bass weekend series

[gr@ssmonkey]

does anyone know anything about a B.A.S.S weekend series in michigan just wondering

[Fishmael]

No, the last time they had anything in Michigan was two or three years ago.  When the changed it to ABA, they dropped anything that was north.  When they did have them here last, I think they were only getting around 35 boats or so.  I don't expect them to be adding anything soon based on the turn out they had.  It seems no big tourneys with the FLW or BASS want to come to the west side either.  Oh well, I guess we still have plenty of opportunities.

[gr@ssmonkey]

I fished the week end bass events that year and it was a great time,but your right we were averaging 30-35 boats,not enough i guess.I heard last year that they were going to have one again in michigan,just wondering...thanks

[Fishmael]

I checked their website about a month ago, and it did not list a Michigan division or any MI tourneys.  The year they came up, I made their regional down on Patoka.  2 days of straight pouring rain.  I think I am still a little damp from that fishing trip...anyway, it would be nice if they came back.  However, I think it is ran by southerners and they don't really like northern fishermen...oh well, all I can say to that is KVD and Ike.

[TritonTR20]

The last time I talked to them, the told me if they were to add a division back for this area it would be based out of southern Illinois and hope to draw from the Indianapolis and chicago areas. It would not be in Indiana or Michigan.

[gr@ssmonkey]

r we a third world state over here or what,nobody will touch us with and 8' rod(lol)i understand they need more then 30 boats but i thought they would give it more then 1 year to try and build a following.....o well,i geuss the bfl is about the same.....thanx for the info guys......

[Anthony Adams]

I've had this disccussion many times with the powers at be in the ABA - They believe there is not enough support from Michigan anglers to bring this trail to Michigan.

I feel that if the Michigan ABA and BASS Fed members stepped up, e-mailed, called, or made a list of anglers interested. Then voice thier oppinion with these anglers backing to the ABA that the ABA would bring this trail to Michigan.

I will tell you what - Here is my suggestion.... lets start a list of  anglers right here in this thread. Call your friends and have them log on and post in this thread if they would join the weekend series if it came to michigan.

[Anthony Adams]

By the Way --- I would fish it if it came to Michigan.

Put my name on this list

Anthony Adams

[LGMOUTH]

Anthony,
What do they consider a good turnout. I went through alot of the Bassmaster Weekend results and found that most of the turnouts were between 30 and 80 boats. Obviously there are some that are more but there are some divisions that only averaged around 40. Would that be enough to bring them to Michigan. I do think they should have giving it more than one year to develop. I do like the thought of northern Indiana and Michigan Division. I think you would pull more boats if this was the case. I would definitley be in for them coming back to michigan. Add my name in.

Don Watts

[Anthony Adams]

I suggested to the ABA that they shold consider a division that includes Northern Ohio, Northern Indiana, & Southern Michigan. Or a Michigan wide division.

The ABA gets a hand full of calls a year from interested anglers. To them taht is not enough interest. They want to see some strong interest. I believe that if someone provided them with a list of names & phone numbers 50-75 anglers strong that they would come.

[Anthony Adams]

Let me add ...

The first year that the weekend series came to Michigan it was operated by BASS, thrown together at the last minute and had a poor turnout.

The next year the ABA took it over and made the payout a guaranteed $5000. They looked at Michigan and planned to come here but do to the short period of time they had and the logistics involved it was planned to wait ONE year until they had their ducks in a row. They did not want to make the same mistake as BASS did on Michigan. Problem is they did not get much feedback from the anglers about missing this opportunity and the ABA decided there just was not enough interest in Michigan for them to come back.

[motocross269]

Not trying to be the devil's advocate here...But with the economy the way it is in this state this may not be the best time to get another circuit off of the ground...I may be wrong, and the FLW numbers weren't to bad last year, but can this state handle another large tournament circuit??? 

[TritonTR20]

I'd be really interested depending on the lakes they picked.

[McCarter]

the best bet would to do a Michigan/Indiana division and share lakes on west michigan and northern indiana.  there are enough guys who dont want to fish st clair/erie all the time to do an inland lake division.  But if they do it like they did last time and make it east side big water heavy, they wont get the turnout.

If i had a boat, and the money, and if my wife said it was ok, and if they made a west michigan/northern indiana division, and i was a better fisherman........i would probably fish it.

McCarter himself

[Fishmael]

I would fish it for sure, especially if they had some W. MI waters in the schedule.  You can add my name to the list. 

Chris Helsel.

[Ranger5Smallie]

I love the idea of a N IN/W MI division.  I would look at fishing something along those lines.  Put my name in the hat.

Blake Britton

[Eric]

I'd be there for sure.  I loved those tournaments, and was considering borderline terrorist actions when they didn't come back.

Eric Smith

[canvsbk]

Put me in and I can speak for one other boater also, so make it 2.

[gr@ssmonkey]

i would fish.i would just like to see more bigger touney's like the bfl or a bass weekend series come around.I think the bass weekends would of done better the following year once the word got out how much fun they were and the way they were prof. run.(no entry classic 50,000 to win,i'm in every time)

[SODY]

You nailed it McCarter, excuses.....Your friends dont need them and your enemies won't believe them! You could add my name to the list, but as Eric was saying it would take a whole lot of serious fishermen to build it and that my friends is a risk many outfits are not willing to take. I truly believe we should be soooooo greatful for the  FLW, I sometimes think the only reason the BFL is still here is because of the ground work operation bass laid and the core group of anglers who are dedicated to this series, do a search and you will see that the same names are there year after year, I know I could name thirty who were fishing it in 2001, point is it does not build itself and it is not overnight, not without serious commitment.

LGMOUTH, man it did my heart good to see you in this thread, hope all is well with your son, suspect he's still teaching dad a thing or two....Rich Soderquist