Competitive Fishing

[HennieS]

I recieved this invite via mail for those that are interested:

To All SA Bass Anglers,

 

Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series(BWS) is now in South Africa. Fully endorsed by B.A.S.S and ABA, this is your quickest route to the Bassmaster Classic. South Africa is fortunate enough to be the only country outside the U.S.A to be allowed to host the BWS. It will be called the SA Central BWS Divisionals.

 

Due to ESA dropping the Platinum Series along with us anglers and sponsors we have had very little time to organise this new exciting event so, (un)fortunately we have to fish 4 one day winter competitions with a two day final in September, (as the USA BWS final is in October 17[suP]th[/suP] & 18[suP]th[/suP]) to make our slot in the “Bassmasters Classic” in February. Remember there is no faster rout to the Classic.

Any Boat may fish this competition.

 

The Divisional dates are as follows,

 

Ø      20 June Vaal River

Ø      18 July Rust De Winter

Ø      23 August Hartebeespoort

Ø      6 September Rust De Winter

 

Ø      SA ABA Final 12 & 13 September (T.B.A)

 

Ø      17 & 18 October USA Final

Ø      February 2010 Bassmasters Classic on Lay Lake

 

 

All anglers must before the first fish-off be members of:

 

1) BASS                      R+- 500  http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/index

2) ABA                       R+- 250  http://www.abaproam.com/

3) SA entry fee including the 4 tournaments and the final R750

 

If you pay the full amount to Bluewater Marine we will pay your memberships and make sure you are up to date. Fully paid membership to the above is imperative for your entry into the series.

ABA rules apply.

 

The total is R1500 per angler for the season.

 

 

[Johanvc]

You going to fish it Hennie? I got it two weeks ago and been thinking long and hard about it

 

[Snap213]

ive always dreamt of being in the bass master classics... or just fish for a living, like the bass masters. maby one day...

 

[Monster]

Dit is awesome!!!

 

[HennieS]

Johan

I am still trying to work out if my calender will allow, my travel will start picking up again soon.

 

[Bassassin]

I have a question.

How can any such competition be representative of South Africa's bass anglers if it doesn't include the Cape and KZN? The Cape has produced some of the best bass anglers in the country, Richard Watson and Anre Devilliers spring to mind, both of whom have competed on the US pro circuit. By restricting the comp to Gauteng and it's immediate surroundings this process is simply not going to be sending one of SA's best bass anglers to the USA.

Granted, it could turn out, even if the Cape and KZN were included, that a Gauteng angler would take the honours, but we'll never know will we. I appreciate that it's been put together in a hurry but it appears on the surface that it's been arranged to favour a small number of people, maybe the organisers mates? Just like affirmative action! I sure hope I'm wrong but it certainly looks that way from where I'm sitting.

There should be at least one event each in the Cape and KZN.

 

[HennieS]

Bassassin

I think you are missing the point with this comp, on the surface this does not look like a USA tournament for the super competitive this looks like a tournament for weekend anglers and nowhere does it state that they will be representing SA. In fact if they want to do this politically correctly no angler fishing Divisionals should be allowed to fish this tournament seeing that we don't have a pro-series in SA, and the goal is weekend anglers.

When I was still involve with SABAA there was talk in the States about having a Chapter Tournament and a Weekend Angler Tournament, it seems they are now ready to introduce outside countries. The fact that it is sponsored by the same companies Tundra/BASS does not mean it is representative of countries.  

 

[Bassassin]

I can't agree, such a comp, irrespective of what the blurb says, is going to result in a South African being given the opportunity to fish competitively in the US. Such an angler would be representing SA whether he or she liked it or not. Making the comp accessible to only a small section of the bass angling community is eliminating the potential for many of us. I would love to give it a shot, if the events were spread across the country I could maybe manage it, to travel to Gauteng for all of them is just not viable.

The same situation existed with ESA, it's not something new. I think that the real reason that these comps exclude the Cape is that you Northern okes are scared that us Capies will kick your a#$

 

[Bassassin]

I know that the Cape weather is not conductive to bass fishing from June to August (although some of us hardy souls laugh in the face of freezing temperatures, snow covered mountains and driving rain when we fish the Clanwilliam Winter Clasic in July).

There could have been a KZN comp at Albert Falls, Inanda or even Goedertrouw in June or July, Clanwilliam or Theewaterskloof in the Cape in September and maybe even Wriggleswade in the Eastern Cape. That would have meant that everybody had to travel a bit and given many more the opportunity to participate.

Damn but I'm good, I think next year they should let me organise it

 

[HennieS]

Bassasin

You are getting way to political, anybody can go and fish in the USA in any tournament as long as you pay your way. There is also about 20 roads to follow to the Classic in the USA as long as you qualify. The only thing that is probably on offer here is a slot in the Weekend tournament. The fact that they are trying to bring tose oppertunities to SA should be commended, please belief me I don't even know these guy's but any oppertunity is better than nothing! Why don't you give them a call and try and arrange that the extend the tournament AT LEAST next year when they have more time.

Remember Bass fishing in this country is not all about organised fishing or SABAA, there is about 100 X more bass fisherman in SA than what is registered with SABAA if not more. The only way you can represent your Country is through SABAA other than that you are just a South African fishing in the USA.