[deadstick]

I heard talk last year of BASS creating a smaller regional league similar to the BFL. Is this still true? I didn't see anything on their website. I would like to review both schedules prior to choosing. I will be fishing non-boater this year to try to learn a few things first. I know there is the Michigan Federation and I like their schedule, but I do not like the team set-up. It seems great for the experienced anglers to pair up and consistently bring home checks, but vary difficult for new anglers that don't have the same experience level on the particular lakes.

Thanks

 

[Mac]

I doubt we'll see that from BASS this year,..that would create direct competition with the Federation and they don't want that right now,......with all the tension that currently exists between BASS and the Federation....I really doubt BASS will do something like that at this point in time! As long as BASS keeps the 5 Federation spots open for the BMC,..which they said they are doing,......there's really no point in having another trail....

I really doubt you'll see anything like the BFL circuit in 2004 anyway,...but who knows,...BASS has done some pretty goofy things lately!! LOL

Anything's possible though but ...I don't see how it would benefit BASS to do that...

Mac

 

[grasslakebasspro]

I recently read an article concerning the Federation on bassfan.com. (Federation Update Part 2).

Federation director, Don Corkran, indicated BASS is still looking at the idea of their own BFL version as it is one area that BASS does not exist right now.

I believe it will eventually be a new trail for BASS.

 

[bassslayer]

I know where they might buy one ha ha.

 

[madman24]

i know a secret

but i dont know if it really makes sense. i know bass have been talking with another trail on a merger to create such trail.

American Bass Anglers and BASS are supposably in negotiations to create a draw format trail to compete with the BFL.

now, dont quote me on any of this, i am only stating what i heard from the president of the ABA while down in KY for the Nationals.

any of this makes sense?

if this was true, it would be good on one hand. rather than BASS going at it alone and starting there own trail like that, which as we all know, with a short season and the number of trails we already have, would just be that much more chaotic, at least this way they are merging with a pre exsisting trail, which would add more people and spark alot of interest. the ABA is not big here in michigan. there are only 4 divisions spanning from the metro area all the way to marquette in the UP. but with it is gaining members in michigan. and there is a ton of guys in ohio and indiana with the ABA.

i think it would be intersting to see what BASS could do with a semi pro/am circuit. as long as the schedules did not conflict, alot of guys would probably fish both.

madman himself

 

[Alex]

Gee B.A.S.S. following the lead of FLW/Operation Bass...shocking.

When is B.A.S.S. going to come up with an (tournament) innovative idea on there own? It hasn't been done in 15 years. Better yet how about getting the 04' open schedule out. Novel concept. Maybe I'm being a little over dramatic. But seriously, this is HUGE problem. How do they expect to be in the tournament business in 10 years if this keeps up. This is different world we live in today. You can only live off reputation, past success, and copying others for so long. Call me crazy if you want. But mark these words.

 

[Mac]

I agree Alex,.....

I don't see how it would help BASS when they'd be competing directly against the federation. There would be scheduling conflicts galore,..probably additonal "membership fees"...I really doubt they'd make additional slots in the BMC for more "amateurs" when there's already grief among the "Pro's" regarding the 5 Federation slots. (Unless they increased the size of the Pro field by taking additional people from the Opens' and the Invitational's)......who knows...there's a lot of pros and cons for both sides of the issue.......as Madman stated..it's all just rumors anyway, so we'll just have to wait and see. For some reason it just doesn't seem like a good move...I need more info!..LOL

 

[Alex]

I like B.A.S.S. and want them to be succesfull. I truely enjoyed fishing in an open last year. But they should be the tournament industry leader not follower.

 

[DRP]

I wouldn't call having tournaments with no entry fee being a follower. The Bassmaster E-50's are a thorn in FLW's side right now and they will be the followers on that one.

 

[Mac]

I think the competition between the trails is good for the sport.....BASS didn't get off their peverbial hiney until the FLW came along and started kickin' their butt. by offering HUGE payouts. Then BASS figured they better keep up so they up'd their payouts and on and on.....then the FLW developed the BFL format to one-up BASS and the Federation program,......now BASS answers with the E50's.,...the FLW will probably come up with something even better than that next year. It's all good for the sport, but will we reach a point where they start getting less return on their investments because the "price" of doing business is just too high?!! Look what it costs for a top drawer tournament rig now....then add entry fees, and expenses..etc..etc..
It's getting too darn close to a "rich man's sport" now and it'll get worse as it goes along,...these company's have to get their money back somehow and it all trickles down to the consumers. The avg. age of a BASS member is 49yrs old and it keeps creaping up every year,...that means the sport is NOT growing by getting "young blood". We NEED more and younger people getting involved ...but it's getting so expensive that a lot of people are just dropping out of the tournament scene altogether...or just fishing small local stuff. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next 2-3 years.....we'll either see a HUGE spike in participation (which I hope is the case), or we'll see a major decline........even if it stays about the same that's not good enough.....it still means "no growth"...just the same people still fishing, but they're a little older!!..LOL

I hope for everyones sake who love this sport,..that we see a big influx of new people....we don't need "more trails"...we need "more PEOPLE fishing!!" IMHO!!

Mac

 

[Alex]

Well put Mac. My sentiments exactly.

I want them both to survive. Competition is good for everyone.

You bring up an interesting point about the age of the average B.A.S.S. member. Taking it a step further I would be curious to see the average age of the B.A.S.S. touring pro vs the average age of the FLW pro.

By the way Jacob's Cup was a no entry fee event as well. Personally I think both the E50 and the Jacob's Cup miss the mark, but at least they are both trying to figure something out that works. There is going to be a lot of changes the next 3-4 years.

 

[Alex]

On a side note...Sorry for hijacking your thread deadstick.

 

[jcheetam]

Hey Brian, How would you like to take a road trip up to Marquette for a tourney or two? I'm sure us "Trolls" would make a huge splash in an ABA event up there!

 

[madman24]

jeff,

maybe you havent heard. theres another division of aba that is fishing the west side of the state this year. div 67 will be run by marty smith. he was in our division last year.

i am planning on fitting in as many west side tourneys as i can this year.

the line up is great, all lakes i have wanted to fish and a few i have fished already.

i will email you the schedule.

but other than that, i havent been up to marquette in years. im in as long as i have the cash and the tournaments dont conflict with any others.

hey, i need your number again, my cel took a crap and i lost it. email it to me.

madman himself

 

[Mark M]

ABA has a funny no pro rule they don't say no pros, they say you can't fish if you've paid more than $500 in a tournament entry fee.

 

[boatnfish]

QUOTE(Mark M @ Jan 12 2004, 08:03 PM)ABA has a funny no pro rule they don't say no pros, they say you can't fish if you've paid more than $500 in a tournament entry fee.
But, if you ran the money through a third party and called it a "Sponsor" would that be the out? The individual never paid over 500, but in their name it has been paid.

 

[madman24]

i dont know anything about the rule. im no pro. if i had $500 i wouldnt spend it on a tourney fee anyway. i would buy some new boots and take my gf out to dinner

i think the rule is just to keep bigger named "pros" out because the aba is supposed to be for weekend guys and friends and family.

im sure there are ways around it tho. but i wouldnt be the one to ask.

madman himself