bass weekend series

[Skip Johnson]

I totaly agree that losing the grand river was a mistake, putting another Erie tourney out of Ohio just didnt make any sense either.
The Ohio event didnt draw as many boats as FLW thought it would so Im realy surprised to see them keep it on the schedule, I talked to anthoney about it and requested the grand be put back on and dump Ohio, guess nothings perfect.
oh and Im with Eric....no group hugs Im just fine thanx!

personely I woulda liked to see a totaly different schedule like
                               

Burt/Mullet                   OR        Saginaw Bay
saginaw bay                             St Clair 
St Clair                                    Grand River
Grand River                               Detroit River
Detroit River                             St Clair                                   
Detroit River                             Grand River

To be totaly honest Im not fishing the BFL this year becouse I didnt like losing the Grand River to another Erie tourney out of Ohio, I hated sandusky, all that big water is hard on the boat equiptment and the pocket book.                         

[TCook]

Its a MICHIGAN BFL, drop the sandusky tournament and put a west side event back on the schedual. All 5 tournaments are on smallmouth lakes, put a largemouth event in the mix so the guys that dominate on Erie/St clair atleast are out of there element for one tournament. I think this is one of the reasons the MI guys get there butts kicked in the regionals. Most guys are smallmouth experts that finish in the top 40 and have a tough time figuring out the reservoirs down south. Look at cherokee last year, the top finisher from MI was Skip in 45th place!

T

[Skip Johnson]

well Im actualy a transplanted southern guy so I loved cherokee and Id love to go back, in practice I had a couple 18lb days, I went and checked both of my good bays the evening before the tournament and shook off several fish but that cold front that moved in that night messed me up bad and I couldnt buy a fish from either of those very large shallow spots so I had to go to plan B....DEEP.

I totaly agree about mixing up largies with smallies thats why Im fishing the Stren central this year instead of the BFL, I probobly would have just fished the BFL if it was mixed up a bit but I beat the heck out of my boat fishing basicaly 4 erie tournaments, stress cracks pee me off.

I suppose if FLW dont change waters next year and BASS came in and set it up evenley Id switch over 
With the great Largemouth lakes/rivers we have in michigan Im totaly confused why their all smallmouth lakes, Ive found smallmouth to be soooo much easier to fish than largies...excluding st clair anyways, that lakes just silly with both species.
I absolutley loved the grand river both times Ive been there I wish it was closer to me.

[Fishmael]

Judging by the number of boats that show up during weeknights to the NBAA tourneys around the Grand Rapids area, I would say you are wrong about that "southeast michigan" comment.  When you can get around 20 boats to fish from 6 to 9, I would say there are quite a few fishermen around here (the west side).  B/t/w, how many boats did the BFL have when they fished the Grand and Muskegon?  (87 and 98 respectively, if you were really wondering)  Also through a quick scan of city/state locations, a large portion were from W. MI and N. Indiana.  Seems like it would work to me...

[TritonTR20]

I would like to see them stay away from the Great Lakes and fish something like:
Grand River
Muskegon
Hardy Dam
Skegmog/Torch/Elk or Burt/Mullett
Wawasee

[LGMOUTH]

Its a MICHIGAN BFL, drop the sandusky tournament and put a west side event back on the schedual. All 5 tournaments are on smallmouth lakes, put a largemouth event in the mix so the guys that dominate on Erie/St clair atleast are out of there element for one tournament. I think this is one of the reasons the MI guys get there butts kicked in the regionals. Most guys are smallmouth experts that finish in the top 40 and have a tough time figuring out the reservoirs down south. Look at cherokee last year, the top finisher from MI was Skip in 45th place!

T

I totally agree with TCook. I think the tourney numbers would go up if they split their lakes up. There are plenty of lakes that will hold a big number of boats on them. I have said the same thing about the Federation fishoffs both BASS and FLW, they are mostly on smallmouth waters up north or eastside doesnt do much for the westside.

This would be the perfect curcuit for the BWS or BFL
Wawasee-Tournaments could start in April
Randall or Coldwater                           
Burt\mullet or Elk\Torch
Grand River or Muskegon
St Clair or Erie

This would be a westside curcuit for the BWS
Wawasee
Randall
Grand River
Coldwater
Muskegon
I think these lakes would pull boats from other states and get the numbers up.

funny how some guys mention that BWS be a multi state trail, do ya realy think guys can or will afford that kinda travel expense for such a low pay trail 

I really dont know if people will travel that far for the BWS but they travel to Burt\Mullet then all the way down to Sandusky in the BFL. There are a few things that I noticed in the  BWS,they have exactly the same payout as the BFL but they have a $5000 first place prize guaranteed no matter how many entrees. This sounds like a no brainer to me. You are always supposed to believe you can win every tournament you enter (I heard KVD say that at the classic the other day ) With that said that $5000 for 40, 50, 60, entrees is fantastic and cant be beat.
I do think there are enough anglers to support both the BFL and the BWS but they will have to cater to two different types of anglers like the eastside and the westside.

[TCook]

This is the schedual I would like to see for the BFL:

6/6 Burt&Mullet
7/18 Grand River
8/8 St Clair
8/29 Muskegon
9/19-9/20 Detroit River

This would mix it up and show the all around best fisherman in the field. Muskegon and the Grand would fish much bigger than they are since a good chunk of the field would run to White or anywhere else in range. Not sure if it would draw more or less boats though?

[djkimmel]

A few of you need to seriously learn the fine art of debate without personalizing it. It can be done.

First off, please stop addressing your response to an individual. Yes, there's some cabin fever. And yes, there's some personality things going on, but the point is, debate the issue, not the person. It's the only way to keep things civil and worth reading for anyone not interested in the Jerry Springer crowd. I'm not and it's not what I envision while I work on keeping the software working and updated.

If someone else singles you out, you don't have to sink to that level yourself. I'm impressed with how deftly someone debates the issue and present points on the issue, not with how 'good' a dig you get back at someone. Stopped being impressed with that sometime around 3rd grade.

These topics can be discussed in an adult manner with a little effort as many of you do demonstrate. I guaranty no one at ESPN-BASS or FLW are impressed or swayed by some of these comments. Goes in one ear and out the other. And too many unproductive comments will actually hurt chances to attract what you want.

[Anthony Adams]

My last response was not meant to be a dig at anyone or any organization and I hope it did not come out that way. Sorry Seth if it did.. Those of you who know me know I have ties to ABA / BASS and FLW

I do feel that the BWS is a great opportunity for fishermen. I believe more opportunities are a good thing.

I also feel that quality fishermen are always looking for quality trails to fish. Every serious fishermen I know fishes more than one trail and will continue to do so. Some anglers are very loyal to FLW, BASS and the ABA and that is why I feel bringing BWS in is a great opportunity for us all.

[MadWags]

I have read this thread over several times and I can not find anywhere in the posts where anyone has attacked me personally. All I can say is "Your darn lucky you didn't"!

[skeeterman190]

 This is a great post and something that i have been thinking about alot. I dont want to single anyone one out here like Dan commented on but how can you say that that there are too few serious fisherman out side the southeast? thats a joke. i can name a ton that will put you too shame when it comes to fishing and not just the big waters. im sure they would participate if there was a different schedule..(Greg Mangus, Don Watts, Jason Ammerman, Tad Hepler,Dave Eggers, Rick Mast, Norm Greene,Justin Hahaj,Kevin Fletcher, Mickey Thomas) the list goes on and on. You cant justify that the best fisherman in michigan are from ST.Clair. If you look at things,2 people really stand out in other places than here, Chip Harrison and Art Furgeson, Kevin Vida does well too and he loves frog fishing?? how can having the biggest boat make you a better fisherman??I really want Michigan BFL or BWS to make it fair on a split choice. there are tons of lakes around that can handle 100-200 boats at the ramps. If you want full fields on the Bfls dont blow off the westside! Or Northern Indiana!-skeeterman-

[skeeterman190]

 Oh yeah look at the BBT circuit on the westside they draw just as many boats as a bfl?? huh not too many names from anywhere but that side of the state and Indiana??pack a lunch!-skeeterman-

[djkimmel]

You've made your point by talking about the issue. That's all I ask. Thanks.

[motocross269]

I don't care where they have the tournaments..East side,West side, Up North where ever...In this Economy I don't see another large circuit being successful at this point...Heck most club guys will tell you that they are just struggling to keep their numbers up to maintain a club..
I have seen this Rodeo before, everyone is committed until it becomes time to pony up the cash and participate..
Look at the boat numbers in the ABA, state BASS Classic series, NBAA weekend series, etc etc...They barely get 40 boats if they are lucky...
I think it would be awesome to have another circuit but everyone has to face reality...and the bottom line is reality is how light everyone's check book has gotten over the last few years...That is part of the reason, I believe, that you see all of these ST Clair/Eerie specialists...The Southeast guys can spend alot of time on that water with minimal travel..

If you want to fish more tournaments go to Roy Randolph's site and check out his tournament Calendar...You will find plenty of tournaments there that aren't filled up to fish any weekend of the year...

[MadWags]

Amen!

[Fishmael]

Oh the joys of living in the worst economy in the nation!  And now the nation is even getting bad!

[1javelin]

Been saving my 2 cents, not that it matters because everyone else has put in their 2 cents already and not swayed anyone either way.  BASS left us, plain and simple, right?  If my wife chose to leave me, I wouldn't take her back.  Why should we take them back?  I'm not against fishing anything, as long as there is some kind of money to be won.  I would prefer to win big, but let's face reality, that's a hard task.  I think some of the series that are run around here already could fill some voids, if sponsore would start ponying up.  How much do we spend on the products we use, and then to be sponsored you get a discount?!!!!!!  Tell that to the guys driving NASCAR.  Fishing is a hobby, and unless you can compete at the highest level on and off the water (because getting and keeping sponsors is really where the money is), you're going to lose money anyways.  I'm all for a westside tournament, or a split tournament.  I'm not driving to the East side 4 times to get beat by the local smokies.  No thanks

1Jav

[Skip Johnson]

Jav sees the light 

Its not that I want to bash BASS be negative or detour them from being here or upset ANYONE on this site but I have to face the fact that they did leave and they have wayyyy enough money to stick it out but they didnt becouse it was a corporate decision not a whats good for our annual dues members and competitors decision.

all the magazine,insider and conservation members of this state and the northern region are contributers to BASS, theres revenue here for BASS even without competitors so I feel they should have stayed just to give the "reguler" members a chance to participate in a BASS tournament even if they didnt have full fields, and dont forget about all the western U.S. members of BASS that BASS doesnt feel compelled to give them participation options but most clubs out west including the one I was in the members had to be a BASS member.
The revenue they make is just insane for what little they obviousley are willing to give back.
I wrote them in 2006 stating just such feelings and asked some questions and never even got a response so I did more research to make sure it was getting to BASS instead of disney and ESPN so then I sent it to all of them and still never got a reply.

maybe guys that havent been BASS members for over 30 years like I have dont feel the same way becouse they havent contributed hundreds or even thousands of dollors to BASS and BASS dues like I have but know this, BASS wouldnt be BASS without all that the reguler members have done and contributed.

I have a hard time being friends with someone who turned their back on me, yes I know Im stubborn to a point of ignorance in some peaples eyes but Im willing to take a hit or two for what I feel is right, Ive allways been that way and I can sleep at night.
Im a current BASS member, insider,conservation doner and current ABP member so dont get the impression that Im a BASS outsider with an oppinion, IVE PAID MY DUES!

now with that said if they did come back I feel they need to realize what I mentioned above and stick it out not run away to the next profit margin invest in us and try to maintain and build a michigan and northern presence, in the long run I think it could be a wise buisiness decision with more publicity and advertising thus bringing more subscribers but it would take investing in a region and they have proved they dont do that.

unfortunatley they did pull out and lose ground here and the economy fell apart in the meantime, theres a ton of trails out there and fewer competitors with cash, Im willing to bet that alot of guys that say they can and will fish it unfortunatley either wont be able to fish any or just some BASS tournaments if they did come here becouse were still facing thousands of jobs lost and if guys do switch to BASS then fun trails will lose participants.
As much as I would like to participate in BASS and have a shot at the classic I just dont see it being a winning situation right now for them to come here.

just my 2 cents

[motocross269]

Come join Team Bass and fish some tourneys with us....Make the state fish off and you will have your chance to make the Classic.....  We would love to have you Skip    Just a thought..

[Durand Dan]

Thanks cast n blast for contributing to this conversation. It looked like this thread was decaying into the same tired East vs West, smallie vs largie, pros vs amateurs, and yachts vs dinghies bickering. I boycotted the BFL when it switched to a Saturday pro-am format. But now I fish their trail again. We all choose what works for us depending on our situation.

I have to agree, The statement that all the serious tournament fisherman reside in SE Michigan threatened to turn this thread into a disastrous debacle.