Wood Cup at that venue. The lake is a 4 1/2-hour drive from his home in Brookeland, Texas.

“With the experience I’ve had on that lake and it being fairly close to home, you can’t beat that,” he said.

Team USA coach Kevin VanDam, who’ll also compete in the World Championship, said Ebare was a logical choice to take Wheeler’s slot.

“We’d love to have Jacob on the team because he’s been such a big part of its success in the past, but we’re totally supporting his decision and everybody in the bass-fishing world is thinking about their family and supporting them any way they can,” VanDam said. “When he came to me with this, Dakota was right there to step up.

“Dakota’s really outgoing, he’s super-talented and well-versed in a lot of different fishing techniques and he has a lot of experience. Team dynamics are a really important thing here and you’ve gotta have somebody who works well with others. My comfort leve is really high with him and he’ll fit right in with the team.”

Wheeler gave Ebare’s selection his full endorsement.

“Dakota will be a great asset to the team,” he said, “but I’ll be back.”