In spring of this year, BASS announced a major restructuring of its Bassmaster Tour and Majors formats. The Tour went to 11 events, Majors were sprinkled throughout the season, the payout was redone and
field size increased to 200 boats.
Fast forward to late August, when BASS did a complete reversal. Entry fees went up to $5,000 per event, the field shrunk to 100 boats and a vague set of requirements – aka the BASS boat-wrap "template" – surfaced.
Fast forward again to last week, when pros who qualified for the Elite Series received registration information in the mail. Big changes once again. Pros found out BASS had reserved significant, high-profile areas on their boats and jerseys to display logos of its choice.
Also included was a new 2006 Angler Code of Conduct that, like other major sports, states: "...public comments that an angler knows, or should reasonably know, will harm the reputation of BASS, BASS officials or sponsor (sic) shall be considered conduct unbecoming a professional and will result in disciplinary action."
Finally, fast-forward to yesterday, when BASS let it be known that director of angler relations Gary Jones would send a new letter to anglers to clarify issues within the new rules. Reports now indicate BASS may scale back some of its initial rules, but by how much, nobody can guess.
All of which leaves Elite Series anglers, and their sponsors, scratching their heads about what will come next.
Rules Language
The packet BASS mailed to potential Elite Series competitors included a section titled "Raising the Standards," which references new rules.
First, those rules are:
"23. Ancillary Clothing: If BASS provides any ancillary clothing or products (such as life vests) bearing the logos of BASS or the official sponsors of BASS, each competitor shall wear such clothing or utilize such products in a manner supported by BASS.
"24. Uniforms, Wrapped Boats, Etc.: Elite Series anglers will be supplied with special rules relating to wrapped boats, BASS patch placement, contingency program patch placements, uniforms and any other special rules relating to those events.
"Anglers are encouraged to wear their own clothing which may bear patches, logos and other signage promoting the angler's sponsors. BASS may, however, restrict the use of patches, logos, signage, etc. that promote or advertise products which are, in BASS' sole judgment, in poor taste. BASS will provide as much advance notice as possible to the competitors in such instances.
"25. BASS Sponsor Boats: When using BASS sponsor boats, anglers are responsible for physical care of the boat. Damage to the boat which is determined by the tournament director to be excessive or wanton shall result in the angler being responsible for all costs of repair."
In addition, the Raising the Standards section – which appears to be more informational than rules-based, since much of the language is not in the official rules – includes the following language:
"Before each 2006 event, an inspection will be conducted to ensure adherence to the approved design and template guidelines. No objectionable graphics, logos and wording will be allowed as part of the boat wrap. No competitive tournament trail logos or other identity will be allowed on the boat wraps.
"Anglers are encouraged to approach this opportunity with professionalism, impact and individuality. BASS reserves the right to limit the number of non-BASS sponsor boats in an effort to control ambush marketing.
"Anglers will be required to wear a uniform that meets a BASS prescribed template. No competitive tournament trail logos or other identity will be allowed on the uniforms."
In Plain Sight
The areas BASS has reserved for itself on boat wraps and jerseys includes prime sponsor-display areas. For reference, here's a photo of what the BASS boat template looks like.
Note BASS has reserved both the rear quarter-panels, the outside of the driver-side windshield and the livewell lids. The rear quarter-panel is typically where boat manufacturers display their name and model. Livewell lids are also primo space, since every time an angler catches a fish on camera, it goes into livewell. And running shots of anglers are likely to include the windshield.
Next come the shirts, where BASS again commands prime space. The Citgo Angler of the Year patch is to be worn on the right sleeve, while the Busch Shootout "or other determined BASS graphic" is to be on the left sleeve. BASS also retained the upper back of the shirts and the top-left of the front.
Most anglers hold fish in their right hands, so the top-left-front is a big-ticket area that anglers typically receive significant dollars for. And if a cameraman is in the boat, the back of the shirt will see considerable air time, since anglers are on the trolling motor and casting in front of the boat.
So the beef anglers have right now with BASS is two-fold. First is the space they gave up, second is not knowing what will go in that space. Their sponsors don't have the answers yet either.
The Waiting Game
When BassFan spoke with Tracker Marine pro staff coordinator Jackie Camargo late Monday afternoon, she was receiving a faxed copy of the new rules from one of her pro-staffers and could not yet comment on the ramifications. The Tracker team includes heavy-hitters like Nitro pros Kevin VanDam, Rick Clunn and Edwin Evers, as well as ProCraft anglers like Tim Horton and Jason Quinn.
Skeeter boats, on the other hand, did study the new rules. Skeeter marketing manager Daren Cole told BassFan: "It's not being received very well at all just because of the guidelines – they seem too vague and double-sided. At one point, they say they can fully understand the angler's need to promote their sponsors, then in the next paragraph or a different rule number, they say they have the sole right to refuse anybody approval to run those same patches, logos, jerseys, wraps or anything like that.
"And it's my understanding the BASS graphics can be anything. What has us concerned is if a Brunswick logo would be on there."
Brunswick Corp. is the parent company of Mercury Marine and Triton Boats – the sole boat and engine sponsors of the Elite Series. BASS has not yet specifically stated what logos or patches it will require anglers to wear, and Gary Jones could not be interviewed until the new BASS letter is sent, but the threat of Skeeter pro staff members promoting a rival boat company has forced Skeeter to balk on sponsorship of BASS pros for 2006.
"Obviously it's a breach of our angler endorsement agreements," Cole noted. "It really made the decision easy for us not to support our anglers fishing the BASS trail. They're paying so much money for entry fees that they need more support from sponsors, but it's for less if any exposure whatsoever."
The list of affected pros at Skeeter is massive and includes names like Kelly Jordon, Alton Jones, Zell Rowland, Mark Davis and more.
Additionally, Skeeter is owned by Yamaha, another company leery of the ambiguous wording. Yamaha promotions coordinator David Simmons said, "I can tell you this, I know a lot of information is out there, but it's really kind of unclear about what the intention is or the real rules. It's hard to offer an opinion or direction until we understand what it all entails. We are working diligently to get clarification on these details."
Ranger Boats promotions director Steve Smith is likewise unclear about what to do. "I have a set of (the rules) sitting here in front of me. Until (BASS) refers to what's going in those templates under their special rules – until we see those – it's kind of hard to say. Right now, we're doing a wait-and-see for what that's going to turn into.
"I would hope they would make public what their real plans are pretty quick. It's going to put a lot of anglers in a bind."
Bass Cat president Rick Pierce noted: "The problem I have at this time is probably not with the wrap itself, but there's no imbursement. I don't have a problem with other manufacturers being on that wrap, but the company (Bass Cat) has a problem with no entitlement or fulfillments to the anglers. They're putting it on there for nothing."
BassFan requested an interview with Mercury Marine manager of freshwater endorsements Kevin Luebke, but did not hear back from the company in time for this article.
Contractual Obligations
Skeeter's policy right now is clear – it will not "support" (i.e. pay) anglers to fish the Elite Series. In addition, Nitro pro Kevin VanDam, ProCraft pro Tim Horton and Triton pro Gary Klein told BassFan today that, due to contract obligations, they would not be able to sign the "Participation Agreement" included in the registration packet.
Aside from rides and power, each angler has sold space to tackle companies and other sponsors that BASS now commands. The "ancillary clothing" rule is also thorny. Cole from Skeeter described his view on it this way: "Our agreements require Skeeter lifejackets. But that (ancillary clothing) could be a rain suit which is provided to anglers that totally covers up anything. It could be crash helmets, gloves."
Then there's the two-tour quandary – will anglers require two separate boats to accommodate both the rules of BASS and FLW Outdoors? And how about the two-tour anglers like Randy Blaukat who have a major non-endemic deal through FLW Outdoors and already run a wrap? What will they do?
"I contacted BASS, Fujifilm, Ranger and FLW Outdoors," Blaukat said. "Basically, nobody really knows what they want to do. BASS has not been real specific with the details, as far as requirements on the wrap. Everybody's sort of just in holding mode right now.
"All we ask is that BASS come out with very specific details about any gray areas. Say 'This is the plan, this is our format, this is how it's going to work.' Not only do we need to make plans on our end, but our sponsors need to make plans on their end. October 14th was the first due date for the first deposit, and right now, I don't know if I can fish (BASS).
"Everybody has a different situation sponsor-wise," he added. "They require certain things out of us in contracts, and it's very difficult for BASS to meet those demands. What they're asking is putting everybody out on a limb, not only with personal finances but the sponsor relationships we have."
Notable
> BassFan will publish details of the new letter expected from Gary Jones and BASS as soon as it's available.
> About the new media rule, Blaukat said: "That media rule has everybody freaked out. What I'm saying is, nobody knows what that gag rule is. Does that mean, if we're dissatisfied with policy, for example the Gary Klein (Bassmaster Classic) situation, do we just shut our mouths and not say anything? Like a herd of cows? That's another gray area. I think everybody's sort of disturbed by that in there."
> Anglers will fish from their own wrapped boats on days 1, 2 and 3 of Elite Series events, then from a bass-sponsored boat on day 4. Anglers will fish from their own boats on all days of the Majors.
