On Episode 186 of the Inside Bassmaster Podcast, host Kyle Jessie discusses the new change of eliminating entry fees going forward on the Bassmaster Elite Series where anglers will not pay to play. Jessie brings long-time Elite pro John Crews onto the show, along with James Hall of B.A.S.S. to discuss.
#bassmaster #podcast #fishing
Professional fishing has become an exercise in futility. And fishing fans don't care anymore.
Sure this is great for a guy who owns Missle baits and isn’t hard up for cash
I’m on team “it’s a good thing” now do a podcast with anglers who don’t agree so we can hear different perspectives on your channel.
This is really good news! This makes it an honest sport again. Now its not just gambling for other anglers money while staring at the cheater box. Thank you! I will start watching again
Take your elite series, opens, kayak, college, high school tournaments and get off the lakes. Yall ruin crap for everyone! And sale a bs dream along the way !
Pay outs are a joke, they will loose half there field but that's probably what there after.
Word around the campfire is anglers are saying they are now trying to figure out what jobs their wives might need to take because payouts have dropped for mid-pack/ lower tourny finishes, Think about that… I believe everyone should follow their own life paths, but I can’t help but feel less sympathy, for an adult to think this way. May see more anglers with "jobs" with sponsors on their off time, instead of deer and turkey hunting. I wish I could do that anytime I wanted too! Fishing will likely never be NFL/MLB or PGA level imo. Not everyone deserves a "participation trophy" in a competitive sport… Anglers need to fish TO WIN now, adapt and prove their worth. If it were me, I'd take that $45K I had planned to spend on entry fees and hire a techy social media expert, like many have already done to generate side money. The game has been heading down thatroad for some time, thanks to social media. Some have already caught on and make damn good money doing it. Look at Randy Bluaket, he hasn't been a real competitor in decades and he's found his niche. It’ll be interesting to see how everyone adjusts to this new reality.
John wouldn’t be a good union guy.
BASS needs to find a way to make more money so pros also can make more money. I mean, fishing so hard to be qualified to be an elite angler and ended up getting only $500 is a joke.
Based on response videos, BASS will need to do a follow-up video showing the math that considers sponsor dollars, payouts, and no entry fees. I was hoping Ben Milliken would get it right, but he screwed up the 2025 math and forgot to reflect the 45k "SAVINGS " in entry fees.
Looking like they are channeling their inner Boyd Duckett
Wow, bass fisherman really like to complain about everything! If you’re in it for the money then leave, many guys will be in line to take your spot!
KYLE YOU SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED……..THIS IS A JOKE
Let’s see. A bass master podcast on a bassmaster decision. So expect complete lies and BS. Not the truth just smoke and mirrors
Anglers will loose money now even more before entry fees was 45k right but you could make top 50 cut every event and make 90k minus 45k entry so thats a 45k profit .. so make it make since to me now how this is better ?
What anglers back this ? I’m shocked
Come fish for 50th and 0 ..40th and 500. Or pay 5k each year and get a top half of the tourney your granted 10k ..they’re will be mark my word alot of guys getting 25th/50th and getting a top 35-40 finish in angler of the year and not even break even after gas and travel..sad. I don’t get it if they’re helping you all . Now they’re losing money on travel expenses for a top 30😢
I Do not think this is a good thing in anyway. The no entry fees yes. But look at the pay outs !!! 50th place got 10k minus a 5k entry fee that sponsers a lot of times helped ..now nothing . 40th gets 500 bucks ..unless your top 10 your not making any living on the “tourney” seen . It’s a bad move on the payoitsn
Since they can all of a sudden pay out 100 grand for first place without entry fees, why not keep entry fees the same and have a $200,000 first prize and great payouts all the way down the line??? makes absolutely zero sense
If all the so called pros are mad get a job and gonfish weekends lol stfu
I think its a great change….its fishing if u want to be paid millions than do something worth millions
What is this going to do as far as sponsorship dollars towards anglers that get their entry fees paid. Will there be allowed to allocate that money to something else like travel expenses
The elite series is now a video game fishing bass club level payout circuit . Ray Scott would be proud 🙄
Pitiful Payout