Does Anyone Else Hate That The Bassmaster Classic Is In February?

[The Rooster]

I guess I'm old school. I know it's been years now but I have never gotten used to the grand finale of bass tournaments being the first one of the year and in cold weather. It just ain't natural. I suppose it's really the finish of the season the calendar year prior, and if it is then that ain't natural either. I think they should fix this.

[basshole8190]

Well its prespawn time of year and there's generally a better chance of large sacks of heavy fish which makes for great fishing tv

[gripnrip]

It is kind of weird.  It was moved because the anglers and fans wanted it to move.  The idea of bigger bags and a more exciting tournament came into play. I will take this time of year over 100 degree days any day! This years classic was the best one yet.  Had Jason Christie not came from the 11th spot last year to take a tournament, Randy would have the biggest come back in B.A.S.S. history.  Although Randy has the best story though.  The best fishing day in his life came on Championship Sunday at the Bassmaster Classic!  It doesn't get any better than that!

[Rangerphil]

Being from the Pittsburgh area i am upset that they won't be fishing any northern lakes with it being so early in the year, but it was a great classic! Plus it gets me pumped up for the season!

[Koofy Smacker]

I dont mind the timing, however they really shoot themselves in the foot with having choices of venues to go too. Like Rangerphil said, it completely eliminates everything pretty much from Virginia north. Even though some winters we may not have ice this far up they still cant count on that to be the case and then will never come up. It would be nice to see them change it up somewhat and go out west so Arizona, Nevada or California. Wanna talk about some big sacks take a trip out to Clear Lake during prespawn

[Pa Angler]

Liked it more in the summer than now Waddington, NY would have been a great Classic this past August it's Smallie time then the winning weight was just over 88lbs that was more than the 2014 Classic.

 

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

[Bruce424]

I kinda do. Just cuz then its usually a southern tournament. Which is fine nothin against the south. Its usually the same pattern, prespawn. I dont know maybe have one in the fall in michigan. Or in the delaware river in the summer. Just somthin a little different.

[J Francho]

Well, they don't go out west, and with it February,. it's got to be south of the Mason Dixon Line, so what does that leave?  Southeast.

[jhoffman]

I think it should change every year because as it stands its a prespawn fishermans dream. Thats why KVD is always so favored. Put it in a rotation of seasons.

 

2015 - since 14 was Spring this one is mid summer dog day nonsense, deep fishn

2016 - Fall feed

2017 - Dead of winter, texas or cali

2018 - Prespawn/Spawn

[bighed]

Love the feb classics. Hope they don't change a thing!

[Brian Needham]

I hate that they are having to revolve everything thing about a major city and driving 90 minutes to the weigh in.

 

IDK, there is lots to like and not like.

[Jrob78]

I think it's good that it's the first event of the year.  It kicks off the fishing season for BASS, bass fishermen and retailers.   Everyone gets excited about bass fishing again.  Plus, you don't have to worry so much about fish care when the water is cold and you are more likely to have bigger bags.

[RoLo]

I hate that they are having to revolve everything thing about a major city and driving 90 minutes to the weigh in.

IDK, there is lots to like and not like.

 

Exactly Brian!

 

We see the same cruelty here in Florida, where unforturnate bass yanked from the Kissimmee chain

are hauled all the way to Orlando for a BPS weigh-in, then hauled back for release. Man is a selfish creature.

 

As far as the location and timing of a tournament, that's a zero-sum game,

because the pluses & minuses affect all contenders equally, which translates to "fair".

 

Roger

[Basswhippa]

I pick the dog days of summer and the Ohio River as being a better idea.  That is the way to grow the sport.  Nothing like a few guys with a limit of 7 pounds a day to grow the sport you know.

[The Rooster]

Well I suppose they're selling TV, but apparently not even much of that since the showing of the tournament on TV isn't even for a week after it's over. By then everybody knows who won, plus it's always at some obscure time down late in the evening to see the final day. Seems day 3 is 10 PM on Sunday every year.

Not only that, but if selling TV (and no doubt, products) is all it's about then I'm not really interested in it anymore. Seems no care for the fish is taken at all. Watching the pros' handlement of fish as they're being caught, witnessing the out of control boat rides back to ramp (slamming both fish and people around pretty hard), hauling the fish 90 minutes to weigh in, DUMPING them out in a clear box and smacking a lid on top of them to control their flopping so they can be weighed, and then hauling them back to be released again, and no doubt ALL in the same spot, seems harsh to the fish to say the least. It also sends a very clear message, that the tournament was purely about advertisement, and making money on a high energy feeding frenzy of people. The idea of conservation and enjoyment of nature is completely lost in something like that. Safety is the last thing on anyone's mind also, and don't you dare say it ain't (cause I know somebody will). Way too much video footage out there to disprove anyone thinking otherwise.

I may as well just face it. I'm disillusioned, and disgusted with pro tournament fishing totally. I've never been to a live one, but I have watched fishing on TV for 30 years, and I miss the slow, lazy themed shows from Bill Dance, Hank Parker, and others, they've all been replaced with adrenaline fueled competition and it seems to be the prevailing idea now that that's how fishing is supposed to be.

[Pa Angler]

I agree with The Rooster when it comes to weigh in the B.A.S.S. needs to watch the FLW as they don't put the fish in a clear box and slam a lid on them their box has a water solution for the fish to be upright like they are in open water.

 

Tight Lines

Pa Angler