Impressive!

That's all I really can say about this guy. I met him very early on in his career at a small derby in Indiana fishing the White River. Even then his passion for the sport was intoxicating.

This dude can wear a flat bill, ring the bell, and do all the goofy sh#t us olds complain about...but still reach the top of the sport.

Congratulations JW!

Congrats! He has definitely put in his time for it!

Congrats, he has grown on me the last few years. Considering the year he has had with 3 wins already its insane it wasn't a blowout points win but he had to finish above Ott by several spots to win AOY. They both had crazy good years.

Congrats. Does BPT AOY get any extras cash?

I thought they did but since the old 3 year contract got torn up don't know now, the Pro Circuit AOY extra payout went away after the FLW name went away.

50,000

$50K

He had a phenomenal year. He is definitely top of the sport at this moment. Guy just gets it done. Looks like Neal is going to win the last event, but to win 3 times, finish 2nd in another, that is dominating.

Congrats to him, still hope some day there is one major trail and its not MLF

would love to see an Elite Style circuit with 150 - 175 pros that can actually make a living from top to bottom.

Too many, 40 is the optimum # for the top Tour, then an pro level just below that with the next 110-135 best guys.

ask the elite series fishermen what percentage of the income the owners share with them from the income that the city pays BASS to hold the classic there?...ask them how much the income they get from the classic expo?,
....ask them how much income they get from the television shows?.......
the owners of major league baseball,NFL and NBA found out 40 years that without players,they couldn't sell seats or TV time....
I don't know what percentage of the venue,TV and sponsor income the 80 MLF pros get but you can bet it's shared......and....you can can also bet that one of these days,BASS is going to be forced to share income and enable it's fishermen to make a living at fishing or lose them....

First and foremost BASS Elite anglers do not work the Classic Expo for BASS....they work it for their own sponsors. Do you thjink all the BPT anglers at the last 2 Classic Expos were there for BASS? If BPT was taking care of them financially 100% they would have no need to work for their sponsors.
Do you have any proof the non angler owners in MLF/BPT get shared revenue? Its not a secret the angler owners get profits there and rightfully so. Are you sure all BPT anglers are being paid? Explain why some anglers leave BPT if they are being paid and automatically make a better living there?

There is a need for BOTH trails. It gives the anglers choices and that is a good thing. Wheeler making $50,000 for AOY is damn nice too. Both trails need to keep on keeping on with what works for them.

the point I'm trying to make is without anglers,there would be no expo and no classic..the classic ,expo and the resulting TV generates huge income for BASS.....is BASS sharing any of this income with the anglers? I don't know but apparently MLF owners didn't think they were doing enough or they could build a better mousetrap....and about 90% or the opriginal 80 are still with them....and....some of the biggest name in FLW apparently believe in them because they had a choice and chose MLF...
believe me I'm neutral in this, got couple friends still with BASS and hope it continues to do well but am just pointing out what I see as the future for both trails....

Sponsors wag the dog in pro fishing. Without them there would be no trails or pro anglers. That TV time you like to so often point out includes an incredible amount if reruns and older shows. Not all are benefitting from that TV time. Just the ones doing well enough to make the cuts. I bet close to half of the BPT guys have not had much if any TV time.