B.A.S.S. recently ran a press release reminding qualified anglers of the approaching sign-up date for its 2013 Wild Card tournament. The event would represent the last chance for tournament fishermen to qualify for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. Since the announcement, 267 fans have “liked” the comment on Facebook.

And of the 60 million or so Americans who fish, I’m fairly certain that those 267 anglers represent the only ones who think the Wild Card is a good idea.

While I make it a point to stay unbiased when discussing the major tournament organizations, and while I’m a very big fan of B.A.S.S. and what it has done to propel the sport recently, I felt it was my duty to you, readers of BassFan who expect the acting members of the press to work for bass justice, to comment on this event.

I will try not to swear.

To give you a little history, B.A.S.S. announced quite some time ago that it would host a “wild card” event to give competitors (both Elite and Open anglers) one last chance to make the 2014 Classic. I remember being given the details at the Open event on Lake Erie this fall. When I read the paperwork, I honestly thought the payout rundown was a misprint. And, after reading through the comments on the B.A.S.S. site following the above press release, I found I wasn’t the only one.

For this event, being held on Lake Okeechobee, B.A.S.S. will cap the field at 175 anglers. The first allowed to sign up will be broken-hearted Elite anglers who missed the Classic through previous qualification. Following that, Open anglers who competed in all three events in one respective division, will get their chance.

My guess is that, following that, B.A.S.S. may still be far short of a full field.

In any case, the field is supposed to be capped at 175. Entry fee is $2,000 per angler for the event, equating to a $350,000 “purse” being collected. Of that $350,000, payout will be as follows, according to the B.A.S.S. release:

“… total payout is $80,000, in addition to the Classic berth and a chance to win $300,000 in the world championship."

Yep, your math is right. That leaves $270,000 of “mystery” money.

Now, to be fair, B.A.S.S. pays out monster purses all year long at the Elite events. Its tiered structure is one that allows anglers who simply place in the upper half of the tournament field to continue earning a livelihood through fishing.

And Bassmaster magazine, B.A.S.S. Times and the organization's web and social media outlets do a tremendous amount to gain credibility and exposure for the Elite anglers, thus allowing those anglers to significantly increase their chances for sponsorship. Without question, B.A.S.S. currently propels its athletes into the public domain better than any other fishing organization.

In addition, B.A.S.S. runs events all across the country, operating an extremely expensive business, where success is very dependent on the state of the economy. B.A.S.S. should be commended on its continuing dedication to the sport.

Believe me, I’m behind B.A.S.S. and its approach toward its anglers and events. Without question, the Bassmaster Classic is the biggest thing in fishing.

But to have an event where the majority of the purse is admittedly pocketed, with the justification being that one angler out of 175 will qualify for the Classic, is going a little too far.

I’ve been critical in the past of the “Classic carrot." The Opens are a perfect example, where anglers will fish to win smaller prizes than in the competing EverStart events, just for the chance to make the Classic. And, even though I’m not on the same page, I get it. For an Open angler to qualify for the Classic, providing that angler intends to pursue a career in fishing, would be a pretty significant resume builder. But B.A.S.S. has gone way, way too far with the belief that hanging the “Classic Qualification” banner in the window will draw the crowds in from all across the country.

To think that Elite anglers, or Open fishermen, are going to drive to southern Florida to compete in an event to, most likely, lose several thousand dollars is absurd. It’s also quite sad.

Boyd Duckett was quoted as saying “Nobody likes a tournament like this." About the only anglers who can legitimately justify fishing would be those living near the Big O with fairly deep pockets. Realistically, who would want to fish this? A stellar finish, beating 90 percent or more of the field, still puts a guy in the red.

Perhaps I’m being a bit critical, although that is my job, in a way. And I know that qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic is something that nearly every wanna-be bass pro puts at the top of his or her list. But at least make it so hopeful anglers don’t have to invest as much money as a five-star Caribbean vacation to give it a shot.

Okeechobee is huge, dictating massive boat gas expense. The location is far from everywhere, equating to hundreds of dollars in truck fuel. Include lodging for the week, a $2K entry fee; break off a few $7 weights, and BAM! There goes 5 grand. The same realm of money as an Elite Series or FLW Tour entry, where 50th place pays $10,000.

Hmmmmm.

Again, my point here is not to bash B.A.S.S., as I hope you gather from the praise given earlier. And, yes, this is a free country, and if anglers don’t want to fish the Wild Card, they don’t have to.

But the wheels have been in motion for quite some time now to elevate the Classic in the minds of fishermen as a “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” accomplishment for aspiring pros, relieving them of all of their worry, stress and financial problems. Believe me, it’s not quite that easy.

In my opinion, the best fishermen in the B.A.S.S. system should fish the Classic. Save it for the Elite anglers as a mainstay. Want to add a few Open pros or amateurs? Fine. Then make qualification based on points champions for the Open divisions, or the winner of an Open Championship.

Qualification through this Wild Card will provide nothing but an asterisk on the roster. Look for an Elite angler with lots of Florida experience to go down there and mop up. Another potential winner could be an Open competitor from Florida who lucked into having the tournament in his back yard.

In any case, I hope, for B.A.S.S.' sake, it does away with continuing to push the envelope to see just what anglers will do to qualify for the Classic, and gets back to saving it for the best anglers on their side of fishing. Let’s continue to reward accomplishment rather than publicize desperation.

(Joe Balog is the often outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)