I’ll say this. His rods are cr@p.

Since you like to pimp up and talk about what an awesome job the BPT is doing. What’s your comment on the not dropping any of the anglers like originally stated and screwing the guys on the pro circuit.

I'd say of all but the 6 that left they are happy with the revenue sharing and no entry fee 2 of the last 3 years and I believe no entry fee is coming back this year.

It's been mentioned that entry fees will not be dropped.

I read somewhere it’s 6k. Duckett is a slime ball IMO but I still watch the BPT.

They were promised no entry fees. Yet here they are fishing for each others entry fees. Wonder where all the money is going from all the TV time? I guarantee in that 74 anglers that are left several would love to come back to BASS. Problem is most couldn't requalify.

Most? We can agree on Duckett and the business model but they have the most talent and it’s not really close.

my comment is that several hundred FLW and BFL. Anglers are real happy that MLF stepped up and took over a bankrupt FLW trail and provided both weekend and professional anglers a viable tournament trail……and greatly expanded TV exposure for anglers and their sponsors….

So the guys that should have qualified, but got screwed over are what?

but everyone gets on tv an a participation ribbon an looks like they will be paying entry fees.

I think thats the Tacklewarehouse Pro Circuit, I read somewhere months ago BPT was going back to no entry fee in 2022 because otherwise they were going to have a bunch of anglers leave.

My biggest complaint is that the goal post seems to be constantly moving. I'm not a competitor in their organization so I don't really have anything to gripe about, just a bass fishing fan that watches it all.

Exactly how I feel. I’ll add I do get tired of Zona commentating on the same fish catch. Over….and Over….and Over! It drives me nuts! Please step up your production BASS.

Personally, I would be pissed to have that carrot held out there for 3 or 4 years only to have it taken away cause I wasn't in the club. That should tell every angler in the whole shebang what kind of people are running the show. Not somebody I would trust my livelihood to. When it gets bad they are going to take everybody's money and run

1) Entry fee or no entry fee - Unless it changes in ‘22, last place in the BPT still got paid $3600.
2) Qualifying into BPT- I see both sides, but if you’re an up and coming TWPC angler, you’re gonna compete against the BPT guys sooner or later. Just out fish em’
Conversely, I believe more BPT slots will open up each new season through retirements, etc. I also believe the best TWPC anglers will always send up 5 or so qualifiers each year.

On another note; you cannot compare the BASS Opens to the TWPC, except that they’re both tournament leagues with opportunities to qualify for their respective top tier Tours. TWPC is a pro Tour with a payout structure that rivals the BPT. As a matter of fact, TWPC winners can make up to $135k (Phoenix contingency) BPT tops at $100k.
The BASS Opens are NOT a Tour. Unless you win, it’s doesn’t pay squat. It does offer 2 Big Carrots- Classic & Elite qualification, that’s it. Odds are STACKED
The TWPC has a $200k championship and pays $10k down to I think 60th and $5k to 75th.
Yeah, one costs $5k to enter and one costs $1700. One is a pro tour and one is a regional qualification series.


It boils down to $$$$$. There’s only so much of it in this niche sport. There’s more dollars chasing the pro fishing dream than there are sponsor dollars willing to pay for those dreams. As long as guys are willing to pay to play, then BASS, MLF and now NPFL will put on tournaments.
Though the formats might have changed somewhat over the last 50+ years, Ray Scott tapped into an business model that’s only gotten larger over time - pay to play fishing