Bassmaster Elite St. Johns River 2024
EWREX reply :
After watching pretty much the whole MLF event, this Bassmaster Elite series coverage is literally putting me to sleep. I love the 5 bass limit format, especially since that is what I fish, but for entertainment and viewing purposes MLF is going to BURY the Bassmaster Elite series. It sure doesn't help that majority of the huge names all migrated over to MLF either.
ryanerb reply :
I noticed a lot of names I didn't recognize, since the migration.
I do like when they show the map with where everyone is at.
I guess it just depends on if you have enough time to watch both circuits or just one, etc. If it's only one, I'd probably pick MLF just for the names. BASS the guys are going to catch a lot of fish just like MLF, they just gotta cull...
OCdockskipper reply :
For BPT, I won't watch the streaming of the preliminary rounds, unless I am doing something else and just have it on in the background. For me it is like golf or baseball, difficult to sit for such a long time & just watch. For the final round, I will turn it on to specifically watch it, but find myself drifting away to other things and just keeping an ear open as to what is going on.
For BASS, what I like to do is avoid hearing updates and then watch the weigh-in. That keeps the suspense, especially with the anglers I have chosen for Fantasy Fishing.
For MLF & BASS, I do watch & enjoy the edited shows for TV. Condenses a full days fishing for multiple anglers down to a watchable amount.
RichF reply :
Doesn't help when everyone is sight fishing. Nothing more entertaining than watching a pro pitch to the same spawning bass for 2 hours...
Hawkeye21 reply :
It was boring and it seemed both times I tried watching they were just going off air. I'll try again tomorrow.
ryanerb reply :
On 2/8/2019 at 2:02 AM, OCdockskipper said:For MLF & BASS, I do watch & enjoy the edited shows for TV. Condenses a full days fishing for multiple anglers down to a watchable amount.
I'm sure most of us here have kids, a wife, a house, chores, actual fishing, etc so unfortunately some of us may fare better with the condensed version. I'm with ya!
OCdockskipper reply :
A couple of observations following the Day 1 weigh-in:
- Following the stereotype, there were more big bass weighed in on Day 1 of of the Elite tournament than the first two days of the BPT. I understand they were fishing different bodies of water, but I believe the formats have more to do with that. You can't sit on a bed fish, even if it is over 10 lbs, in the BPT format, you will get crushed by multiple smaller fish catches;
- John Crews caught 5 (& only 5) bass today for a total of 24 lbs, 13 oz to sit in 2nd place. That would have placed him in 9th place of group A, 10th place in group B of the BPT. Again, I understand different bodies of water, but it is another illustration of the style of fishing each format dictates;
- The 2016 Elite tournament on the St. Johns had 110 anglers, 14 of which had 20 lb bags the first day (12.7%). This year, out of 75 anglers, 10 had 20 lb bags the first day (13.3%). A slight uptick due to less angler pressure?;
- The cut weight for day 1 in 2016 was 15 lbs, 7 oz while this year it was 13 lbs, 7 oz. While it is only one day of data, I think this is where the experience difference between the two fields will show. The winning weights and top 10 may end up being similar in weights, but the 2016 roster could grind out higher weights better than the current roster when they weren't on the winning fish. For the viewing audience, this doesn't really matter, because most of their focus is on the top 10 (or 12).
volzfan59 reply :
MLF/ BPT going to bury B.A.S.S. Elites? Time will tell, my monies on B.A.S.S.
Rpratt reply :
I actually enjoyed what I saw, which was pretty limited. I can see where it could be boring where you watch a guy flip to the same place time and time again, however that also gave me more insight on the issue. I always hear that you need to do that, but in my personal application on that, well I tend to probably give up to easy. For example I watched Drew Benton go after one Bass over and over and over again, but he explained why. And he said, he keeps picking it up, I should get him on the next cast and he did.
One thing that has been talked about between the two tours is that MLF talks over the anglers too much. BASS did not do that and I like that.
Favorite line of the day though.... Mark Zona. "Ya know, from this angle, Bernie Shultz looks alot like Don Johnson when he was in the movie Tin Cup".
Tony Saunders came back saying something like "yeah he is rocking that hair"
????
scaleface reply :
I enjoy seeing the anglers trying to improve their five fish limits , the strategies involved ... This is the format I like .
bowhunter63 reply :
There all good,But like the best 5 format.BASS will survive
EWREX reply :
On 2/8/2019 at 11:30 AM, volzfan59 said:MLF/ BPT going to bury B.A.S.S. Elites? Time will tell, my monies on B.A.S.S.
i said for entertainment and viewing purposes.
Way north bass guy reply :
Johnston bros are 2 and 3 right now, hammerin those southern largemouth! ????????
Jrob78 reply :
They are flat catching them today!
scaleface reply :
Big Fish Fest .
scaleface reply :
I saw Clunn using an old school Gator Tail worm .
The bite is a little slower this morning but still some big ones being caught . Its a slugfest .
Montanaro reply :
Clunn just took.the lead with a 9 pounder!
scaleface reply :
On 2/11/2019 at 3:20 AM, Montanaro said:Clunn just took.the lead with a 9 pounder!
a pair of 9 lbers .
Montanaro reply :
And Menendez bounces back! Trading blows!!!
Clunns are huge though...think he is sand bagging
Jrob78 reply :
This weigh in is going to be interesting! Clunn and Menendez are within ounces of each other (according to BassTrakk) and if Chris Johnston can catch another good one he will be right there too. The winner will be close to or over 100lbs.
scaleface reply :
Its going to be a heck of a weigh in and if Chris johnston catches a nice one he jumps over both .
Montanaro reply :
And now we sit in the dark
scaleface reply :
Did that weigh-in seem "fishy" to anyone else ? Menendez over estimated his bag by four lbs .
Congratulations to Rick Clunn .
volzfan59 reply :
Congratulations to Rick Clunn!!!
Montanaro reply :
On 2/11/2019 at 6:04 AM, scaleface said:Did that weigh-in seem "fishy" to anyone else ? Menendez over estimated his bag by four lbs .
Congratulations to Rick Clunn .
I never thought Marks bass was 10
Looked 8.5 to me when he caught it.
Jrob78 reply :
On 2/11/2019 at 6:19 AM, Montanaro said:
I never thought Marks bass was 10
Looked 8.5 to me when he caught it.
I thought the exact same thing.
scaleface reply :
On 2/11/2019 at 6:19 AM, Montanaro said:
I never thought Marks bass was 10
Looked 8.5 to me when he caught it.
Probably so , I was just surprised it wasnt pushing thirty .
OCdockskipper reply :
The reports of the death of the Elite series at the hands of BPT have been greatly exaggerated...
It may have been a perfect storm of the right fishery at the right time, but I haven't seen that many 30 lb bags since Falcon Lake back in 2013. The weights were higher than any other Elite series at St. Johns and there were a bunch of fish that went over 8 lbs. Would have the old Elites, the current BPT guys, done any better? They gave up their chance to say they could when they all left.
If I could write a script for the next 13 months, I would have Jordan Lee win the 2019 Classic in Tennessee for a three-peat & an invite to the next Classic. Clunn would go on to have a good enough year to qualify for the 2020 Classic (I think it would be stretching it to give him a shot at the AOY). This being the 50th Classic, returns to the site of the 1st one, Lake Mead. Lee has a great tournament and leads into the final day, but Clunn stuns everyone by having a bigger day 3 and winning his 5th Classic. The expectation of three guys with 4 Classic titles (Clunn, KVD & Lee) is shattered, now Clunn has 5 Classics and those guys with multiple titles no longer have a way to qualify for another. Unless of course, they leave the BPT and re-qualify for the Elite series...
If the 50th Classic is at Mead and Clunn does indeed qualify, don't forget he won a pair of US Open's there. It can be a tough fishery and many of the pros from East of the Rockies have never fished it.
Montanaro reply :
Its premature to say bass death is premature
This thread just now reached 2 pages and it was explosive. Last few years the first couple BASS tournys had 4 or 5 page threads. Id also like to see basslive viewing numbers. Bpt had 2.2 million on their Sunday round.
Swbass15 reply :
Pretty cool to see Clunn whack them again. I remember people on this site complaining about him last year. He might not be the best onscreen personality but still knows how to get it done.
crews also had an awesome final day big sack that he had was impressive as well. With the exception of Latuso kinda mailing it in, looked like his water was blown the final ten had an awesome day. I won’t even look and say what coulda been, the new grew of elites produced this week and it will be interesting to see how they do in GA next week.
OCdockskipper reply :
On 2/11/2019 at 6:57 AM, Swbass15 said:Pretty cool to see Clunn whack them again. I remember people on this site complaining about him last year. He might not be the best onscreen personality but still knows how to get it done...
I was one of those. Clunn is a bit of a curmudgeon, which is his prerogative at the age of 72 and his choice to avoid a weigh in when he hasn't done well is a bit selfish (although some say he does it in order to not take the spotlight away from those who have fished well).
All that said, he still has a skill level that is unequaled by most. He has done a great job of discarding what he grew up doing (catching 10 - 15 two pounders per day) to what is now required (catching 5 three to four pounders per day). Compare that to others from his era (Fritts, Klein, etc) and the accomplishment is noteworthy.
Speaking of Klien, I was an official at TexasFest last year and at the end of the officials meeting, the Elite anglers started showing up for their meeting. Clunn had something to ask Trip Weldon and after he did, he walked past a few of us officials. One man in his mid 50's, who I found out later was a huge fan of Clunn's, was a bit starstruck at seeing him in person. He held out his hand and said "Hello Mr. Klein, hope you do well tomorrow". Without missing a beat, Clunn shook his hand and said "Thank You, but I am Rick Clunn, not Gary Klein". The poor official looked white as a ghost when he realized his verbal slip.
Swbass15 reply :
@OCdockskipper he has seemed to make that switch well. I have heard he does not like being in the spotlight and that seemed a little obvious when Mercer tried to talk to him on stage today.
Speaking of Klein I think he just caught a 13+ lmb in Texas that went to the sharelunkers program seems like they both still got it
OCdockskipper reply :
On 2/11/2019 at 6:46 AM, Montanaro said:Its premature to say bass death is premature...
All the boys take a look at the new girl in town when she first shows up...????
The past two weeks really showed the difference in the two tours. Both were down in Florida, but due to the format differences, one produced great numbers of bass while the other produced more lunkers. In the long run, I believe that difference will make the Elites stay the number one tour because it showcases skills that most of us don't have. I would take a guess that most of the people on this board have never weighed in a 30 lb bag of 5 fish, but nearly all of us have had days where we found a school or two of bass and caught 60 - 80 lbs total for the day. If it is something I can do, I'd rather go do it than watch it.
I can't find who said it, but a member on this board wrote that the whole BPT situation is as if MLB players did a reality show where they played softball (MLF) and then when that was done, decided to play softball for the rest of their careers instead of baseball. I can't think of a more apt description.
Dwight Hottle reply :
Pretty cool to see Rick Clunn pull off the win at age 72. Just goes to show your only as old as you think you are.
WRB reply :
Clunn wins the event with 98+ lbs at age 72 was amazing.
Tom
Log Catcher reply :
Glad to see Rick Clunn winning again.
scaleface reply :
...and catches the biggest bag of the event on the final day.
Jrob78 reply :
So the top 10 ended up being 5 previous Elite Series guys, 3 FLW guys and 2 rookies. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out at the end of the year. The new guys, for the most part, held their own.
This next one will be telling as it's the 2nd of a back to back and many of these guys probably aren't used to fishing hard for what could be 15 days in a row with a day or 2 off in the middle and a 10 hour drive between events. At any rate, I will follow the Elite Series and the BPT equally close and am excited for both. The FLW tour on the other hand....
Gundog reply :
Rick Clunn 
Well deserved win. Wish I could have watched.
Catt reply :
On 2/11/2019 at 9:13 AM, WRB said:Clunn wins the event with 98+ lbs at age 72 was amazing.
Tom
Big fish came on a Gatortail Worm! ????
On 2/11/2019 at 8:27 AM, Swbass15 said:Speaking of Klein I think he just caught a 13+ lmb in Texas that went to the sharelunkers program seems like they both still got it
13.79#
Oregon Native reply :
Met Rick at a Federation Nationals many years ago...was a great supporter. He has some unique ways....we all do though!! So glad for his "W".
Also thought it was interesting that he was using mono …
flatcreek reply :
Rick Clunn winning Big at 72.Brings the phrase "Respect your elders" to mind.Great win!
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/11/2019 at 6:22 AM, OCdockskipper said:The reports of the death of the Elite series at the hands of BPT have been greatly exaggerated...
It may have been a perfect storm of the right fishery at the right time, but I haven't seen that many 30 lb bags since Falcon Lake back in 2013. The weights were higher than any other Elite series at St. Johns and there were a bunch of fish that went over 8 lbs. Would have the old Elites, the current BPT guys, done any better? They gave up their chance to say they could when they all left.
If I could write a script for the next 13 months, I would have Jordan Lee win the 2019 Classic in Tennessee for a three-peat & an invite to the next Classic. Clunn would go on to have a good enough year to qualify for the 2020 Classic (I think it would be stretching it to give him a shot at the AOY). This being the 50th Classic, returns to the site of the 1st one, Lake Mead. Lee has a great tournament and leads into the final day, but Clunn stuns everyone by having a bigger day 3 and winning his 5th Classic. The expectation of three guys with 4 Classic titles (Clunn, KVD & Lee) is shattered, now Clunn has 5 Classics and those guys with multiple titles no longer have a way to qualify for another. Unless of course, they leave the BPT and re-qualify for the Elite series...
If the 50th Classic is at Mead and Clunn does indeed qualify, don't forget he won a pair of US Open's there. It can be a tough fishery and many of the pros from East of the Rockies have never fished it.
I have seen that lake, some competitors might get lost!
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