The only difference is no one flips out when BASS changes things

BASS probably starting at a higher number of anglers because they are expecting a higher number of dropouts during the season next year. 2024 will force a reduction with 9 coming from 2023 Opens. No more kicking the can down the road.

Or (conspiracy theory) to run the Elite field size up over next couple of years by bringing back some BPT anglers to crush MLF as marketing $s shrink with the upcoming economy issues.

Old timers sticking around that were once great is just another example that this sport is first/primarily Marketing and a distant second a competition

Fritts isn’t competitive. Should have cut him. 92 of 94 this year. 91 of 100 in 2021. 81 of 88 in 2020. 75 of 75 in 2019. 97 of 110 in 2018.

It’s named “The Elite Series”. Nothing Elite about those numbers.

Clouse has been just about as close tot he bottom. He has one less year.

I have no problem with two spots for legends. Its not taking away a spot from anyone. I was surprised to see Fritts back. He said at the last weigh in he was done and retiring.

It's exactly like MLF. Constantly moving the goalpost. Zero difference

I agree, stuff like this is why I had quit watching BASS years ago. When the old guys always had an exemption or some loophole to never get kicked off, I didn’t like it. I don’t care what your name is, if you aren’t good enough to compete, you should get knocked down to the minors.

I just saw Casey Scanlon is switching from “FLW/MLF” to go “back where it all started”. He also mentions that “unfortunately the league has not been the same since the MLF purchase.”

I wonder if BASS let them back in the Elites without qualifying, a bunch would jump. Problem is if they did than many people would be pissed.

Word is MLF is calling way down the list of the Toyota series trying to get anglers for the Invitationals. Seems the anglers are not keen on the lower payouts and no championship. Shame how they have run the old FLW into the ground.

Beartrap says “fake news”, the BPT/MLF is the greatest thing to ever happen in the industry.

I don’t see BASS ever allowing anyone back without qualifying beyond the two legend exemptions.. It would not sit well with those who stayed and carried BASS thru or to the others currently on the BASS roster. BASS wasn’t thrilled with them leaving either. Also,some dumped on the BASS 5 fish weigh ins over weigh in the boat. The way some handled the whole thing BASS doesn’t care if they ever come back.BASS doesn’t need them to be at the top of the sport. It will be interesting to see who tries to qualify back and who makes it. Also what the max number BASS sets the Elites at.

Beartrap may be disappointed. Gerald Spohrer was on a podcast last week speaking of all the MLF/BPat changes and ge was pretty blunt. He seems to be a straight shooter. He had a lot of good info on the how, why and such of the changes. One thing he pointed out after speaking with MLF management and Duckett is how TV is a dying platform and how the money was in the live coverage. That contradicts Beartrap's mantra of MLF has 9753hrs of TV time over 37 channels 8 days a week. He was also pretty blunt about MLF expecting to lose money for the first 6-10 years of the BPT. He mentioned that all of the promised additional money for the anglers through the increased TV coverage has not really be seen by the anglers. They all were expecting increased sponsor moneyetc but it's been flat.

https://youtu.be/2gDDTwryP60

Numbers of viewers watching and sponsorship dollars as a result is the most important metric. They aren’t running a charitable organization. The number or people interested in tournament fishing across the US is a relatively small number.

I know, he said his health was not good. WTF is he doing back on the Elite series, he's just taking up a spot. I really don't know how he was invited back, you can only use an exemption for every Legend point you have, a Classic win on AOY constitues a point, he had 2. With that many bad AOY finishes he has to have used up those to points by now.

The only two others I saw that qualify are Woo Daves and Dion Hibdon. Probably no one else wanted it that was qualified.