Elite Impressions

Bud Kennedy · April 07, 2016, 04:42:32 PM

Made my first visit to an Elite event today at Winyah Bay. I can't tell you how disappointed I was with the lay out of the venue. Since I have a temporary handicap it is difficult for me to walk any distances without having to stop for a bit and sit down. First off there was no official handicap parking and they directed you to a field way in the back of the area on a dirt road and you parked in a recently mowed field. I parked in the front row and had to note that when I went to leave I was blocked in my a school bus and another small event bus.

The walk from the parking area to the event spaces was about 1/4 to 1/2 mile that for most was not a big deal but for my temporary condition it was a real chore. They claim that there were some golf cars around that I could catch a ride in but alas they did not show up. I got to the event area about 1PM and the vendors had not yet set up any of their displays but were working on it..HUK had the only unit open that was selling products. There was no food service areas but a food truck was there if you wanted a pita or something. Berkeley had their truck there but never did get their displays up. Everyone else was just trying to set up, The Bassmaster main stage was all set up but very limited places to sit. I guess they were not expecting too much of a crowd

I did hobble over to the ramp area where all the competitors vehicles and trailers were parked but decided not to stick around until they arrived back from the water. OH well I guess I just was over expecting at this event. I thought that it would have been better organized and fan friendly but that was probably an over expectation on my part. Well heck I guess what can you expect from an event that is free.

I did get a short chat with James Overstreet who was lurking about shooting pictures. Another surprise to me was that although there were plenty of cops there, there was no protection for the competitors vehicles. You could walk all around them and no one came by and told us to move along. Just seems a bit strange to me. I really wanted to watch the guys come back to the ramp but after everything else today it just seemed like it was not worth the additional 1 hour weight before they were due back.

I was planning on going back on Saturday but I have changed my mind. It just is not something the wife would be able to do because of her limitations and the earful I would get from she who shall be obeyed is not worth it.

OK, so I did it one and for me that is enough. Better seat right here in my office watching on bassmaster.com and bass trakk.

Oldfart9999 · April 07, 2016, 05:29:09 PM

Geeze Bud, sorry it seemed uneventful, maybe it gets better when the competition begins. It makes me wonder if going to the Elites at Cayuga.
Rodney

LgMouthGambler · April 07, 2016, 05:43:29 PM

Sometimes they just aint what youd expect. Used to hit the FLW event out of Clewiston when it came. Got to be pretty dull after a while. Dis get to meet a few pros. Most seemed to not want to be there if they werent fishing. Few were nice though, like Dion Hibdon. Had a good conversation with him, and he signed a hat and card for me.

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cortman · April 07, 2016, 08:12:04 PM

Quote from: LgMouthGambler on April 07, 2016, 05:43:29 PM
Sometimes they just aint what youd expect. Used to hit the FLW event out of Clewiston when it came. Got to be pretty dull after a while. Dis get to meet a few pros. Most seemed to not want to be there if they werent fishing. Few were nice though, like Dion Hibdon. Had a good conversation with him, and he signed a hat and card for me.

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Cool, Dion lives in my town actually. I've still never met him but know friends of his.

Bud Kennedy · April 07, 2016, 08:25:03 PM

Certainly I do not have any disappointment with the competitors. The main disappointment was with the organization of the site. This might be the responsibility of the the local authorities but even the vendors were not prepared nor did they really seem to be concerned. I would have thought that B.A.S.S. would have an established set of expectations along with an event plan for the venue people to follow. Just seems like there was a lot of things that we not professional as I had anticipated. I do know a number of the elite competitors as they have come up to this level. I would have loved to stick around to watch them weigh in but after a while it was just too boring to stay any longer, so I went home and watched it on line.

Terry G · April 07, 2016, 09:45:24 PM

Bud you were almost correct.
BASS was open trying to sell memberships.
Yes it was a disappointing day.
The areas where they would have attractions were not there.
Demo. boat rides, reel clean & oil of course these were to be first come first served.
They were not even set up.
Wanted to look for a Reel for my LSCR Rod not one to be found.
You hit the nail on the head on everything.
Seeing you was the bright spot of my day.

Wizard · April 08, 2016, 03:37:18 PM

Bud, little has changed from the early days of BASS. One thing I see changed is Johnny Morris is no longer selling lures from the back of his truck.

Jared LeBlue · April 08, 2016, 04:16:02 PM

I have been to several BASS events and here are somethings to note. 1st- don't expect them to have seating available for you. Unless you are at the classic or a venue that is at some type of stadium seating will not be available. Most of these weigh ins are done in a field or some big parking lot. 2nd- expect parking to be bad. Again many of the places they have these events don't have adequate parking. 3rd - the event will only be as good as the host town makes it. BASS does not provide entertainment, food, or rides. BASS will have it's sponsor vendors there, it's stage for weighing, and the sound and TVs for the weigh in and that is it. Everything else is the responsibility of the venue. When Cities bid on these tournaments there are certain requirements that BASS has but most of them are dealing with the operations of the tournament and supplying certain things for BASS staff. That's all BASS needs from the city to have a successful event. As for the economics of it all it's up to the city/venue to add to the tournament to get people there. One of the best I have seen is Orange Texas. These guys went all out to make the event there a special one and it showed. They had record breaking crowds both time the Elites went there.

Bud Kennedy · April 08, 2016, 04:56:17 PM

I am hearing from some friends that it got rolling fairly good today. A bunch of vendors are setting up today for the Georgetown Heritage Festival that is sharing the same venue. Will be a bunch going on to keep folks occupied.

The parking was ok but there sure was a bunch of other parking that was in a paved area that was not being used yesterday. The site is large and will be able to handle the crowds. If they can assist folks like me with a slight physical restriction it sure would be helpful.

Did not expect to have seating at the weigh in area but they did have some. Most of the non elite events I have been to you had to bring in your own chairs. It would have been too much for me to carry around a chair given the distance one had to walk. I must say however that Redfish events held at this location the organizer had stands set up to provide seating but it was a much smaller crowd.

I guess my exceptions were just too high so the disappointment I had was self inflicted. I still am gonna watch it on line instead of going down there.

Bud Kennedy · April 10, 2016, 09:34:54 AM

Drove past the venue yesterday and man oh man what a crowd they had. Saturday was the start of the Georgetown Heritage Festival that is co located with B.A.S.S. I hear they are expecting a bigger crowd today. Maybe they will show the crowd on camera today.

BassCatBates · April 11, 2016, 12:19:24 PM

I have been to an Elite and a Classic..... two totally different worlds.... the Elite, I was walking around on the dock talking to pros and like you said, there was no buffer zone... It was pretty cool to be standing on the dock talking to Denny Brauer and looking at Gerald Swindle, Ike, and KVD all at the same time.
The Classic is a much better show for fans, it's like a rock concert......

BTW that was actually the E50 where KVD caught the lake record on Lewisville.... I got to meet him that morning and see him weigh in that beast that afternoon.... pretty cool day.

ssj3goten · April 12, 2016, 12:30:31 PM

Sucks to read the event wasn't that well put together. I was half tempted to drive the 4ish hours from Savannah to there on Sat with family glad we did other things on Friday in Macon