They said it couldn’t be done. In fact, the concept has been tried … and has failed. However, after evaluating multiple models, the impossible has come to fruition. B.A.S.S. has announced that the Elite Series, the world’s premier professional fishing league, will no longer require entry fees. Anglers walking across the sport’s biggest stage will no longer pay to play. They will no longer be fishing for their own money … but get paid when they perform. The sport of bass fishing has, indeed, reached its apex, where it has always deserved to be: a true professional sport. Other individual sports like golf, professional bull riding and tennis have thrived in this space for some time. Now, bass fishing can be added to that list.
To understand the enormity of this decision, you must understand the history of fishing tournaments. Traditionally, anglers would pay an entry fee, and a percentage would be given back as prize money. This has been the case since the very first B.A.S.S. tournament held by Ray Scott in 1967. The organization putting on the tournament would keep a small percentage to buy the equipment, hire the people to help run the event, pay for permits, etc. Eventually, some leagues, through sponsorship support, were able to pay back all of the entry fees, and then some. Still, the historical foundation of success in professional bass fishing has been winning other angler’s money.
The flip side of that model, of course, is fishing at the top level became a very expensive endeavor with high entry fees matching the highest level of competition, and the anglers who were not successful lost a lot of money. Some anglers lost houses. Some lost marriages. Some even lost their love of the sport. Because of this risk, there’s no telling how many gifted anglers refused to try. How many Greg Hackneys and Seth Feiders decided to not get a second mortgage to chase their dream? Have we really witnessed the best anglers on the planet clash rods, or have we just witnessed those who could afford to do battle?
This announcement by B.A.S.S., and because it is B.A.S.S., changes the entire landscape of the sport. A no-entry-fee professional league has always been the ultimate destination of competitive fishing. Achieving that reality has required patience, an understanding of the changing landscape of the fishing industry and vision. This is not a test or experiment. For B.A.S.S. to make this move, the model must prove viable. B.A.S.S. spent months working to determine if a no-entry-fee model would be sustainable … could be sustainable for the future of our sport. The effort came on the heels of a meeting with Elite Series anglers who voiced a growing concern that the traditional entry fee/payout model was becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for them to maintain. B.A.S.S. has always tried to support its anglers through exposure opportunities and strived to be the best platform to make a living through competitive angling. So, in keeping with this promise to the anglers, B.A.S.S. went to work on dealing with the challenges of turning the Elite Series into a no-entry-fee league. A challenge that has been insurmountable. And that challenge was met.
So, what does this mean to current Elite Series anglers and those aspiring to become one? Well, first of all, they no longer need to come up with $45,000 in entry fees to compete. That particular weight of failure has evaporated … that money is no longer at risk. Secondly, there is more than $4.1 million in prize money to be won when including the additional $200,000 B.A.S.S. will be contributing in 2025. For those who qualify for the Bassmaster Classic, the winner will still receive $300,000 and the entire field will still be paid. The Top 10 finishers in Elite Series events will earn the same net winnings as last year, while 11th through 18th place will receive improved earnings from what they had when entry fees were required and the Top 40 will receive checks. Elite Series event champions will still receive a $100,000 check. The Top 5 finishers in the Angler of the Year race will receive checks, with the winner still walking away with $100,000 and second place will now being awarded $50,000, an increase from last year. Additionally, the amount of exposure from Bassmaster Magazine, Bass Times Magazine, Bassmaster LIVE on FOX and Bassmaster.com and future third-party media opportunities will continue to promote Elite angler talent, and their sponsors, to the world.
As for fans, who drive the passion of our sport, we should be just as excited as the pros. We will see what the purity of competition looks like for the first time when there is no monetary barrier for entry. There will be a parity between professional anglers that has never existed. The talent will gravitate to the Elites, and the cream will rise in front of our eyes.
For as long as bass fishing tournaments have existed, the top tier of competition has always been weighted down with the concept of anglers having to pay to play. Now, Elite Series anglers are no longer fishing for their own money. Now, the Bassmaster Elite Series is simply talent based, performance rewarded. Remember this day, this decision, this change. Competitive bass fishing will never be the same.
