New tournament circuit announced today

[Team9nine]

Is this a Luke Clausen confirmation - 

 

[12poundbass]

4 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Is this a Luke Clausen confirmation - 

 

Interesting

[Troy85]

57 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

He is a huge talent for sure, but I have never seen an public figure who more seems like they just hate every second of being on camera.  

Amart always seems to look uncomfortable on camera, unless he is explaining some fishing technique. Seems like the only time he seems to not be nervous on camera....kinda like myself at most social events....you will get mostly 1 sentence answeres from me....but you mention fishing and the floodgates open.

[12poundbass]

KVD just threw his hat in!

[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) 
38. Mark Davis (Elite Series) 
39. Dean Rojas (Elite Series) 
40. Terry Scroggins (Elite Series) 
41. Gerald Swindle (Elite Series) 
42. Mark Rose (FLW Tour) 
43. Aaron Martens (Elite Series)

44. James Elam (Elite Series)

45. Randy Howell (Elite Series)

46. Bobby Lane (Elite Series)

47. Takahiro Omori (Elite Series)

48. Brett Hite (Elite Series)

49. Jonathon Van Dam (Elite Series)

50. Fred Roumbanis (Elite Series)

51. Luke Clausen (Elite Series)

52. Kevin VanDam (Elite Series)

53. Shaw Grigsby (Elite Series)

54. Stephen Browning (Elite Series)

55. Todd Faircloth (Elite Series)

56. Tommy Biffle (Elite Series)

57. Casey Ashley (Elite Series)

58. Adrian Avena (Elite Series)

59. Cliff Pace (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) 
> Chad Pipkens (non-BPT invitee) 
> John Crews (non-BPT invitee) 
> Brandon Card (non-BPT invitee)

> Cliff Prince (non-BPT invitee)

> Mark Menendez (non-BPT invitee)

> Drew Benton (confirmed BPT invitee)

 

FLW Tour 
> Bryan Thrift (non-BPT invitee)

[YoTone]

this growing list is shocking.

[Team9nine]

28 minutes ago, YoTone said:

this growing list is shocking.

Wait until they add Ehrler, Strader, Ish, J-Lee, MDJ, Lucas and Christie to it... 

 

Update: Add Shaw Grigsby to the MLF/BPT list...

[punch]

I'm really curious about Brandon Palaniuk

[Team9nine]

17 minutes ago, punch said:

I'm really curious about Brandon Palaniuk

BP is still a wildcard. Some say he'll go, others aren't certain whether he will or won't. I would think he might go with Lucas...about the only one remaining that might surprise... 

[punch]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

BP is still a wildcard. Some say he'll go, others aren't certain whether he will or won't. I would think he might go with Lucas...about the only one remaining that might surprise... 

It will be catastrophic if PB and Lucas both go. Nail in the coffin. All the work Bass did to promote and build their "next generation" down the toilet. 

[OCdockskipper]

It is getting to the point that many "good" Elite anglers can cash in if they don't jump.  Someone like Matt Lee could easily become a more recognized angler if they stay in the Elites.  Lucas, Lee & Palaniuk, already stars, could push themselves into rarefied air by being top of the heap with all of those other stars gone.

 

Also, I wonder how this affects Toyota's sponsorship with BASS?  Will Toyota follow their anglers to MLF, creating an opening for Chevy, Ford or Dodge to become affiliated with BASS & their new crop of Elites?

[12poundbass]

10 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Wait until they add Ehrler, Strader, Ish, J-Lee, MDJ, Lucas and Christie to it... 

 

Update: Add Shaw Grigsby to the MLF/BPT list...

Is this what you're hearing? I see you didn't mention the Lee's in any of this at all. 

 

My guess is that the Lee's stay and BP as well. I'm guessing BASS already knows who planned to stay and go, based on the promo video.

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

Is this what you're hearing? I see you didn't mention the Lee's in any of this at all. 

 

My guess is that the Lee's stay and BP as well. I'm guessing BASS already knows who planned to stay and go, based on the promo video.

Not certain if Matt's going, but Jordan (J-Lee) is from what I hear, along with all the others I mentioned.

[12poundbass]

10 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Not certain if Matt's going, but Jordan (J-Lee) is from what I hear, along with all the others I mentioned.

Wow! So the AOY winner and the two-time defending classic champ is slated to go. Ouch! That's going to leave a mark. The 2019 Bassmaster Classic might be a little awkward. 

Oops I'm an idiot. I looked back and I see you indeed did mention Jordan Lee. ?

[Team9nine]

Nothing is really official until confirmed, so obviously it could end differently. Lucas sounds about 100% certain though. Guessing most of the guys mentioned announce sometime today or tomorrow since they had to either claim BASS exemptions or meet MLF deadlines by yesterday or today depending which route they go.

[Jrob78]

The fact that Lucas has liked every MLF post on social media tells me he's probably gone. I'm sure he is trying to be respectful of his AOY win and put a little space between that and his announcement.  

[Gundog]

Its going to be interesting to see the line up for the BASS Classic. 

[Team9nine]

Stephen Browning confirmed...

[Jrob78]

35 minutes ago, Gundog said:

Its going to be interesting to see the line up for the BASS Classic. 

The 2019 Classic won't be effected. MLF has already said that the schedule will be clear for the Classic and Forrest Wood Cup, although I don't know how any MLF guys would qualify for the Cup next year.

 

Todd Faircloth makes 55, 25 left to go.

[punch]

Casey Ashley jumped! That's one I didn't see coming. 

 

So to show how truly bad this is for Bass, out of the last 12 Bassmaster Classic winners.. only 2 have not announced they are flipping to MLF:

 

Takahiro Omori *flipped

KVD *flipped

Boyd Duckett *flipped and destroyed Bass in the process

Alton Jones *flipped

Skeet Reese *flipped

Chris Lane *flipped

Cliff Pace 

Randy Howell *flipped

Casey Ashley *flipped

Edwin Evers *flipped

Jordan Lee

 

[WRB]

Looks like B.A.S.S. Elites are few and far between, they will need about 50 new anglers to fish their schedule after the Classic.

Tom

 

[Jrob78]

3 hours ago, punch said:

Casey Ashley jumped! That's one I didn't see coming. 

 

So to show how truly bad this is for Bass, out of the last 12 Bassmaster Classic winners.. only 2 have not announced they are flipping to MLF:

 

Takahiro Omori *flipped

KVD *flipped

Boyd Duckett *flipped and destroyed Bass in the process

Alton Jones *flipped

Skeet Reese *flipped

Chris Lane *flipped

Cliff Pace 

Randy Howell *flipped

Casey Ashley *flipped

Edwin Evers *flipped

Jordan Lee

 

Add Cliff Pace to the list.

[Gundog]

6 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

The 2019 Classic won't be effected. MLF has already said that the schedule will be clear for the Classic and Forrest Wood Cup, although I don't know how any MLF guys would qualify for the Cup next year.

 

Todd Faircloth makes 55, 25 left to go.

So the pros that are leaving will be fishing the 2019 Classic or FWC but not the rest of the season? Doesn't sound fair to me. Either they are in or out. I'm not taking a side or saying they are right or wrong for leaving or staying with BASS but to show up for one tournament and then go to another league is just wrong, if indeed this is the case.

[Jrob78]

8 minutes ago, Gundog said:

So the pros that are leaving will be fishing the 2019 Classic or FWC but not the rest of the season? Doesn't sound fair to me. Either they are in or out. I'm not taking a side or saying they are right or wrong for leaving or staying with BASS but to show up for one tournament and then go to another league is just wrong, if indeed this is the case.

The 2019 Classic is based on the 2018 season that just finished. For most of these guys it will be their last Classic. The FWC is based on next years season, which is why I say I don't know how any of those guys would qualify for it.

[punch]

The Classic is going to be must-see television. It's going to be the most awkward thing in the world knowing that these guys are all bailing on Bass. It's going to be very interesting to see how they cover that. It's going to be hilarious when someone wins it that is going over to MLF immediately after.  They better start praying that someone who stays around wins the classic so they have somebody to promote. 

 

You know someone in a Bass meeting brought up disqualifying all of the flippers from fishing the classic. I really hope there's a documentary on this in 4-5 years that gives you all the behind-the-scenes stuff.