I was looking at BASS website for this list and it appears there are 53 competitors on the list. The final name caught me off guard. I will be attending this event for the first time. I'd sure like to know how this situation has settled in with the other Elites. There are actually quite a few names that qualified in ways other than the OPENS and the ELITES.

like who? Albert Collins qualified on sam rayburn winning the weekend series national championship.

Who cares what the elites think anyways. Its not up to them and its free entry. The guys who qualified through the Federation and Weekend Series deserve it.

Wow. That list has everyone from a cheater to a guy from Zimbabwe

Uh... yea. Kinda dilutes the purpose doesn't it ?

So who deserves to be there?

I dunno. I remember when they had just the "qualifying pros" and then one year they added one more contender from a different path, and then another , and then another. Over the years it just seems like it has been diluted. I realize all the contenders have successfully cleared some major hurdles to get there.

entitlement classic?

It would be boring to me to only have the "pros" in it. I think having a diverse field from every aspect of bassfishing helps promote it better.

Gives a chance for a cinderella story.

good interviews with McKinnis on Bass Fan. sounds like he really supports the grassroots fishing like Federation and Weekend, he actually wants to do more. I'm not sure about taking them all the way up to the Classic, how about a paid single Elite entry of their choice? Regardless, 500 people will fish Federation or Weekend just for chance at that spot in Classic.

Its suppose to be the "pros". It is not set up to be a pro-am tournament. I don't think a diverse field will accomplish anything as far as promoting the classic or the sport in general. The primary focus will be on the pros. To me it would be like having a high school player participating in the all star game or pro bowl. Its just not a good fit.

The pros have paid their dues all year in the elite series, they are the ones that should be in the classic.

Yea like Bryan Kerchal.

There have been a few federation guys win it, so it's not exactly like a high school kid playing in the NFL.

How many federation guys have actually won the classic before they fished the elite series and qualified that way?