RE: KVD at the Expo – Great article. Just wanted to say how much respect I have for KVD after watching him spend three days in the Expo signing autographs and posing for pictures, knowing he would rather have been fishing. What better way to attract more fans than to have KVD out in the forefront.Thanks for the signed HUK hat you gave my boy – made his day.
RE: Balog on the Classic – This couldn't have been more spot on. Sunday night was unreal – man, they put on a show! I've been to a couple of Classics and the was by far best show I've seen. I fish tournaments myself and you have good and bad days, but just to be a part of a Classic, whether you catch them or not, should be dream come true. Thanks to the city of Greenville and all involved. You should be proud.
RE: Wendlandt's return – Hope Clark stays well, and comes back strong. I had the pleasure of taking him down to Venice, La. for a fishing trip, and we had a great time some years ago. He is an excellent fisherman and a great person. Good luck, Clark.
RE: Ram with FLW – I've got 288,000 miles on my Dodge Ram. It pulls my Ranger boat today as well as the day I bought it. It also has the same transmission in it, not a bit of trouble out of it. Ram tough!
The bass tournament won by Johnnie Grice in 1970 was not a B.A.S.S. event. I believe the person who conducted it was Dewey Yopp and it was his first and last event.
So sorry to read of the passing of Mr. Martens. Condolences sent to Aaron and his family. God bless you all.
Great crowds braved the cold and the anglers did their best, but the Classic should not be conducted in this kind of weather.
RE: 2015 Classic First off, congratulations to Casey Ashley for a well-deserved win.
My issue is with B.A.S.S. The last guy to weigh in, who was Takahiro Omori, gets totally overshadowed by the winner's celebration and never gets a chance to thank any sponsors, family or talk about the type of week he had. Maybe they should consider bringing the last guy up, do a little commentary and then weigh his fish – at least this way he gets an opportunity to at least thank those who support him. This would go along way with many sponsors. Also, if he does have a big bag, it would make it more exciting.
RE: 2015 Classic – This was so intense right up to the end ... gllad to see homeboy win! Great fishing, Casey Ashley! All the guys were awesome out there in those cold temperatures.
I am wondering what kind of a "B.A.S.S." tournament Mr. Sharp is referring to that Johnny Grice won in the 1970s. It certainly was not a Bassmaster Invitational. I remember reading something about it. Perhaps it was put on by a different bass tournament organization.
Anybody notice Mike Iaconelli take off on day 3 of Classic without having his life jacket buckled up? The cameraman caught it live on the Bassmaster webcast. I guess the pros are human, too.
I love the fact that B.A.S.S. leads off the tournament year and Elites Series with a February Classic. It's part of the sport – dealing with the elements. It could just as easily have been a warming trend and record catches. I think the best of the best will still catch them and make for a great Classic.
RE: Delayed Classic start – Safety is always job one. However, it is winter, what do you expect? Put down some salt or other surface treatment and move on. Lots of safety issues everywhere. We need Big Brother to tell us what is safe to protect us because we are not smart enough to be safe on our own. Please fish or go home.
Future February Classics should be held in the South or schedule them for early fall.
I'm glad safety is still a priority, but I think the Classic needs to move back until later in year so we don't have these issues.
RE: Classic preview – In my opinion Ott is the man to beat! My darkhorse pick is David Walker. Both are from east Tennessee and know these kinds of conditions.
I don't understand the outcry about it being a cold Classic. It's going to very interesting and it's exactly what tournaments are all about.I would much rather see perfect conditions, but it's unrealistic and changes are a part of the game. Go Brandon Gray!
This could be the coldest and lowest-catch Classic in history. A frigid blast is moving across Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia and then to South Carolina. The low in Chattanooga Monday is 22 degrees, followed by 17 on Tuesday, 5 on Wednesday and 8 on Thursday. Then it'll be 25 on Friday, 35 on Saturday and 32 on Sunday.
In the mid-1970s a B.A.S.S. tournament was held on West Point Lake in Alabama in the winter. It was down in the teens and the boats froze in the slips at the marina and had to be chopped free. Over 100 anglers and only one bass was weighed in. Johnnie Grice of Texas won the event with that bass, the others drew numbers from a hat to see where they placed and what check they got.
Look for a very cold Classic this week.
I would like to ask the question, why is it that so many of these pros who do not like the little guys are, year in and year out, still allowed to go down in the ranks and cherry-pick the BFLs and smaller team-trail tournaments? Talk about discouraging the entry-level guys! We have been showing up for years only to see Casey Martin, Alex Davis, Charley Hartley, etc., pot-shottting little tournaments and winning good sums of money, then bragging about how fun it is to fish with the good ol' boys and get gas money for their next event. Makes it hard to swallow when you know they're pros on the water 5 to 6 days a week while you're at work. How are we supposed to (as entry-level working men) keep enthused about donating to them?
BassFan says: The only way to eliminate such a practice is for the tournament organizations to disallow the participation of professionals. It's simply not fair to ask a pro angler to pass on a money-making opportunity for altruistic reasons – remember, unlike many other sports, they're not guaranteed a salary, and they have bills to pay just like most weekend competitors do. Many club-level anglers enjoy the occasional chance to compete against pros, and in fishing (unlike golf or a lot of other sports), the amateur stands at least a small chance of beating them once in awhile.
Well, the "Ice Bowl" takes place this weekend at Lake Hartwell. Personally, I've never been a fan of the February Classics and if they think it was cold at Grand Lake in 2013 ... hang on! Highs in the upper 30s to low 40s should make for a fun time for all (sarcastic). Not to mention lows in the teens.
Please B.A.S.S., can we not have the Classic at the end of the regular season instead of being subject to Mother Nature's unpredictability in February? Yeah, I'd fish for $500k if it was held in Siberia, but this is asking a little much. You're handicapping everyone involved (competitors, media, and spectators) in weather this cold.
By the end of next week, I'm saying some harsh words will be said about the same by several.
RE: New Tennessee record – Wow! Hopefully he was using Mustad hooks and was registered for the Hook a Million promotion!
Really hard to fathom the comment concerning FLW as being "minor league," especially when the first six of the Top 10 in the World Rankings are (or were) FLW anglers. Perhaps a little research and less "opinion."
RE: Balog on James River Classics – I'll take a stab at the other two components that Joe Balog has noticed in champions. When I watch Tom Brady, Tiger Woods (in his prime) and Kevin VanDam, to name three, I notice two other traits. Joe mentioned a deep kind of confidence. I agree.
I also see a lot of objectivity without any self-degradation. If Tom Brady has a bad game or Tiger has a bad round, they are able to distance themselves from it. They objectively see what they did wrong and what transpired without getting outwardly emotional. They take themselves out of the equation and are like their own manager or critic. They know what they need to do and go back to work in order to improve on it. And obviously these guys study hard.
What separates a Brady from a Peyton Manning – both greats, but Tom seems to have an intangible (and I have no horse in the battle, as I'm a Bills fan, sadly) is that Tom stays more cool and collected under pressure. Same with Tiger. They rarely, if ever lose their composure. A guy like Ike loses it from time to time. He's undoubtedly great, but there's distance between him and KVD and that's what I see.
RE: FLW trio on Classic – Does not matter what they say about the Classic. If they did not fish the minor leagues they could qualify for the Classic through the long-seasoned Elites. FLW just fishes a handful of events and only Christie would probably have the points to make it.
BassFan says: Uh, not likely. Exhibits A through K – 2015 Classic qualifiers Jacob Powroznik, Keith Combs, Justin Lucas, Randall Tharp, Matt Herren, Chad Morgenthaler, David Walker, Brett Hite, Andy Montgomery, Clifford Pirch and Ott DeFoe, all of whom transferred to the Elites since 2011. The record shows that the top FLW competitors have had little difficulty transitioning to the Elite Series.
RE: Balog on James River Classics – Good article, Joe. I agree the '89 and '90 Classics were two of the best ever.
RE: Boyles' sweet deal – This is a Cinderella story at its best. One so many of us wannabes can only dream about. Best wishes, Mike, and may God bless you in fulfilling your dream.
What is a bass pro? If you take all the "Elite" anglers, add up their earnings over the past 5 or 10 years and divide by that number of years, you may be amazed. 80 percent are losing a fortune. Unless living at the poverty line qualifies you as a pro, wearing a jersey is meaningless. If you rely on sponsorship money or family money, you're not a pro at any level.
The MLF fishing format is much better for TV viewing and far superior to FLW and B.A.S.S. coverage. I've seen it capture the attention of the not-so-avid anglers like my wife, but what concerns me is there has been no mention of a monetary prize for the Summit Cup. Are they not making enough money to award something other than a trophy? If so, it will be a short-lived venture. It seems odd to me that prize money is never mentioned.
RE: Yelas' C.A.S.T. gig – As a longtime guide and tournament angler, I know Jay and especially his heart for kids and vets and consider him a perfect mix for C.A.S.T.
While it's true it's not 1968 anymore, there's much we can learn from the history of our sport. Personally, I compare the pros' demeanor today with those gentlemen of the past and I find the present folks wanting.
RE: Yelas' C.A.S.T. gig – I can't think of a better person, to take that job, what a class act. I met jay at a seminar and during lunch he took the kids out to fish the pond at this college the seminar was at. He is great with kids – a real gentleman. Congrats and good luck.
RE: Ashmore's deal with tool-maker: Excellent. The more non-endemic sponsors the pros can woo makes it better for everyone seeking sponsorships.
It's not just at the triple-A or double-A leagues. Do the math – there is no money in the sport at any level except for a select few. Since it appears that the PAA is no longer active it looks like it may be up to MLF to take the sport forward for the betterment of the athletes.
RE: Boyd opinion – Hit the nail on the head. A lot of wannabes need to step off their pedestal and realize they're not pros.
I am sure Harold Sharp is a great person, but it is not 1968 anymore!
RE: Balog/Day payout comments – Let's face it, most triple-A guys are feeding an expensive hobby. As an amateur, I tell folks that if I can ever just break even during a year then I am very happy. I have been on both sides of the weekend amateur payout and it seems pointless when you finish high and the payout just covers expenses (add it up). It is a free country and folks can spend their money how they see fit. The fishing industry is like some others where fishing addicts will never stop spending. I am guilty.
I love MLF and have a Bass Pass so I can see the Extended Casts. I think you all should develop a video MLF game for Xbox, etc. Great advertising and promotion of this kind of fishing. We could play in real time with others and promote ethical fishing for all.
If the Elites are the "true pro" series, how do you account for a "pro" who has fished over 190 B.A.S.S. events, never won and cashes only 18 percent of the time? How does he qualify as "Elite"?
RE: Boyd opinion – I totally agree with this article. I am a tournament angler who competes at various levels. I have fished locally for several years and last year competed in the FLW Rayovac Texas division. I have noticed that no matter what level you compete at, there are guys with jerseys and logos on their boats and trucks. Sometimes they even carry it so far as to wrap their boats and trucks.
I am under no illusion that I am a pro by any means and I do not wear a jersey or have my boat wrapped. A while back someone said to me, "You should put a wrap on your boat." I responded by saying that the only way I would do that was if someone was paying me. I guess people think if you look the part, maybe people will buy into it or maybe they just want to look cool or in style. I believe that everyone should dress however they like, but I also believe this hurts people trying to gain sponsors. I mean, why would a company pay someone to wear their logos if everyone is wearing them for free?
Who wants to go to work for free? I know I don't. When you think about it, that's what you're really doing when you wear those logos. I'll keep wearing whatever I get out of my closet until I'm fortunate enough to have someone paying me to wear their stuff, even if I look like a misfit at the weigh-in.
In reference to Balog's opinion and other responses, FLW making 15 percent and having to pay their employees out of that is not unfair. I do agree 140th should not receive the same compensation as 40th, but come on. If you're a pro, finish to where it shows and don't be a whine bag crybaby about it.
"I deserved more," or entitlement, is one of the major problems with our society. Recreational anglers get a boost from a check, whether it's a dollar or a thousand.
RE: Balog on Rayovac deal – Great read, Joe. Love the fact that you express your true feelings rather than just act as a propaganda school for the tournament organizations.
RE: McClelland's Big Bite Baits deal – Big Bite not only got one of the best anglers, but one of the best individuals to be a team member.
RE: Balog on Rayovac payout – Great observation, Joe. It's nice to see someone else who recognizes a $1,200 tourniquet. Super tough to start a professional career when the payouts don't reward the angler's on-the-water performance.
RE: Boyd opinion – "Bass pro." I agree, when asked if I am a pro, I respond semi-pro at best a real pro makes his complete income from professional bass fishing and I have an incredible amount of respect for anyone who can perform well enough to make a living. Fishing is wonderful ... full of wonder!
RE: Balog on Rayovac payout – I usually agree with what Joe Balog has to say, but regarding the payback at the Okeechobee Rayovac, I disagree with him. This sport needs all the encouragement it can get, and paying deep into the field will enable anglers to gain the confidence they need, deservedly or not, to stay in tournaments. This insures retail sales of boats, motors, rods, reels, lines, lures, etc.
This industry needs all the energy it can get from aspiring anglers and needs to protect this energy.
Paying deep into a triple-A tournament such as this is a great idea.
By the way, I finished 16th in the event and would have gotten a substantially larger check if the payback would have stayed at 40 places.
RE: Balog on Rayovac payout – Much has been written about FLW paying to 140th place. This is not the first time for a deep payout. The 1986 BASS MegaBucks paid $450.50 to the entire field of 201 contestants. The winner received $101,000, the top 20 received $6,296, top 50 received $4,499.50 and the rest $450.50, so everyone received a check.
Many could not understand why we had that large payback. We paid the largest payout in the history of pro bass tournaments to promote the name BASS MegaBucks.
RE: Balog on Rayovac payout – Joe, it is my understanding that Bill Taylor made the statement that starting next season the payout will be adjusted. I think FLW wasn't really ready for this turnout as far as fixing the pay structure at this time. Word I was told was that next year only 60 places would be paid with a 250-boat turnout. That would be outstanding for a Rayovac.
RE: Balog on Rayovac payout – I struggle to pay entry fees but I totally agree: The better you do, the better the check. I think only the top 20 should get checks.
RE: Balog on Rayovac payout – FLW payouts are scewed. They pay the same amount for a bunch of places – like 13th through 20th, they all got $3,000, so Finishing 20th was the same as 13th.
We can argue this all day. Like I have said before, I'm sure the guys finishing 40th and below liked getting some money back.
RE: Boyd opinion – It's a muddy topic. As far as I know, nobody is getting paid to fish. So on that level, nobody is a true pro. They are paid for their performance like a pro tennis player or golfer would be. How many Elite or FLW guys really make a living through their tournament payouts? Not many. Even if a guy on the Elite level makes six cuts, he's looking at $60,000 pre-taxes. That won't take care of much more than his entry fees and travel expenditures. It certainly won't support a family or pay a mortgage.
The point of the Boyd piece seems to relate to posers – people who dress like pros, act like pros, buy top-level gear but don't fish as well as pros or make their living from pro fishing. To me, this is a societal issue. We have a tremendous national debt. There are people buried in credit card debt who live in houses way too big for them and drive status-symbol cars (BMWs and the like) in order to convey the appearance of success. It's our national narcisissm. But most people in our society really don't care about bass pros. A fisherman walking around with a bunch of patches like a NASCAR driver isn't going to impress most people.
And BassFans know who the top pros are, so the joke is really just on the wannabe pros. Where it hurts the real pros and people who make a living around fishing, like guides, is when these people do paid appearances and get pro deals on tackle to the exclusion of the real experts. But that's on those hiring these wannabees and the self-promotion of the wannabees.
The tackle companies are also to blame, as is B.A.S.S. They want to sell "professional grade flourocarbon" and high-end pro tackle and boats. Real pros are probably getting all this stuff on a pro plan, so these ads are basically just enabling the narcissist (I know this opinion is reading like psychology). But guys fork out the dough and they feel like more of a pro. Then they enter "the pro side" of the Open and for all intents and purposes are fishing as a pro.
We all know the truth.
BassMaster.com has posted a look at Bill Lowen's boat. It reminded me that the first Bassmaster Classic contestants were limited to four rods and reels and 10 pounds of tackle. We weighed their tackle boxes and removed lures if it was over 10 pounds. It also reminded me that Bobby Murray used one rod and reel and one Zorro spinnerbait to win it.
Where are we heading?
RE: Martens with Enigma – I have seen the prototype – awesome rods. Best rod for the money you can buy!
RE: Boyd opinion – It's crazy how little some people feel they need to do to call themselves a "bass pro." If you are not making your living through fishing, you are not a pro. Period.
This is one of the reasons most people view the Elite Series as the true pro series and the FLW tour as an "anyone who can pay" playground.
Wow, it just seems like yesterday that Randy Howell was holding up the Classic trophy. Good luck to all the guys fishing this year's Classic.
RE: Boyd opinion – Kudos to the author for telling it like it is and to BassFan for publishing this. I'm not a pro fisherman but I have read everything I can find over the years trying to learn and understand the business model. This article was really up there among the best for adding clarity and perspective. I suspect you all will get flamed for various aspects and I just wanted to say thanks for a job well done.
I look to BassFan for the best reporting, whether it's in-depth tournament results or truly interesting, informative articles, and this one is a great example. Keep it up!
Many years ago, Ray Scott defined a pro bass angler as any member of his organization who had a week off from work and $100 in his pocket to cover the cost of an entry fee. The only thing that has changed over the years is the cost of the entry fee. That's not much of a standard for qualification as a "pro."
If you want to talk success as a pro, well, that's an entirely different discussion that is easily verified by facts. Win percentage and cash percentage can easily be determined based on tournament results. I would be careful using career winnings due to the great disparity in prize money over the years and between the different "pro" circuits.
Win percentage and cash percentage tell the truth about performance. To get an even more accurate picture, separate the "pros" into two groups – those who have fished 100 or more tournaments and those who have fished less than 100. After 100 tournaments, any luck factor has been virtually eliminated. You might be surprised with the results.
RE: Boyd opinion – While I appreciate (and support) your comments directed at "separating" the real pros from the wannabes, I'm not sure what to make of your last comments regarding logos. Last time I checked it was pretty hard to find a decent fishing hat or shirt without some sort of logo on it. Now if what you are referring to is logos along the line of the "fishing jersey" or the old-school "patch pirate," I support your stance 100 percent.
RE: Ponds' new deal – To the folks at TDJ you couldn't have picked a more classy guy than Pete Ponds. A very good choice in representing your company.
RE: Boyd opinion – I agree, well said.
RE: Boyd opinion – I agree with Mr. Boyd wholeheartedly. I have never seen any individual wearing a shirt, hat, patch, jacket, etc., for an organization of which they are not a part. Is my sarcasm easily detectable?
RE: Boyd opinion – Amen, Steve Boyd.
RE: Boyd opinion – Great article.
RE: Boyd opinion – This article is dead on. The guys who pay those entry fees at the FLW Tour and Elite Series level who feed their families and pay their bills with the income from those checks they are competing for at the highest levels, they are the real pros. In our sport, unfortunately, if you have a decent career and can afford the tools of the trade, you can make yourself appear to be a pro angler. But in all reality you're not. I am just glad as an angler to have outlets like the BFL circuit and Rayovac series to compete in.
Chances are I may never get to live the life of a real pro angler, but I will continue to compete and become the best tournament angler I can be. It's kind of shameful to our sport and to those anglers who genuinely make their income from the pro tours for other anglers to be claiming to be something they are not ... a real tournament pro.
RE: Martens and Enigma – This seems to be legit. I am stoked! If he got the Megabass sensitivity in an affordable rod, this will be the next big thing. I hope they will be at the Classic Expo.
By John Johnson BassFan Senior Editor
A look at the ages of the anglers who comprise the current Top 10 on the Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers Division
By Dustin Wilks Special to BassFan
(Editor's note: "Catching Bass with Dustin Wilks" airs four times per week on the Sportsman Channel – 6
By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff
PALATKA, Fla. — Cory Johnston fished a full tournament. But with all due respect to nine other competitors, he could’ve
