Russ, give me $10 worth of that action

Rich

Easy decision for me anyway....I don't even have the money to pay my way into a backseat, and I would have as much confidence fishing against other backseaters no matter who my Pro was. 7-800 dollars is out of my league at the moment....

You guys are all right. I like listening to different opinions on these subjects. Yea you could get some Shmo that sits on a dead spot like I had gotten on my first day and then got a guy on the 2nd day who fished my water and caught fish there. But there is allways that chance of doing well. I guess it is a crack in the dark. Yea I too would rather fish my own water.

I guess the best way is to turn Pro and fish where you want to fish. That will be awhile for me due to the money issues and kid going to college.

Hey Rich-Will you sponsor me????? Ha,Ha

I wouldn't mind the sharing the Pro's fish thing that much, except it still sucks. But the part where you can't say, "Hey, I know this good spot over here" just bothers me. It would be tough concentrating while gritting your teeth wondering where your going next or why you aren't moving and waisting time in a dead spot or something along those lines. You could also get beat by some shmo that draws a good Pro and slays them. You beat him, but his Pro did better than yours and you lose. At least you could have some say on a guided trip you're paying for. This is just the negative side though. On the plus, you could be that shmo who's partner helps win it for you.

Hey Russ,  I would be willing to guide you for half of that.  Your boat of course.  Us guides ain't cheap.....  Just call BR 534....HEEHAW

Rich 8)

Smitty,

Well said. I can appreciate all who have spent time fishing these events and yes to each his own. I personally like and seek the competition. I guess in my last experience I didn't feel back seated because I out fished the guy 2 to 1. But my first day partner did the opposite. I adjusted just couldn't get on any good fish.

I to have been on good guided trips for that kind of dough and they were well worth it. I wouldn't suggest this kind of circuit for all, just for some.

Thanks Smitty for the discussion.
Russ

I'm not trying to split hairs with you over the value of fishing a BASS event Russ.  After all who am I to argue with a BASS Pro?
I just think that for the cost of a week long trip to CA. to fish, more value and knowledge, plus all around fun can be had in a more economical way.  I could easily spend the amounts we are talking about and get several days on different bodies of water with the likes of Larry Hemphil, Andy Cucia, Dee Thomas, Dub LaShot, or Mike Folkstead.  What woud the return be?  Hard to quantify an experience with those folks in terms of fun and lessons learned, but certainly more than a gamble for 25 large. 8)
If the adrenelan rush of competition is what is being saught, then fishing a couple of WON Bass or 100% Bass "T"s against the CA competition can easily fill that nicth without the prospect of being "backseated" by someone who is an unknown advanced club angler from Fresno. ???
I guess I'm fortunate that my early experiences fishing with BASS back in the midwest in the late 70's was a good one. However, in watching how the BASS tournament events have progressed here in the west,  I find them to be  lacking in many of the rewards we look for in a tournament venues.   
For a big name circuit out west, I would actually lean a little bit toward the FLW, more correctly the Everstart series as it is currently fished in the west.  They just have to move a couple of their tournaments a little farther to the north.
For now I'll concentrate on the "T"s I think can give me the fun I really like.  WBC club events and the occasional Stratos Regional in CA or Angler's Choice on the Columbia River.

Smitty

Still on the meds huh Larry

Rich

We do have options... WE need to be a bigger voice At the tournaments as well as with e-mails and letters to the directors of BASS. I also think the ESPN days are limited as I predict this Basscenter program coming in January will not be aimed at US but rather become another Bass boat racing phenomenon and ESPN has jumped the shark with that program....I do like the ESPN programs now but they keep tweaking it as they do with BASS.

Sorry for the Tangent Airlines thing there but
YOU KNOW ME!

This rule you are speaking of is from what I heard from the horse mouth only good for the opens. Yea you say $400 is high for two days with a guide that you don't choose, so what, what if you brought home $25,000 for the privelage. And pays that $400 back if you nake top 50. Pretty good odds in my book. The idea behind the non boater isssue this year I believe is a good one. Your best three then add his best 5.

The only question I have regarding this issue is who is going to police the discussions with Pro and Non Pro?

Russ

You have just stated the exact reason I have not yet weighed in on this thread Chris.  I'm waiting to see what BASS does with the rules.  If my hunches are correct and the Open's follow the lead of the Tour events, then fishing as a non-boater is little more that a VERY expensive guideed trip with a guide you don't get to choose.  There are several variations of shared weight formats that can be used, and some are actually pretty good.  However, the BASS formula for the Tour doesn't fall into that catagory .
Having fished down there before in several large events such as the Yamamoto Open on Oraville and the Stratos Regional Championship at Clear Lake, I think I'll defer paying to fish under those (BASS non-boater) conditions.  As for the Delta, $400.00 will cover more than a day with several guides I could choose.
In an earlier thread there were discussions as to the cost of a tournament.  Last year when I fished the Clear Lake regional and fuel was $1.97 per gal., the cost for the trip excluding entry fees was about $550.00.   Now take that figure and split it since it was a team event, then throw the entry fees back in and you have a cost of about $475.00 per person, or $900.00 for the event.

Smitty

That is what I thought.

I don't mean to be negative with this post at all, but I want to point out that there is rumor about some major rule changes for the Bassmaster Opens next season. They are already in effect for the Tour.

For the Tour, the Co-Anglers are only allowed to weigh in three fish, and their total weight will be shared weight with the pro. Information can not be shared on fishing spots between co-angler and pro. The Open rules haven't been released yet, but these may go into effect for the Opens as well. If these do happen for the Opens, then you are mainly paying for an expensive guided trip.

Here is an interesting article to read regarding this issue:

http://www.bassfan.com/coangler_article.asp?ID=17

So to be clear, I am not trying to deflate anyone's bubble, I just thought you would want to know about this in case you didn't already. I think it would be cool to see some of our clubbers go down to Cali and compete. And that article above is only one person's view. I am sure there are some positive things about the rule changes that have not been brought up.

Chris

Yeah,

Thats' the non-boater fee. Are you sitting down- The Pro fee is $1000 smakaroos.
Russ

Non-Boater I believe Chris....

Is $400 the boater entry fee, or is that non-boater?

Chris