I’ve gotten some emails asking me my opinion of the Top 3 slots in the BassFan World Rankings – namely whether KVD should be ranked No. 1 in the world.
Not an easy question to answer because:
> I (and a couple math whizzes) created and revised the BassFan World Rankings – which is why I got those emails….
> The rankings are very complex in that they have to account for several different factors – for ex, two tours with different formats and largely different fields – unlike other sports.
> I can’t look at the black box that creates the rankings anymore.
But I can do some simple math, which is below. First bear in mind that:
> Unless something has changed since I’ve been gone from BassFan, and I hear it hasn’t, the methodology behind the BassFan World Rankings and the rankings themselves are solid.
> There’s no one “right” way to rank anything.
The BassFan World Rankings use a 2-year rolling average. We did that so the rankings would change after every event, but not too much (as in a 1-year Angler of the Year race) or too little: Other sports use more than 2 years, and there’s hardly any movement after each event. So we wanted to credit consistency but make the rankings also affected by recent finishes.
Here’s what a quick look at the last 2 years of finishes shows:
| Angler Name | Avg Finish | Wins | Top 10s (2-10) | Top 20s (11-20) |
| KVD | 17.3 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| Skeet | 18.3 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
| Thrift | 20.9 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Evers | 34.6 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
_____
What can we take from this:
> KVD has 5 wins in 2 years. Wow.
> KVD and Skeet have the same number of 1st-10th finishes (12), but KVD has 3 more wins. They also are very close on average finishes, though if you take out KVD’s 21st-place finish at a PAA event, the gap widens a bit.
> Skeet has one more top 20 than KVD.
> Thrift has the same number of wins as Skeet, but fewer Top 10s and 20s.
> Evers definitely looks like he should be 4th in this group.
So bearing in mind that this quick-and-dirty look does not incorporate the all-important strength-of-field factor – though KVD and Skeet would have pretty much the same strength of field – it looks to me like KVD has been the most dominant angler of the last 2 years.
I wonder if the FLW Tour events have a stronger field than Elite Series events these days? I haven’t taken the time to figure it out statistically – opinions?
15 Comments
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Dwain
April 5, 2011 at 5:47 am
I think this might set a record for most comments on a thread haha.
I’ll start the stirring…. any system that doesn’t rank KVD #1 right now is bunk
Jesse Hall
April 5, 2011 at 7:34 am
I agree! KVD, IMO, is the best bass fisherman of all time…hands down. And an extremely nice guy to boot!
Brian
April 5, 2011 at 7:54 am
We’ve touched on it before quite a while back on this site, but I created my own ranking system that I’ve used the past couple years to track the pros as well as the state angler rankings around here. To my surprise, and credit to the BassFan system, when they first ranked Thrift #1, I ran the top guys through mine and came out with the same result.
Since that time though, there have been 3 more events, and I currently have them ranked in order (1-7); Vandam, Thrift, Morgan, Evers, Ehrler, Lefebre, Reese.
I’ll simply say I’m comfortable with the order they’ve fallen out in my system vs. the movement (or lack thereof) I’ve seen with the other system. As you mentioned above, many ways you could rank the guys based on numerous criteria and importance, depending on the individual(s) who created it.
Chad Keogh
April 5, 2011 at 8:07 am
I like the new system in the table in the article. Simple, tracks what really matters… wins and top 10s. Let’s go with that.
Rich
April 8, 2011 at 1:27 pm
I think you can’t just look at Top finishes & wins straight up, because usually FLW angler have less events fished & two tour anglers have even more, so is it better to win 2 of 8 events or 3 of 15 in a year?
I think that KVD is the best angler, but I also think Thrift is a little underrated & not outraged that statistically he has risen to #1 for this time period.
You have to remember KVD had a pretty unimpressive start to 2010 after the Classic, so all those finishes weigh him down
Max
April 5, 2011 at 9:10 am
KVD has around 5.5 million in earnings vs $663k. Classic(s) won,AOY(s) won on both tours,etc. I’m certain Mr Thrift is an exceptional angler and could very well become one of the greatest anglers ever, just not today.
admin (mostly Jay)
April 5, 2011 at 9:20 am
Guys, you have to bear in mind that the BFWRs rank RECENT performance, and that’s what this post is about. the BFWRs are not a best of all time list.
The Bass chronicles
April 5, 2011 at 12:00 pm
I actually just listened to a podcast by the guys at Tournament Fishing Radio on this very topic. KVD came out on top.
Its my understanding that Thrift, who I think is awesome, gets more points because of the “strength of field” formula. Not sure of the actual analytics behind that but it’ is assumed some of it has to do with the bigger fields in the FLW. In my opinion that is flawed logic. Bigger field doesn’t mean better field. Kind of like as a kid my parents would say that the best gifts arent always in the biggest packages. Case in point, the Classic, 50 angler field gets less “value” consideration than say an FLW open that has a much larger field. I’m guessing there is way more to the actual analytics behind “strength of field”, at least I hope there is.
I’ll close with this, the creel limits article posted the other day would tell me that the smaller Elites field is still the stronger overall field.
KVD is the most dominate angler in the last two years hands down.
admin (mostly Jay)
April 5, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Yes, much more to BassFan’s SoF calc than that.
Rich Arnold
April 5, 2011 at 1:38 pm
I like the system, Jay! This is exactly what I was thinking too. So, to answer your question about the FLW Tour being stronger or not, I say not (no disrespect to those anglers some of whom are friends). The reason I say that is first: because of the qualification criteria required by the BASS Elite Series. This truly sets the fields apart. I could wait a lot of cyber space here, but just look at the criteria it takes to make the Elites (some anglers have tried for years and missed). The FLW qualifying system is no where near as tough. Second: The larger FLW Tour Field does not necessarily mean tougher competition. A 50 to 60 person larger angler field does not justify increased value because of the quality of angler. Its the level of competitor and not the size. Lastly: Consider the takent migration of names like Walker, Montgomery, Defoe, Combs, etc. from FLW Tour to the BASS Elites. Agreed that there is an attraction for the Bassmaster Classic qualification with a win. However, there are other behind the scene reasons as well. Some will say, “What about Yelas, King, Clausen, Nixon, etc.” a few years back? Time tells the truth. Larry left because of ESPN’s preferential camera coverage of a chosen few. Others did not care for ESPN’s strategic vision. Now when ESPN is not in charge look at the reverse flow and talent. So in today’s rankings, the talent is migrating the other way. five years ago I could see the FLW Tour being as strong. I have fished as a co-angler on both tours and can say that the deeper talent is with the BASS Elites right now in my humble opinion. That does not mean guys like Thrift, Morgan, and Dudley are not awesome anglers, but it does mean that the competition is tougher and deeper in the Elites. No bonus points for FLW tour anglers in the world rankings.
Eric Hubbard
April 7, 2011 at 10:47 am
KVD, Classic champ, (4times, 2 times in row) Thrift great angler maybe #1 on FLW side, but not #1 angler on planet, not even close. Any system that ranks KVD out of top spot should be scrapped. And bass fan should ask what was we thinking!!!
The Tennessee Stud
April 11, 2011 at 3:50 pm
The flaw is in the assumption that the competition is all level. Having fished FLW tournaments, I can assure you that is not the case at the highest levels. BASS has a far superior talent base in the Elite Series vs. FLW. Don’t believe me? Where did Chris Lane, Bobby Lane, Andy Montgomery, Matt Herren, etc. and all the former FLW stalwarts all go? Sure, a few BASS guys went over to FLW, but any who matter?
admin (mostly Jay)
April 12, 2011 at 8:04 am
Your assumption is flawed! Because you don’t know how strength of field is calculated….
Robert Allen
April 11, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Sorry to disagree Jay, but 200 guys dragging shakyhead worms doesn’t constitute a stronger field vs. the Elite Series.
admin (mostly Jay)
April 12, 2011 at 8:01 am
I don’t know how you can read anything above as me saying anything about the FLW field being stronger than BASS — or even vice versa.