Reese On Signing Up For New Elite Series

Last week BASS issued a press release that lauded Skeet Reese for being the first pro to sign up for the new Bassmaster Elite Series. In a way, it couldn't have been more appropriate – because Reese is one of the ESPN/BASS "new guard."

He's all over the ESPN2 TV screen, and is resented for it by some of his fellow pros. One reason he's on TV so much is he's all attitude, but in a different way than Mike Iaconelli or Gerald Swindle, two more of ESPN/BASS's apparently favored sons.

Reese is a wildcard of sorts in that you never know what you're going to get – a guy who's very charismatic, or a guy who doesn't seem like he cares at all. Either way, it plays well on camera (and he works at being good on camera).

He's got that signature yellow thing going on – with his long-time yellow Champion jersey, and the yellow shoes and yellow hair at this year's Bassmaster Classic.

The look, the attitude – but it's not all fluff, not by a long shot. Because he catches them. He's ranked 3rd in the State Farm World Rankings, in no small part because he has eight Top 20 finishes over the last 2 years on the Bassmaster Tour. That's a Top 20 two-thirds of the time.

So given all of that, he is constantly promoted by ESPN and BASS. In a way, then, it wasn't a big surprise that he was trotted out by BASS as a hero for signing up for the Elite Series.

But Reese is also a pro fisherman, meaning he's an independent thinker and independent businessman. Yes, he knows where his bread is buttered, but he also doesn't like it when someone messes up the butter. And he's a pretty straight shooter.

So even though he's one of the ESPN/BASS new guard, and was recently given a big smooch by BASS for signing up for the Elite Series, we figured he'd be a good interview – meaning not blatantly rah-rah – about the good and the not-so-good about what ESPN and BASS are doing. Judge for yourself.

All About Change

First off, we asked Reese whether BASS has changed. That is, everyone knows it has, but what's his perspective?

"Anytime you get new management and ownership, change is going to happen," he said. "We see it in corporate America every day – buyouts, layoffs, and new business strategies to be profitable and grow the business. And that's the bottom line: this is a business. For millions of Americans it's a hobby, but overall this is a business. And with ESPN buying BASS, they didn't buy it to lose money.

"The difference now is that the (BASS) ownership prior to ESPN was small (and) personal. Ray Scott and Helen Sevier I think both did good jobs for what they could do as a single owner of a corporation (Sevier actually was not the sole owner of BASS –Ed.). They both helped grow the sport and get it to where it's at now. They basically planted the seed out there, and laid the foundation for the fishing industry as a business.

"That isn't going anywhere, the foundation," he said. "That will be there. There are so many tournament trails out there – this is one small piece of the business model changing in one corporation.

"(The BASS changes are) being dissected, whether being praised or kicked, (because) BASS, as the founder of tournament fishing, has always been in the spotlight and the forefront.

"This is a new era," he continued. "Society is not what it was 10, 20, 50 years ago. We as American citizens have always been scared of change, but also want change. Everybody's out there trying to own a bigger home or nicer car, and provide for their families, and when you have that type of demeanor, things change.

"Just look at society now vs. 10, 15 years ago. It's a totally different country – and TV has changed so much. Reality TV, whether you like it or not, that's what most people are asking for. Whether you're a fan of it or not, that's just where we are.

"That's one of the biggest things as far as BASS and the changes: People are scared of change. That's common. It's normal – people get into a comfort zone and don't want to leave it. It's totally understandable.

"But there are always other people who want something new and different, and we're at that crossroads right now. There are big changes in our sport, and I think a lot of people are scared that that comfort zone they've lived in the last 5 or 25 years is being jeopardized.

"This is a transition stage in our sport – it's more change than anyone's used to seeing (or) has ever dealt with."

Change for the Better?

Okay, BASS's side of the sport is changing. But is it changing for the better?

"I can see both sides," Reese said. "I can see the side as an angler. (Some of what BASS has done) is frustrating, and maybe I don't agree with how they did it or how quick it came about.

"I think (ESPN) came in too drastic, too quick. The $55,000 was enough for everybody to choke on, and then they heard the regulations as far as wraps and jerseys. So some guys were eliminated just because of the entry fees, and a whole 'nother group probably (was eliminated) because they can't afford to wrap a boat, sell jersey space and pay for it all.

"But I also see it from a business standpoint, and I weigh that side more. I'm a businessman as well as a pro fisherman, and I understand (ESPN/BASS's) reasoning for doing what they're doing.

"What they're trying to potentially put out there is a much higher level of professional bass fishing. Unfortunately, to get to that point, people are left behind. That's the part that's hard to deal with. If you don't have it financially, or don't have the skills to keep you at that level, it's a blow to all of our egos.

"Maybe in the end (ESPN and BASS) only want 20, 40, 50 guys. I don't know. But if you have (a smaller field) and last place is a quarter mil, I don't think you'll hear a whole lot of complaining.

"Right now there are no guarantees that if you make it to the tour, you're making a living. They're trying to create a place where if you make it to the (Elite Series), you're in. A quarter mil a year, without endorsements.

"From a TV standpoint, if 30 or 40 guys are traveling the country for 14 events, those 30 to 40 guys will be built up pretty good – and that's the bottom line. In order to get the sport to where the professional guys are wanting it and to be profitable, to make a good living, the only way is through television. Because that's only avenue where you can generate enough impact and impressions to have enough value for corporate sponsorships.

"If you can get the sport to where you have a million to 2 million viewers every week, that changes everything from a sales standpoint. All of a sudden Fortune 500 companies will say, 'These guys are onto something over here. They have good ratings, it's a good advertising venue.' That's when you'll see the prize money go way up. You'll never see it go up as long as (the primary funding) is coming from within the (fishing) industry."

Gotta Fish

So Reese was the first Elite Series pro to send in his deposits. Why was it a no-brainer for him?

"First and foremost, this is my job," he said. "I have a responsibility to my wife and daughter that I have to go out and fish for a living. I also owe it to all the companies that I endorse.

"I have to go and do what I do to make my sponsors happy, and provide for my wife and daughter.

"Some guys are saying, 'I'm not going to fish.' A lot of people feel that if we sit on the sidelines and say we're not going to fish that BASS will change. But what happens if you sit on the sidelines and you're left out to dry? That's not where I'm putting myself.

"I'm putting my faith in a corporation that understands business and television a thousand times better than all of the anglers combined. We know how to catch a fish. That's our job. I know how to work with my sponsors and work with the media. Outside of that, I have to put my trust in people that are a hell of a lot smarter than I am at creating something bigger and better.

"If it was left to the anglers, in another 10 or 20 years everything (at the tour level) would still be the same as it is now. Maybe that will still be the case, but I'm willing to take a chance and shoot for something bigger. I have a whole lot more faith in (ESPN) than some anglers out there."

Gotta Fish Against..?

Like all the top pros, Reese is also a serious competitor. That means he likes to beat other fishermen, and not just any other fishermen: the best other fishermen. But right now conventional wisdom has it that some top pros – or at least some future top pros – won't be able to fish the Elite Series. Or, as in the case of Jay Yelas, will choose not to fish.

If that happens, is Reese cool with fishing against what may be a lesser-quality field?

He said: "Maybe I'm naive to who's going to fish and who's not, but my guess is that the majority of the Top 50 guys on the tour are going to do their best to fish. I really don't see how (BASS) can bring in a bunch of other guys to fill in their spots. There might be a few guys that show up who have the money and can just do it, but the key figures I think are still going to be there.

"I'm guessing Kevin (VanDam) will be there, Davy Hite, Gary Klein, Rick Clunn. Maybe some are going to pull out, but I still feel that the core group of top anglers that have proven themselves over the last 10 years will be there because it's their job."

How does he feel about not fishing against one top competitor, fellow western pro Yelas?

"It really makes no difference to me," Reese said. "That's his choice. If he doesn't like the formats, the changes in the sport, that's his choice and I respect that. Do I go by the same philosophies and beliefs he does? No. We're two completely different individuals.

"If Jay's not there do I feel like we've lost all the integrity, the 'eliteness,' of the top of our sport? No. As long as we can keep 90 percent or 75 percent of the world's top fishermen, I think (ESPN has) done their job.

"There are always new superstars coming in," he added. "Every year, or every 2 or 3 years, young phenoms are coming in and will take over my place, Kevin's place, Denny Brauer's place.

"The bottom line is I'm going to continue to fish and hopefully will keep catching them. I wish (Yelas) the best of luck. His personal beliefs are why he's pulling out, and mine are the complete opposite."

The Million-Dollar Goal

But it's not all about what ESPN or other fishermen are doing or want to do. For Reese and all the pros, it's also about what they want. In his case, he said: "One of my goals has always been to make 7 figures a year doing what I love to do."

Why? "It's just a challenge. We have a fishing challenge to catch fish every day, but I like the business challenge too. I want to be a professional athlete out there making an incredible living.

"The way the sport has been going, (the money) hasn't changed much. We're still fishing for the majority of our own money – and next season the majority will still be our money." The added angler money, in the form of high entry fees, "hurts because I know friends on the tour I probably won't see next year. But I understand where (ESPN is) going. I like the idea of smaller fields, and I'm fortunate that I can do it.

"And you can still work 3 weeks a month and fish other trails," he said. "On the new Bassmaster Tours, you can fish 10 events, spend 10 grand and have a shot at making $50,000, $100,000 or $200,000 in tournament winnings. You have (those tours), FLW, EverStarts, WON Bass, Central Pro-Ams – there are tons of avenues to fish and try to make a buck."

The Bottom Line

Reese said he's betting his money that ESPN can build a bigger, better-paying sport of professional bass fishing. But how long is he giving them to get there?

"The bottom line for me is that as long as my sponsors are happy and feel like they're getting what they're looking for and paying for, then that makes my job a lot easier. Now, if I have (his sponsors) starting to call me and saying it's not working, contracts are getting cut, then it's a problem.

"But most people I've talked to within the industry are supportive of what's going on (with ESPN/BASS and the Elite Series). They're not saying they're 100% agreeing with everything. But in the big picture, they're supportive of the potential outcome of it.

"As long as I know I can compete in tournaments and fulfill the competition junkie side of it for me, and grow my brand and be profitable, then I will keep going forward."

Notable: The ESPN2 Media Thing

Do Reese and a short list of other pros (collectively called the "fab five") get too much or an unfair amount of coverage on ESPN2? Lots of pros think so. Many in the industry think so too, as do lots of fans. How does Reese feel about it?

"It depends what you're talking about. If you're talking about The Bassmasters TV show (Tour/E50 coverage) I have five episodes (at home), and the guys that caught them got all the airtime, plain and simple.

"But if you're talking outside of that, like Loudmouth Bass, BassCenter and other bonus programs and interviews, the personalities will get the lion's share of that type of stuff.

"I've put myself out there as a businessman. If I didn't care about any of the media, exposure and sponsors and just cared about fishing, I'd probably be on the other side of the fence. But I make my living through sponsorships, through tournament winnings, and have tried to take care of the media, which is a huge portion of the business.

"If you don't like that part of the business, just be a fisherman. But don't blame me or any of the other guys who have put ourselves out there and worked our butts off not only tournament-wise but also in the media.

"This is the business side. It's TV. If you want airtime, if you want to make your mark on the sport, you have to give the camera, the audience and the fans something. If the camera's on you and you don't give anything, you won't get any airtime.

"When the camera's on me, I try to give the audience something they can grab onto – whether that's excitement, happiness, anger or the mental warfare going on in my head. I think lot of guys shut down when they're on the water with a camera. If that's their choice, fine. But if you want airtime, give the fans something.

"The fab five, we've given the fans something. Whether you like it or not, that's what we've done. We're just being ourselves. We're not going and trying to be somebody we're not. We're just having fun. And now we're being condemned for having fun, being ourselves and being successful.

"The biggest thing I struggle with is the people who don't look at things open-mindedly, and make their decisions based on jealousy. That's the problem with whoever. I'm not going to be not who I am to please them."

Notable

> He said he received no pressure from sponsors to fish, or not fish, the Elite Series.

> Reese is a member of the Professional Anglers Association (PAA). Would he fish PAA events if they happened? "I can't answer that because I don't know the schedules (and any) political conflicts (with) sponsorships. I don't know. But I feel that if the PAA creates a tournament trail, anytime we have more events and more opportunities for guys to cash checks, there's nothing wrong with that at all. But if the PAA creates a tournament trail, I may be wrong but I just don't see it changing the future of tournament fishing."