Just about everyone (here and elsewhere) is looking at this with the wrong end goal in mind (through the 'wrong lens' to borrow the phrase above). As such, it (invites) doesn't make a lot of sense or seems unfair. Pick a different outcome to this story and the selection process will become much clearer.

6 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Just about everyone (here and elsewhere) is looking at this with the wrong end goal in mind (through the 'wrong lens' to borrow the phrase above). As such, it (invites) doesn't make a lot of sense or seems unfair. Pick a different ending to this story and the selection process will become much clearer.

Let me take a stab at it.....The tours revenue is TV/Livestream /Internet driven, the "Pro's" are...............wait for it..............ENTERTAINERS........and that's how they were chosen and that's how they will generate revenue.  

15 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Let me take a stab at it.....The tours revenue is TV/Livestream /Internet driven, the "Pro's" are...............wait for it..............ENTERTAINERS........and that's how they were chosen and that's how they will generate revenue.  

Nope...

https://twitter.com/FLWFishing/status/1042826282927632385?s=19

 

Here's what FLW has posted. 

So, if I read FLW's open letter correctly, their response is....no response. No changes other than those previously announced.

13 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

So, if I read FLW's open letter correctly, their response is....no response. No changes other than those previously announced.

Correct.

 

FYI, here's a great interview/podcast with James Watson being about as honest as you'll hear anyone in regards to where the sport is at with everything going on:

 

James Watson podcast

2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Correct.

 

FYI, here's a great interview/podcast with James Watson being about as honest as you'll hear anyone in regards to where the sport is at with everything going on:

 

James Watson podcast

Thank you very much for that link ~ JW is all about this.

Good for him.

A-Jay

So, my guess was pretty close.  Watson said that it's not enough to be able to go out and catch fish.  You have to be a showman and a salesman.  Having been a sponsored fisherman for quite a few years, I've always known that my value was NEVER in the fish I caught, it's in the product I sell.  Whether that product in this case is a sponsors product or BPL/MLF for viewership, that's a skill that some don't have....or aren't as good at.   

Another really good podcast just a couple days ago on the whole matter with Ken Duke.

 

Ken Duke podcast

 

...and I'm still going with the selection process having very little to do with what Watson mentioned, and that there's  another motive underlying all this.

https://lakerecord.net/2018/09/19/the-structure-of-the-bass-pro-tour-announced/

 

They revealed the structure for the Bass Pro Tour events 

I'm really curious to see who is going to be fishing where next year. A few guys have made it known but the majority haven't. 

1 hour ago, Jrob78 said:

I'm really curious to see who is going to be fishing where next year. A few guys have made it known but the majority haven't. 

Boyd Duckett was on Bass Talk Live today. I didn't listen to it but read on another forum that he said the list of 80 will be released with in the week. 

They have until this weekend to commit. Over half had, but nothing official until Monday. Several pros have started announcing their intentions today.

Edwin Evers

Timmy Horton

Zach Berge

Boyd Duckett (of course)

Gary Klein (of course)

Sounds like Alton Jones will tonight

 

Another interesting thing I read from a post regarding the Duckett interview today, Duckett said 'they' approached BASS and FLW about a merger but were turned down, which is why they formed the PBT.

Skeet posted video - he's going, and D. Lefebre posted on FB...looks like he's in

30 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Edwin Evers

Timmy Horton

Zach Berge

Boyd Duckett (of course)

Gary Klein (of course)

Sounds like Alton Jones will tonight

 

Another interesting thing I read from a post regarding the Duckett interview today, Duckett said 'they' approached BASS and FLW about a merger but were turned down, which is why they formed the PBT.

...Oh, and now you're starting to scratch around what I have reason to believe is the true 'madness' behind the selection of anglers.

So, they're actually trying to stick it to BASS?

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

So, they're actually trying to stick it to BASS?

? forcing the issue, you might say...

Marty Robinson and Mike McClelland are in as well. Alton Jones is announcing his choice this evening. I'm sure KVD and Ike are in too.

Be funny if Justin Lucas jumps, after just winning AOY. 

 

 

James Watson said he's going to the BPT. 

If BPT is setting up fantasy fishing, this should be their first event!  Who comes and who stays.

4 hours ago, punch said:

https://lakerecord.net/2018/09/19/the-structure-of-the-bass-pro-tour-announced/

 

They revealed the structure for the Bass Pro Tour events 

6 day tourneys and they are split up?

It will suck to fish days 1 and 3 and then have to sit around until day 4 is over to find out if you will fish day 5.

JT Kenney

Greg Hackney

Jason Lambert

Chris Lane

Alton Jones Jr

Jeff Kriet

Andy Montgomery 

Randall Tharp

Alton Jones

Jared Lintner

 

BASS has invited back all 2018 Elite Series competitors for 2019.

ive been out of the loop ... who has committed to staying with BASS besides Matt Herren?

Everyone continues to be concerned there won’t be any talent remaining in BASS Elites after 30 or 40 anglers jump ship....I’m kind of beginning to wonder if this many do leave the Elites, how would BASS extend invitations to anglers to round out a 100 angler field ? It seems like they would have to change how this works because if the numbers are accurate they might need to find 30 to 40 new anglers who are all capable of paying $75,000 entry fees for a season ? Are there even that many upper tier anglers waiting in the lower ranks who can front this kind of cash ? How else could they round out a Top 100 field ? Also this brings another interesting question to mind....If that many talented anglers leave the Elites, and new less talented anglers enter the Elite Field but payouts remain similar to last year , from a financial point of view, wouldn’t an angler want to remain in a less crowded and less talented field of anglers where their chances of cashing checks improve?