Hey everyone,

I was just wondering how all this BASS Tournament stuff works? How does the Elite Series work? How do you become a pro on the Elite Series? Also how do you qualify for the Bassmasters Classic? And what is the Federation stuff? Thanks

I will start with the federation:

1. The top 12 anglers out of each state make up each states team.  This is done in deferent ways depending on the states format of fielding a state team.  Some states may have 1 single tournament or they way run a series of tounaments to field there team.

2.  Each states 12 anglers will go on and fish there divisional tournament.  Out of the 12 anglers 6 will compete as boater and 6 will compete as non-boaters (boaters and non-boater at divisionals all compete aginst each other and each are intitled to 1/2 of the day on the trolling moter and there choice of fishing locations).  There are 6 divisions: eastern, southern, western, central, mid-atlantic, and northern.  The top finisher out of each state move on to the BASS federation national tournament championship.

3.  The top angler from each state fish the national championship.  The top finisher out of each of the 6 divisions earn a berth to the BASS Masters Classic.

4.  The top angler out of each of the 6 divisions fish the BASS Masters Classic.

The federation is one of the hardest way to make it to the classic.  It's over a year long process to make it to the classic though the federation.  There are thousands of anglers competing for the 6 spots.

I hope it helped a little bit it's just a quick run down on how the federation works.