Ha, yeah not a good choice but he happened to be right behind Jordan. Still young compared to Clunn though. Those guys amaze me that they can keep their passion for their sport over that many years and let's face it it's a brutal sport both mentally and physically.

i WISH I could watch them lol, they haven't had a camera boat on them much.
They aren't taking a slot from anyone are they? It's not like they forgot how to fish, one of them will end up having another great tournament finish. David Fritts should be getting a royalty off of every crankbait ever sold.

My question is how do they afford it year after year.

Well thats true and it don't seem that long ago that Elias won that FLW event but I guess it has been.

Those guys grew the sport tremendously in the days of their prime. But fishing and golf are about the only two sports that people can still compete fairly well as they age. Just giving them a spot because they are of senior age and once top competitors (call it a legend's exemption if you want to) kind of reminds me of how all of the millennials of the "Participation Trophy" era today expect everything to be handed to them.

Ain't gotta be young to have that distinction... Swindle has yet to win an Elite tournament, despite winning AOY twice.




Not really. Clunn had been re-qualifying for the Elites on merit, but had to rely on the Legend exemption this year.


I like the points system similar to golf that someone mentioned, that keeps top guys around for a little while longer. But overall, I think I'd like the Legends exemptions done away with and put those spots towards more people qualifying for the Elites via the Opens or BASS Nation.

Are there guys who qualified who are being denied a spot in the Elites so the Legends guys can fish? I guess I would have an issue with that. Otherwise, if they are rounding out the field of 110, I have no issue with it. God knows they paid their dues and laid the ground work for countless others. I would think they would know when it's time. I read the article on Bassmaster.com last week of Elias and Grigsby and how much they still love it in their 60's. I think fishing is in your blood. You don't just turn off the joy of it, and if you are a tournament fisherman, it still feeds your competitive side. I guess that means I am squarely on top of the fence...

That's why golf has a Senior's Tour. So the guys who love to compete can do so, and still be competitive.

What percentage of the purse is made up of angler entry fee vs money from TV and sponsors? What percentage of the PGA's purses are made up of golfer entry fee? Probably not much.

The legends keep the legacy sponsors happy. The senior tour was started pre Tiger when golf tv ratings were way down because the Davis Loves of the world were pretty bland in the post Jack and Arnie years.

PGA members with status do not pay entry fees, only fee is a mandatory $50 "locker fee" per tournament

Any sport were you have to have Athletic ability you will not be as good in later years. Fishing as almost no athletic ability to it more about mental strength. I am guessing Clunn or almost any of these guys can still pitch a jig or pull a C-Rig. I do not see the golf comparison because you can not drive the ball as far when you are 70 then when you where 25 but you can still pitch a jig. These guys are still here for what they have done and still do for the sport. I do not believe their is much need for a 40-70 year running back or pitcher in baseball. The KVD's and Clunn's can still win in fishing late in life. its fishing not a real sport, just a great way of life and hobby for most of us. Their is not enough money in fishing to have a senior tour anyway like golf.

Human nature. In every professional sport athletes CAN NOT leave while on top of their game. While I'm sure many do it simply because they still need the income many more stay around because they do not have the ability to see themselves declining the way we do. They think they still "got it". Many of the biggest and highest paid athletes in sports who already had made more money than they could spend in two lifetimes sadly hung on way past their prime. Michael Jordan would be a prime example. Were they still productive? Sure but to me they tarnish their legacy. But in the end it's a personal choice. I do think however they should qualify just like everyone else does. But even on that topic: the directors are not giving them a "gift". It is a business decision that they believe will increase fans numbers. This all is exactally why I was so glad to see Jason Whitten retire this year: "on top"!

I like that Bass lets some of the old guard fish. These men have given a lot to the sport they should still be allowed to compete.

BASS created the spots for the "Legends", they're not taking anyone else's spot... Dan

I, being a older guy, think its great! Gives us somebody to root for that's in our age bracket! Rick Clunn won one a year or 2 ago! Loved it!