Art Simms Bass Fishing

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I started bass fishing after watching all of the fishing shows on tv. A few years later I thought I was pretty good, until I entered a few tournaments. I quickly realized that I wasn't as good as I thought and was only donating my money. In 1997 I joined the Viking Bassmasters of the Minnesota Bass Federation to hone my skills with some guys more experienced than me. Since that time I have learned a lot and had some major success. I have been Viking Bassmasters Club Champion three times and won sixteen club tournaments. I was the Fishers of Men Minnesota East division champion in 2006, along with a few money tournament wins and numerous top tens.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Elite tournament

Normally, I like to keep my opinions to myself, but after reading an article on BassFan, I must vent.

Seems some morons in Virginia have organized a tournament to coincide with the Bassmaster Elite tournament on Smith Mountain Lake in April 2009. Stemming from their disapproval of the elimination of co-anglers by BASS, they are billing it as “beat the elites”. Sounds like they will mirror the Elite format with cuts, keep the take off site a secret, and even offer a $1000.00 bonus to any competitor whose four day total weight beats the pros. They claim this is their chance to prove they are as good as the pros.

First, all these guys are trying to do is feed their own egos and interfere with the Elite tournament pros. Sure, some of them will beat the pros, but being locals, some of them should. Also, we all know there will be numerous confrontations over fishing spots, which will lead to bad publicity, adding another black eye to the sport of competitive bass fishing.

Second, if indeed this is over the elimination of co-anglers, get over it! BASS is a business, they listened to the pros and did what they thought was in the best interest of the sport, and I agree with their decision.

The way I see it, nothing good will come from this tournament!

1 comment:

Carl Spande said...

Wow, I didn't hear about these jokers. What a shame. The pros are competeing for their livihood, not just something fun to participate in on the weekends. Sounds like these guys need to grow up a bit and compete as co-anglers in the thousands of other tournaments around...