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