No co-anglers in 2009 BASS Elite

[Fuzzy]

Any opinions? I seen the new schedule and actually had picked a date to register for a tournament and then seen "no co-angler" article. I am so dead set against it. I wonder how many pros were never a co-angler in a tournament? If this rule stays, I will probably turn in my membership to BASS (something I cherished until ESPN got involved), I will not be associated with them and concentrate on the FLW bandwagon....or a smaller circuit..

 

[RangerRob]

If I were good enough to fish for 100k plus, I wouldn't want to have to trip over ... well ... me, for 3 of my 4 days on the water. Tours like BFL, ABA/BASS Weekend, etc are for weekend warriors. You know how the old saying goes, "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch (and fish local dogfights)." The BASS pros requested this ... they didn't WANT weekend warriors in their boats.

I doubt FLW is bandwagon. Most are sick of the whole MTV atmosphere surrounding BASS.

If the pros ever hope to grow this sport, they'll combine the two, tell Erwin Jacobs and ESPN to fall off a log, and press manufacturers to stop these silly alliances with one tour or another. Get every manufacturuer that wants involvement in pro bass fishing, combine their commited dollars, and have EVERY angler that feels like they belong at that level fish a series of qualifiers until 100 "pros" are determined and they get to fish for all the marbles contributed by the combination of sponsors on a tour.

 

[AThornton]

well said Rob

 

[Guest]

I wouldn't want to fish with most of the so called pros anyway. From the events I have seen most are stuck up. They think they to good to talk to an average joe. Look I respect what they do but they shouldn't have attitude probs when it comes to fans. But the same thing happens in other sports I went to the Masters Practice round once and saw Tiger Woods make a complete jerk of himself. Taunting the crowd not signing autographs and such. It is a shame when people that make millions playing games "sports" can't appreciate the people that fund their paychecks.

 

[Nickajack Angler]

Well, Teamchatterbait, I've been fortunate enough to play around with some pros on the BASS fishing circuit, some players on the Minnesota Vikings, and the Minnesota Twins. Current players and some after they had been retired a few years. They get HAMMERED by people EVERYWHERE THEY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just sitting in the parking lot with Dante Culpepper tying on our golf shoes at his annual tournament, and he can't even get his socks out of the trunk and his shoes got trampled. I was right across the isle sitting on my tailgate lacing mine up and wasn't bothered at all. I felt bad for the guy, not because he was in a Purple Ferrari, but he was trapped hard against his car.... and that was a parking lot of a golf course. Having no privacy and even the ability to walk around without being stared at, watched and the number one complaint I've heard is everybody asking for something. Hope you can see someone away from their game to see they are human too.... I know we all would like to think we would act in such a manner in their place. But we don't see all the places they go.

 

[Fuzzy]

It just offensive to me, that’s all. They all started somewhere. Most pro fisherman started out in Redman, BFL's, Weekend Series, then co-angled a few times (or more) to understand the "politics" and then made contacts and if they were good enough, turned pro. The arrogance in the article was astounding; "When Greg Hackney learned of BASS' decision to eliminate co-anglers from the 2009 Elite Series, he didn't mince words. It's the greatest thing to ever happen to the sport of bass fishing,' Hackney said from the floor of the 2008 ICAST Show. " Greg who? Greatest thing to happened to Bass fishing? Fishing sometimes has a lot of "luck' attached to it. You do everything possible to eliminate it and these pros are astoundingly better than I am or ever will be. But even Hackney points out how a co-angler helped a pro from the back of the boat. That's luck, no different that that 1.98$ part breaking and your left high and dry on lake and can't make a weigh in. I would love to see the really successful people chime in (Kevin Van Dam for one..). I know of 2 different people who fished from the back of his boat and they said he was class and learned. One has won over $70,000 as a co-angler and has bigger aspirations. He started fishing FLW's in addition to BASS, now I know why. If I can't look forward to being a co-angler to learn about the big game, I have no need to follow it. They mentioned about "observers" taking the place of the co-angler. I never liked the FLW and the Wal-Mart association, but I do feel they put on a much better tournament. They also have the Stren series for up and coming anglers, nothing like that exists for BASS. We shall see. As for answering to the crowd or signing autographs, I never understood why you would want another persons autograph. Like Nickajack, seen first hand how these people get mobbed, and get treated. Seen Chuck Norris get hit in the face three times with a hand and notepad from someone looking for an autograph. He just smiled and eventually signed it, better man than me. Although I don't particularly care for the man, Charles Barkley said it right; "Parents should be role models, not athletes.." I am just different in that sense...they owe nothing to a fan, just their teammates or team. If I am not mistaken, Mike was the last federation guy who went from the federation to BASS. I would like to see Ranger Rob's point made; stop the exclusive contracts and let tackle, people and resourse go from tour to tour. My two cents...

 

[skeeter07]

That just sucks!!!!!!!! emoBang I was going to fish one this coming season also . But now guess not . I was saving all my extra money to fish one of these emoBawl But now I guess I will try to fish one of the FLW events . I am just disappointed is all

 

[Dropshot]

I have heard the rumour from several reliable sources that ESPN is trying to sell off BASS for a fairly cheap price compared to what they paid for it.

 

[beetlespin]

They ought to sell it and pay somebody to take Charlie Moore! What an idiot. I like to watch guys fish and catch fish. All that commentary and hype just subtracts from the show. I agree with the decision to drop co-anglers at the top level however. I also agree with what Rob said about the boat alliances. Ranger and Triton could sell boats quite a bit cheaper if they didn't give away tons of them to pros. Just my $0.02.

 

[Hagen]

Catch phrases and poses are all you'll get from the pro anglers anyway. I would much rather watch tournament bass fishing with a "Madfin Shark" format. Where they are covering two guys in one boat fishing as a team. ESPN wont hang on to one particular format for more than 3yrs. Imagine the cost you save on production costs without having to organize and deal with the no-name co-anglers that dont bring any marketablility to the table. Heck there obviously not even worth film for the camera let alone the max 5 second flash of who won the co-angler side. ESPN is not interested in growning anything. They want to take a product that people will watch put two days production time in it with Zona and the other guy and sell ad time. With out the new guys and interaction with other people. How fun is it to watch a guy stand on the front of a boat and catch fish and say the same thing over and over. Reduce it down to "Ricky Bobby #1 pose" and when people get tired of watching the same thing and ratings drop ESPN will move on. ESPN had no interest in growning a sport just making money on it. Sadly to say product loyalty and supporting a company that gives back to a sport that you love is long gone for my generation and younger ones. The next big thing is what everyone is after and where the sponsor dollar goes thats what your gonna have to watch. Skateboarding, Wakeboarding, Waterskiing, BMX, MotorCross, Fishing, Timbersports, Dog Jumping, Dog Agility, and Poker all these sports/activities that people love have been pimped out by ESPN and others. It needs to be about getting kids involved and unfortunatly kids dont buy Triton boats, Tundra trucks or go to Advance Auto. Doesnt matter to me really, cause when they air the shows im always fishing.

 

[Fish Hunter]

Hagen - 7/17/2008 11:45 AM

It needs to be about getting kids involved and unfortunatly kids dont buy Triton boats, Tundra trucks or go to Advance Auto. Doesnt matter to me really, cause when they air the shows im always fishing.

AMEN Hagen!

 

[3391]

Really don't care one way or the other but a pro fisherman pays $55,000.00 in entry fees just to fish these tournaments not counting the other related expenses. One big fish caught by his co-angler can mean the difference between cashing a check or watching the final round. Some co-anglers are more skilled than others so this is a variable they are apparently trying to eliminate. Does seem to have created a lot of negative press for BASS though.

 

[Louie B]

3391 - 7/19/2008 12:01 PM

Really don't care one way or the other but a pro fisherman pays $55,000.00 in entry fees just to fish these tournaments not counting the other related expenses. One big fish caught by his co-angler can mean the difference between cashing a check or watching the final round. Some co-anglers are more skilled than others so this is a variable they are apparently trying to eliminate. Does seem to have created a lot of negative press for BASS though.

Agree. I could care less myself but I think other than a little bad press it makes no difference to fans. Who tunes in to watch somebody fish behind KVD??? Nobody.

Some of the Co-Anglers are wanting to learn, but most of them are good fisherman and have NO business in the back of the boat. I'll never be a pro on the Elite Series so I don' care but I bet all of those guys are happy. Just my opinion.

LB

 

[Gray Bomber]

I've got to fish quiet a few of these tourny's and when I first saw this I did'nt like it but the more stuff I read about how the anglers look at it I understand it better. I think in the long run it will be better. I looks like the're going with observers now. I enjoyed the one time I went as an observer but would'nt recommend to any one to do it in july or august. You talk about a long day of just sitting in a boat doing nothing when it's 95 degrees.

 

[team-d]

Interesting news and reading guys. I can see why the pros don't want an amateur tagging along for 3 days as well, let alone having to split their fish with them. Would love to see BASS and FLW combine somehow, it hurts the sport having to go one way or the other. IMHO BASS is the big league and FLW is the AAA league. Great sticks in both but overall the quality is much better in BASS. Both organizations have their strong points, but overall BASS appeals to me more for several reasons: BASS members are free to have any sponsorship or boat they want, FLW basically dictates who/what you can have (I don't know any other sport that does this); BASS has way better TV coverage of the tournaments and actual fishing action (I can watch a 1-hour FLW show in 15 minutes on DVR skipping the commercials, silly side articles, and 20 minutes of weigh-in coverage); FLW zeroes the weights after the second day, I hate that - whoever catches the most weight for 4 days should be the winner of the tournament - none of this catching 20 pounds on the first day then chilling out and catching 10 pounds or just enough on day 2 to make the cut and start all over again.

Enough rambling, am interested to see if these rumors of BASS being "for sale" are true and what happens...