The west coast just needs its own trail that’s like the NPFL with competitive payouts and live streamed events that don’t conflict with other series. They’d potentially have Ish, Skeet, Ehler, Cody Myers, etc to bring eyeball and notoriety. 

14 hours ago, Smirak said:

@TnRiver46 I see the classic is in your neck of the woods. Maybe a BR meetup this year?

Let’s do it 

21 hours ago, gim said:

 

I get that.  It's a big commitment and it's expensive to participate in these events unless you have sponsors forking over the dough.  I think all of us would like to see more waters covered around the country and expand some horizons.

 

The part I fail to comprehend about the northern smallmouth events is the time of year they are held.  EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.

 

Everyone knows what the brown bass are doing in midsummer.  They are on deeper offshore structure.  This is exactly why I refuse to target them that time of year.  If they had these events in the spring, a wide variety of tactics would come into play.  Instead, it's just the same old same old.  Full screen staring on display with a finesse tactic in deep water.

 

If they went north any other time of year, there would be your dreaded weather delay……..

20 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

I know they don't like to drag the season on forever, but I would love to see how these guys do on a northern fishery in late September-October time frame. 

You know how they would do, catch the crap out of them 

Looking over this again, that guntersville tournament is going to be amazing 

 

Also, the tombigbee is a manmade canal. Wonder how often they go to something like that ? 

On 7/22/2025 at 2:44 PM, Glenn said:

Columbia river scheduled in 2018.  Then they cancelled when the pros complained, and B.A.S.S. ended all West Coast stops.  

To far to go, cry my a river.  They haven't had an elite event in weeks.  They need a big break in them middle of somer why?  The fishing is at it's peak that time of year in the North West, and it doesn't take three weeks to drive back and forth.  I know living the life of a pro bass fisherman isn't easy, and that most people wouldn't be able to handle it, even if they had the talent.  I know it can be stressful on not only the angler but the family.  To bad.  That is what they signed up for.  I realize it is tough, but traveling to the west once every few years, should not put to big of a strain on their life, or finances.  If the tournament organizers are not able to get enough sponsors, and fans, than obviously they can't hold an event, but to far to drive for the anglers is a very lame excuse.  I drove from Alaska to Florida and back for a job one winter, and flew a cub back and forth the next winter to work.  I also drove from Alaska to Mexico and back to guide fisherman, so don't give me a sad song about travelling to far to earn a living fishing.  

At least they aren't going back to the Sabine for a third straight year.  😂

Really need some up north River fishing. Mississippi River is a amazing place in some areas 

On 7/22/2025 at 9:44 PM, GReb said:

The west coast just needs its own trail that’s like the NPFL with competitive payouts and live streamed events that don’t conflict with other series. They’d potentially have Ish, Skeet, Ehler, Cody Myers, etc to bring eyeball and notoriety. 

Totally agree. A West Series would get a big following and could result is a West -v- East series as well. A kayak series out west would be huge as kayak bass fishing has become very, very popular and successful as evidenced from guys like Greg Blanchard

 

Personally, I think the schedule suks!

The West does indeed have it's own trail.  The BAM (Bass Angler Magazine) trail. It's a purely West coast, pro-am style circuit with big payouts. It's in its 2nd year and gaining traction. 

 

 

The US Open at lake Mead draws about 300 boats with Pro-Am format. The Elite Pros fish this event every year.

Tom

Lake Winnebago , and the chain of lakes it’s connected to is huge, would be a great place. No complaints about schedule. There are so many options.

Winnebago used to be called “the walleye factory “ 

It’s become more of a bass factory 

BASS missed an opportunity to have an East and West division and have a showdown, top 10 or 20 boats from each side after the main season, best of 3 lakes takes the trophy to their coast for the year. Or do something similar to what Supercross does with their E/W groups in the 250s. 

 

 

This list showed me a new potential spot for fishing though. Never would have thought to try the Albemarle Sound's rivers right off the sound. Thought there would be too much brackish water to hold bass. Seems like they grow them pretty decent and I've always wanted to fish cypress trees which its apparently loaded with. 

I love this schedule.  But of course you can never make everyone happy.

 

I don't think Albemarle will fish the same as it did this year. I saw Milliken was crying about it because he doesn't like long runs there and he was also complaining about a week off between Champlain and the St. Lawrence.

 

BASS will likely have a change in policy for FFS. 

 

No Florida on the schedule; well they had two events there this year and no events in Alabama. Florida's fisheries seem to be a hot mess right now so I don't think that's a bad call. But I bet they will be back in 2027.

9 hours ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

 he was also complaining about a week off between Champlain and the St. Lawrence.

 

I agree with him. They could cut that down 3 days and save guys a lot of money assuming you are spending $200+ a night for rent plus food. Not everyone travels in a RV. 

10 hours ago, GReb said:

I agree with him. They could cut that down 3 days and save guys a lot of money assuming you are spending $200+ a night for rent plus food. Not everyone travels in a RV. 

And last year people complained that tournaments went back to back because of the possibility of bad weather.

 

Like I said. Someone will always complain and you can never make everyone happy