BASS

[artcarney_agr]

I agree with ya! It just seems stupid to me. Women can qualify for the Classic just the same as anyone else and the whole women's series is a waste. It's a level playing field across the board and men have no advantage over women and vice versa.

[geobass]

I have to agree with Art on this one. There is nothing in the BASS rules that says you have to be male. Let women compete right along side their male competitors.

[geobass]

Oh by the way, I started this rumor. It was Morris Sheehan and Ray Scott. Not Johnny Morris.
Morris Sheehan is the owner of the American Bass Anglers and looks like he is getting to be real buddies with Mr. Scott.
American Bass Anglers is under contract to run the BASS Weekend Series for I think the next 5 years. Morris has been great for the ABA and has landed a lot of sponsers for this organization. I even heard that Brunswick would probably want in on this if it were ever to happen.

But like I said, this is only a rumor....or is it?

[18'stratos]

I agree with the college division. Florid would get their butts kicked fishing at Cumberland or Dale Hollow. Heck, just from the marketing aspect look at the new customer base that it would attract. Could you imagine getting a paid tuition for fishing. That would be like having a sponsor. I'll sign up now! As far as the WOMEN thing goes, it's B S. Black, White, Red, Yellow. It doesnt matter your skin color or gender! This pisses me off! I watched a special on tv I think it was last year, about a guy that only had 1 arm. Thats it! No legs, He had sponsors and was fishing on a top level. The fish don't know who is throwing the bait. Maybe in the womens division they adjust the points if they are on the Rag. Hey they are already having a bad day anyways. Or special time outs for restroom breaks. They want EQUAL but only on their terms. I'm sorry if I piss off any women out there. NO Wait I'm not sorry. Deal with it!

[artcarney_agr]

Maybe in the womens division they adjust the points if they are on the Rag. Hey they are already having a bad day anyways

Now that's funny right there!

About a college circuit, I've sent many emails to Morris Sheehan over the course of the past year asking him about a college circuit, but have yet to get a response. The ABA used to have a college circuit, the College Angler Scholarship Tour (C.A.S.T.) that was a really good program. It was just a little ahead of its time and was discontinued at the end of the 2006 season due to lack of participation - I don't think many even knew that it existed! College angling really hasn't come on strong until this past spring. Clubs have been forming like wildfire all across the country this year. Hopefully with UMF College Edition set to air in January, a little more attention will be drawn to the college league. Like someone said before, the media attention would be a whole new view of fishing, and draw an entirely new audience.

[MsgMills]

I too agree with the College fishing League. Both my boys won't be fishing for a College for about 5 to 6 years from now. But I can assure you they will be helping a College School out somewhere come that time to fish. So I hope something gets going for sure by then, never know maybe a full Scholarship to a College for Fishing...Now wouldn't that be dandy........

Plus as far as the Bassmaster's Classic goes, make everyone of the entrants earn the right to fish, not just because they won the women's division....Doesn't even compare to the Federation Routes the Top 6 Federation Anglers compete through to get to the Classic. Talk about a big slap in the face to the Federation Representatives.......

Think about this if their ( B.A.S.S. ) is going to let the women's champion fish in the Men's Classic by only having to fish in 5 tournaments through out the entire season. Then change the route for the Federation members as well. Make it a 5 Tournament format strictly for the Federation,s members who want to fish only for the Prestige of making it to the Bassmaster's Classic.

Which by the way is a guaranteed check just for making the classic itself, so even if you finish in last place you still get a check......

Change the payouts to only say the top 25 anglers who compete in the Classic, instead of paying everyone who fishes in it from the start.

Ok, I've vented enough about this, time to move on to something else.....

[idbefishing]

The only advantage I can think of is that we can easily relieve ourselve over the side of the boat. Women can but it much harder, my girlfriend have done it and it was quite comical. College league won't be like you would like it to be because of one simple reason: money! How many of you guys would be able to afford tournament fishing as a boater on a college kid income? How many of you boater earn at least 35-40K/year? Heck beer money is hard enough to come by let alone a boat and truck payments. Not to mention entry fees, gas, food, logging, etc... When I was in college, I normally leave the party/bar at about the same time I leave the house to go to the lake now. It won't happen on a large scale and you can quote me on it.
Ray Scott aren't going to buy BASS because he sold it to ESPN. Tournament fishing got to where it is today because of media exposure. ESPN got all the media infrastructure to successfully support BASS. Anyone who acquire BASS would needs similar set up or getting whack big time by TV contract. I can't see Ray Scott or even Johnny Morris and all his money would take that gamble. I'M NOT A FAN OF ESPN, I HATE WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH BASS. Anymore it is a HUGE business and you have to treat it like so. It's ain't the 80's and 90's anymore.

[SuperSprint007]

Just my two cents on it, but i think that if bass was sold, FLW would buy it....my thought is FLW could buy it out and shut it down maybe take the classic and the records and merge it with their own. I would hope they would preserve the history of BASS. I think espn is slowly killing bass... the website is horrible, the tv coverage is getting less and less....I really dont think it would take to much effort on there part to make it better and nothing seems to be getting better...

And for the top woman getting a spot in the classic, so what, they added one and did not take away from anyone's chance to get in. It will give them a little bit more publicity with main stream media and maybe draw a few more fans. I guess if they added a college division then had the champion of it make the classic would you all have a problem with that?????

[artcarney_agr]

I wouldn't have any problem seeing how a college angler would stack up against the pros. I'd root for him/her everytime, being the young gun underdog skipping class to fish in the classic would be overwhelming, and fun to watch! Maybe by then all colleges will have a team and a school owned boat...I know of two colleges that have purchased brand new Rangers for their club, so it is very possible!

Go to this site for more info on the college angling scene:

http://www.collegebass.com/

Air times for that tournament are:
November 1, 2007 - 5:00am ESPNU
November 2, 2007 - 5:00am ESPN2

It's a step in the right direction for college angling and it's only a matter of time before either BASS or FLW takes notice.

Here's another one, television air dates will probably be in January, last year's shows on this site as well:

http://www.collegiatebasschampionship.com/index.htm

[bigrod]

My Insight tv says it is on ESPNU at 2pm thursday afternoon. I don't see anything except college football live at 5am.

[ekubassfsher]

The tournament will also be on tomorrow "thursday" at 2:00 pm on ESPNU. I also agree 100% with the college circuit. Talked with some guys from Drury University while at our National Tournament and they have been trying to set this thing up as well. I believe we can get this up and running within a couple years.

[arkie]

I agree with the college division. Florid would get their butts kicked fishing at Cumberland or Dale Hollow. Heck, just from the marketing aspect look at the new customer base that it would attract. Could you imagine getting a paid tuition for fishing. That would be like having a sponsor. I'll sign up now! As far as the WOMEN thing goes, it's B S. Black, White, Red, Yellow. It doesnt matter your skin color or gender! This pisses me off! I watched a special on tv I think it was last year, about a guy that only had 1 arm. Thats it! No legs, He had sponsors and was fishing on a top level. The fish don't know who is throwing the bait. Maybe in the womens division they adjust the points if they are on the Rag. Hey they are already having a bad day anyways. Or special time outs for restroom breaks. They want EQUAL but only on their terms. I'm sorry if I piss off any women out there. NO Wait I'm not sorry. Deal with it!

I agree, there should not be a separate division for women. Women CAN and do compete against men. As for restroom breaks, by God's design, women do need a little different accommodations for the nature call. I don't know if BASS gives women special time outs or not, but if so it's probably not necessary. While I am on that subject, some of you guys could be a little more modest and considerate about where you whip it out.

Yes, I am a women. Pissed off, no. However, 18'stratos seems to be having a bad day and may need a little Midol himself.