What are your opinions on this new circuit? I personally like it and think it will attract more fishermen into the tournament scene.

I know it was designed to focus on the smaller rigs, with a smaller entry fee and of course a smaller payout, but I see it as good for the sport.

Wish they would scheldule a series here in the Texas/Louisiana area.

I think they should have used even less then 150hp. I think a 50hp max would be neat, but it would depend

on how big the water is. Most tourneys I fish in the 150's are fine to get around spot to spot. Of course

it's rough when your in the 150... you eat a lot of wakes, and have a few minutes less to fish. I don't

fish huge money tourneys like you do, but in the BFL's there is a healthy mix of all motor hp's.

American Bass Anglers is putting it on. It will be open to any boat up to the max horsepower, aluminum or glass. They hope it will be a stepping stone into the Bassmaster Weekend series for some anglers. They will be Sunday, one day tournaments following the Saturday weekend series. Entry fee is 150.00. Looks like the only series to test the water will be in the Alabama/Tennessee area to begin with.

Remember when 150hp was the max HP for BASS and most other sanctioned tournaments?  Most of the lakes haven't changed since back then.  Still the same size as they are now but for some reason a boat with a 150hp motor was needed then but now it's not big enough.... ?

Huh?   :-?

I saw that in the latest issue of the ABA Magazine I got. I was a co in an event last year in the Weekend Series but I think I may give this series a shot as a boater.

Also Cart, the article talks a lot about the pros move from 150 to 250 HP motors.

I'm old enough to remember when the maximum horsepower for BASS tournaments was 85.  They caught plenty of fish back then and burned a lot less gas.

I would love to see this series really take off.

It sounds like a good idea. However, the tournament trail will have limited it's entries. Anglers that have boats with above 150 h.p can't fish with them and they should probably stick with smaller bodies of water that are less affected by high winds.

Good point CJ, but I fully expect some will borrow a boat to fish the Sunday tournament. I know I would. Not sure how they will address any off limit period or pre tournament practice. If it comes close I, for one, intend to give it a try.

My problem, if I remember right, is that it is a $150 per boat entry fee. It's not a draw trail either. The winning "captain" at the end of the year gets his dues paid for the following year in the Weekend Series.

Seems like it hangs your partner out to dry  :-/

I saw that in the latest issue of the ABA Magazine I got. I was a co in an event last year in the Weekend Series but I think I may give this series a shot as a boater.

Also Cart, the article talks a lot about the pros move from 150 to 250 HP motors.

I didn't realize ABA had a magazine.  Is it good?

I am really excited to see this format.  It is a great concept IMO.

My problem, if I remember right, is that it is a $150 per boat entry fee. It's not a draw trail either. The winning "captain" at the end of the year gets his dues paid for the following year in the Weekend Series.

Seems like it hangs your partner out to dry :-/

Per David Hagood at ABA, both teamates will have their entry fees paid for the 2011 BWS season. 

The trail seems like a good deal to me. 

Alabama is a stretch for a tow for me. I may just do it anyway. Heck, it's a chance to see the grandbaby in Birmingham. Great excuse.

Bocraw,

You get the aba magazine whenever you join the aba. It's decent at best. It mainly has articles describing products from their sponsors. The articles about the guys who actually win are pretty good.

Also, thanks for clearing up the prize also. I may fish the trail this year along with my regular aba trail.

I can remember when there was a 150hp limit on BASS tournaments.  A lot of guys were "amping" up their motors with aftermarket parts (aluminum heads, racing pistons, reeds, airplane fuel, etc), so maybe the cowling said "150", but really they were running 185-200hp.  So it's really hard to enforce a HP limit.  But I'd fully endorse any circuit that could and does.

Personally, I think 60-65 is plenty fast enough on the water.  It gets downright dangerous above that.  Witness the recent accident where a fellow angler lost his leg and another was severely injured when they hit an underwater obstacle at WOT, resulting in the engine breaking off and landing on top of them.  I haven't done any research, but it seems there's been more bass boating deaths and injuries in that last 5-10 years than in the previous 20 or 30.  My guess would be due to speed.

I usually don't run WOT unless I'm in a tournament, when I have to during blast off in order to compete.  Otherwise I back off, conserve fuel, and enjoy the ride.

I totally agree with you Glenn. WOT is usually for the run to weighin for me.