2013 Bass Champs- a whole new ball game. New Paybacks-New Format - New Championship.

You asked for it, and we have delivered!

New Format
New Paybacks
New Championship

go to http://www.basschamps.com/basschamps/web/2013/2013changes.html to see the exciting new changes.

Cool deal. Nice to see things change up every now and then. Should be interesting 2013.

Forgot to ask....Entry fee stay the same or change any?

Nice! This will make it real interesting!

I hope more trails follow your lead in regards to 3 fish limits as apposed to 5 fish limits. Well done.

Those are some awesome changes that will make for some very exciting tournaments next year as well as a championship that will carry a lot more excitement than it has the last couple of years

Awesome. Add a little more luck and a little less skill to the equation. Now we only have to catch 60% of a limit. Should be easy enough.

Tommy likey

I think it is awesome for sure, it evens the playing field a little more,should make for a awesome points race for sure and it spreads the money around a little deeper which is good with the cost of everything so high. Hopefully it helps to get more out there to fish em.

Same entry fee as always. $280 per team.

That 3 fish limit will be really weird. But ill go with it. Love the new payback and the championship format will be neat

A 3-fish limit will make it close at the top IMO..

Basschamps.... Good Job! 1 Championship... Deep paybacks.... Should have some good draws....

Cool Deal

wow

Wonder where is the championship? I am sure it will be at a lake that is not on the schedule.

Wonder when they will announce it as well.

3 fish limit, Not too appealing.

Woo Hoo now your talking, Chad/Jeff
PS. Thanks Jeff for the care package you gave my sister to give to me.

Sweet, Im going solo on Falcon then. I'll fish all day for 3 big bites!!!!!

Lol. I love the comments. "Level the playing field". Isn't champs suppose to be about the best fisherman in their specific markets? Seems to me like a prestigious tournament trail like champs that prides itself on having the best anglers around would want to avoid that. Did participation take a big drop this year or something?

What's the entry fee? Still $280?

For some reason I can't get to the Champs WEB site. Is it true that they reduced the four champioships to just one? Are they only awarding one boat in 2013 compared to four in 2012?

Yes. Top 75 from each division- one championship. One boat. Times must be tough.

Please notice the "Guaranteed Regardless of Entries" at the Championship.
There are now 40 cash places paid regardless of entries. We replaced the other three boats with cash to pay deep in the field making it the highest guaranteed cash payback of any team championship in the United States.

Over $130,000 in cash and prizes guaranteed regardless of entries at the Championship.

I like this format. Yes, it probably upsets the "locals" that get to fish a lake everyday and consistently catch a solid sack every tournament (but those folks are the minority). Who it helps is us weekend guys that now feel more confident that we can show up on Saturday morning and have a legitimate chance to get 3 good bites (we are the majority).

As far as the guys saying "times must be tough". Obviously they are or BC wouldn't be making changes. Let's support this new format, get their numbers back up, and I'll guarantee you they'll go back to having separate championships with more boats!

I will be fishing it regardless because they put on one hell of an event. Well run establishment right there.

I still have mixed feelings on the three fish limit. I hate to see the championships reduced from four to one. I wish they could do something like Angler's Choice tournaments back in the 90's. For their championship they gave away five boats. Two for first palce and the next three for second through forth place. Of course they had more anglers that came from four or five states. I really think there is too much competiition for anglers between all the tournament trails.

+1

I love the championship formatt for sure I never liked the fact that you fish all the events and get in Qualifying to make the big show is much better!! I just talked to my partner and we're both excited about the 3 fish deal... If you have a kicker fish you're in really good shape to cash...

now if they could just pick some better north texas lakes like texoma and only one on ray bob. lake for should never be a big tournament lake or any other slot lake. just my 2 cents

It appears that way, too bad

3 fish limit makes it more of luck than skill.

I hope they go back to 5 fish after this season..

Brave choices but respect it. 6#s to win fork?

Agreed, I'm only a fan of it in July and August when it's about fish care.

Fork is gonna be interesting with 3 fish......

But take my comments with a grain of salt because I haven't fished Champs.

The State Bio met with our Bass group and said that in warmer weather that 40% or more die , even if they come across the scales alive and the bigger the bass, the higher the mortality - I want our kids to have the same fun that we are - it takes a few years to grow bass- - It is a great plan- check the top 15 weights for almost any lake and they have declined- check Fork and the number of share lunkers each year - remember when the limit was 10 ? It will be for the good of our sport !

Fork Share a Lunker is down cuz of the bass dying and the big fish being removed from the lake.

SAL has only hurt big fish in Fork.

It will make the tourney on Fork a joke. The thing that separates guys out there is the ability to catch 5 good unders not 3. Most people catch 3 good unders.
I'm not a huge fan of 3 bass limits. The paybacks are great, but I think the lakes need to be changed more. That's where it's same ol same ol.
Just my opinion.

Well if I had me a Skeeter instead of a Javelin boat- I would be in this for next year.

Not about to change out the boat just for a tourney

dang it...

Will definitely be fishing champs next year with the new offical practice days directly before the tournaments! Great change!

I think that's only for the championship. Regular tournaments are still the same unless I misunderstood.

Dang I got all excited for nothing. Thanks for clarifying that for me. Will probably still fish a few of them anyways.

It says all qualifiers must have entered all 5 events in the region. What does that mean. I guess I'm at a loss

T-bend or ivie for the championship...right...no matter where you have the championship in this state your gonna piss off 2 other regions. That part seems loaded to me in a state this big.

That stated I love the organization but am not super keen on that change.

I not much of a fan for the 3 fish limits either. I hope other circuits don't follow suit.

This is good for our fisheries!

U can't please anyone these days. Guess need start handing out skirts at fishing tournaments and not shirts and jerseys.

I like the new stuff and even though 3 fish ain't my thing. I fish tournaments for fun so it wouldn't bother me

LOL can we get skirts with our team names and numbers on them that's funny stuff write there I don't care who you are . I haven't seen this much crying since goose died on top gun!

3 fish is great it will help level the playing field some. If you don't like the new changes then stop crying and about it and don't fish it if it hits them hard enough they will change back but I like it.

So is the 3 fish change due to the body of waters health or is it to make the guys who cant catch 5 have a better chance to cash a check?

The guys who can't catch 5 cash a check.....your gonna love it!

The way i see it is bass champs is for the weekend tourney angler. Thats their biggest advertisement. That means the weekend guys, not the jackpoters and guys that fish 4 days a week with a tuesday or thursday trail too. That makes you more than a weekender. Dont get me wrong i wish i could fish 4 days a week. Even if the top ten locals drop out theres gonna be more coming in due to 3 fish so they made the right call. Its not gonna please everybody. If you dont like it dont fish. If it doesnt work they will change it. No need to cry. It is what it is. Adjust your fishing if you believe your that good and you still win.

I have fished a few clubs and circuits with 3 fish limits. Those were mainly cases where it was not team events, but 2 individuals in one boat, so potentially carrying 10 fish in the live well could be a problem. On a team event that is not really an issue, but whatever, I am sure they have their reasons. Still a good trail.

FWIW, in 3 fish limit tournaments big bass winner = tournament winner almost always. Sooooo, fish accordingly

Damn, I hate it when tournaments change rules in mid-season. You never know what's going on.

Oh wait. These changes don't start until the 2013 season?

words from the great philosopher, Norm..."Does it change the taste of my beer?"

Change is hard, but you never know...you may like it better. The rules are the rules. You know what they are. Fish if you want. In the end, does it change the taste of your beer?

I am suprised there has been no Obama jokes thrown out yet.



Btw- Basschamps runs a great trail and IMO the best amateur trail in the state. I will continue to fish what I can either way.

I've never seen anything in print stating that, Thomas. Their slogan is Texas'#1 Tournament Trail. To me that means #1 in participation, payouts, etc. Thus far I've heard great responses from many and crying from a few. Those being the guys who dominate locally. I guess it's time for the "best in their markets" to step up and fish with the pros. Wouldn't want someone who considers themselves as such to diminish their standing in a specific market.

The stakes on 3 extremely fat fish just got higher..
Interesting format indeed, fine by me..

I could see going to 3 fish once water temps are over 80 but not in the winter and early spring. Going to be interesting for sure. Many guys on rayburn will have 17-18 lbs with 5 but 14-15 with just 3. They might not be in the top 10 normally but now potentially top 5. I dont think it will effect turnouts either way.

I would hate to finish 6th and know my check was the same as the 30th place stringer

I know it's not in their mission statement, but you know what I mean. The high entry fee, the 1st place prize. It was geared for those wanting to compete at the highest local level with the best local anglers. Does this hinder that? In my unimportant, uneducated opinion, yes it changes that. Then again, I just sold my boat and had a kid so it doesn't affect me in the least.

The Obama Joke is on the "UN-official thread" - "Tournament Format Confusion" :

"It's awful no more champs for me until this changes, with a full field 6th place thru 30th gets the same pay.. Did Obama take this trail over so everyone can get a peice of the pie? Hopefully 30th to 150 will receive participation ribbons that away everyone is a winner!!"

Well that just should give a fella the gumption to shoot for 5th or better, what would be worse I think is coming in 31st place, could go home empty handed by a few ounces, out of 220 teams based on that payout format is what seems to make this a lot more exciting.

It's a whole new fishing strategy with 3 fish. No more keepers. Gotta go for the "gold" and fish for the big fish now.
Gonna be interesting!

It will also be interesting to see bass champs vs the new TXTT trail.

With 1st place at Txtt almost being double the new first place for bass champs.


Should be an interesting 2013.

Well congratulations!!! Not on selling the boat, but on the new addition to your family.

The incentives dont hurt that trail either!

Looks great!

As always good job Champs...

Changes are always hard for people no matter what it is. We are a creature of habit. Last year was our first year to fish BC and we liked it alot, they are run very professional. I think all the changes will be good. Its going to be interesting for sure.

Yes, Basschamps is about the best fisherman in their specific market.....

This may be a passing of a torch for Basschamps, It may be a new kid on the block rises and knocks them off thier throne, or maybe they have done it themselves with this new format and 3 fish limit.

BassChamps has always been the top trail, but I think they have stumbled here big time...

When you ask public opinion to choose the direction of your trail you open yourself up to some questionable decisions in the eyes of the minority. This might be a great move for Champs in attracting more guys that struggle to weigh-in 5 fish. Who knows. I wish them the very best in their endeavors.

It seems you have to fish all five tournaments in your division just to be able to qualify point wise. So if you have enough points to qualify at the end of the year but only fished four tournaments, does this mean you are no longer qualified for the championship?

I agree they should not have the same cash prize for such a large range of places. 50th place should not pay the same as 15th place.

I also wished they would not go from four championships to just one. Two would seem a better option. Maybe a lake in north TX and a lake in south TX. A single lake depending on location is going to benefit one or two divisions but not all four.

In order to qualify for the championship one must fish all five in one region, then be in the top 40 aoy or finish top 35 in the final tourney of that region.

The game just changed... It looks like Round Rock Express has moved to Hickory!

Agree I see a good number moving over to TxTT because of this

I prefer the 5 fish limit but at the end of the day its still who ever has the most weight will win. One thing I wish they would change is pay less places. I would rather see 6th-10th get paid more and have no payout for 21st-25th for 180 boats or no 26th-30th 220 boats. But I know thats not what there targeted crowd prefers.

I agree, id like to see 8-10 thousand taken from the bottom and added to the top 10

I'd like to see 8-10 k added to my pocket.

This new deal is going to kill jack potters. Fml

Three fish five fish.doesn't matter the best fisherman will win that simple. You guys act like you way in five monsters in at every tournament I know some of you by your names on the ttf and have been to a few tournaments where you only weighed in three fish LOL. Especially one on here imparticular you have all this money in fancy equipment and you don't even way in five fish most of the time I'm not going to say who you are because you already know . You don't like it don't fish it

I can't wait to see 9 lbs on Belton win 15k, lol. All kidding aside, will probably take more than that but anything is possible on that bowl of rocks.

BAD BAD IDEA!!!
The payouts are ok but the 3 fish limit is rediculous! WHY! This is a 2 man team tournament if you can't catch 5 fish you don't deserve to win. People should not be happy to lower standards so they can compete. I got news for all the people who belly ache about locals and not catching a limit, its called HARD WORK!!! I have done pretty well so far fishing tournaments and it all goes back to hard work and dedication! Back when I didn't do so well I used those guys who always won as inspiration to do better! Ill be fishing TTT next year for sure. The only reason bass champs changed the limit is because they draw a ton of boats at big bass events because all the guys feel like they can get lucky. That's what they're incorporating into the regular tournaments hoping to get all those guys that feel they might get lucky to show up. They dont care about you they want to make money! I don't blame them so they can do what they want. But I don't have to fish it and I will see you next year TTT. I really like bass champs I hope they change! I work hard to stay up there in the top ten and I suggest you do that also or keep losing its that simple!

Let me clarify one thing, I absolutely Love the bass champs trail currently and the people who run it. They do a top notch job and run a great tournament. I just don't agree with lowering the standards to let skill go out the door and luck take the drivers seat. What happened to being proud of yourself for beating the best putting in all the hard work and succeeding. Now a days people want to do less and get more and I'm sick of it!

I applaud Bass Champs for going to a 3 fish limit. What is important is fish conservation, not everyone's ability to catch 5 fish and haul them around in a boat all day, then have a bunch of dead fish floating afterwards. Simply look at all the heavy pressured lakes and what the bass population is doing. Someone had to make a statement and I'm proud of Bass Champs for stepping up to the plate.
Homerun!!!!

I don't fish Champs but I applaud the change and hope the other small trails follow. Visit the area around a ramp after a tourney and you will also agree. Great tourney lakes in Texas won't be worth a %$%$ in 10 to 20 years if we don't make changes.

False. TPWD does a great job managing our lakes for ALL recreational fishermen. That includes tournament anglers to leisure fishermen. If its so bad then explain the longevity of Rayburn, Toledo Bend, etc.

[quote=cborden]I don't fish Champs but I applaud the change and hope the other small trails follow. Visit the area around a ramp after a tourney and you will also agree. Great tourney lakes in Texas won't be worth a %$%$ in 10 to 20 years if we don't make changes. [/quote

We could always just use polariod cameras and boga grips.

That's next year.....sarcastic clap clap clap

If you applaud all the changes for the fish then our tournaments need to be one fish that we wiegh and let go! No lead weights, no gas engines, no electric power because we don't need old batteries trashing the planet. All tackle needs to bio degradable including the rods and reels in case you lose one in the lake. No bass boats because the plants that produce them create pollution that could get in the lake. Wade fishing should do it with barbless hooks. Don't drive to the tournament you must walk. Why don't we just sign up tell them what we think we could catch and then go home that should satisfy even the most hardcore tree hugger.

Y'all should fish it solo like me...the payouts are double!

I wish they'd move the fences in on baseball fields and not let the pitchers throw so hard so I could play MLB! I'd love to play but I didn't make it my priority and dedicate myself with hardwork so I don't deserve to be there. And I shouldn't expect them to make it easier so that I could Play. If you don't have a solid work ethic and the drive to win then you'd better hope they lower the standards to everything so you can compete.

WOW!,, 30,000 for first out of any boat with as deep a payout with 5 divisions and a championship as big as bass champs? Will definintly have to check that out!

I think three fish is a super idea . Makes sense from a conservation standpoint . It will also draw more anglers . I didn't know there were so many pros on the ttf. Let me drop some knowledge and history on yall last weekend there was a tournement put on by the g.b.r.a. at lake wood it was a three fish tournament my buddies fished it . They smoked the field caught over 40 fish they didn't know the rules so they brought in 5 fish so with 5 fish they were disqualified not till after they weighed in of course but the thing of it is it doesn't matter five fish they would've won three fish they would've still won heck they still would've won so it doesn't matter the best fisherman are going to shine . If you guys are so worried about three fish and luck that's a sign of weakness you have to be confident no matter the conditions I don't think you guys can beat me on my home lake whether three fish or five I don't worry about you getting lucky because I know what I'm going to do . Not cocky just confident don't sweat the small stuff or things you can't control . I can tell this is already in a lot of your guys head and we haven't even hit the water yet.

There are locals that do put in hard work to find/catch fish. I say that first so you don't go crazy and fire back at me with a goofy response.

BUT - for us guys that aren't fortunate enough to be locals, how do we "WORK HARD" like the locals? I fish the Rayburn/Toledo series. It's 2 - 2.5 hrs from me. I can't spend days on the lake every week. I can't fish every evening. Heck, I can't even fish every weekend....but I love to tournament fish, and when I enter I fish to win! I think the "HARD WORKERS" are a very small minority and their entry fees don't pay the bills for Bass Champs. It's guys like me that make up the majority and pay the bills for 'em.

I'll repeat what's already been said - you can't make everyone happy. Champs made a decision and a gamble. Good or bad, they made a decision.

I can't wait to pitch my Alabama Rig out there and catch a full limit on one cast.

So if I can go catch 5 4lbers because I've found a bunch of quality fish but you have a guy dragging a worm hoping on a prayer that catches a 9lber and struggles to catch 2 more 2lbers all day he wins. a five fish event he has no chance. Seen it a million times. I'm very capable of keeping five fish alive ALL Day. I'm done with this thread I normally don't get on this forum for this reason everyone wants it easier. Get better or keep donating!

I also have a full time job and a part time job to pay for me to fish and to give my family everything they deserve. I go and stay 2-3 days and pre fish because I too live 2-3 hours away from my events. I fish daylight to dark every pre fish day I'm there I work hard to maximize my time and I get better and better at quickly eliminating un productive water. You've got to have an unbelievable drive to be successful but it feels so good to be a constant presence in the top ten.

Hey z-8 I support the three fish limit just because I support it means your a better fisherman than me and I get lucky and I'm just a donator and I want it easy . If thats the case let's fish three fish or five limit I live in new braunfels if you live close around let's fish . And see who the donator will be if your down let me know on here or p.m. me I will be fishing Sunday morning at Dunlap in a little working man tourney your invited and its I five fish limit so I won't get lucky I guess starts at seven am under the bridge at the public ramp .

In the heat of the summer you could have 1 fish in your livewell and its going to be hard to keep alive if you don't know proper fish care. It doesnt matter if there are 3 or 5, proper fish care is where its at. The same guys who bring in 4 alive and 1 dead in the summer under the old rules will now bring in 2 alive and 1 dead.

way to go champs me and my lucky dragging worm we be there.
man and i thought women were bitchy. going to be funny when they find out they don't have to fish it if they don't like it some folks are just slow

Thank god people weren't fishing tournaments 20 years ago with poor equipment and a lackadaisical attitude toward fish care or our lakes might not have ANY fish in them. Wait...

I think to further advance our conservation efforts and avoid potential harm to the fish, there should be a hat full of post-it notes with a random weight to be used as your weight for the day. Each team will draw a slip and whoever gets the most weight wins! This way there will still be fish in our lakes in 10-20 years.

Champs may have went 3 bass but they are sure getting a lot of publicity. Nice work fellas. Way to stir up the tribe.

if people took care of their fish properly the mortality rates would be so much lower. Nothing more annoying than seeing guys carrying around 10-15lb of fish in their weigh bag that has 3inches of water

Nice work Champs. Look forward to 2013.

and they had 30 different trails to fish and turnouts up and over 250 boats just like now. Wait...

Bunch of freaking women on here
STOP all the freaking crying

Yeah Thomas, this isn't the best argument from you that I've seen. There's no way you can compare tournament fishing 20 years ago to today. Just look at the increased number of tournaments these days compared to then. There is no comparison man.

Im not sure what all the crying is about. Yall whine more than my 8 year old daughter. If you dont like it dont fish. Pretty simple. Sure a guy can get lucky and catch a big fish but its not luck that he was fishin the area where that fish was or the bait he was using. Boo hoo hoo, give me a break. You complain now but i bet you still give em your entry fee every month. Dry your eyes and learn to catch bigger fish.

I do find it a bit interesting that when someone from one of the groups like PE*A shows up here and tells us to stop tournaments because there are so many dead after the tournaments, etc that the thread is flooded with responses like how full of carp they are and we care for our fish and there are not all these dead fish afterwards, etc. Now those supporting this change are using those dead fish after the tournament arguments to support it. Makes us look a bit contradictory as a group.

But bottom line, as has been said already, fish it or don't, no one is forcing you to. 3 fish limits do change the game, though. Culling for ounces now becomes more important and one big fish is now more important than a just getting limit. Those that can adjust to that will do ok, but it will still be anyone's tournament to win every time.

I'm not crying. Don't fish it and for sure won't. Voicing opinions. Which we are entitled to speak what we want too. We work hard to take care of our 5 fish limit. This is to draw more people, where they feel they will have a chance to get lucky and compete. This is why Media Fork Division draws so many people. Everyone thinks they have a chance to catch an over and win the big price. Which it happens. I think other circuits will move to the fore-front.

WOW- I am truly amazed at some of the naysayers here.

Let me tell ya a short story- I love to fish, when I can round up the time (and now launch fees) I love getting out on the water- even a decent bank works for me.

I've never been in a serious tournament in all of my 56 years of being here on this God forsaken planet- but looking at how the set up is- I'm going to give it a shot next year- since I would be considered a novice to tournament fishing- I will have to put my all hereto in it to win it.

I was fortunate to have made a comment earlier in this thread about not being a Skeeter owner- so along comes Chad to send me a love note telling me - IT DON'T MATTER WHAT YA GOT- YOU CAN FISH THIS TOURNAMENT!! and with that said

I'll be praying to catch 7-9#R's out on Rayburn, heck I might get lucky enough to win a big payout or maybe even win a Skeeter.

It's all how you look at life fellas- CHANGE can be for the good- only way to find out is try it.

time to fix dem old cane poles I got from my gran dad........

Donater Talk........

Maybe

but then again- all I would need to do is take a 2nd-5th place finish and all my monies that I would have tied into this event is paid for. and if I did this 5 times! Well I'll be happy when they are donating back to me..All it takes is time..

sorry to see that you won't be helping in my fun...

Hey toilet plunger, how many Bass Champs have you won ?

Hey toilet plunger[/quote]
this was worth the price of admission lmao

I agree. I was just on a sarcastic streak and couldn't get myself to stop. Apparently I need an Altima that beeps when I've gone too far.

In reality though. Fish care is 0% of the driving force behind this decision. I just think its funny that people would attempt to justify it with that reasoning.

I cannot recall one time this year where fish care was an issue on this forum during any tournament.

I may be wrong. If so let me know.

Yeah but in all reality as you saybit might not be the driving force but it still gonna happen and its a good thing . Bass champs often has two hundred boats or more at an event with the 3 fish limit 600 hundred fish being weighed in is a lot better than 1000 fish being weighed in . And champs often goes to a lake more than once so that can take its toll.I don't care if it was the driving force but I'm glad its here its about time!

Here's a thought..... If you don't like it, don't fish it. Start your own tournament with your own rules and pay out more money than BassChamps.

And your name is who? look out KVD has spoken lol

I hope they go to 2 bass limits. All species. Sand bass. Catfish. Gar. Drum. Carp. Just bring something to the scales. Dead or alive. Don't matter. Caveman style.

I have fished a couple of Bass Champs tourneys, they run a good show, I am on the fence about the 3 fish bags, I think it does help the fishermen that are not " the sticks " Either way it will be fine.

Actually if it weren't for men like ray scott promoting catch and release the lakes would be alot worse. Bass was on a severe decline in for a while.

and with all of this said, I really do not think it would have changed the out come to much at LBJ Last weekend be it 3 fish or 5 fish, Those who did with 5 would a have done great with 3 and those who struggled to put 3 in the boat would have not done any better.

I think their gripe is not really about people getting lucky with three fish and winning. Their gripe is the lower pay outs in the top ten places. I think there would be much less controversy if they went to a 3 fish limit and kept the payouts the same.

I can see 3 Fish for the hot tournaments in June, but to much luck involved with 3 fish tournaments, one kicker will do some damage as someone said plus look at the last Falcon tournment, I've fished Champs for years and they run a good trail, but I'm not digging the 3 Fish deal. I might switch to the Bud Light Trail.

newest lame tournament saying,


"all we are looking for is the RIGHT 3 bites"

at what point are they gonna release where the championship will be?

and whats with being able to qualify for the championship by finishing in the top 35 of the last tourney? are they trying to get more people to show up for them?

Lmao. Good one.

+ 1000 what he said

I just love how it's acceptible to voice your concerns on the tff and people will listen and not immediately take it as a chance to ll people cryers and whiners. If you like the format comment on that and go on. Don't aggrevate people who don't agree with you just to do it. It's annoying because you can't express your opinions without some smartie pants cracking on it.

They've had variations of that from time to time over the years. Sort of a last chance for those that fished all of them but didn't make the cut. Think of it as a wildcard tournament that you see in some trails, but combined with a regular event this time. Basically a slight reward/recognition for those that fished all year and didn't get in. And, yeah, it should keep participation from falling off at the end.

I went out of town this weekend so didn't get to read all of these comments until today and WOW. The reality is that Chad and Jeff run a BUSINESS and they have to do what they can to make it the best business possible. So if you don't like the decisions they have made in regards to changing their events then don't fish them. To me they still put on the best show out there and these changes are just that...changes. I will fish their events regardless of what rules they have because its FUN and they really run a great circuit.

You are still paying just $280 for a chance to win $15,000 plus some other cash incentives each and every tourney so why is everyone freaking out? So maybe they "leveled the playing field" or "brought more luck into the game with the 3 fish limit" but its still a blast to fish their tourneys and in most cases on most lakes, the guys who have the best 5 fish will also have the best 3 fish so what's the big deal?!?! Fork does definitely make things weird if no one is bringing in overs...6# to win $15K will be interesting to say the least but I love fishing out there regardless because in most cases you are catching some nice fish even if you can't weigh them in.

This thread has run its course. It's been up long enough for everybody to express their views.