I am trying to cut tournament cost this year (my first child is on the way) and thinking about fishing the Bassmaster Weekend Angler Series South East Division this year as a co-angler.

Can anyone give me any feedback on these tourney's?
Are the boaters friendly and easy to fish with?
Ect...

The PRO/AM tournaments tend to have the same anglers fishing the same circuits. BFL and Weekend Series will probably have the same guys as boaters. They are both well run tournament circuits and the one that you choose can depend on which schedule you prefer and what the end result will be if you do good. Do you plan to fish the regional and championships and can you plan to get the vacation time or money to go? (IF you do good throughout the year.) Most of us Boaters look at the schedules and then determine if we WANT to Go to Oklahoma or Tennessee or Alabama.
Overall most of the Boaters are good to fish with but as with anything else there can be some "bad apples". But don't let that scare you off. It's a good opportunity to learn different techniques and lakes. DO NOT look at is as an "all expenses paid" guide trip!!!

There won't be a Bassmaster Weekend series anymore. BASS dropped there part with the Weekend trail awhile back. ABA is still going to have a Weekend trail , Really hoping it goes better than the BWS went.

I have fished Bass Champs and done well in the past but with a new job, baby on the way and projected $500+ at every event to fish Bass Champs South this year, I'm just looking to cut cost and keep fishing.



I'm not arguing at all but it is still on the Bassmaster website and either way $100 entry fees vs. $280.
http://www.bassmaster.com/tournaments

BASS has pulled out, not sure why they still have link on there Website but if you click it it brings you to the ABA site,but it is being run by ABA fully now. They made the announcement a month are so back if I remember right.

But here is a post with one of the statements released.. It will be pretty much same trail from what I have seen , Just not sure on if the turnout will be any better, That was I think a major reason for BASS dropping out. Low Turnouts.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/bass-aba-82813.html

ABA owns the weekend series outright, and has for
many years. They have ran it on their own since they
purchased it.BASS had a liscensing agreement with ABA
that allowed it to be called Toyota Basmaster Weekend series
Both parties agreed to go their own way.BASS did not drop ABA.
The people,program and all that you have seen before is the same.
The only difference is the Classic spot and the word BASS.
You will no longer be required to have a BASS membership to
fish an event. If you liked it before,you will like it now.

I am on the boater side, I don't hear anything bad about other anglers from my cos. Just need to remember not all boaters have to make sure your having a good time and limiting out. I think if you go into it with the right mind set it will be a good experience. U'll draw boaters that are lost from time to time, I have been that person a few times, and you will draw some that are on them.

I have enjoyed fishing with all my cos, and have got to experience my cos winning a few times.

Thanks guys, you have all put some great info out there and I think that I may give it a try.

One more question, since I can't find any info to compare the two. Are the payouts about the same as the BFL tourney's?

When i was fishing it I think a few guys thought it was a guided trip...and they were wrong. I did my best to help them but sometimes you can't fix stupid if you know what i mean.

"ABOUT SAME" is relative. Both have contingency prizes for their circuits whether it's BFL OR ABA (old Weekend Bass). But the placing paybacks are similar.

I have fished as a co-angler I. A couple of them cause that's all my schedule allows me, for the money and the experience you cannot beat it on the co-angler side. I have learned more from those two events than I have learned in my 5 yrs of tournement fishing.

Great series
I have fished both sides for the last 7 years
If ya have any specific questions feel free to pm me

Thanks again guys!
Now I just have to decide what to fish this year...
Bass Champs South or ABA South East-Co Angler