Recognize these summer Classic winners? (BASS photos)
This topic gets kicked around once in a while, but with new owners and likely a new format sometime in the future, moving the Classic back to summer actually could be on the table. Or at least new BASS ownership means this is a time when big changes like this have a shot at actually happening.
As we all know, the Classic used to be an end-of-season championship, the big wind-up to a tiring season. Pros and Federation anglers were all hot – on their games – because they had to be to qualify (or was there a lag time in the Federation quals – can’t remember right now).
Then, as you recall, ESPN decided in its infinite “fishing is the next NASCAR” wisdom to change the Classic to the beginning of the season, like the Daytona 500 kicks off the NASCAR season: Though the 500 isn’t a championship, it is NASCAR’s biggest race.
The good part of that from a TV standpoint of a Feb Classic is that most bass fishermen are stuck indoors in February, and the Classic is aired farther away (calendar time) from other sport championships that presumably compete for eyeball time. But the problems are:
> February Classics have to be way south, which is limiting for several reasons (water bodies, favors certain fishing styles, non-endemic sponsor appeal, etc.).
> Many of the guys fishing the event haven’t been fishing much, at least compared to a summer Classic (which appears to favor the always-on KVD).
> The Classic actually has been the same weekend as the Daytona 500 a couple times, which I assume thins out viewership.
> Fans used to travel (as in family vacation) to a summer Classic because the kids were out of school. Not the case in February.
So now, with ESPN and its many-sport/championship coverage out of the picture and I assume more rational goals for TV ratings, do you think it makes sense to have a summer Classic again? Vote and comment below….
[polldaddy poll=4773319]
16 Comments
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Jody White
March 23, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Totally want to see it on Champlain or Erie or some place new. Louisiana 2 years in a row. DO you have any idea how far that is from VA and VT? There would still be good fish caught with a more northern Classic. Or, have it in California, who wouldn’t want to see the pros haul fish out of Clear Lake in September?
Rich
March 23, 2011 at 2:17 pm
maybe rotate it a bit, then the best anglers can be tested in more geographical locations & conditions
Brandon
March 23, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Needs to be rotated so no one has a competitive edge. I am a KVD fan but he owns the competition with lipless cranks , spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Wasnt even competitive the past two years. An early classic seems to give him an edge…..so why not rotate it every year? I want to see the classic come down to ounces….not pounds.
Jesse Hall
March 23, 2011 at 3:30 pm
I agree with Rich. Have in different places different years, but definitely later in the year. Just seems normal to have it at the end of the trail and to qualify for the same-year classic rather than for the next year’s classic.
Chad Keogh
March 24, 2011 at 1:20 am
The Classic should be at the end of the regular season and in the same calendar year as far as I’m concerned. I’m not necessarily saying it should be in the summer though.
I think the Elite Series should cover more of the year, not just pre-spawn, spawn, post-spawn. The Elite Series should run into the late summer, early fall, and then a fall Classic.
I’d also like to see Jerry move the Classic back to a mystery format. But he’s stated in an interview (Tournament Fishing Radio) that he doesn’t think that’s possible with the Classic anymore, but would like to have a mystery location event at the pro level again.
Chad Keogh
March 24, 2011 at 1:22 am
And the anglers in the photo:
Rich Clunn, Larry Nixon, Mark Davis, Bryan Kerchal.
What I win? 🙂
Chad
admin (mostly Jay)
March 24, 2011 at 9:43 am
Good job…I’ll think of something….
Alex Voog
March 24, 2011 at 1:00 pm
The old fogey award…..
Bass Pundit
March 24, 2011 at 1:35 am
I would most likely pay less attention in the summer. Since I’ve all but given up ice fishing I have nothing else to do in Feb.
3Times
March 24, 2011 at 9:01 am
Don’t forget your periods. B.A.S.S.
admin (mostly Jay)
March 24, 2011 at 9:44 am
Yep, they are implied. A lot quicker to type BASS w/out the periods
old fishing guy
March 24, 2011 at 10:38 am
O by golly yes……….!!!!!!!!! move it to summer…..
Then we could have it in Wisconsin (after they pass the Culling Bill) and nobody in the field would have fished the Tournament waters!!!!!!!!!!
Alex Voog
March 24, 2011 at 1:05 pm
PLEASE move the Classic to a more “family friendly”, shorts and tee-shirt, as well as widely available venue/lake, time.
Mike Deroche
March 25, 2011 at 9:12 pm
I think they should move the classic to the fall cause thats when a championship should be held, at the end of the season. Of course that means B.A.S.S. has to move up all their other tournaments as well, cause they make up part of the classic field.
Jim Bassangler
March 25, 2011 at 10:14 pm
This is a tough one. It was great being at the last summer classic (Pittsburgh 2005) I like the family friendliness plus with kids out of school and the possibility of Northern waters the summer seems like a great time for it. That said, in February after I have cast all the lead I can stand, cleaned all my reels to the point where I am cleaning the old ones I don’t use anymore and have spent all my BPS gift cards… I really need a fishing event and the classic is very timely. I sit at home the whole weekend and watch coverage online. Chances are in the summer, unless it is in or near Pittsburgh, I’m probably out fishing that weekend and reading about it sunday night.
Rich Arnold
March 31, 2011 at 8:13 am
Changing the Classic back to the end of the season would be an improvement, but don’t do it because of KVD. He can win it in any season. There are several things to consider. The biggest advantage is, like Jay stated, having more venues to chose from and the fans are more likely to attend if it is great weather. However, a bigger fan draw on the water could have an impact on the outcome with crowds and increased pressure in public water. As far as a February Classic playing in to a certain angler’s skill set, that can’t be avoided by changing the seasons as certain anglers are better in the heat of Summer fishing off-shore and deep. The weather just moves to the opposite extreme. I believe that any championship should be held at the end of the season as it will bring closure and put a punctuation mark at the end of a long, hard fought season. Then, the Classic champ has time to enjoy his victory instead of trying to get refocused on the next event a few weeks from that moment.