BASS opening pandoras box.

[m.t.hands]

if i had fished it i would have gone "Tonya Harding" on his A$$

i love fishing against those guys...have beaten/finished ahead of a lot of big name anglers,,,also had my rear-end handed to me....play at the level of your compatition

[Scotty B]

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

You answered your own question........you can't be a pro without fishing against them .
If you fish with only amateurs, you will be in for a big surprise when you fish against pros

[paw paw]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by iwillkechu &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Opens are exactly that...."Open" to anyone.</td></tr></table>

[fishindoc]

http://www.bassmaster.com/news...assic

Here's the relevant paragraph

Following the Elite format, each of the nine Open event winners will receive automatic spots in the 2012 Classic. With each pro-level event winner receiving a Classic berth, B.A.S.S. has upped the cache of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens by allocating nine Classic berths, up from six, to the Series. The traditional points system used in the Opens will only determine future Elite Series qualifiers and will have no bearing on Classic berths.

[Phoenix Jim]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by iwillkechu &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Opens are exactly that...."Open" to anyone. Otherwise they'd call them invitational or restricted or something like that.</td></tr></table>

[billybass]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by HappyChamper &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">But if pros can fish in the amateur ranks, seems amateurs should fish in thier ranks. </td></tr></table>

Larry, what definition of "ameteur" are you using? Last time I looked the top contestants of the Open's were awarded money, hence Professional.

[blazin-nole]

I think it's an honor to fish against the "best". You won't ever know how good you are until you fish against those guys anyway.

[Legend Chris]

I have no problem with it....If you wanna be a pro...Beat the Pro's Or at least do well enough to qualify for the Elite's and then go from there!

[skeeter333]

Keith, I believe you hit the nail on the head. Can't really say it any better or any other way.

Why worry about something you cannot change. Life is to short.....

[skeeterator]

Just wait till an "elite pro" wins an open throwing an alabama rig,it'll happen and you heard it here first.

[ldbass55]

i have fished the opens for the past 3 seasons...elite guys have always had priority entry over everyone else to get in to the opens...there are actually less of them fishing this year than years past...i have never had a problem fishing against them...the local sticks that only fish one tourney are more of a problem to me...either way... you had better bring your A game to the opens...its without a doubt the toughest series out there...
LD

[Bassin Billy]

I agree that the opens are definetly that. Its just like an open tournament that ANYONE can enter..as long as the rules permit a pro or guide its legal.
I hate to hijack a thread..but instead of an Elite guy fishing an open, what about Elite guys or touring pros that fish clubs and move up the ranks to fish the state, regional, and then national club championships wether it be the TBF or Bass Federation Nation?

[1958]

I would like to fish an Open against the elites but my luck I would win then have to quit my job and start fishing all the BASS tournaments. Not sure I'm up for all that traveling.

[UBF1]

This is a way for the anglers to qualify for the elite next year. if they have a bad year this year then they can get back in next year and not have to wait another year to get back in the elites. They are trying to make a living by fishing so they are going to fish anything they can to make a dollar.

[Doug Vahrenberg]

I fish the Open and love to see the best competition there. Most of the Elite Anglers got to the Elites by fishing the opens...have no problem with that. The concern I have is those that do not fish all three. Elites or Locals...if they win the Open Spot to the Classic is lost. You have to Win and Fish all 3 Events to get in. It happened twice in the Centrals last year where Classic spots where not given out because the winning angler did not fish all 3. Bring on the best...When I win I want to beat the best!

[idbefishing]

It has been going on for a while now. FLW pros do it too. They fish the Everstarts and Opens too. It is not uncommon for guys to double qualified. Ike and Hackney qualified for the FLW Pittsburgh Classic thru the Stren Series.

[Hoot]

Since both Tournament Fishing Organizations and Tournament Fisherman are always in dire need of sponsor dollars they need all the exposure they can get. The Elite Anglers attract attention to the Opens which is good for BASS when they seek out sponsor dollars. The Elites have sponsors paying them to give exposure to their products expect them to be visible as well as successful in tournaments and the Opens are certainly high profile events. Did anyone mention that there are no guaranteed appearance fees for anglers at Elite Tournaments? If you are trying to survive in professional fishing you had better be fishing all the good potential paying tournaments you can and hope you win a few checks. Now if you are an aspiring future pro what better way is there to solidify yourself worthy of big sponsor dollars than to beat Elite Pros in a BASS Open? When you do that then you are no longer just another good local stick who really deserves a shot. If your goal in life is to become an Elite Angler you are going to get there a lot quicker if you start beating them in a BASS Open first. BASS isn't going to ban Elites from the Opens and NASCAR is never going to ban Cup drivers from the Nationwide series no matter how many cries they hear for social justice on sites such as this.