Kevin Van Dam Forums

Whats the diffrence between the 2 big names? Ive looked at both sites and checked out the standings and the BASS tour is full of names I reconize and the FLW isnt. Again Ive been out of the circle for awhile so Im a bit behind here. Is the FLW tour like the minor leagues or the Busch I mean Nationwide series? Or does one just seem to draw more of the bigger names than the other?

FLW is supposed to be on par with BASS. BASS elite series anglers have more recognition due to marketing and carrying mostly endemic sponsors (strike king, berkley, Quantum....) A lot of the current Elite series pros still fish FLW tournaments when their schedule allows.

i think flw might give out bigger checks but im not sure

the checks arent bigger, except for championship, its 1 million instead of 500,000. The FLW uses 200 boats where BASS uses 109 i believe, in bass the top 50 makes checks and has top 12 cut for final day, FLW pays down to 75th and Top 10 cut is after for last 2 days. Co-angelers in BASS is top 50 for win, its Top 10 for last day on FLW, BASS keeps a running total of weight, FLW uses 2 days to make a cut then starts all left at 0 and equal to go for win.

FLW had 6 tournaments and BASS has 11, FLW co-anglers fish a series and have a ranking, BASS has 11 seperate events for them with no point standings as a co-angler. (Bummer - I wish they would rank non-boaters and help them move up)

A Lot of the Big names also fished FLW (KVD = Career earnings: $ 370,950, Number of events fished: 21 since 1999, 2001 AOY, 2002 Runner up, and also in 2003. There are still some respected names in FLW, Larry Nixon, Hibdons, Manns. Mark davis just came back to BASS annd Bobby Lane just came over, but im sure you will still see him fish some on off weekends. Jay Yelas is FLW.

The biggest think i see now is that FLW still uses ranger boats on final day so it blows boat deals outta water with people, you also cant use outside sponsors that arent sponsors of FLW on final days......at least what rule trhey quoted me in an e-mail. BASS has allowed boaters to use thier own boat and proudly display thier sponsors they way they should.

There are pros and cons, but both would be fun and a great experience and if life would allow it, i would fish either given a chance or both if no conflicts. I think both will be around a long time.

I will say.....i think FLW has a better system of moving up, a better weekend series and stren series there are more events than opens. BUT, i think BASS picks better lakes at optimum times when the show is good.

Both tours are good in their own ways, but when a major cable network owns and operates one of the circuits they have the ability to promote their product more. FLW has to many divisions in my opinion. BASS seems to run a tight ship and has more to offer.  I like BASS because it seems more toward fishing and not seling products at wal-mart

with travel costs too many divions isnt bad as far as lower level. If i wanted to fish weekend series of BASS i have to go to Ky, in BFL i have 5 tournaments i can get to in less that 3.5 hours

yeah but does it offer enough winnings to justify spending all that money just to fish a bfl?

if you place its always going to pay expenses and entry, top place will always put you above by a few thousand at least. Illinois dont get a full 200 field so its not max payout, but, as i said......BASS has nothing in Illinois. With a full field BFL pays 6,000 for 1st and down to 40th place with 1000 for big bass on boaters side, BASS weekend series pays exactly same thing, with less tournaments to reach. There are 4 divisions in BFL i can reach from here, weekend series has 2. 1 Membership for FLW, but since BASS contracts weekend series out to ABA, you have to have BASS membership and ABA membership to complete.

There are pros and cons, but im glad they are both (FLW and BASS) still operating.

do you fish KY Lake bfl’s any? I have been thinking of fishing them next year as a co-angler

im about 4 hours away in Illinois, Illinois has 2 at Golconda normally, so its fairly close, i have thought about fishing that division, but have never been on the lake before. I would also fish as a co-angler.The lakes BFL is on here are not my favorite, but with lakes of no size here there isnt much choice. the LBL would be a series i would love to fish.