Is it just the level of talent that is the different between all of the above name series
and how would you rate the different levels. That may help some no the different between the really good fisherman and the ones that have a dream

yes I no I miss spelling and grammar classes

I mean to say "That may help some to know"

we asked this question Sunday at Bass University of Randy Howell and Jeff Kriet. I thought Randy had a good answer about BASS vs. FLW and to the point.

1) BASS you have to qualify for, FLW not so much. Randy even made the point this might make the BASS the only true pro series.

2) FLW has the best money for the entry, but BASS is more open about what boat you run and sponsors.

whether BASS or FLW I think it is really skilled gambling like playing poker. You pay a big entry and after the house takes their cut they pay back out. There is a little luck and donators, but there is skill and some make good money with their skills.

IMHO BASS has more of the best and deeper, but there many in FLW that could be towards top of BASS. Just look at how the BASS guys struggled at FLW last weekend. The BASS guys didn't come in and clean up on FLW. Most of those FLW guys are really good too.

TOMMY BIFFLE 154th
JASON CHRISTIE 82nd
STEVE KENNEDY 101st
BOBBY LANE 132nd
CHRISTOPHER LANE 89th
ISHAMA MONROE 94th
FRED ROUMBANIS 35th
ZELL ROWLAND 90th

BASS vs FLW

BASS is a small group of 50.

FLW is a group of 150-175.

Elites you must qualify through the Opens and remain ahead of the Elite field in points to requalify.

FLW Tour you must qualify through the Everstart or be a Ranger owner and sign up for all events (and beat the others to signing up...they use this to get a full field).

BASS Opens allows people to enter who have "key sponsors". The sponsors get "spots" saved for sponsors prostaffers due to how much $$$ they give BASS....so it's really not who signs up first....but what sponsor pays and what prostaff you are on. It's pretty tough to get into without a sponsor tie.

FLW tends to side with the Ranger guys, but you can run any boat you want. (Until final competition day).

It's to each their own.....

I think both trails have great anglers.

Main thing is, you better have deep pockets to fish either one!!

Correction BBT, Bass Elite Series has 102 anglers.

Doh, I was thinking of the E-50 they had years ago.

I was still stuck on what it used to be called.

You got the deep pockets part right but not so sure about the rest.

Explain your part of the "rest".....where did I go wrong?

I think it is as easy to get into Opens as Everstarts? I thought Opens you are pretty much in if you pay the money when registration opens.

I didn't realize you had to run Ranger on final day FLW, you sure?

There's no "requalifying" for the Elites, even though there should be a good purge and flush of some of the field.

Key sponsors with Opens?? Not so much. Opens are just that, opens. They don't ask for a list of your sponsors when you register. LOl. The only thing BASS wants to do is get equal numbers of Pros/Co's.

I haven't fisheds an open in a long time, but it used to be as easy as pay your entry on time and show up with your boat, it is more difficult for co-anglers though as there has to be enough boaters..

I have friends that have fished opens last year, with no big name sponsors, so i think that's a little far fetched.

But i don't have any recent first hand knowledge.

I planned to fish some opens last year but scheduling never allowed, i'm going to try and fish some everstarts this year a little later on so i'll see about that..


Kinda funny how in the flw pro series all you have to do is run a ranger and pay all entries....

Are you sure about that?? Seems kind of a cheesy way to "qualify"...

Big difference. Opens fill up and have a waiting list, meanwhile Everstarts are looking for more boaters 3 days prior to the event.

I spent 2-3 years trying to get into the Opens. It' fills up every year (well before they went to horrible lakes like they have the last 2 years). They kept my deposit for one year.

I found out guys would call in (with sponsor spots) and enter one event they wanted to jackpot and they would call in a week before the new year. While I had been signed up since November.


Everstart you can qualify for through BFL to get a spot, sign up early with a Ranger, or wait your chances to sign up the morning of if you don't own a Ranger or a TBF member.

Once your set a number (order you call in) they is where you will sit.....


BASS Opens allows sponsor spots to get in anytime.

TOP 10 of FLW Tour fishes out of the FLW boats the final day....if they don't run a Ranger (with FLW sponsor wrap).

Opens do allow sponsor spots....Skeeter gets so many. ECT ECT ECT.

I promise you that. I watched them hold my $$$$ for a full year while other guys "jumped" in at the last minute.

Call em and ask....if you don't believe me. They will tend to beat around the bush.

The company who sponsors BASS gets so # of anglers for their sponsor dollars.....trust me.