BASS opening pandoras box.

[HappyChamper]

Congratulations Chris Lane on your win.

I hate to open Pandoras box on this....but.

I understand that opens are opens, but why are Elite anglers allowed to fish them? If you look at the ladder arrangement the opens are an alternate path for the non Elites anglers to Get to the big show. Seems to me that the Elite guys use these as another way to get to the Classic. If they are in the elites they need to use the elites to get to the classic. Leave the opens as a way for those anglers not in that path to get there.

Elite anglers stay out of the opens. I understand the need to compete at the best tier, but is that the intent of the opens? If that is the case just open the elites to the open participants. Or, keep the opens for the open contenders.

The top anglers were elite names. Stay in the elites and leave the opens to the open englers.

[Gambler Bob]

I dont see a problem with those guys fishing the opens, gotta beat the best.

[iwillkechu]

Opens are exactly that...."Open" to anyone. Otherwise they'd call them invitational or restricted or something like that.

[JJS]

I don't see a problem with it. It must be nice for Lane to fish the rest of the year not having to worry about making the classic next year.

[RipNLips]

Because it is open to anyone. It is also another avenue to qualify to fish the elites the next year. They dont get to fish the elites just becuase the fished it the year before they have to qualify. Thats the way Mark Davis got back to the elites after he had left to fish FLW.

[xranger77]

I do believe that if Lane also qualifies for the Classic through the Elites, it opens the spot to the 2nd place in the Opens in that division.

[local16]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Nitro Bob Rourke &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I dont see a problem with those guys fishing the opens, gotta beat the best. </td></tr></table>

[Buckeyebasser23]

I would love to fish against guys in the elites through an Open event since I know Ill never make the elites

[HappyChamper]

Guys...I do not plan on fishing thru this program. But, if you see no issue with elite pro angles jumping into the open ranks and taking your places in this path to the classic so be it. Seems to me that the intent was to create a multiple path to pro fishing. But if pros can fish in the amateur ranks, seems amateurs should fish in thier ranks.

I like to fish against better anglers....they force me to fish better. But

[fishindoc]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by xranger77 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I do believe that if Lane also qualifies for the Classic through the Elites, it opens the spot to the 2nd place in the Opens in that division.</td></tr></table>

I think he qualifies to the classic for winning the open event. If he also qualifies as an elite they will work down a spot in the elite standings to get the next qualifier for the classic.

[Jason1]

If you can't beat them in the opens, then you wont last in the Elites very long.

[tcbass]

With the Open victory he still has to fish the other 2 Southern Opens to secure his Classic Birth through the Opens. This is HUGE for an Elite Angler though, because now they can fish to WIN in every Elite Event this year since qualifying for the Classic is no longer in their head.

[Muddbugg]

I fish the Opens and never really saw a problem with Elite Anglers competing. However, I do not believe it's fair to let the Elite guys take qualifing spots for the Elites.


Modified by Muddbugg at 6:42 PM 1/22/2012

[JayLaw]

I can tell you this it is harder for the touring pro to come in and win an open level event then it is for the local fisherman to win one. There were were 9 opens last year, 5 of those 9 were won by local sticks, the 6th was won by newcomer pro fletcher schyrock (sp ?) the 7th won by a guy (tour pro-haha) who we will never know what happened or how he caught his fish, and 8 and 9 were won by touring pros. So under last years opens 6 of 9 opens were won by locals, 1spot went unused as the winner didnt fish the last event after being suspended, 4 of the open spots went unused because, they, unlike the touring pros choose only to fish the one in their backyard which is their choice. The way i see it if you cant beat a touring pro on your home water, then you have no chance of beating one in the classic.

[flipNfrog]

Honestly I just think it comes down to these guys trying to make a living at what they do. In reality I think its safe to say that alot of the Elite anglers are not raking in the cash. Sure they have their sponsors some more than others. Some get more free product than others..some most likely have their entries paid by sponsors...but day in and day out im sure a good number of these guys are fishing and traveling living on the brink of being broke. Cant blame guys for trying to feed their families

[250bassFL]

If your not breaking any rules, your doing nothing wrong. And those guys do what they can do to get to the big show. Every one that fishes any tournament needs to get the fish in the boat to win, and everyone has their chance to try. I don't see anything wrong with it myself. When we were fishing tournaments they'd fish some if they didn't have another tournament going on. Didn't see anything wrong with them fishing those either.

[xranger77]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by fishindoc &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

I think he qualifies to the classic for winning the open event. If he also qualifies as an elite they will work down a spot in the elite standings to get the next qualifier for the classic.</td></tr></table>

Did they change that rule? Used to be the Opens still took the 2nd place, 3rd...etc to fill the spot if an Elite guy qualified through the Opens.

[justbass]

well it's not just the elites fishing the open but also on the flw everstarts there touring pros fish those and i have no problem with that.i have fished against quite a few of them and have fared well.the way i look at it is your fishing against the fish not the other fishermen.it's all fun and the extra challenge is nice,sure makes you elevate your game i must say.

[Blazinbyu]

Having fished some of the opens, I would find it difficult to see where people would come to the conclusion that they are "amateur "tourneys. As a competitor,I find it invaluable to be able to measure,my success's and failures against the Elite guys. It seriously helps you evaluate where you need to improve to be able to hang with those guys,and this is the only opportunity for regional pros to do that.
If you want to become a better angler,then you need to surround yourself with those that are better than you. It works the same all the way up thru the ranks. Consider this, what if the guys who fish BFL's,Everstarts and such,wouldn't be able to fish,local weekend club tourneys. Seems to me that would open "pandoras box"

[rudapa]

So you don't want an "Open" to be "Open"?