Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

How old is this?

Let me start by saying I'm a AM, Co-angler, or non-boater what ever is the correct term. I now I'm going to get blasted for this but here it goes. We the people fishing off the back deck of the boat need to stop crying and start fishing. We know what we are getting into when we send in our entry fees. No matter if its BASS, FLW our local Pro/Am's, The Federation, if you don't like the format don't fish. If you goal is to move on to the next level. You need to learn to over come and adapt to the situations you are in. We can sit here all day and argue about the best format. The bottom line is if you sign up and get beat beacuse of the way the format is layed out it is the luck of the draw. If you don't like it don't fish it maybe TD's will see it doesn't work.

Just my opinion and I'm really not trying to offend anyone. I love fishing from the back deck. I have had some great times and met some of the best guys.

I actually fished one of the weekend series when I was living back in Missouri. The co-angler that won actually caught 0 fish. I caught 1 which I know doesn't deserve a check, but it was frustrating to see someone who didn't catch a single fish walk away with the top prize.

Why would they do this? With all these sight fishing events maybe some guys are not getting a shot at fish. I read where Tim Horton worked all afternoon on a 15lb fish at Amistad, must have been a real delight in the back of that boat, if there was an amateur. It has been said here a number of times but if you are fishing these events for the money as an am you are crazy. You are basically there to police the pros and keep the playing field level. What about Mead when the pros just nose their boats into back water holes and the am is totally left out, I would hate to make that kind of sacrafice and not have a shot. As stated above the guy who caught no fish and won, maybe he had no shot at fish should that be his fault? If I was in a split weight tourney, paying big bucks and travelling to these events and not getting a shot at fish I would be COMPLAINING. Maybe it was a move to calm some tensions in the boats. Just try to look at all sides when examining an issue.

Bob

I see your point that you don't have to fish and that's exactly what is going to happen to the major events like the elites. I think bass is trying to weed out the "non-boaters" because of a couple of reasons:

1) They don't have to deal with the complaints from a non boater anymore about how they paid and did'nt get to fish. I'm sure a spectator that BASS is trying to phase in won't complain about anything unless he get's a hook in the ear or a fish slung in his lap.

2)When you think about the non-boater, last time I checked BASS was not making any money on back seat names? I can't remember a KVD or an IKE that was sitting in the back of the boat getting any serious camera time.

3) Bass is turning the non-boater status into gambling while floating on a boat with the shared weight format. If I wanted to gamble I would book a ride on the mississippi queen with all the amenitys throw a hot dog over and hope for the best!

This is just the first step for Bass to politely say we want spectators and no one else fishing out of the back the elite series boats. I can't speak for the elite guys but I would think this would allow more one on one time with the fish rather than the one on one with the non-boater.

I don't think this decision is very bright due to the fact the up and coming fisherman better know how to fish right out of the shoot or they won't get a chance to learn. It's starts at the top and before you know it society in general will adapt and fishing competitively becomes one big secret to outsiders.

I don't think the if you don't like it don't do it attitude works! If you don't speak up than you'll get steam rolled by someone elses decisions an that is not what this country is about! Sound like BASS has established themselves as a dictatorship and you know what happened to the last dictator we did'nt like !!!!

God bless our Troops
God bless America

Josh wrote:How old is this?

Those were last years rules.

This year at the Elite Series it is just a 3 fish limits for the non-boaters...no shared weight.

Don't know anything about the Weekend Series.

Hmmm

"Sound like BASS has established themselves as a dictatorship and you know what happened to the last dictator we did'nt like !!!!"

Kinda reminds me of a song from Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime album...Revolution Calling

I agree with Josh and Gary...

How old is this article?

Don't post something like this unless you are fairly certain it is from a reputable source... (i.e. The ESPN horse's mouth)

I don't see a date.
It's not from ESPN's web site


No need to get our panties in a bunch for something written a few years back that no longer applies.

So.. Mr Vanacore... before you posted this article, did you check to see if it was recent? I've looked on the main site to try to find the article and possibly a date and I couldn't find one.