Pros Declare Which Tour(s) They'll Fish

(Editor's note: This is part 2 of a 2-part story about which tours individual pros will fish next year.)

Sticking With the Elite Series

Jeff Kriet (Triton/Mercury) – "I'm going to fish the (Bassmaster) Elite Series. I got a wrapped-boat deal – I signed a corporate deal with an insurance company called GetWorkComp.com. They're one of the largest providers of worker's comp(ensation) insurance in the U.S. They wrapped my boat and my truck. I can see the pros and cons

of it (the Elite Series). I don't think it's perfect yet, but it could end up being okay. I have also paid my deposits for the new FLW Series, just so I can fish two of them. A bunch of us did that."

Jimmy Mize (Triton/Mercury) – "I think (the Elite Series is) the way to go no matter what. I think it'll eventually be the really big deal. I have no wrap deal yet, but I'm working on one – I hope."

Jason Quinn (ProCraft/Mercury) – "I sent my money in for the Elites, and I also sent my deposits in for the FLW Series. I'll maybe fish the last couple of (FLW Series) tournaments after the Elite Series is over with. Evan Williams will wrap my truck and boat, but I've got another boat I keep also that I'll fish those (FLW) events with." (Note: FLW Outdoors does not allow the display of tobacco or alcohol logos during FLW Series competition.)

Dustin Wilks (formerly Triton/Yamaha) – "I'm going to be fishing BASS. I've always fished BASS, and my sponsors who have supported me for a long time, I feel like I owe it to them to fish BASS where I can promote them more fairly. I want to make a difference over there too. I want to be a positive role model." (Note: Wilks, who was a Triton/Yamaha pro, is currently in boat/motor limbo and has "no commitments on a boat or motor deal yet.")

Mark Tyler (Bass Cat/Mercury) – "I haven't done anything yet, but I think I'm going to commit to BASS. Who really knows what's the right direction to go? I've been thinking about it for weeks, and I have to go with my gut. I have faith they'll get it right in the near future. I'm contemplating the (Bassmaster) Southern Tour too. They scheduled it pretty nicely with the Elite Series."

Stephen Browning (Triton/Mercury) – "I've been, I guess, just an advocate for BASS for 5 or 6 years. It's where I'm going to have my career. If I'm to continue my career in fishing, (BASS is) exactly where I want it to be. The last 2 years my wrap has been Oberto beef jerky, and it looks like it's probably going to be for the future."

Terry Butcher (Ranger/Mercury) – "I'm going to fish BASS. I'm young and I would just hate to give up my spot. Last year was my first year. I didn't do great, but I did okay. I know if I give it up (the Elite Series spot) and everything goes good, it would be hard to get back in. I think I've come up with the money and I'm going to do it."

Rick Morris (Triton/Mercury) – "That I've been with BASS for 14 years was the biggest thing – all my stats, my retirement program. I can't budget in both trails or I would. I'm still working on (a wrap). If I don't succeed at anchoring a substantial wrap sponsor, then I'll be using my own RPM Custom Rods company. And I used to fish BASS when it was the Top 100s, so I'm looking forward to a smaller field."

BASS Pros Who Registered for FLW Only

Randy Blaukat (Ranger/Mercury) – "I have totally committed to the FLW Tour and FLW Series. This was a huge decision for my wife Susanne and I, because I have a 19-year career with BASS, including two Top 150 wins and almost $800,000 in winnings. When ESPN acquired BASS, I really feel like they had good intentions for the sport and the anglers. But I think their upper management is and has always been a bit arrogant and out of touch with the pros and their fanbase as well. I wish BASS all the best, and hopefully one day I will be fishing with them again."

Andre Moore (Ranger/Evinrude) – "Eleven tournaments is too much and there wasn't enough time to come up with $55,000. I'd like to fish BASS, but with these guys playing their little games, they're making it impossible."

David Fritts (Ranger/Mercury) – "It's been a pretty hard decision, and I don't know, I may regret it, but I think that's what I'm going to try to do this year – fish the FLW Tour and the new (FLW) Series. One thing was, the way the economy is, and my boat dealership and everything I have going on, to fork out $100,000 to fish – it could or could not be good. I just don't think it's a real good deal when you have to win a tournament to break even (on the Elite Series). I loved BASS's schedule. I'm not sure I'm making the right decision, but I have to make one."

Dion Hibdon (Ranger/Evinrude) – "I was kind of torn between one or the other, but the bulk of my sponsors revolve around FLW. So when (FLW Outdoors) came up with a few more tournaments, that was perfect for me. Nothing against (BASS), that just made my decision a whole lot easier. I'll stick with FLW (both the Tour and the Series). They supported me awfully well, and treated me right, and they're the ones I'll go with. It's not a bunch of politics. It's dollars and sense. Dad (Guido) will do the same."

David Dudley (Ranger/Yamaha) – "I'll be fishing the FLW Tour and (FLW) Series. I will not fish BASS – they're too messed up. They're like a lost kid wandering around looking to find what it is they're looking for. They're trying to copy what FLW's doing, and they're out in left field. That's all there is to it. I might go back and fish them, but they need to get their priorities straight."

Both FLW Tour and Elite Series

Lee Bailey, Jr. (Stratos/Mercury) – "I have all intentions of fishing both the Elite Series and FLW Tour. I was actually the second one to sign up (for the Elite Series). No matter what tour you fish – no matter what you do as an angler – if you're looking to be a pro for a long time, you need to be in position to get separated from the rest of anglers out there. With the Elite Series formats, and the coverage they're giving anglers, it's going to do that. My wrap is a combination wrap for Foxwoods Resort Casino and a new sponsor Fabco – an equipment company for the food-processing industry based in Albertville, Ala.

Undecided

Takahiro Omori (Ranger/Yamaha) – "I'm probably going to fish both (the FLW Tour and Elite Series). I paid my deposit for the FLW Series but no deposit for the (Elite Series) or FLW Tour yet. For me, I can take advantage to fish everything – 14 BASS, six FLW Tour, two FLW Series. That gives me 22 tour tournaments. If I make the (Bassmaster) Classic or (FLW) Championship or Top Gun, I could have 25 tour tournaments next year. I don't want to fish more than 25, but at this point in my life and career, I can do that. (Note: He plans to run a Yamaha wrap for the Elite Series).

Todd Faircloth (Skeeter/Yamaha) – "I don't have a definite. I signed up for the (FLW) Series, but I'm still undecided. I'm putting it on paper and it's just not financially making sense for me to fish BASS right now. I'd hate not to fish BASS. That's where I've been the last 7 or 8 years. I'm leaving the door open if something comes along – a sponsor – but it hasn't as of yet."

Davy Hite (Triton/Evinrude) – "I'm undecided. There's just a lot of options. And the decisions guys are making, they're career decisions. I'm not 100% sure of what I'm going to do. It's tough. You have to almost make a career decision."

Robert Lee (Bass Cat/Mercury) – "At this point, I really want to fish the Elite Series, but I'm still undecided about it. I guess I'm kind of procrastinating a little bit. The $55,000, and 11 or possibly 14 tournaments – because I'm on the bubble for the Majors – is almost too much for me to do from California. I have a business out here. I'll make the decision sometime this week whether or not to fish it. If I don't fish it, I'm not going to fish the other FLW Series."

Notable

> BassFan and Kevin Wirth miscommunicated during part 1 of this story and spoke again today to clarify his declaration to fish the Elite Series. "I'm putting my deposits in for BASS and I'm going to fish BASS," he said. "I'm in full support of all my sponsors that I've got."

> BASS stated that Byron Velvick (Triton/Mercury) and Mark Rogers (Gambler/Mercury) have registered for the Elite Series.

> Jeff Reynolds (Nitro/Mercury) contacted BassFan to say he plans to fish the Elite Series and the last two events of the FLW Series.

– End of part 2 (of 2) –