New tournament circuit announced today

[12poundbass]

7 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

Everyone continues to be concerned there won’t be any talent remaining in BASS Elites after 30 or 40 anglers jump ship....I’m kind of beginning to wonder if this many do leave the Elites, how would BASS extend invitations to anglers to round out a 100 angler field ? It seems like they would have to change how this works because if the numbers are accurate they might need to find 30 to 40 new anglers who are all capable of paying $75,000 entry fees for a season ? Are there even that many upper tier anglers waiting in the lower ranks who can front this kind of cash ? How else could they round out a Top 100 field ? Also this brings another interesting question to mind....If that many talented anglers leave the Elites, and new less talented anglers enter the Elite Field but payouts remain similar to last year , from a financial point of view, wouldn’t an angler want to remain in a less crowded and less talented field of anglers where their chances of cashing checks improve? 

BPT sent out around 70 or so Elite invites. Obviously some will decline but I imagine BPT vetted most of these guys before they sent out their invite, so I'd guess most will accept. 

 

I'm pretty sure I read BASS is reducing their field to 80 anglers not the 100-106 we're used to. 

 

The $75k entry fee was reduced years ago I believe. It's now like $43k? Along with the reduced entry fee they introduced something new after the whole MLF/PBT to try and make the decision to leave more difficult. I don't remember exactly what it was, but it made the entry fee extremely cheap (relatively speaking). 

 

I think you'll see some guys stick around like you're saying to better their chances at frequent big paydays. The Lee brothers, Gerald Swindle, Brandon Paulnuik are a few I think will stay. Time will tell.

[Logan S]

It's not 75k in entry fees for any of the tours, don't think it's ever been that high.  75k is often a number thrown around for the total cost of a season - Entries plus travel, gas, lodging, food, etc, etc...Not sure how accurate it is and it's probably highly variable depending how each angler does it.  Regardless, it's a ton of money.

 

MLF/BPT entry fees are actually higher than the Elites for 2019 and with the new BASS changes MLF is significantly higher.  Travel, gas, lodging, food, etc, etc, costs are still going to be similar regardless of what trail they fish.  

[Troy85]

16 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

JT Kenney

Greg Hackney

Jason Lambert

Chris Lane

Alton Jones Jr

Jeff Kriet

Andy Montgomery 

Randall Tharp

Alton Jones

Jared Lintner

 

BASS has invited back all 2018 Elite Series competitors for 2019.

Roy Hawk

Mike McClelland

Michael Neal

Fletcher Shryock

Dave Lefebre

Andy Montgomery

Gerald Spohrer

Jason Lambert

Kelly Jordon

Edwin Evers

Marty Robinson

Zack Birge

Skeet Reese

Timmy Horton

[BassNJake]

As a fan, I dont like this at all.

The Elite series was turning the corner becoming the premier league.

Out were the guys that just had the deep pockets to afford to fish the series.

In were the guys that have qualified through the opens. No bias involved except with the legends and I could overlook that for their past accomplishments.

Yes, FLW has some good anglers, a lot have already come over and a lot were still trying to qualify.

The Classic and all the prestige and buzz that surrounds it, the hope for a nation angler to win it all ....

I love the bracket tourneys at the end of the year to determine the last few Classic spots.

Now it will never be the same.

 

It sucks that there will be this change for me as the fan, but I am very happy for these guys that have put it all on the line to bet on themselves. Now they can fish for these bigger paydays and hopefully get more sponsor dollars.

I like the emphasis on fish care and I like the decision making when deciding to fish for numbers or for bigger weights.

 

Part of me can also see this going the way of the USFL or the Affliction MMA league.

They threw around too much cash in the beginning to be sustainable in the long run.

I blame BASS for screwing anglers for a long time by being too greedy.

Their instant ability to throw 67% more money into the equation seems to support that.

[punch]

9 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

Everyone continues to be concerned there won’t be any talent remaining in BASS Elites after 30 or 40 anglers jump ship....I’m kind of beginning to wonder if this many do leave the Elites, how would BASS extend invitations to anglers to round out a 100 angler field ? It seems like they would have to change how this works because if the numbers are accurate they might need to find 30 to 40 new anglers who are all capable of paying $75,000 entry fees for a season ? Are there even that many upper tier anglers waiting in the lower ranks who can front this kind of cash ? How else could they round out a Top 100 field ? Also this brings another interesting question to mind....If that many talented anglers leave the Elites, and new less talented anglers enter the Elite Field but payouts remain similar to last year , from a financial point of view, wouldn’t an angler want to remain in a less crowded and less talented field of anglers where their chances of cashing checks improve? 

I think Bass already announced they're cutting the Elite field down to 80. But yeah, you're right they're going to have a hard time even feeling that with people who can pay the entry fee within the next couple months. 

[RichF]

12 minutes ago, punch said:

I think Bass already announced they're cutting the Elite field down to 80. But yeah, you're right they're going to have a hard time even feeling that with people who can pay the entry fee within the next couple months. 

I think they'll be fine.  You can just look at the Opens rosters over the past few years and see several of the same names fishing the majority of events.  My guess is those guys/girls would have the coin to fish the Elites if they are invited. 

[TOXIC]

What's not in the equation is where the sponsor $$ goes and to what level.  I'm sure they will want to be represented in all of the tours but it's a well known fact that sponsor $$ has been getting squeezed pretty thin.  There are some (sponsors) who will have to make choices on who and in what tour they sponsor.  Could make the difference between some anglers even being able to fish.  

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, Logan S said:

 

MLF/BPT entry fees are actually higher than the Elites for 2019 and with the new BASS changes MLF is significantly higher.  Travel, gas, lodging, food, etc, etc, costs are still going to be similar regardless of what trail they fish.  

The key is that as part owners of the venture, once the 80 angler field is set, they will get to vote on what final entry fees and payout structure will be. Entry fees are only in if they want them to be. That level of control in key decisions is a big reason many are jumping.

[A-Jay]

So when it's all set up and being Broadcast via cable and live on line, who's going to watch what ?

That's the end game here and what may invariably determine the life expectancy & I guess very existence of each format. 

I plan on checking it all out and then I'll go from there.

A-Jay

 

[Logan S]

33 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

The key is that as part owners of the venture, once the 80 angler field is set, they will get to vote on what final entry fees and payout structure will be. Entry fees are only in if they want them to be. That level of control in key decisions is a big reason many are jumping.

I understand and can appreciate that...However as someone that's been officer/leader of a bass club for a long time I can say that full member votes can often go sideways from the original direction or intention of the group...Not that it's necessarily bad, but sometimes full member votes turn out to be bad things.  Not trying to compare a local club to a pro organization or anything like that, but in a general/functional sense there would be some similarities.  

 

Are all 80 considered owners/investors?  All of them are going to get a piece of the pie?  Or is it the original MLF investors and then the rest are entrants/participants, but all have a vote?

 

33 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

So when it's all set up and being Broadcast via cable and live on line, who going to watch what ?

That's the end game here and what may invariably determine the life expectancy & I guess very existence of each format. 

I plan on checking it all out and then I'll go from there.

A-Jay

 

I'll be watching everything...BASS, FLW, BPT, whatever...I'd watch a BFL or club tournament if I could stream it live, I'm just a bass fishing junkie .  I'm not a BPT 'hater', but BASS Live is going to be hard to compete with regardless of the anglers on camera (BASS is likely to retain some hammers too).  

 

I'm not a fan of the delay for the Cups and Championship events...My interest level goes way down if the event is not fresh.  When you can follow the lead up to the tournament and then the post-tournament analysis and techniques it's a lot more interesting.  I don't like watching any sport on tape-delay, especially a ~6 month tape-delay.

[OCdockskipper]

11 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

Everyone continues to be concerned there won’t be any talent remaining in BASS Elites after 30 or 40 anglers jump ship....I’m kind of beginning to wonder if this many do leave the Elites, how would BASS extend invitations to anglers to round out a 100 angler field ?...

Even if 50 anglers jump, it shouldn't be a problem.  Remember with B.A.S.S.'s new format, the Elite field will be 80 anglers, not 100.  There has been such interest in fishing the Elites, that the 100 man field has typically been 105 - 110.

With the guys on DL, there were 110 anglers this year.  Drop 50 and that puts you at 60.  There will be the standard number of new invites, a dozen or so, based on Open's performance.  There are a couple dozen ex-Elite anglers who didn't perform well enough and got bumped down to the opens who might want a second chance.  Add in a few Legend exemptions and they will once again be turning people down for the Elite series.

 

Plus, considering the monetary changes and some of the anglers who will be gone, I think some anglers are licking their chops at fishing the Elites, at least for the first few years.  Someone like Ish Monroe, a good angler who has been near the Classic bubble in the AOY standings the past few years, could find himself as a top 20 angler once you remove KVD, Amart, Evers, Hackney, etc (Ish is just an example, I think he may jump based on past run ins with B.A.S.S. and his friendship with Ike).  With the talent level diminished (for a few years at least), it creates different reasons for different anglers to stay.

 

B.A.S.S. made an error in not making changes a few years back to head off the MLF train.  However, their recent response is solid and for alot of professional anglers, it makes sense to dance with the one that brung them.

 

 

[Jrob78]

My guess is that BASS has a list of names of guys they would send invites out to should they not be left with 80. There are Opens guys who have already said they would be in and guys fishing FLW that used to fish BASS. I don't think they will have any trouble fielding a full roster. 

 

I don't think I can post a link but *** has a running list of who's in and who's out. 

 

Bass Pro Tour 
> Edwin Evers 
> Timmy Horton 
> Skeet Reese 
> Boyd Duckett 
> Marty Robinson 
> Zack Birge 
> JT Kenney 
> Greg Hackney 
> Jason Lambert 
> Chris Lane 
> Alton Jones 
> Alton Jones Jr. 
> Jeff Kriet 
> Randall Tharp 
> Gerald Spohrer 
> Fletcher Shryock 
> Dave Lefebre 
> Michael Neal 
> Andy Montgomery 
> Kelly Jordon 
> Mike McClelland 
> Jared Lintner 
> Roy Hawk 
> John Murray 
> Scott Suggs 
> Justin Atkins 
> Ott DeFoe

>Cody Meyer

>Brent Chapman

 

Elite Series 
> Chris Zaldain 
> Keith Combs 
> Micah Frazier

 

FLW Series

>Bryan Thrift
 

[punch]

MLF is stacked and they're not even done yet! I'm super excited to see Cody Meyer on the list. 

[J.Vincent]

I think this could get interesting; but I’m curious to know what would be the PBT farm system (so to say) Where would they continue to get talented and marketable anglers as their format grows ? Right now BASS has a stream of anglers from high school and college and the federation. FLW has a stream of anglers from BFL and I think the Everstart series. One of the things which makes the sport interesting is, how many of these pro anglers have been covered from the early parts of their amateur career and on into their pro career; this has been done through BASS and their efforts to have an infrastructure similar to other sports. So will PBT just continue to pluck interested anglers from the other Trails ? Or do they have any intention of their own to create an amateur division and pro-am division ?

[punch]

19 minutes ago, J.Vincent said:

I think this could get interesting; but I’m curious to know what would be the PBT farm system (so to say) Where would they continue to get talented and marketable anglers as their format grows ? Right now BASS has a stream of anglers from high school and college and the federation. FLW has a stream of anglers from BFL and I think the Everstart series. One of the things which makes the sport interesting is, how many of these pro anglers have been covered from the early parts of their amateur career and on into their pro career; this has been done through BASS and their efforts to have an infrastructure similar to other sports. So will PBT just continue to pluck interested anglers from the other Trails ? Or do they have any intention of their own to create an amateur division and pro-am division ?

Boyd was on Bass Talk Live and said that they will develop a feeder system within the next 3 years, so on the final year of the "invited 80"s contract they will have something in place to replenish the tour.  They will have their own feeder tournaments, but not for a few years. 
 

[J.Vincent]

Is Bass Talk live a podcast or YouTube channel ? Where can I find this interview ?

[punch]

7 minutes ago, J.Vincent said:

Is Bass Talk live a podcast or YouTube channel ? Where can I find this interview ?

http://basszone.com/bass-talk-live/replays/m.blog/1745/september-25th-2019-boyd-duckett-and-the-mlf-bass-pro-tour

 

Jacob Wheeler is going to MLF. WAAAT

[Tim Kelly]

BASS making their pitch. They have a good pitch, but it's hard to think they haven't blown some of their currency but not treating the anglers better over the last few years.

 

 

[YoTone]

id really love to see S.Martin enter this new league and compete with the ex BASS guys.

[12poundbass]

5 hours ago, Tim Kelly said:

BASS making their pitch. They have a good pitch, but it's hard to think they haven't blown some of their currency but not treating the anglers better over the last few years.

 

 

Notice how a lot of the big names are missing from this video? Skeet, Swindle, A-mart, Wheeler......KVD was on there in two different clips for a total of about 5 seconds, however his image was very skewed almost to acknowledge him and his accomplishments and to not catch hell by leaving him out, but distance him from BASS because he's leaving.

[A-Jay]

No doubt this is improving the sport for the viewer and I'm excited to see where it takes us.

 

But I can't help but think this whole thing feels like 

 

 The Civil War of Tournament Bass Fishing ~ 

 

A-Jay

 

[12poundbass]

23 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

No doubt this is improving the sport for the viewer and I'm excited to see where it takes us.

 

But I can't help but think this whole thing feels like 

 

 The Civil War of Tournament Bass Fishing ~ 

 

A-Jay

 

I agree it is good for us the viewers and hopefully it can get the younger generation into fishing. It appears to be good for the anglers as well if it does indeed put more of the green stuff in their pockets. It's been said many many times by the pros themselves that only a few guys make a living doing this. 

 

What I'd really like to see is end of the year or beginning of the year 'Classic' type of tournament where all three tours put money in and have their top 10-15 guys in points go up against the others have a $1million or more top prize. You've got the rivalry aspect which everyone has wanted to see (more so now I imagine) and you've got the money aspect. One million dollars to win a fishing tournament? Who wouldn't be interested in that? 

 

The bass fishing world championship

 

Verbal trademark no one else can use it!?

[TOXIC]

What I only saw mentioned once in all of the articles that I have read is that Duckett and company pitched the idea of this new "combined" TX format and BASS flat refused.  So......here we are.  

[J Francho]

Quote

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[12poundbass]

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

 

Let's play by the rules here, and leave politics at the door.

Huh? Did I miss something?