Over the past several seasons, pros and fans alike have grown to expect a mid-season rules or format change by BASS. It happened again late yesterday, when BASS announced that it had softened its qualifying criteria for the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series and beyond.
The news wasn't unexpected, since many pros and sponsoring manufacturers complained that the previous qualification system was too rigid.
Previously, BASS stated that the 2008 Elite Series field would be 75 boats. Only the Top 50 in this season's points would automatically requalify for that field, and the rest would have to battle it out at the Wildcard.
That's all changed now, and the 2008 Elite Series will field 110 boats, and the Top 84 in the points will automatically requalify. There's also a new exemption system. Here's the breakdown.
2007 Wildcard Qualifying
(BASS will move down the respective Open points list up to and including the 25th-place position. If 15 Wildcard spots have not been secured from each these circuits, BASS will take fewer anglers to the Wildcard.)
2008 Elite Series Qualifying
2009 Elite Series qualifying
2008, 2009 Exemptions
BASS will offer several backup routes into both the 2008 and 2009 Elite Series. The following anglers receive exemptions from above-mentioned qualifying routes:
According to BASS, to exercise one of the above exemptions, "You must be an angler in good standing. You may not have any more than two exemptions in your 'bank' after March 1, 2008. Anglers may accumulate additional exemptions not to exceed a total of two in your 'bank.'"