The positive attitude is refreshing. So many of the Elite anglers are negative about anything and everything. You are a great representative for your sponsors.
I wish everyone would realize professional fishing is not a good sport to make a living doing. I wish it was! But if the numbers don’t add up, they don’t add up, I enjoy following you Kyle. Best wishes to you Hunter, and your new son.
I also would like to thank "Miss Hunter" our Brand Manager, camera operator, producer, editor, commentator and momma for help bringing this content to us proud folk! FISH ON! JW - Way down yonder on the Chattahoochee!!! ROLL TIDE ❤
Great video. “We’re not selling the Bandit”. I love it. When it’s all said and done, it’s all about the experience and path…that started with the Bandit.
You were the 1st person I thought about when these changes were announced. I worry about the sweet home boys and their families!!! ROLL TIDE Y'all!!! That baby boy gettin' big!!!
Love your attitude...being Reel. I remember GMan said, he never looked at it as the tournament winnings, and working for his sponsors because that's how you stay in the game or something like that. Early on in his career he would think that way, but then he figured out how to change that mindset, I thought he said something it took the pressure off and allowed him to fish. I remember him saying you'll never make a living off tournament winnings unless you win 1st place multiple times a year. hearing your prospective really makes sense. I wish more people had the attitude and mindset like you do, keep it up. Love it!
That little boy is a spitting image of Charlie Brown! lol. So cute! And the time continuum hits hyperdrive when you have a kid(s). I’m getting ready to walk my first daughter(of 3) down the isle in three weeks; felt like three weeks ago I looked in the rear view mirror to check her status in the back seat! Cherish time making memories!
Your prospective and attitude is and always has been the best by far..Including your respect of Hunters opinion..Ya'll have already won the life game 😁
Great video Kyle and Hunter. I think it will be good in the long run. I am sure they will make changes as needed. You got this AOY! Lets see this new boat!
I can't believe you admitted you could fish this season without any new baits. LOL She will remind you of that. You guys are great and exactly what the fishing industry needs more of. Thanks for sharing not only your fishing but your lives with us. Big Fan!
Good to see someone being positive ! Easy to see those that love it, and those that don't. If the anglers would stick together the payouts would improve sooner than later.
Kyle, Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the new change with BASS. I like that you were upfront on your thoughts on how things go throughout the tournament year. I don't think most people don't realize about the sponsorships & how important they are as well in the life of a Professional Fisherman in keeping your head above water. Thanks again for making things a little clearer on this subject and your opinion as well. Have to agree with Hunter on FFS!!!! Take me to a dock!!!😂 Stay Safe & God Bless!!! 🤠👍
Love the family first!! 👊👊♥️ He is growing up so fast!! Payouts are down, but let's see what happens with sponsors and what they do to boost the payouts!!
You and Ms.Hunter are going to be hearing mom and dad can I borrow the truck and boat before you know it. So nice seeing parents that actually take an interest in their child. He’s going to grow up and be one heck of a man
I'd pay good money to watch a sort of "Grinder Series" where the best anglers have to fish a handful of places known for being terrible and basically have to grind it out the whole time. 1 day of practice and then just blast off and hope for the best. It's awesome seeing big bags come from these well managed lakes, but I'd like to see some of the best in the business struggle. The sabine river isn't very good but it seems like it gets more views and more passionate spectators so I think something like this would do good
I love this. Similarly in pro bowling the lanes are oiled to make it way way tougher than your weekday hometown league star. Pros should show us they can do it under any circumstance.
Thanks Kyle. I've been responding to some of these YT videos about this subject, trying to understand. You, a professional fisherman on the BASS tour simply say your income comes from your sponsors. Any winning on the tour is cream on the top. I still believe your sponsors should pay as they did when they were covering the fees. That 45K needs to go in your pocket. And a fisherman who can get twice the number of sponsors should get twice the "sponsors" salary. As a side note, if you were paying taxes on entry fees handed off by your sponsors and through your grip to BASS, it's good you get to keep the money that you pay taxes on now. I have not heard another angler say as straightforward as you, your "salary" comes from the sponsors. I imagine on your taxes, you have a lot of expenses to deduct.
Good to hear your perspective on the no entry fees. As for NPFL and no FFS, I like it. 1 man's opinion... there's nothing like watching a guy w/ your skills skipping a jig under branches etc on an undercut bank. THAT is the deal for me. A casual fisherman has NO idea of what it takes to do what you can with a bait.
I've been waiting for this. Now I have an better chance unless thing's change which hopefully they don't. And I'm an stick. Something about every nip and bite.
Awesome video you Two, plus 1. The no Entry Fee's are Awesome, but the pay out's Not So Great. Looking forward to the New Rig Video. LET'S GO HOMIE!!!!!
Excellent vid Kyle. Love your thoughts on this. Kept it honest, but in a positive light. Man, the vibes around BASS this past season, and the drama, have been bumming me out. This one made me feel hopeful and definitely made me feel a bit better after the letdown in the reality with the new payouts, after the high of the initial No Fee announcement.. Kudos to your relationship with your wife, too, and including her in the conversation on this, anytime she wanted to interject, 🤣. She had some good input and questions, too, though.👌 This is one of the first videos of yours i’ve watched. Actually, i came here after reading in the comments of a video from a different channel, someone mentioning you, and how you had some positive thoughts on this as a whole, and felt it was a step in the right direction. Which, i ultimately agree with, too, whole heartedly. Thanks man.👌🔥💪
That's all good and everything. Can we get specific on what exactly a hidden live well is? My new boat has a B.A. aquarium. It's not really hidden. I just don't tell anyone about it.
I believe that the guys that don’t have great sponsors are screwed, and the guys at least made some money if they finished in the top 50 but now the payouts are so low it won’t come close to even covering expenses and if I understood correctly they even only pay top 40 now instead of top 50, I may be wrong but from Tyler Bergers video that’s what it sounds like. He really did a deep dive into it. Very good video
There are adjustments that a lot of anglers can make to decrease expenses and help the bottom line that will mitigate the non existent payouts. Lot of dirt bag hotels in the future lol. But you're 100% right in that Bass is telling you all that your main job is working for sponsors. Your income is completely dependent on the things you do outside of a tournament.
I like the idea of no fees. I hate the payout scale. It would be nice if sponsors gave bonuses to their anglers based on where they finish. Might help the payout scale some. Seems to me it is now pay less but you also will earn less based on the average finishes for a whole season. kind of a push. I can tell from Hunters tone of voice it is BabyDubs world Yall just livin in it. #Teamwelcher
The no entry is a step in the right direction. But with that being said …The payouts went out the window for anyone after about 20th it’s a joke sadly now . If I was a Bass Elite pro I’d be trying to get out . That is awful, 2k to travel atleast or more and add the pay. I looked at stats ..everyone’s making less unless your in the top few spots each tourney . I hope they get this figured out. The no entry great ..the pay awful after top 10-15..what if they charged 2’500 and or gave first hair less maybe and spread that out with some more ..If not guys will leave another organization like the Toyota series or MLF may see the opportunity to jump
I'd be thinking about the money at lot if that's my full time job. If your BASS salary might be cut in half that seems like a big concern, but as you said I guess sponsors are the key. I tend to imagine not all the anglers have big sponsorships so maybe those guys will have to quit.
The biggest investment that you make, by a long margin, is your time (example, KVD hung it up this year for the first time since when?). A lot of sports, you're not trying 'to play' for your own money. You make a sum that is substantial, but one day (think about 'time becoming a blur', just imagine being a competitive athlete), . . even though you may not be done with the sport, the sport may prove to be done with you. Greg Hackney talked some about career of Rick Clunn in a recent interview, not Clunn from a point of view of money made, winning or domination. But Clunn just from the aspect of time invested (one has to make reference to the Van Dam example too as mentioned). Does one stay in it as long as Clunn, if one can? And what does that mean? Or the Van Dam example, do I eject from competition soon enough to manage to do something else? As mentioned, in other sports the best competitors may justifiably feel that when they had started to figure out their sport, an injury put a 'full stop' to that same career. You learn about individuals who have served in military careers. The same. One day you wake up, and your former occupation is done with you (even though you may never be adequately done with it, having to carry life-changing effects and consequences). Aside from money and winnings, the big question mark is time invested. And no one who is 'in the sport' of competitive angling talks about that 'cost'. Probably, and I assume, because no one sees it? Because they are 'in the sport' of competitive fishing. When you really see it strangely, in my experience with outdoor sports or pursuits, is when other people 'around you' are gone one day. You had not got time with them you wanted. Why? There were things to do, and competitions to be a part of. The real 'cheque' that eventually cashes out, is that one in particular, when you lower someone's coffin into the earth, that you don't have to talk to any longer. And you realize, everything all goes on regardless of oneself, and how one can account or not, for one's 'bank' or store of wealth of time.
The thing that probably should be banned first and foremost in competitive fishing, more than technology, is what technology does. It removes very young people away from their people, their families and their points of connection or contact with the world. At an age that is too early in their lifetime. You most likely do need to do something other than fish competitively on the Bassmaster Elites, at least until you have passed an age of twenty five. Because you do need to invest in that time early on with the significant people in your life, before time does become a blur. And before it is too late. The primary thing which technology in competition is robbing away from those very young Bassmaster Elite competitors, is not financial based. It is time based. It's the time they will never have, or can never get back. No matter how much winnings they earn over a career. What the NPFL did is important and significant from that point of view, and that point of view alone. Being an Instagram competitive angler sensation in life at a younger age, doesn't compensate either in any way. For just having had the basic time to get to know one's own family, early enough in the stretch of time that we call a lifetime. Young folks now, will some day look back and all they'll have are Instagram followers and ten years in their twenties, starring down and looking at a screen. That's too high a transaction price to be able to call oneself an 'Elite' at twenty-plus-nothing. And the Bassmaster organization should take stock of that. Whatever about the payment structure.
I agree 100% but some people are just hard wired to be obsessed with what they do. You even see it at regular jobs. Some people get 25 hours of overtime a week. The people who invest the time have no other option they are wired that way
The thing that I am reminded of most of all, is something from my parents generation called 'The Beatles' music band. That was a manufactured music band. And you look at members of 'The Beatles' band later, individually they spent their entire lifes in an effort to chase after that one thing they didn't have when they grew up. A normal existence. The Bassmaster organization may not be an Employer, but what it has become is a promoter of something, to a very young aged group of people 'who can play an instrument'. That is a very dark turn for an organization to make, and it is my judgement or assessment that Bassmaster may have stumbled backwards into that position, without really understanding what it did. Which is to sell or market this idealized type of existence to younger folk. Without fully putting all of the cards on the table. We've seen it, or witnessed it before in one place. That was in the music industry.
@@KyleWelcher When I worked in my youth in the architecture profession we did things called 'all nighter'' (which was exactly what that name suggests). All idealistic people who wanted to transform the world. And as if that wasn't bad enough, outside that all-day-and-all-night occupation, many I knew then tried to have music band careers 'on the side' (I know medical professional people too and it is the same, but different, so arguably society as we know it seems to lean heavily on that cohort of people who are religious-like in their concentration or focus on whhat they do). The movie 'Wall Street' with Charlie Sheen is about that individual young person, who yes, crops up in other industries outside of Wall Street too. One universal thing I realized at about thirty, lots of my former compatriots in the architecture job, they got entirely burned out early on. And only those of us who knew they real back story, did not find it surprising. We'd seen all of the 'speed limit' signs disappear in our rear view mirror as we tried to accelerate past them. Only to witness the engine failure catastrophies on the side of the road, further down the track. That is what I mean about technology in fishing, it has become an accelerator. And only some organizations have see kt wise to be responsible, for the sake of the competitor community. Interestingly, Brad Fuller and others grew up in that situation that I described. In the military life, where life becomes accelerated too.
Anglers have been competing for the same money for years and possibly a lot less now. BASS continues to turn bigger profits every year, but doesn't kick hardly anything back to the anglers. Seems like some guys are getting pimped
You said it right. "You all will have to become influencers." BASS knows that! They have shifted from being a pro fishing tour to an influencer agency. In essence, the fishermen are paying the $25k, that Kyle mentions, to give them a platform to legitimize their fishing channels.
@ you will live it all day by day and love every minute of it. There will just come a day when Hunter and you will look at each other and wonder how it went by so fast! But you guys will still be all smiles with the memories. Don’t know what your plans are for number of children but it goes the same for all of them! As for the subject of your post, I agree with you that further changes will be needed by BASS to make the sport a true “Pro” sport! Best of luck. Looking forward to more content! 🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣
You come out better paying entry fees gotta finish in top 10 to make any money or 40 th and make $500 or 41 and ZERO bucks it sucks in my opinion .. anyway good looking little feller yall got there enjoy every moment it flies by and he's 20
The only thing that BASS could do is truly open up their books to the anglers after getting them to sign an NDA..because something tells me that they aren't as profitable as many of the anglers think...The top 20 consistent guys are gonna do very well with this no entry fee model...but the complainers will ruin this as well I'm sure
Professional athletes shouldn't pay to play...do boxers and MMA fighters pay to play..nope, but they got media coverage, now that FS2 picked it up for a few hours and its a hit, they can finally treat this sport like any other sport...took a few decades, but its getting better.
If you come in 103rd every tournament then technically you still came out 20k to the good. So the anglers that never really finish good are the ones coming out the best. They was going to lose 60-70k now under the need format they'll only lose 15-20k
It is sad just how far behind the sport is as a whole compared to other single competitor sports.. There are 103 elite anglers in a season. If BASS kept the payout structure the same as last year AND paid the $45,000 in entry fees, it would only cost them $4.6 Million for the whole year. I’m sure BASS can foot that bill with all the new TV rights they got now. Give me a break! One PGA tournament in golf has a bigger payout than that!!
Each angler now has $5K burning a hole in their pocket at each tournament. Certainly somebody can figure out an options side pot deal that can pay way down instead of top heavy. There's your solution to the crappy payouts.
Bassmaster is a company, they are wanting to profit off of anglers who want to pay to play. You mentioned in this video that some of your money comes from your sponsorships. How would you think about the payout if you lost some of your sponsor money? Bassmaster is just looking out for themselves and not the anglers, remember anglers hold all the cards because without anglers they would fold up like a lawn chair. I like using my FFS, but there are times I don't use it. Should we go back to using a Zebco 33 reel or use a 7.5 or 8.1 reel, waiting for the newspaper to be delivered or get it for the internet.
This move is to cut the field. Guaranteed! Writings on the wall. Just not enough sponsor money available. Companies are pulling back. Non-endemics are not dependable. This is a way for BASS to make money with low outgoing costs. Business 101.
Well if you like making less $ ! Then it's great for you ! After a season I think your opinion will change ! Foutz if he duplicated his 24 season in 25 * would make 36 grand less < ?? Seems like 90% Arnt happy! Peace !
I think people are missing it when comparing it to other sports other sports have stadiums that are full concession selling stuff to pay the amounts that get paid.if you look at it like that bass fishing is no more a sport than gambling at a casino you enter in and maybe you win maybe you don’t pay is not a guarantee because there is no fans driving the money to the anglers. I think technology ruined fishing in all ways a man without a million dollar boat and every scope known to man on it has a hard time against the elite that goes for bass and saltwater.its a rich man’s hobby not a sport
There should be an entry fee. Doesn't have to be extravagant but some $ should be paid to be made. The industry is eating up all the $ while the anglers do 90 percent of the work and draw the fans for youns' sponsors. They gonna mske $. Just feel bad for the unsponsored anglers. Because it is expensive to gas and gear to fish competitvely.
The business model is awful but without a franchise supporting fan base there isn’t much alternative. The angles are the customers in this business model unlike other professional sports. Without a way to develop a more supportive and paying fan base the sport is dying in a bad economy. Let the economy pick up and sponsors will pay better. The ever increasing cost of entry is a detriment to growth of the sport. You could start a bank fishing trail given the access and probably garner a better following.
Stupid change. Either keep the entry fees the same as they were last year and add that extra 100,000 to the pay outs. Or keep the payouts the same as they were last year and lower entry fees. The change they made makes the least amount of sense. Pro fishing is not a professional sport. It’s high stakes gambling.
The ECONOMY Is currently in a recession on the brink of a DEPRESSION worst than 1929..You're going to see SPONSORS cut that money in half...Why pay you when you no longer have to "pay to play"....BIG CUTS are coming..
The positive attitude is refreshing. So many of the Elite anglers are negative about anything and everything. You are a great representative for your sponsors.
Man I love what I do
@@KyleWelcher I dont blame you. I wish I was 30 years younger and could give it a go. Keep it up.
positive?? ben millikin and foutz would lose a combined 80 grand if they had the same exact year as they did this year next year with the fees gone
I wish everyone would realize professional fishing is not a good sport to make a living doing. I wish it was! But if the numbers don’t add up, they don’t add up, I enjoy following you Kyle. Best wishes to you Hunter, and your new son.
@@phildegraves9024
He doesn't understand sponsors will now DROP him..especially with this economy we're headed for. especially if Harris gets IN..
I also would like to thank "Miss Hunter" our Brand Manager, camera operator, producer, editor, commentator and momma for help bringing this content to us proud folk! FISH ON!
JW - Way down yonder on the Chattahoochee!!! ROLL TIDE ❤
We all need to thank her
Thank you for being honest, level headed, and real about all of this. We appreciate it from the outside looking in!
I appreciate you watching
Great video. “We’re not selling the Bandit”. I love it. When it’s all said and done, it’s all about the experience and path…that started with the Bandit.
100%
You were the 1st person I thought about when these changes were announced. I worry about the sweet home boys and their families!!! ROLL TIDE Y'all!!! That baby boy gettin' big!!!
Way to big
Love your attitude...being Reel. I remember GMan said, he never looked at it as the tournament winnings, and working for his sponsors because that's how you stay in the game or something like that. Early on in his career he would think that way, but then he figured out how to change that mindset, I thought he said something it took the pressure off and allowed him to fish. I remember him saying you'll never make a living off tournament winnings unless you win 1st place multiple times a year.
hearing your prospective really makes sense. I wish more people had the attitude and mindset like you do, keep it up. Love it!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your future pro bass star !!!
Best wishes to TEAM WELCHER with the new tournament changes !!!
Thanks buddy
That little boy is a spitting image of Charlie Brown! lol. So cute!
And the time continuum hits hyperdrive when you have a kid(s). I’m getting ready to walk my first daughter(of 3) down the isle in three weeks; felt like three weeks ago I looked in the rear view mirror to check her status in the back seat!
Cherish time making memories!
Hyper speed engaged quick
Little man will be in that bandit fishing them little jackpots before you know it. Always rooting for you man. Thanks for what you do. #TeamWelcher
I hope so
Your prospective and attitude is and always has been the best by far..Including your respect of Hunters opinion..Ya'll have already won the life game 😁
Thanks a lot.
I agree. We are blessed
Great video Kyle and Hunter. I think it will be good in the long run. I am sure they will make changes as needed. You got this AOY! Lets see this new boat!
Thank you! New boat video coming
I can't believe you admitted you could fish this season without any new baits. LOL She will remind you of that. You guys are great and exactly what the fishing industry needs more of. Thanks for sharing not only your fishing but your lives with us. Big Fan!
Always enjoy the positivity. I live in southeastern Oklahoma, so hoping to make it to either Eufaula for NPFL or Lake Fork for BASS and say hello.
Come on down
Good to see someone being positive ! Easy to see those that love it, and those that don't. If the anglers would stick together the payouts would improve sooner than later.
I love the sport and I want it to get better
Kyle, Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the new change with BASS. I like that you were upfront on your thoughts on how things go throughout the tournament year. I don't think most people don't realize about the sponsorships & how important they are as well in the life of a Professional Fisherman in keeping your head above water. Thanks again for making things a little clearer on this subject and your opinion as well. Have to agree with Hunter on FFS!!!! Take me to a dock!!!😂 Stay Safe & God Bless!!! 🤠👍
Love the family first!! 👊👊♥️ He is growing up so fast!! Payouts are down, but let's see what happens with sponsors and what they do to boost the payouts!!
I agree
You and Ms.Hunter are going to be hearing mom and dad can I borrow the truck and boat before you know it. So nice seeing parents that actually take an interest in their child. He’s going to grow up and be one heck of a man
He ain’t going without me
@ 😂🤣
@@KyleWelcher That time warp you're experiencing is from sleep depravation, dad.
I'd pay good money to watch a sort of "Grinder Series" where the best anglers have to fish a handful of places known for being terrible and basically have to grind it out the whole time. 1 day of practice and then just blast off and hope for the best. It's awesome seeing big bags come from these well managed lakes, but I'd like to see some of the best in the business struggle. The sabine river isn't very good but it seems like it gets more views and more passionate spectators so I think something like this would do good
I agree I love a good grinder
Love that idea
I love this. Similarly in pro bowling the lanes are oiled to make it way way tougher than your weekday hometown league star. Pros should show us they can do it under any circumstance.
I want to see an elite series event back at Bugg’s Island / Kerr lake
Have you seen Tyler Bergers video where he did the math on several scenarios of pay-outs? It looks awesome for the anglers
I need to watch it
I think you’re spot on with everything you talked about .
Thank you
It's refreshing to hear yalls approach 👍
Thank you!
Good luck in 2025 bro!
Thank you!
Thanks Kyle. I've been responding to some of these YT videos about this subject, trying to understand. You, a professional fisherman on the BASS tour simply say your income comes from your sponsors. Any winning on the tour is cream on the top. I still believe your sponsors should pay as they did when they were covering the fees. That 45K needs to go in your pocket. And a fisherman who can get twice the number of sponsors should get twice the "sponsors" salary. As a side note, if you were paying taxes on entry fees handed off by your sponsors and through your grip to BASS, it's good you get to keep the money that you pay taxes on now. I have not heard another angler say as straightforward as you, your "salary" comes from the sponsors. I imagine on your taxes, you have a lot of expenses to deduct.
We got to write off the entry fees and expenses and pay taxes on the profit
Good to hear your perspective on the no entry fees. As for NPFL and no FFS, I like it. 1 man's opinion... there's nothing like watching a guy w/ your skills skipping a jig under branches etc on an undercut bank. THAT is the deal for me. A casual fisherman has NO idea of what it takes to do what you can with a bait.
I've been waiting for this. Now I have an better chance unless thing's change which hopefully they don't. And I'm an stick. Something about every nip and bite.
Love watching you and your family, I hope you win the AOY.
Awesome video you Two, plus 1. The no Entry Fee's are Awesome, but the pay out's Not So Great. Looking forward to the New Rig Video. LET'S GO HOMIE!!!!!
I agree. Thank you
@@KyleWelcher Word. "ICE T" from back in the day!!!
Akways like your thoughts on the sport/changes etc. Good luck this next year and will be following you
I'm with hunter on the forward facing sonar it will show the true angler instead of video fishing
We agree
You have a great family. God has blessed you. On the Elite side, you guys got screwed. I appreciate your honesty.
Well your take is what I was thinking and the guys like the Johnston bros need to take a breath and think before the blab
Excellent vid Kyle. Love your thoughts on this. Kept it honest, but in a positive light. Man, the vibes around BASS this past season, and the drama, have been bumming me out. This one made me feel hopeful and definitely made me feel a bit better after the letdown in the reality with the new payouts, after the high of the initial No Fee announcement..
Kudos to your relationship with your wife, too, and including her in the conversation on this, anytime she wanted to interject, 🤣. She had some good input and questions, too, though.👌 This is one of the first videos of yours i’ve watched. Actually, i came here after reading in the comments of a video from a different channel, someone mentioning you, and how you had some positive thoughts on this as a whole, and felt it was a step in the right direction. Which, i ultimately agree with, too, whole heartedly. Thanks man.👌🔥💪
Good Luck !!!! Thanks for the positivity.
That's all good and everything. Can we get specific on what exactly a hidden live well is? My new boat has a B.A. aquarium. It's not really hidden. I just don't tell anyone about it.
Great perspective Kyle👍
Good luck Kyle next season! You are a great man! And please have more kids!
Great insight as always.
Appreciate that!
I believe that the guys that don’t have great sponsors are screwed, and the guys at least made some money if they finished in the top 50 but now the payouts are so low it won’t come close to even covering expenses and if I understood correctly they even only pay top 40 now instead of top 50, I may be wrong but from Tyler Bergers video that’s what it sounds like. He really did a deep dive into it. Very good video
We are ironing out still
I wish you the best. Love watching you
Kyle, I love you ! Stop complaining. More (free lance) competition is scary. I get it. Do your job and be great! You don’t have to pay entry fees….
There are adjustments that a lot of anglers can make to decrease expenses and help the bottom line that will mitigate the non existent payouts. Lot of dirt bag hotels in the future lol.
But you're 100% right in that Bass is telling you all that your main job is working for sponsors. Your income is completely dependent on the things you do outside of a tournament.
I read KVD made half a mil in sponsor dollars, in 2006. 20 years ago. Anyone making anything close to that 20 years later? They gonna need it
I like the idea of no fees. I hate the payout scale. It would be nice if sponsors gave bonuses to their anglers based on where they finish. Might help the payout scale some. Seems to me it is now pay less but you also will earn less based on the average finishes for a whole season. kind of a push. I can tell from Hunters tone of voice it is BabyDubs world Yall just livin in it. #Teamwelcher
A lot of the contracts do have bonuses like that and I agree it helps
I gotta get out to a tournament on the original small little local lake here soon and see that new boat😂
Come on tomorrow
@@KyleWelcher I’ll have to another time, I had to work Saturday and Sunday and I’ve got a GBN derb at Hartwell next Saturday. I’ll be free after that
What are your thoughts on the screen limitations and transducer restrictions?
It doesn’t change anything at all for me
@ Good deal, Hope you put out a schedule discussion video. Good luck next year!
Great attitude. Great video
Its not a perfect plan...but Its definitely a good start....i love performance based payouts
Good stuff as always.
Good Luck to you in 2025. !!!!!!!!
The no entry is a step in the right direction. But with that being said …The payouts went out the window for anyone after about 20th it’s a joke sadly now . If I was a Bass Elite pro I’d be trying to get out . That is awful, 2k to travel atleast or more and add the pay. I looked at stats ..everyone’s making less unless your in the top few spots each tourney . I hope they get this figured out. The no entry great ..the pay awful after top 10-15..what if they charged 2’500 and or gave first hair less maybe and spread that out with some more ..If not guys will leave another organization like the Toyota series or MLF may see the opportunity to jump
Where did you get your hat? it’s awesome
No entry fees is a good start to the professional goal to overcome "pay to play" .....
Life is good!!
Without having to pay entry fees, does it offset the loss of prize money equating to an overall increase in tournament payouts?
Kyle Welcher for president
2028
I'd be thinking about the money at lot if that's my full time job. If your BASS salary might be cut in half that seems like a big concern, but as you said I guess sponsors are the key. I tend to imagine not all the anglers have big sponsorships so maybe those guys will have to quit.
What do you think about all the money in the big bass awards and big bag? Should that money be in the regular payout?
Im wondering if the Sponsors will still give the Anglers the $45,000 they were giving them fir entry fees. If so, it would offset the yearly income.
I believe the sponsor money will stay
Get the new boat video out ASAP,!
Coming soon
Shakem’Up 🐟🐟🐟
Where do you get your jersey made?
Two three wrap co
I wonder why the angles at the pro level that really want to gamble their own money don’t do side pots. We do it in most smaller tournaments.
1st question if I place my order for ace jigs from untamed tackle website does that now mean I am ordering directly from You?
No that comes from the majority owner
Little man the next professional poker player!
He’s gonna be holding golf clubs
@ even better!
The biggest investment that you make, by a long margin, is your time (example, KVD hung it up this year for the first time since when?). A lot of sports, you're not trying 'to play' for your own money. You make a sum that is substantial, but one day (think about 'time becoming a blur', just imagine being a competitive athlete), . . even though you may not be done with the sport, the sport may prove to be done with you. Greg Hackney talked some about career of Rick Clunn in a recent interview, not Clunn from a point of view of money made, winning or domination. But Clunn just from the aspect of time invested (one has to make reference to the Van Dam example too as mentioned). Does one stay in it as long as Clunn, if one can? And what does that mean? Or the Van Dam example, do I eject from competition soon enough to manage to do something else? As mentioned, in other sports the best competitors may justifiably feel that when they had started to figure out their sport, an injury put a 'full stop' to that same career. You learn about individuals who have served in military careers. The same. One day you wake up, and your former occupation is done with you (even though you may never be adequately done with it, having to carry life-changing effects and consequences). Aside from money and winnings, the big question mark is time invested. And no one who is 'in the sport' of competitive angling talks about that 'cost'. Probably, and I assume, because no one sees it? Because they are 'in the sport' of competitive fishing. When you really see it strangely, in my experience with outdoor sports or pursuits, is when other people 'around you' are gone one day. You had not got time with them you wanted. Why? There were things to do, and competitions to be a part of. The real 'cheque' that eventually cashes out, is that one in particular, when you lower someone's coffin into the earth, that you don't have to talk to any longer. And you realize, everything all goes on regardless of oneself, and how one can account or not, for one's 'bank' or store of wealth of time.
The thing that probably should be banned first and foremost in competitive fishing, more than technology, is what technology does. It removes very young people away from their people, their families and their points of connection or contact with the world. At an age that is too early in their lifetime. You most likely do need to do something other than fish competitively on the Bassmaster Elites, at least until you have passed an age of twenty five. Because you do need to invest in that time early on with the significant people in your life, before time does become a blur. And before it is too late. The primary thing which technology in competition is robbing away from those very young Bassmaster Elite competitors, is not financial based. It is time based. It's the time they will never have, or can never get back. No matter how much winnings they earn over a career. What the NPFL did is important and significant from that point of view, and that point of view alone. Being an Instagram competitive angler sensation in life at a younger age, doesn't compensate either in any way. For just having had the basic time to get to know one's own family, early enough in the stretch of time that we call a lifetime. Young folks now, will some day look back and all they'll have are Instagram followers and ten years in their twenties, starring down and looking at a screen. That's too high a transaction price to be able to call oneself an 'Elite' at twenty-plus-nothing. And the Bassmaster organization should take stock of that. Whatever about the payment structure.
I agree 100% but some people are just hard wired to be obsessed with what they do. You even see it at regular jobs. Some people get 25 hours of overtime a week. The people who invest the time have no other option they are wired that way
The thing that I am reminded of most of all, is something from my parents generation called 'The Beatles' music band. That was a manufactured music band. And you look at members of 'The Beatles' band later, individually they spent their entire lifes in an effort to chase after that one thing they didn't have when they grew up. A normal existence. The Bassmaster organization may not be an Employer, but what it has become is a promoter of something, to a very young aged group of people 'who can play an instrument'. That is a very dark turn for an organization to make, and it is my judgement or assessment that Bassmaster may have stumbled backwards into that position, without really understanding what it did. Which is to sell or market this idealized type of existence to younger folk. Without fully putting all of the cards on the table. We've seen it, or witnessed it before in one place. That was in the music industry.
@@KyleWelcher When I worked in my youth in the architecture profession we did things called 'all nighter'' (which was exactly what that name suggests). All idealistic people who wanted to transform the world. And as if that wasn't bad enough, outside that all-day-and-all-night occupation, many I knew then tried to have music band careers 'on the side' (I know medical professional people too and it is the same, but different, so arguably society as we know it seems to lean heavily on that cohort of people who are religious-like in their concentration or focus on whhat they do). The movie 'Wall Street' with Charlie Sheen is about that individual young person, who yes, crops up in other industries outside of Wall Street too. One universal thing I realized at about thirty, lots of my former compatriots in the architecture job, they got entirely burned out early on. And only those of us who knew they real back story, did not find it surprising. We'd seen all of the 'speed limit' signs disappear in our rear view mirror as we tried to accelerate past them. Only to witness the engine failure catastrophies on the side of the road, further down the track. That is what I mean about technology in fishing, it has become an accelerator. And only some organizations have see kt wise to be responsible, for the sake of the competitor community. Interestingly, Brad Fuller and others grew up in that situation that I described. In the military life, where life becomes accelerated too.
Anglers have been competing for the same money for years and possibly a lot less now. BASS continues to turn bigger profits every year, but doesn't kick hardly anything back to the anglers. Seems like some guys are getting pimped
You still going to restore the bandit ?
where is the money for checks going to come from?
You said it right. "You all will have to become influencers." BASS knows that! They have shifted from being a pro fishing tour to an influencer agency. In essence, the fishermen are paying the $25k, that Kyle mentions, to give them a platform to legitimize their fishing channels.
He will be going to college in the blink of an eye! Enjoy it, every day!
Man I hope that doesn’t come that fast
@ you will live it all day by day and love every minute of it. There will just come a day when Hunter and you will look at each other and wonder how it went by so fast! But you guys will still be all smiles with the memories. Don’t know what your plans are for number of children but it goes the same for all of them!
As for the subject of your post, I agree with you that further changes will be needed by BASS to make the sport a true “Pro” sport!
Best of luck. Looking forward to more content! 🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣
Bass needs to realize that they are who they are because of the anglers.
It takes all of us involved
You come out better paying entry fees gotta finish in top 10 to make any money or 40 th and make $500 or 41 and ZERO bucks it sucks in my opinion
.. anyway good looking little feller yall got there enjoy every moment it flies by and he's 20
It’s flying to fast already
The only thing that BASS could do is truly open up their books to the anglers after getting them to sign an NDA..because something tells me that they aren't as profitable as many of the anglers think...The top 20 consistent guys are gonna do very well with this no entry fee model...but the complainers will ruin this as well I'm sure
I’m sure they will.
Professional athletes shouldn't pay to play...do boxers and MMA fighters pay to play..nope, but they got media coverage, now that FS2 picked it up for a few hours and its a hit, they can finally treat this sport like any other sport...took a few decades, but its getting better.
It’s definitely what needs to happen
Don't use mma they don't get paid shit
If you come in 103rd every tournament then technically you still came out 20k to the good. So the anglers that never really finish good are the ones coming out the best. They was going to lose 60-70k now under the need format they'll only lose 15-20k
Did you look at Miliken's video? He used you specifically to show how you lose money.
It is sad just how far behind the sport is as a whole compared to other single competitor sports.. There are 103 elite anglers in a season. If BASS kept the payout structure the same as last year AND paid the $45,000 in entry fees, it would only cost them $4.6 Million for the whole year. I’m sure BASS can foot that bill with all the new TV rights they got now. Give me a break! One PGA tournament in golf has a bigger payout than that!!
I agree but for some reason golf is way easier to watch for the average person
Each angler now has $5K burning a hole in their pocket at each tournament. Certainly somebody can figure out an options side pot deal that can pay way down instead of top heavy. There's your solution to the crappy payouts.
I think it’s good, but the payouts will hurt the anglers.
Definitely will hurt some
BANDIT, Definitely "Not For Sale"!!!!!
Definitely
@KyleWelcher AMEN brother 🙏
Take that little dude tricker treating man cool
Just go instinctively fish welcher. It's your best skill.
I agree
Bassmaster is a company, they are wanting to profit off of anglers who want to pay to play. You mentioned in this video that some of your money comes from your sponsorships. How would you think about the payout if you lost some of your sponsor money? Bassmaster is just looking out for themselves and not the anglers, remember anglers hold all the cards because without anglers they would fold up like a lawn chair. I like using my FFS, but there are times I don't use it. Should we go back to using a Zebco 33 reel or use a 7.5 or 8.1 reel, waiting for the newspaper to be delivered or get it for the internet.
Nothing worse than watching somebody fishing by staring at a screen.
Don't watch then stop your fucking crying
I know I’d much rather watch them in person fishing 😅😅
500 dollars for 40th place says it all.
This is my third year watching professional fishing and I mean I really watched it and I just now realized I don't even like it anymore
He throws stuff in the tub cause he’s seen you throw things in a big body of water
Either way he loves water
@ like father like son!
This move is to cut the field. Guaranteed! Writings on the wall. Just not enough sponsor money available. Companies are pulling back. Non-endemics are not dependable.
This is a way for BASS to make money with low outgoing costs. Business 101.
Hey man I’m sure someone told you already but your TikTok has been hacked
Well if you like making less $ ! Then it's great for you ! After a season I think your opinion will change ! Foutz if he duplicated his 24 season in 25 * would make 36 grand less < ?? Seems like 90% Arnt happy! Peace !
I think people are missing it when comparing it to other sports other sports have stadiums that are full concession selling stuff to pay the amounts that get paid.if you look at it like that bass fishing is no more a sport than gambling at a casino you enter in and maybe you win maybe you don’t pay is not a guarantee because there is no fans driving the money to the anglers. I think technology ruined fishing in all ways a man without a million dollar boat and every scope known to man on it has a hard time against the elite that goes for bass and saltwater.its a rich man’s hobby not a sport
There should be an entry fee. Doesn't have to be extravagant but some $ should be paid to be made. The industry is eating up all the $ while the anglers do 90 percent of the work and draw the fans for youns' sponsors. They gonna mske $. Just feel bad for the unsponsored anglers. Because it is expensive to gas and gear to fish competitvely.
The business model is awful but without a franchise supporting fan base there isn’t much alternative. The angles are the customers in this business model unlike other professional sports. Without a way to develop a more supportive and paying fan base the sport is dying in a bad economy. Let the economy pick up and sponsors will pay better. The ever increasing cost of entry is a detriment to growth of the sport. You could start a bank fishing trail given the access and probably garner a better following.
I think sponsors will start paying less. So in turn make less money
Stupid change. Either keep the entry fees the same as they were last year and add that extra 100,000 to the pay outs. Or keep the payouts the same as they were last year and lower entry fees. The change they made makes the least amount of sense. Pro fishing is not a professional sport. It’s high stakes gambling.
Your boss is anybody or a company that gives you a dollar that’s who your bosses are and the people who buy your sponsors products is there boss
Listen
Facts is just facts
UNTIL BASS GOES OUT AND GET OUT OF THE INDUSTRY TO PAY
It will be
ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL
The ECONOMY Is currently in a recession on the brink of a DEPRESSION worst than 1929..You're going to see SPONSORS cut that money in half...Why pay you when you no longer have to "pay to play"....BIG CUTS are coming..
1st place in 1997 was 100000. In 2025. It is still 100000. That doesn’t make sense. NFL players make more every year. Bass pros make less.
10k to $500 is laughable. Entry fees are needed. This isn't a "professional" sport.