I saw that BASS has moved some monies out of the AOY payout and increased the entry fees.  It made the payout more inline with last years and they are now paying $10,000 down to 50th place just like last year too.

And...Optima batteries is now their main sponsor.

Well that helps. Guess they got a little more hell raising behind the scenes than we will ever know. The guys are still going to have to learn to make it with a rod in thier hand. Good luck to all of them.

Well when their poster-boy is speaking out about it and fishing FLW events they have to do something.... :

good decision on their part.