2 hours ago, 1simplemann said:

If the Western Outdoor News can put on an Open on Lake Mead and get 207 boats then BASS can do the same thing.

Its not just an open event...That event is the US Open put on by WON.  It's an event with a long history (almost as long as the Classic I think?) and a good amount of prestige.  I don't live out there, but from what I've read/heard over the years its THE event for western bass fishing.  My point was, if the biggest event out there draws 207...BASS probably sees that more as a negative than a positive since many events without the history or prestige as the US Open can draw many more participants many times throughout the year over on this side of the US.  

 

I'm really not defending BASS or trying to stick it to western guys....Just looking at the situation logically and I can see why BASS doesn't make moves out there, I wish they would put an Opens series out there since it would send more western guys to the Elites.  

It doesn't really matter how long the the WON Open has been going on. My point is this. If WON can have success out here then BASS can to. Simple. Central and northern,southern Opens typically have about 150-160 boats. BASS could have that many out here too with a little promotion.  BASS holds themselves out to be the world's and the nation's  leading authority on bass fishing yet they ignore a 1/3 of the nation that they operate in. Look at the an Elite roster. It's full of western anglers. They didn't get there by fishing a TVA reservoir every weekend. They learned their skills by fishing at home just like the rest of the country. There are lots of us out here and we spend money.  If we had events to go to that were within reach, we would go to them.