Furthermore, I think the anglers' biggest concern at this point may be maintaining the cash inflow from the sponsors they currently hold. I could definitely see company XYZ saying, "well, they don't have to pay entries anymore so we can decrease our monetary commitment to Joe Blow Angler and still get the same exposure." If that happens, then the anglers are really going to be taking it in the shorts. I would like to think the industry is tighter than that but at the end of the day it is about making money and cutting that expense inflates the bottom line.

This is correct answer if we are being brutally honest

You can't please tournament bass fishermen. The expectations at the highest levels of tournament bass fishing are just unrealistic. People need to get the idea out of their head that one day pro fishermen will get paid like pro athletes of popular sports. It's never gonna happen. Tournament bass fishing is gambling. Pure and simple. You are always going to be competing for other peoples money. That's the game. If you have expectations otherwise, you probably need to start thinking about a career change and put bass fishing back into the hobby category where it really belongs.

I saw this elsewhere when someone broke it down.


So out of 103 places (assuming same field size as last year) 2025 payouts are :
- better for 63 places
- same for 10 places
- worse for 31 places

Is that based on the 103 anglers' finishes from last year plugged directly into the new payout structure? I guess the only way 63 would do better is if they made less than $45k in winnings last year. Plug those finishes into the new payout and technically they don't "lose" anything and come out "better". Maybe I'll just go ahead and do the full breakdown. I've seen some pretty shoddy excel work floating around on the socials thus far.

My previous post was incorrect. I had an error in my sheets.

I was bored so I put all of the tournament results in excel as well.

Only 5 out of the top 45 anglers would make more money under the 2025 structure.

56 Anglers would make more money under 2025 Structure.
1 Would break even.
46 Anglers would make less.


So while Bass is describing this as a pay for Performance Plan, it is heavily skewed to benefitting those that did not perform.


I sitll believe they should reduce payouts for tournaments and apply that money to AOY standings. IMO consistency throughout the year should mean more than a single win.

Athletes don't earn big contracts based on a single big game, they have to be consistent throughout the year.

Unless I have another error these are the numbers I'm showing for the top 40. Includes tournament payouts, AOY Payouts, and Classic Payout. Does not include other Contigency money.

Furthermore, I think the anglers' biggest concern at this point may be maintaining the cash inflow from the sponsors they currently hold. I could definitely see company XYZ saying, "well, they don't have to pay entries anymore so we can decrease our monetary commitment to Joe Blow Angler and still get the same exposure." If that happens, then the anglers are really going to be taking it in the shorts. I would like to think the industry is tighter than that but at the end of the day it is about making money and cutting that expense inflates the bottom line.

Nerd much?

My previous post was incorrect. I had an error in my sheets.

I was bored so I put all of the tournament results in excel as well.

Only 5 out of the top 45 anglers would make more money under the 2025 structure.

56 Anglers would make more money under 2025 Structure.
1 Would break even.
46 Anglers would make less.


So while Bass is describing this as a pay for Performance Plan, it is heavily skewed to benefitting those that did not perform.


I sitll believe they should reduce payouts for tournaments and apply that money to AOY standings. IMO consistency throughout the year should mean more than a single win.

Athletes don't earn big contracts based on a single big game, they have to be consistent throughout the year.

Unless I have another error these are the numbers I'm showing for the top 40. Includes tournament payouts, AOY Payouts, and Classic Payout. Does not include other Contigency money.

Ummmmmmm, but they aren’t spending $45,000 now. Sounds like it’s all profit from day 1. Well, as much as possible anyway.

Ummmmmmm, but they aren’t spending $45,000 now. Sounds like it’s all profit from day 1. Well, as much as possible anyway.