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Bassmasters classic questions


Slyster

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CLASSIC next weekend! (Feb 22-24)... can't wait! \:\)

1- What is the 'Eilte 50' series? Is this what leads up to the clasic or is this a seperate series? I get so confused.. it's not so simple as NFL games leading to the superbowl for example.

2- Can one use live bait in the classic? I've never seen it.

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The Elite Series is what the Top B.A.S.S pro fish all year long (KVD, Ike, Skeet, Remitz and others) They need to do well in the series to be able to fish in next years classic. To get in the Elite the Series you have to do well in the points or qualify through the Bassmaster Opens. There is 11 Elite Series events all over the country this year.
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I put all 11 on my calendar.. saw them with tonights ESPN federation show. Still confusing.

I like the NFL... since all the teams play... and the best two play the superbowl. And that's that.

These bass tournaments are confusing.

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sly i don't know ifyou get BASSmaster magazine but in there they try to simplify it a little bit. Next years classic will be even more confusing because the top woman of the WBT will fish the classic. So they will be taking people from all different trounament scenes. ike

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Slyster, let me try and help explain. BASS has a few different "layers".

The Elite Series, which you could compare to the MLB. These are the best of the best. They have to qualify to fish at this level, and have to re qualify to stay at this level. This helps maintain the best 100 anglers stay there (theoretically).

The Opens. Althought these tournaments are "Open" to whomever would like to fish, you could compare this to the minor league's in baseball. The opens gives anglers the oppotunity to 1) qualify for a few spots in the classic, and 2) qualify for a few spots to move up to the Elites.

BASS Weekend Series. This is similar to the opens, but on a wider, and more regional level. This is kind of a cross between the opens above, and the Federation below.

The Federation. This is the Grass Roots of BASS, although things have somewhat changed since BASS became more of a business (ESPN), this is the biggest group with BASS. The are many of the people who are buying the products the pros are sponsored by, as well as the group that does a lot of the non fishing work (conservation, junior/kids, help in running BASS events, etc.). You could compare this to maybe all the above city league softball teams around the nation. The ones who are playing to move on to State and Nationals championships... kinda like an AAU sports team.

Ike also mentioned the WBT, which is the Women's bass tour. This is a women's only tour similar to the LPGA in golf.

The Classic is primarily filled with Elite Pro's. They take basically the top 36 from the field with and exception here and there for double qualification. (i.e. a Pro in the Elites could qualify as the previous Classic Champ (Duckett) or through the opens as they can fish these too. In that case, the next Pro gets the chance to go to the Classic, spot 37, 38, etc.) In addition to that, there are spots in the Classic reserved for the "minor league" type players. 6 to the Opens (I thinkt that is right), 6 to the Federation, 1 to the Weekend Series, and starting next year, 1 to the WBT champ.

Fishing isn't like MLB, NFL or NBA where teams are owned and have salaries to pay players. So anglers aren't paid a salary by a "team owner". Their income comes from hard work getting sponsor money (or product) or by winning tournaments. With that being said, there are many anglers below the Elite Level that "may" be as good as those fishing in the big show. Jeff Coble comes to mind. This is his 3rd Classic Qualification via the "minors". Is he good enough to fish with the big boys? Probably, but there are reasons why he can't (time, money, etc.) Jimmy Johnson from WI is another example. 2 Classic appearances and one of the best anglers in this area for sure. Those that do qualify through the minors have a VERY tough road, often spanning over several years. The Classic is made up of THE best anglers in the world.

Hopefully this helps draw a good picture. Additionally, I have highlighted Brent Haimes' road to the Classic that spanned over 2 years. The shows you what he had to do to make it to the Classic.

Brent Haimes road to the Classic

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