New tournament circuit announced today

[J Francho]

All political posts have been removed.

[Jrob78]

Bass Pro Tour (previous circuit) 
1. Edwin Evers (Elite Series) 
2. Timmy Horton (Elite Series) 
3. Skeet Reese (Elite Series) 
4. Boyd Duckett (Elite Series) 
5. Marty Robinson (Elite Series) 
6. Zack Birge (FLW Tour) 
7. JT Kenney (FLW Tour) 
8. Greg Hackney (Elite Series) 
9. Jason Lambert (FLW Tour) 
10. Chris Lane (Elite Series) 
11. Alton Jones (Elite Series) 
12. Alton Jones Jr. (Elite Series) 
13. Jeff Kriet (Elite Series) 
14. Randall Tharp (Elite Series) 
15. Gerald Spohrer (Elite Series) 
16. Fletcher Shryock (Elite Series) 
17. Dave Lefebre (Elite Series) 
18. Michael Neal (FLW Tour) 
19. Andy Montgomery (Elite Series) 
20. Kelly Jordon (Elite Series) 
21. Mike McClelland (Elite Series) 
22. Jared Lintner (Elite Series) 
23. Roy Hawk (Elite Series) 
24. John Murray (Elite Series) 
25. Scott Suggs (FLW Tour) 
26. Justin Atkins (FLW Tour) 
27. Ott DeFoe (Elite Series) 
28. Cody Meyer (FLW Tour) 
29. Brent Chapman (Elite Series) 
30. Jacob Wheeler (Elite Series) 
31. Keith Poche (Elite Series)

32. David Walker (Elite Series)

33. Cliff Crochet (Elite Series)

34. Jacob Powroznik (Elite Series)

35. Russ Lane (Elite Series)

36. Greg Vinson (Elite Series)

37. Brandon Coulter (Elite Series)

 

Elite Series 
> Chris Zaldain (confirmed BPT invitee) 
> Keith Combs (non-BPT invitee) 
> Micah Frazier (non-BPT invitee) 
> Bill Lowen (confirmed BPT invitee) 
> Matt Herren (non-BPT invitee)

> Seth Feider (confirmed BPT invitee)

> Brandon Card

 

FLW Tour 
> Bryan Thrift (non-BPT invitee)

 

[Team9nine]

Still a few more that will announce, most likely later today (before/after HOF dinner) or tomorrow, but as many as a third may not announce at all. You'll just see their names on a list in a week or two. However, sounds like as many as 75 or more of the 80 invited will end up going when it's all said and done.

[12poundbass]

1 minute ago, Team9nine said:

Still a few more that will announce, most likely later tonight after HOF dinner or tomorrow, but as many as a third may not announce at all. You'll just see their names on a list in a week or two. However, sounds like as many as 75 or more of the 80 invited will end up going when it's all said and done.

The Big ones I'm wondering about is

 

Swindle

Ish

Paulnuik

Ehler

The Lee brothers (I'm guessing they're staying)

[Tim Kelly]

37 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

The Big ones I'm wondering about is

 

Swindle

Ish

Paulnuik

Ehler

The Lee brothers (I'm guessing they're staying)

Swindle's gone, Ehler I think will go. BP, no idea, though probably. Ish, he has been on MLF for a few years, but it doesn't really suit his style. If the new format doesn't suit big fish catching, then he might stay. Lee bros? Might be Jordan goes and Matt stays? It would probably suit both of them to fish different tours and get some separation, so they're not constantly competing with each other.

 

Other than Swindle, this is all guesswork. I imagine it will be quite hard for anyone invited to the MLF to turn it down.

[Team9nine]

Pretty much this ^^ though I'd say all (Ehrler?)...

 

I'm hearing 75 or so of invites go, including all the big names. We'll know by end of day tomorrow...

[punch]

Seth Feider said he was invited to MLF but is staying in BASS. The Feider/Zona bromance is alive and well

[12poundbass]

I'm not going to lie, in my dream world I was planning on Zona getting an invite. ?

[12poundbass]

Here is Feider's announcement. Pretty hilarious! *Caution* there's a naughty word but worth the watch!

 

https://www.facebook.com/SethFeiderFishing/videos/vb.349372135139714/1211022409053112/?type=2&theater&comment_id=1211030542385632&notif_t=video_comment&notif_id=1538076147217317

Here is Feider's announcement. Pretty hilarious! *Caution* there's a naughty word but worth the watch!

 

https://www.facebook.com/SethFeiderFishing/videos/vb.349372135139714/1211022409053112/?type=2&theater&comment_id=1211030542385632&notif_t=video_comment&notif_id=1538076147217317

[OCdockskipper]

Here is a left turn on the topic, but staying within the concept of improving Professional Bass Fishing in relation to how it is viewed in comparison of other sports.

 

The Professional Bass Fishing League.  16 teams are franchised, with the owners choosing a location as their home body of water.  It can be a public body of water or a private one, doesn't matter, it is their "stadium" and the teams take the name of the cities or states they are in or near (ie, the Dallas Hookers could have Lake Fork as their home body of water).  The owner pays all of the expenses, provides the boats & tackle and signs anglers to contracts.  Teams compete against each other each week (or every other week), 8 matches with the details of match play to be determined (i.e., your team could consist of 5 "starters" and a few alternates).  Have a season that is a few months long, winners of divisions or conferences complete in (or for the chance to be in) a "Super Bowl" at a neutral site for the championship.

 

It would have some interesting changes.  Right now, anglers are small business people, in this scenario, they could focus more on the fishing.  Choosing your home lake and corresponding anglers would be very strategic.  Sponsors would get more quality time because they would be sponsoring teams & not individuals.  The owners could be wealthy individuals, but more likely would be major players in the Bass fishing industry (boat manufacturers, lure makers, etc).

 

BASS, FLW or MLF could all create a league and schedule it around their other tournaments.

 

 

[J.Vincent]

9 minutes ago, OCdockskipper said:

Here is a left turn on the topic, but staying within the concept of improving Professional Bass Fishing in relation to how it is viewed in comparison of other sports.

 

The Professional Bass Fishing League.  16 teams are franchised, with the owners choosing a location as their home body of water.  It can be a public body of water or a private one, doesn't matter, it is their "stadium" and the teams take the name of the cities or states they are in or near (ie, the Dallas Hookers could have Lake Fork as their home body of water).  The owner pays all of the expenses, provides the boats & tackle and signs anglers to contracts.  Teams compete against each other each week (or every other week), 8 matches with the details of match play to be determined (i.e., your team could consist of 5 "starters" and a few alternates).  Have a season that is a few months long, winners of divisions or conferences complete in (or for the chance to be in) a "Super Bowl" at a neutral site for the championship.

 

It would have some interesting changes.  Right now, anglers are small business people, in this scenario, they could focus more on the fishing.  Choosing your home lake and corresponding anglers would be very strategic.  Sponsors would get more quality time because they would be sponsoring teams & not individuals.  The owners could be wealthy individuals, but more likely would be major players in the Bass fishing industry (boat manufacturers, lure makers, etc).

 

BASS, FLW or MLF could all create a league and schedule it around their other tournaments.

 

 

This is exactly what I was just talking to someone else about last night; its almost word for word what I was thinking must happen to the sport to put it on par with other Professional Sports. Although I highly doubt it will happen, I think this would change the game more than anything !

[RichF]

The more I think about it...is this really "good" for the sport?  The way I see it, the richest guys in the game just made their own exclusive club..How is this supposed to grow the sport again?

[Glenn]

What's frustrating, is that many of the pros that jumped ship, voted out the west coast lakes before bailing from B.A.S.S.  Why their vote should matter is perplexing to me. 

 

Kinda like voting for NY taxes when you live in Texas, if you ask me.

[OCdockskipper]

2 hours ago, Glenn said:

...Kinda like voting for NY taxes when you live in Texas, if you ask me...

I live in California and I would love to be able to vote to raise taxes in Massachusetts, or at least in the city of Boston.  I'd be so enthusiastic, I would probably vote 7 or 8 times... ?

[Troy85]

8 hours ago, Glenn said:

What's frustrating, is that many of the pros that jumped ship, voted out the west coast lakes before bailing from B.A.S.S.  Why their vote should matter is perplexing to me. 

 

Kinda like voting for NY taxes when you live in Texas, if you ask me.

I'm assuming bass let them vote, hoping if they got their way that maybe they would stay.  They should go back with the new 80 angler lineup and revisit to issue(I doubt that will actually happen though).  I was really looking forward to watching those west coast lake events on Bassmaster live.  

[punch]

GMAN jumped! 

 

 

[12poundbass]

G-man just announced he's going to the BPT. 

[punch]

Mark Rose jumped!! Hot dang. 

[12poundbass]

I am surprised G-man made the switch. 

[Team9nine]

 Yep, along with Mark Rose and Dean Rojas. Still quite a few more left to announce if they choose to do so.

[punch]

1 minute ago, Team9nine said:

 Yep, along with Mark Rose and Dean Rojas. Still quite a few more left to announce if they choose to do so.

I think they are announcing the full roster this weekend? I believe today is the final day for anglers that were invited to make their decision. Boyd said they gave everyone 14 days to decide to accept the invite or not. 

[Team9nine]

A-Mart and Howell just jumped...

[punch]

2 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

A-Mart and Howell just jumped...

A-Mart's video he just posted is so awkward. He was so nervous to tell everyone he was leaving bass. It's like a sad breakup message to his girlfriend. 

[Team9nine]

44 minutes ago, punch said:

I think they are announcing the full roster this weekend? I believe today is the final day for anglers that were invited to make their decision. Boyd said they gave everyone 14 days to decide to accept the invite or not. 

Full list release probably won't come out until next week. Still have to fill in the gaps left by those who declined. Meetings were held over 3 days, so I believe Saturday is the final day for those in the last meeting. Was told some may not announce at all (as individuals).

[Troy85]

9 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Full list release probably won't come out until next week. Still have to fill in the gaps left by those who declined. Meetings were held over 3 days, so I believe Saturday is the final day for those in the last meeting. Was told some may not announce at all (as individuals).

How are you so privy to all this information?  Not asking for names, but are you buddies with pros or bpt execs involved with this whole process?