In this video, we dive into a groundbreaking shift in the world of competitive bass fishing! BASSMASTER has made the unprecedented decision to remove entry fees from its Elite Series tournaments, a move that could change the game for professional anglers. But what does this mean for the future of pro fishing?
Join me as I explore the implications of this bold change, discussing both the potential benefits and drawbacks. Is this a step forward for the sport, or could it lead to unforeseen challenges? I’ll share my thoughts and opinions on how this decision might impact the competitive fishing landscape.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on all things fishing! Share your thoughts in the comments below—do you think this change will benefit pro anglers?
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Bassmaster should only pay 1 out of 5 places 20 places total. SUCKERS GAME
Bass just tanked the sport!
B.A.S.S. is actually paying out about the same as they did with entries. $330k without entries and $848k with entries (subtract $520k entries) =$328k
Rough numbers
Regardless B.A.S.S. is only paying out about $28,000 per angler for the entire season. This is the same as paying entries and not paying entries. It’s sad either way. B.A.S.S. definitely made out on taking away a ton of the AOY money and the Classic payout money. So good job B.A.S.S. you figured out a way to line your pockets and take away from anglers. 👍
They probably could have just cut the entries by 50% and still kept a reasonable payout 🤷🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️
I hear what you're saying but from the current pros perspective I don't see how this is a very good move at all. When you can take someone like Milliken who had a decent year, not a top 10 year but certainly not a lower end year and he would make $36,000 less under these new changes with the exact same finishes I don't see how that can be a positive thing? The simplest way to make sure you only have the best anglers each year is to set a cut line. You get 2 years after you qualify and after that the bottom 10-15 get cut to make room for new blood. Don't penalize everyone by cutting payouts even further. Creating a payout structure which is top heavy in a sport with so many variables that being able to finish high all time is extremely difficult does not seem like a good financial model
This is getting more and more like the music business every year..
Here It is in a nut shell no entry but unless you finish in top 10 to make any money or you can make as much fishing locally lol payouts only benefit top 10 so you better catch them every event
I can understand all the whys but its gonna cause a lot to retire early. Yeah,they dont have to pay entry fees but now there is no checks at all for a lot of anglers and its gonna be felt by a lot in the first few tournaments. This just plays into the hands of the “Have’s” and keeps the “Have Nots” out in the long run. Live Scope and No Entry Fees are gonna kill fishing as a sport. No more Elite,just a bunch of rich kids showing off their pretty toys.
“This is not a career, this is an opportunity.” Dana White
Tournament fishing does not have a marketable product to support 100 guys comfortably as they wish. I occasionally watch a few highlights of any tournament that is on one of my Florida Lakes. Other than that, I just don’t care to spend my time watching them. On the other hand, I never miss a MikeyBalzz video. There are a handful of other guys I enjoy following.
The competitors are complaining about the payouts. There are 100 guys competing in an Elite tournament. Half of them will be getting a payout. That’s not competition….thats participation trophy world. If you want it to be a pro sport, winners got to win and more importantly, losers got to lose. Win or get out!
It all comes down to a Britney Spears song " you want a new car you got to WORK BITCH,WHOS GOING TO WORK HARDEST.
It's not a sport, its pay to play. Bassmaster Elite should change its name to…Bassmaster NFL..NOT FISHHING LONG, because of their payout now. LOL!!!! Remember nobody gives you something for free, especially money, there's always a catch. 👎👎👎👎
Probably government pressure on the unregulated gambling game that’s been going unchecked for years.
How is this called a performance payout when the performers are going to lose money in their annual pay scales.
Just a swerve from banning FFS ! The true plague of fishing! Beta boys and their computer games! Real men go fishing!
It really hurts the guys who get their entrees paid. They got to pocket the $10,000 check . Now unless the sponsors still give them $45,000, they will hurt.
Great Video….Breaking Down the Headline and Explaining the Fine Print….Nuts and Bolts $$$$$
Miliken did a video showing his 2024 wining vs what he would get in 2025 for the exact same finishes. Long story short, even with saving $45,000 in entry fees he would end up getting $36,000 LESS for the exact same performance. Talk about BASS gaslighting everyone … the s#@t show that is pro fishing continues …
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Learning active target ill be out on the water for 14 to 16 hours before going home. Thank god I have a 200ah lithium for the trolling motor and a 100ah for the electronics 😅🤷
We all know how things should go being called pros let’s sit back and see how it goes. That rhymed. lol
I know it’s not a reality, but if they are all pros, then everybody needs to be getting a salary. I never seen a pro sport that you didn’t make money even if you were sitting on the bench you made a salary.
They screwed the winners and awarded the losers. Pretty crappy what they did.
It looks like it’s better for the anglers. The reality is that now it’s less money available to be won, because their solution for the entry fees was just reducing payout. It’s not like they replaced that source of funding to maintain the same payout scale. They didn’t go out and create a product that TV broadcast partners want to buy, and generate truly new money to fund the events. Until that happens, it’s not going to be fixed.
But you have a day job.
Well I guess the Pro’s can all go back to the real world jobs. There will be a whole new batch of Pro’s next year. Guarantee. They need to quit the belly aching.
BASS WAS $400 ENTRY FEE WHEN I FISHED THEM 1993- AND A BOAT W/ELECTRONICS WAS $19500 OTD!
If you call yourself and elite pro fishermen, you now going to need to step up your game or get left behind.
I'm pretty sure this is just a financial experiment by Bassmasters and the "Pro" anglers are basically the guinea pigs.
There's a high probability that they will go back to their previous system of running the Bassmaster's business model.
In the mean time, some aspiring bass pros will have their dreams dashed and some will flourish.
Extremely short sided for them to rollout no entry fees out without sponsorships to keep the payouts the same or even make them better. This will 💯 get reversed or it will be the end of the elite series
Some pretty good points there sir.
Ben Millikin has the best video breakdown on these pay cuts, its complete garbage
there are no solutions only trade offs
“Pro” level fishing is dying a slow death! And all I have to say is whatever.
They just blind sided them ! Scabmasters !! Thats how ya treat the guys that put on your show ! Jacob Foutz would have lost 36 grand if he duplicated his 2024 finishes ??
Bassmaster already has a sustainability problem.
Why sponsor a guy who's going to do nothing on the pro tour sliding in consistent top 50 finishes when you can sponsor guys on YouTube who can plug their product way more effectively
They needed a culture change to drive more big bags, more competition for top 10, and more cash for landing those 1st places.
Good look and exposure for the brand, not much more than that for any others.
This is the best video I've viewed so far on youtube. Liked how you look at both sides and also from an established angler to an angler who wants to get in. Stay Safe & God Bless!!! 🤠👍
I don’t really get why guys don’t like it. Few of the money in winnings any ways . A few guys consistently in the top 20 might make less. But can you count on top 20’s