Are the Bassmaster Opens more attractive than the Major league Fishing Invitationals for professional bass fishing anglers? Should professional bass fisherman fish the Opens or the Invitationals to move their careers forward in the industry? Why are more anglers selecting the Opens over the Invitationals? Let’s talk about it.
#fishing #bassmasteropens #invitationals
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They probably have more confidence in BASS than MLF
I have kind of looked at the reason for the decision to move over to the opens in several ways. The first being, what is going to change next with MLF? The way they changed the rules for the rookies this past year was kind of late in the game. There is just to many late changes and it just looks like nobody has a firm grasp of what is going on. Next the possible cost going with the opens could be less. If you fish the invitationals you have 6 tournaments to qualify. You could get to the end and still not be qualified but you spent hat time and money. If you go with he opens you may only have 4 tournaments if you don't qualify (of course it could turn out to be 7 but if your year goes bad you only put out fees and expenses for four tournaments). These guys need time to work on their brand. If you only end up fishing 4 tournaments with the opens you have more time to YouTube, sponsor commitments, guide and whatever else. And I don't care, in my mind the Classic is still the crown achievement, and you can't get there through the invitationals. But I truly think the two big factors is the wishy washyness of MLF taken advantage of by the new opens format.
You don't really need to be at the very top. As long as you stick around enough to be called a pro and have that platform, you'll be fine. James Watson explained that very eloquently.
Hello Steve. Things sure are changing. All this short-term moving of pros is going to be interesting to watch.
Now, Bassmaster will always be the OG, but we need to look long-term. Remember, MLF has not been around very long as far as the BPT is concerned. I believe they are moving in the right direction.
The NPFL is playing the "don't get in Bassmasters" way game scheduling around them, but that is smart if you think about it. What better way to slowly pull pro in to there league than have tournaments in between Bassmaster tournaments. It's kind of smart if you think about it.
As far as the opens are concerned, their part of that OG structure and their is a stigma to fishing it. Also, guys who were cut from the BPT are not likely to fish the invitations. But like Bassmaster, MLF has a very good farm system. Like most individual sports I believe bass fishing will be stewing younger.
Tight lines.
Regards, Steven.
A couple reasons the opens might be more attractive – even if you qualify for the BPT as a rookie it might be hard to stay there, as the rookies this year found out. Especially with the field being cut to 50 in ‘26. Then there is the holy grail of bass fishing – the classic. They can qualify with a win in the opens or make it to the elites and qualify a year later. Easier said than done. They’re certainly not fishing the opens to make money. Except as you stated, to promote their brand.
You put a group together there will always be drama. So it comes down to whose drama you can accept.
It feels like the Elites get more exposure. I think some of it is fan engagement at the weigh-ins. It keeps fans closer to the sport when they can meet their favorite guy, especially for the guy who fishes for fun. Also, the Bassmater Classic is still the most coveted title in bass fishing, IMO.
The BPT is cutting to 50 and they make it REALLY difficult to stay there as a rookie even after qualifying the previous year. (ask Matt Steffan).
I still say sponsorship will drive this. Yes there is disgruntled anglers but they are always disgruntled. They were disgruntled with Elites when they left to go to the BPT and now they disgruntled with the BPT. It's hard to make everyone happy and everyone is seeing this in all leagues. If the Elites don't change that pay structure after next year they could face some big problems. It's nice not to have to pay that entry fee but at the end of the year when you make less money than you did paying that entry fee it's going to be a big reality check for these anglers. I truly hope that BASS has bigger plans but from I'm seeing there is slim chance of that. If MLF can just put things on cruise for a couple of years I think they will be sitting in a better position than BASS but there again they need to stop changing everything around and let things settle down. Once they get the new format running and drop down to their 50 anglers I think that tour will be the one that will bring the most sponsorship money to anglers and will be the most desirable to fish. Fishing against 50 is better than fishing against 104. It's also a better draw for sponsors because there is less competition for views. In other words you have a better chance of having TV-streaming time when there is less anglers. I also think their team events this year was a big hit and has moved them in a positive direction. So with all that said if I were trying to get into a league I would be fishing the invitationals, and besides the chance to get in to the BPT they also pay way better than the opens and there is a championship where you have a chance to win even more money.
It's getting wild. Enuff said.😂
I think the main driver is the dream to make the Classic. I think many of these Pros who have moved to Opens under-estimate the competition and over-estimate their ability to win.
Matt Stefan, a long-time MLF pro is switching to the opens. He likes the schedule. He posted a video about his decision.
The End goal of Bpt is 50 guys that they can showcase Event after Event..I think at that point it's extremely hard to get there and Even harder to stay there..They will definitely be the Best paid anglers..
I agree BASS is more dramatic. I think MLF is better. More ways to earn with 7 tournaments plus the other tournaments you can qualify for that have no entry fees. I am concerned going to 50 anglers. I would have kept it at 66 for a few years to see how it goes. I appreciate what you do.
I would rather be an Elite series guy and fish the classic. But in all honesty, after 23 years in the Army, you realize every Army has the same problems. I am pretty sure it is the same for tournament fishing trails.
I'm certainly no expert. We all see that MLF and BASS are in transition and no one knows how it will all turn out. But, I would think that MLF would be the better choice. When BPT cuts to 50, with 5 guys moving up from Invitationals and 5 being moved out, it would be much easier to stay in BPT. So, bet on yourself and try to get into the BPT through the Invitationals.
MLF is slowly taking over. They just need one top sponsor.
I still think BASS is the better league. For coverage, sponsors, and so on. Not really sure one has better talent than the other, both are extremely good. I do like what MLF did with FFS, but I dont think it will make much if any difference. I mean if NPFL isn't drawing more attention then is it really an issue at all?
BASS is still the top dog, they have the classic with its rich history, end of discussion
The way things are going at BASS, I honestly don't know why anyone would want to fish them. MLF already gave us a clear picture of what organizations can do in a negative way. Why can't there be any positive in either leagues. Are they really that money hungry for there own personal profits
Do you realize they going to be paying over 6k for entry fee only 25 getting paid in 50angler field after next season. And to add all that crap mlf bought out a sinking flw while MLF hasn't shown any profit since they started the BPT series. Company going in the hole each season thats y no one is hanging around
I think both MLF and the Bassmasters “feeder” leagues are very difficult. However, I think the MLF invitationals just seems to be slightly more stacked with talent and angler ability compared to the elite opens series. I have always thought, and you simply confirmed with actually speaking to anglers, qualifying for the elites is so much simpler compared to the invitationals. As I’ve said earlier, the competition and the anglers abilities within the MLF surpass any of the anglers in the elites in my opinion.
As for the anglers complaining about “changes”, most likely those are the anglers that struggled anyway. I could be wrong, however, it seems like the guys that are always complaining, are the guys that are never winning.
And though the anglers are angry at the the changes within MLF, certainly don’t understand that it’s the changes that make the product better. Also, the anglers that are going to attempt the open, must not have been paying attention in 2024 with all of the cheating, controversy, and scandals that Bassmaster elites had all season at every tournament. Either oblivious, or just have no idea what they are about to get themselves into.
Most of those anglers will find themselves in opens “purgatory “, and then will be stuck with an even bigger decision to make.
As for me.. I would want to fish against the best anglers in the world. That’s MLF all the way.