The announcement of the first big change under the new B.A.S.S. ownership – bestowing Bassmaster Classic berths on winners of Elite Series and Open events regardless of their ultimate finish on the respective points lists – drew mixed reactions from Elite anglers. Some were unhappy that short-term success would be rewarded over season-long steadiness.



The second major modification, which was revealed Wednesday by Jerry McKinnis, is being met with near-unanimous approval. The simple reason for that widespread endorsement is that it reverses the glory-over-consistency principle that ruled the Angler of the Year roost during 2009-10 and, in the minds of many, restores the full integrity of the honor.

The traditional format for determining the AOY is back. There'll be no more decimal-point repositioning to create "adjusted" AOY standings for a two-tournament shootout, de-emphasizing the regular campaign in an effort to create final-event drama. That two-year experiment is over.

The race has gone back to the way it was when Roland Martin won all nine of his AOY crowns and when three-time defending AOY Kevin VanDam won the first four of his six titles. Had it never been altered, Skeet Reese would own three of the past four AOYs instead of just the solitary title he captured in 2007.

The 2011 post-season will still exist and will play out under pretty much the same chronological sequence as originally scheduled, but now it'll be an all-star week with fan involvement conducted for fun and money.

BassFan surveyed some past AOYs and other anglers who've contended for the crown in recent seasons for their views on the change. Their responses appear below.

Mike Iaconelli (2006 AOY)
"I'm stoked about it. I'm really excited. The other system – I didn't like it and I never felt it was the right way to do the AOY. I've always felt it should reward consistency against a full field over a given number of events. The other way took away from the history of it.

"I've never been against post-season events and I think there should be more of them. I just didn't like it when they determined the AOY."

Todd Faircloth (2008 runner-up)
"It doesn't hurt my feelings any. I think if you polled the Elite guys, the vast majority would be in favor of (the change). I'm pretty pleased with it and I thing it was the right decision."

Davy Hite (1997, 2002 AOY)
"I think that's good. The two times I won it was the traditional way and I favor that format. It's the one I'd certainly choose, but even under the other format, everybody knew how it was going to be going into the start of the season.

"I'm glad they're going back to the old way and I think there's going to be a lot of other good things happening with Jerry making the decisions."

Tim Horton (2000 AOY)
"I think it's good, although I really didn't have a problem either way. I do think this is the fairest way."

Aaron Martens (2005 AOY)
"It's cool. It's more traditional and that's how it should be. The other way was fun and all, but the AOY is about consistency and this seems to me to be the most fair way.

"Like a lot of other sports, you have to work through the whole year to win it."



B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito
Photo: B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito

Denny Brauer, who won the AOY 24 years ago, called the return to the traditional format "a brilliant move."

John Crews
"I think it's the right call for the sport. The Angler of the Year should be the guy who plays out the regular season the best, like the MVP in any other sport."

Denny Brauer (1987 AOY)
"It's a brilliant move. I certainly didn't think that the Angler of the Year played out well the last couple of years. It needs to be decided against a full field, not a little mini-fun tour."

Cliff Pace
"I like it from a fairness standpoint I think it's the way it should be. When you restructure the points the way they've done it for the post-season the last couple of years, it makes it anybody's game. You're taking something away from an angler's success in the regular season and I don't think that should be the case."

Greg Hackney (2004 runner-up)
"I think that's great, it's the right deal. Honestly, the way it was set up (the last 2 years), it wasn't fair to the guy who was leading at the end of the regular season.

"It sounds real good to me and it's the first good thing I've heard in a while."

Mark Menendez
"I think it'll return some much-needed credibility to what the AOY represents. It won't be the Angler of the Post-Season and it'll restore the high honor that the award deserves.

"It's a very positive step. There are still a lot of things left to accomplish and this is the first step of correction, so to speak, but I think it's a great indication of what we can expect from the new regime."

Alton Jones
"I applaud the move because I think it does reward the angler who performs well of the course of the whole season as opposed to one particular event. From that perspective it adds some purity to it and brings back an element that's been missing.

"It's a positive move and I think it shows that the mindset of the new ownership is headed in the right direction. It gives us, as anglers, all the reason in the world to support them."