Pros fishing the Opens

Crankbait · 09-03-11, 06:31 PM

I love this sport of bass fishing. I’m always rooting for the guy in the federation. So few ways for anglers to enter into the Elite Series. I’ve got a question. Do you think the Pro’s should be able to fish the opens? I’m kind of torn with this issue. Personally I don’t think the Pros should be allowed. I mean they’re Pros. A lot of my friends are saying the Pros should be able to earn money any way they can and I agree but what other sport allows the Pros to play against the amateurs. So what do you guys think and why?

Bassboss · 09-03-11, 06:35 PM

Sounds fair to me. Them fishing in the opens like the having a guy from the NFL play for you high school team.

BassinBandit · 09-03-11, 08:58 PM

The Elite Series only roughly fifty spots or so. If these guys don't make cuts they have to make money somehow. Opens are open for almost anyone to fish. They have the Federation and Weekend series (not sure that is still going) for guys like us (for the most part). Many of the guys wouldn't make a living fishing the Elite Series alone.

aikenyounggun · 09-03-11, 10:06 PM

A lot of them need to fish them for the money, so use then as ways to qualify for the elites again cause they don't make the cut in the elites to come back. Andthe guys in the opens can earn money, so are they considered pro? Where is that point from amateur to pro?
And anyway, they have to fish against locals in their own wheelhouse! So that evens it out I think, one guy round here I know won the weekend series and some other big tournaments on Clarkes hill cause that's all he fishes. So yeah, I think the pros should be able to fish them

skeeter1804 · 09-03-11, 11:06 PM

The opens are just that, open to anyone. If it was an amateur tournament then no they shouldn't fish but they are not so I say let them fish.

PAfisher76 · 09-04-11, 12:28 PM

I think it's ok for pro's to fish the opens.It gives the average guy a chance to see how they match up against the pro's.Besides it seems like the Elite series anglers do not win the Opens that often,but I may be wrong.

carolina-rig-01 · 09-04-11, 12:38 PM

I don't have a problem with it, it's like Sprint Cup drivers racing the Nationwide Series. The pros deserve the chance to make money when they can and if they want to double dip by fishing the Opens then more power to them. I see where you are coming from but it's not all that common for the pros to win the opens anyways, sure they win some but there are also a lot of opens won by amateurs.

champman · 09-04-11, 04:27 PM

I've fished local open tournaments on lake of the ozarks with guys like gido hibdon and mark tucker competing, it's their home lake, and I felt like this type of competition makes me bring my "A" game. When you fish against the best it can only make you better mentally and physically. Plus that fish doesn't know who's holding the rod and reel. So I say" bring it on".

bamabassman · 09-04-11, 09:10 PM

like it has been said already, if it is an "OPEN" tourny, ANYONE should be allowed to fish.

mrmuskie5 · 09-09-11, 09:28 AM

Its hard to compare bass fishing to any other sport, there are just to many variables in comparison. Just because Ike goes and fishes a open doesnt mean hes gonna win the thing. Granted he will more than likely be in the top ten but alot of times it will be the local stick that will put it to everybody. I think having a high caliber of competition makes the cream rise to the top and makes everybody fish that much harder thus making us all better. So to all the pros that wanna fish the opens i say bring it fancy pants lol.

CamG · 09-09-11, 10:04 AM

If I'm fishing an Open, I want to fish against the best. How else are you supposed to know if you're ready for the next level?

DougV · 09-10-11, 12:45 PM

All the Elite Series Anglers have qualified from fishing the Opens at one time. So the more the merrier in my opinion. When I win one I want to win against the best. It only makes you a better angler when you compete against the best. When the ultimate winning is a Classic Berth you are going to have the best fishing...

I'm more disappointed when they allow people to jack-pot and take away the chances for a Classic Spot to be awarded to the winner. You have to fish all events and win to get a classic berth. I think ever angler should be required to fish all events to enter.

09-03-11, 06:31 PM	#1
Crankbait BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 406	Pros fishing the Opens I love this sport of bass fishing. I’m always rooting for the guy in the federation. So few ways for anglers to enter into the Elite Series. I’ve got a question. Do you think the Pro’s should be able to fish the opens? I’m kind of torn with this issue. Personally I don’t think the Pros should be allowed. I mean they’re Pros. A lot of my friends are saying the Pros should be able to earn money any way they can and I agree but what other sport allows the Pros to play against the amateurs. So what do you guys think and why?

09-03-11, 06:35 PM	#2
Bassboss BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Shawano, WI Posts: 7,761	Sounds fair to me. Them fishing in the opens like the having a guy from the NFL play for you high school team. __________________ If you can't fix it with heavy squats or fish oil, you're probably going to die.

09-03-11, 08:58 PM	#3
BassinBandit BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Elliston, VA Posts: 446	The Elite Series only roughly fifty spots or so. If these guys don't make cuts they have to make money somehow. Opens are open for almost anyone to fish. They have the Federation and Weekend series (not sure that is still going) for guys like us (for the most part). Many of the guys wouldn't make a living fishing the Elite Series alone. __________________ H.G.: No. What I did to those men, after I tracked them down? That's the worst pain you can experience.

09-03-11, 10:06 PM	#4
aikenyounggun BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: aiken, SC Posts: 2,051	A lot of them need to fish them for the money, so use then as ways to qualify for the elites again cause they don't make the cut in the elites to come back. Andthe guys in the opens can earn money, so are they considered pro? Where is that point from amateur to pro? And anyway, they have to fish against locals in their own wheelhouse! So that evens it out I think, one guy round here I know won the weekend series and some other big tournaments on Clarkes hill cause that's all he fishes. So yeah, I think the pros should be able to fish them __________________ <>< Rather be Fishing ><>

09-04-11, 09:10 PM	#9
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	like it has been said already, if it is an "OPEN" tourny, ANYONE should be allowed to fish. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

09-03-11, 11:06 PM	#5
skeeter1804 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Edgerton KS Posts: 321	The opens are just that, open to anyone. If it was an amateur tournament then no they shouldn't fish but they are not so I say let them fish.

09-04-11, 12:28 PM	#6
PAfisher76 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Berks county,PA Posts: 54	I think it's ok for pro's to fish the opens.It gives the average guy a chance to see how they match up against the pro's.Besides it seems like the Elite series anglers do not win the Opens that often,but I may be wrong.

09-04-11, 12:38 PM	#7
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	I don't have a problem with it, it's like Sprint Cup drivers racing the Nationwide Series. The pros deserve the chance to make money when they can and if they want to double dip by fishing the Opens then more power to them. I see where you are coming from but it's not all that common for the pros to win the opens anyways, sure they win some but there are also a lot of opens won by amateurs.

09-04-11, 04:27 PM	#8
champman BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: pacific, mo. Posts: 108	I've fished local open tournaments on lake of the ozarks with guys like gido hibdon and mark tucker competing, it's their home lake, and I felt like this type of competition makes me bring my "A" game. When you fish against the best it can only make you better mentally and physically. Plus that fish doesn't know who's holding the rod and reel. So I say" bring it on".

09-09-11, 09:28 AM	#10
mrmuskie5 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Rock Island, IL Posts: 132	Its hard to compare bass fishing to any other sport, there are just to many variables in comparison. Just because Ike goes and fishes a open doesnt mean hes gonna win the thing. Granted he will more than likely be in the top ten but alot of times it will be the local stick that will put it to everybody. I think having a high caliber of competition makes the cream rise to the top and makes everybody fish that much harder thus making us all better. So to all the pros that wanna fish the opens i say bring it fancy pants lol.

09-09-11, 10:04 AM	#11
CamG BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Superior, NE Posts: 974	If I'm fishing an Open, I want to fish against the best. How else are you supposed to know if you're ready for the next level?

09-10-11, 12:45 PM	#12
DougV BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Truman Lake, MO Posts: 170	All the Elite Series Anglers have qualified from fishing the Opens at one time. So the more the merrier in my opinion. When I win one I want to win against the best. It only makes you a better angler when you compete against the best. When the ultimate winning is a Classic Berth you are going to have the best fishing... I'm more disappointed when they allow people to jack-pot and take away the chances for a Classic Spot to be awarded to the winner. You have to fish all events and win to get a classic berth. I think ever angler should be required to fish all events to enter.

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