BASS and ESPN started a new series this year called "The ESPN Bassmaster Series." It consists of 80-1 day tournaments throughout 4 regions. It is suppose to give the "weekend angler" a chance to compete.

I'm glad they forgot about us far-west anglers!!!! I guess we get to travel to Texas to fish a cheap, one day weekend tournament.

Like they don't have enough tournament circuits to choose from.

The biggest problem with the west with BASS is not filling up the tourney field. At the last Citgo tourney I fished it was about 21 boats short. Now you would think that California would have enough anglers to fish in this but I guess not. They said that they rarely fill the tournament on the west coast. So I doubt if we will even see it in the next couple of years.
Russ

I guess the amount of water would hurt us. The big bodies of water they like to use are stretched out more in the West than in the South-east. I mean they have only used the Columbia for Washington. So you have to go down to California for the other events they have had. This new circuit would have to use other water (closer to peoples homes) to attract more "weekend" anglers to participate.  

You know when I fished the Open at Shasta about two weeks ago the entrants I met went as follows-80% from California, about two from Arizona, 2-3 from Nevada, One from South Dakota, 3-4 from Japan, and about 6 of us from Washington. Yes it would have been great to see more from our state there to compete, but not many of us have the luxury to spend $400 for a non-boater entry fee and a $1000/Boater fee plus all expenses.

It cost me roughly $700 to fish this event plus time off from work. Now you understand why I didn't fish in the club this year. I was saving up to fish this event and will fish more of these in the future. Now you say $700 is a lot of money but I split the cost with another guy who went as an observer. He paid for the hotel and I paid for all the gas and entry fee. Now most guys either camp or get a room at Motel 6 for about $40/night so that would lessen some expense.

But for those that are wondering wow could I fish in this event, I say heck ya. If you work together to split expenses other than the entry fee it is an absolute blast to fish this event. I would recommend it to anyone.
I averaged each year about $250 of expenses for a WBC event, so I figured if I pass on WBC events I could have the money for the Big Stuff. Unfortunately I missed some great times with the club, but that is the price I paid. I just couldn't afford to do both.

Hope to see more Western Guys other than myself to fish the BASS Opens in the future because we have some great fisherman in this club who could kick some bass but at these events.
RB

Sarge,

You are probably close!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RB

Right, why would they drive over when they have BASS in there backard and all the FLW series. They have a lot more "leagues" so to speak to get anglers interested. The scale on the West doesn't have to be as big. Maybe the payouts could be lower because of lower turnout. I just think they should try some things to involve the West Coast. Start with some smaller level events. Give guys the confidence to fish a BASS. The bass anglers are there. Growing up in California, I know they are there. You see bass boats every other garage. It's growing in WA. I talk to guys that just out of nowhere want to be bass anglers.  

There are good anglers here and I would like to see them exploited more. Martens recently moved to Alabama I believe. Why? To fish BASS.  

What bothers me was here they had a good thing going that could possibly involve more anglers and we don't get to try it. Hopefully they expand in years to come.

The reason you don't see West anglers in the top six is because there aren't many that can travel 1000 miles to fish the event. Hence less get a chance to make it to the Classis and so on. We don't have to learn their waters. We fish in some of the toughest conditions year round. That's why the few (Reese, Martin) that get to fish down there do pretty good. And lets not forget Clausen.

Thats what I want to see. More of these western anglers with the chance to qualify for the bigger, championship events and stir those east coast numbers up.

The average fisherman here in the NW thinks Salmon and trout, you mention Bass and you get a blank look.  That is why it will be slow in getting any consistent B.A.S.S. tournament support.  Even local outdoor talk radio etc spends very little time talking Bass fishing, even the Lake reports for Lk. Washington talk about all the perch that are being caught.  People are surprised when you mention catching a Smallmouth from Washington.

The increased coverage nationally by ESPN et al, will eventually bring about a better appreciation for bass fishing in our local waters, but it will be a very slow process.  As for now, all of us can enjoy the relative peacefulness of our bass fishing endeavors.  Not finding a bassboat already in your favorite hotspot is kind of a luxury that I am not sure our southern brothers are all that familliar with from what I have heard. 

If it is meant for you to hit the BASS trail, I am sure that you will find a way and I wish you the very best. 

BillB