No Pro’s Allowed!!!

  • Jeremiah Shaver
    La Crosse, WI
    Posts: 4941
    March 30, 2006 at 12:37 am #1215939

    Pros booted from EOBS 3/29/2006
    Beginning next year, weekend anglers who pursue a Bassmaster Classic berth through the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series (EOBS) won’t have to beat out tour pros to gain the coveted slot that goes to the series champion.

    A BASS official said today that the organization will ban current Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW Tour and FLW Series anglers from the EOBS starting in 2007. The decision was reached March 20, so pros who registered for this year’s events prior to that date will be allowed to compete.

    The official said BASS made the decision based on comments from EOBS participants about having to fish against pros. Elite Series angler Jason Quinn of South Carolina was one of the top competitors on the EOBS last year and finished 9th in the championship tournament.

    “A lot of the feedback we got was that they (weekend anglers) didn’t necessarily like fishing against some of the top anglers in the country – guys who fish for a living,” the official said. “They thought it was unfair that the pros could walk away with the top prizes and get the Classic berth in a series that was created with the weekend angler in mind.

    “That was the background for the decision, and we think it was the correct move.”

    The official said that to his knowledge, no Elite Series anglers had registered for this year’s EOBS prior to the cutoff date. However, there may be one or more FLW pros fishing this year.

    Jeff Coble of North Carolina won the inaugural EOBS Championship in January and finished 13th at the Classic.

    blue-fleck
    Dresbach, MN
    Posts: 7872
    March 30, 2006 at 12:40 am #434284

    Dang, I was hoping to kick some Pro butt this year.

    5bass
    near water
    Posts: 23
    March 30, 2006 at 5:13 am #434360

    I guess i don’t see what the problem is. A bass is a bass just becuase someone is a “pro” does not mean anyone can’t beat him on any single day. I have fished against these “pro’s” and have weighed more fish then them on certain days. TO me you are not fishing against a person but the fish so it should not matter who is signed up. Just my thoughts.

    tennispro
    Sterling, IL
    Posts: 375
    March 30, 2006 at 6:30 pm #434455

    How do they figure who is a pro?? Are you a pro if you fish Team Supreme?? Some of those guys are just as good as some of the pros. Some of them even make a fair amount of money during the summer. Just a thought

    Jeremy

    jeremy-crawford
    Cedar Rapids Area
    Posts: 1530
    March 30, 2006 at 6:49 pm #434461

    It looks like you have to fish a BASS “Pro” sanctioned event. I agree the team supreme guys are good but not pro’s.
    jc

    Jeremiah Shaver
    La Crosse, WI
    Posts: 4941
    March 30, 2006 at 6:51 pm #434281

    Quote:

    … will ban current Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW Tour and FLW Series anglers

    You make a good point, but from this I would guess they are talking tour level pro’s, who fish for a living. Most T.S. anglers don’t fish for a living…(although many could)

    They also left out the Northern and Southern BASS tour from their list.

    BomberA
    Posts: 649
    March 30, 2006 at 7:10 pm #434466

    I’m not sure if it’s entirely fair. I would rather try my luck against Byron Velvick or Joe Thomas (“Pros”) than Champman or JC any day of the week.

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