Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Bass Fishing => Bass Fishing Tips, Techniques & General Discussion => Topic started by: dhuff on February 25, 2006, 09:21:39 AM

Title: Classic Coverage
Post by: dhuff on February 25, 2006, 09:21:39 AM
I have been watching the classic coverage now for over an hour and I am not impressed at all.  I am in fact kind of bored with it.  They are hardly showing any fishing at all.  I have seen more of the guys that aren't in the tournament then the guys that are in the tournament.  Such as Denny Brauer and Byron Velvick.  To me the old bassmaster shows were the best.  They showed tons of FISHING.  NOt to mention they keep saying lets look at this angler and then they show footage they showed on t.v. yesterday.  Get the cameras out there and lets see some fishing.  We can only take analysis for so long.  I think we know what is going on when we see a guy catching a fish out there off of a bed.  I don't even think I am going to finish watching I am sick of this coverage.  I will just watch the weigh in later.  I thought ESPN would really step up there coverage a little they are but just not of the right thing.
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: ronhuntfish on February 25, 2006, 12:00:16 PM
I thought the coverage was OK. To much Ike, though.
That's a lot of hours to try to fill. Could have used some more fishing footage. Maybe talked to a couple of guys as they were fishing.
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: Bulletproof on February 25, 2006, 01:20:17 PM
IMO, the coverage has been awful.  A few shots here and there of them fishing and then back to dead horse analysis and useless banter and filler.  I'm sure every guy thats fishing it has a cameraman in his boat, why not show some more footage.  Definitely not enough IMO.
And i'm getting tired of seeing Byron Velvick, didn't this guy used to have a spot on General Hospital.?

I was up today at 7 sharp.  the wife had breakfast made-eggs, canadian bacon , hash browns, toast the whole deal.  Got settled in for some good action and fell asleep about an hour into it.

Either way I guess its better than watching my regular scheduled programming. ::)
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: dhuff on February 25, 2006, 01:48:16 PM
I hear ya bulletproof.  I got up all early to watch ans was very disapointed in the coverage.  I ended up going back to sleep half way through.  it didn't even keep my interest.  Horible show.
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: djkimmel on February 25, 2006, 01:50:32 PM
It wasn't real exciting - very hard to follow at times in a noisy Hooter's restaurant. The part I liked best was watching Rick Clunn catch the 10-pounder. At times (since we could barely hear it) we had a hard time seeing when commercials ended and the show started back up.
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: dhuff on February 25, 2006, 02:48:32 PM
When will they ever get it right.  I want to watch a hockey game and they actually show it.  Watch a basketball game they actually show the game.  Now try to watch fishing and you see comintating.  Now imagine ESPN show the super bowl but just talk about it.  Who CARES!!!!!!  Show us the darn fishing................
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: djkimmel on February 25, 2006, 08:42:56 PM
That makes sense to me...
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: bosshawg on February 26, 2006, 03:02:33 PM
 if anything, the classic breaks up some of the winter boredom...watchin' the other fishing shows for so long gets old. now is the time to start the winter ritual of sorting thru tackle, gear and what have you. boat in the shop last week, spring classic coming next weekend. i'm gettin' ready, anxious. lets get it on!

THINK SPRING!!!
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: huston on February 26, 2006, 05:31:50 PM
I spend more money off season buying stuff than when the season is here. I don't know if I'm going to BPS for the spring classic. I don't need anything, Oh yea, I need some outboard oil.
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: dhuff on February 26, 2006, 07:01:57 PM
Hate to say it but the classic coverage was again really bad.  Very little fishing and alot of comintating.  Should be the other way around.  Lets really hope that they don't do the entire fishing season like this. 
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: ronhuntfish on February 26, 2006, 07:05:46 PM
Yep, I think I am going to have to agree now. 1 and 1/2 hours of weigh-in and commercials.
It was kind of anticlimatic when I already knew the winner from on the net.
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: Skulley on February 26, 2006, 07:30:04 PM
BORING!!!!!!

The old Bassmaster format before ESPN was much, much better.  You got to see some fishing as well as the weigh-in.  Too many commercials.  You did not even get to see all 25 final day fishermen weigh their catch.  Very disappointing.  Coverage could have been much better.  Even the morning coverage was dull at best.

BD      ;D
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: jamesjackson on February 26, 2006, 08:34:12 PM
 for real!!!!  way too much commentary and comercials!!!!
    but on a better note fellas while you all were watching the classic live i was outfishing those guys here in michigan in  frigid windy weather . today i caught 40 smallies while out walleye fishing and my best five went 24lbs!!!    that doesnt seem right!!!
   also i must say way to go KVD !!!   my personal opinion is that the classic shouldnt be a spawning pig fest that a couple lucky bites can put so far out of reach..
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: dhuff on February 26, 2006, 09:17:35 PM
I agree I like it in the summer better.  I think it keeps it close and really puts the anglers skills to the real test.  Not only to meantion now we won't ever see a classic close by us again in a reasonable driving distance.  Really sucks.
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: djkimmel on February 26, 2006, 09:18:49 PM
24 POUNDS!!!! 40 SMALLIES!!! Heck - let's hear that report!!! It sounds a lot more exciting! Details! Details!
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: Bulletproof on February 26, 2006, 09:32:04 PM
The amount of commercials was insane.  There was more commercial time than classic coverage and I don't think I'm exagerrating!  It seemed like every 2-3 minutes there was a commercial. >:(
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: rangerfan on February 26, 2006, 10:16:27 PM
very disappointed...... Way to many commercials!!!! It seems to me they didn't show Luke very often with that nice big CHEVY across his shirt.....let alone that wont let him fish in next years classic!!!
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: dartag on February 27, 2006, 06:37:09 AM
yep love the Chevy / Ranger / Yamaha shirt,,,? bet? ?Toyota / Triton / Merc were happy..? does he get to fish next year since he won????
found this photo on the BassMaster site..? what kind of boat were they using??? only in america..



Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: Revtro on February 27, 2006, 09:17:42 AM
The coverage wasn't very good IMO.  I DVR'd the Friday night coverage and watched it on Saturday.  So what ended up happening is that I was able to skip the commmercials for the entire thing since I got home Sunday night after the weigh-in was already over.  Without the commercials, you could really see how short the coverage was and how little fishing there was.  That's ESPN for ya. 

What I thought was really bad was when they talked about the rain delay and how we'd all get to see a rarely televised blast off.  Well did we see one?  Did I miss it when I went to the potty?  Oh wait, I was pausing the DVR.  Grrr.  Next year, maybe I'll go be a spectator boat, then maybe I'll actually see some of the fishing.  Plus, couldn't they have gotten a new camera out to Luke?  They hardly showed any footage on day 3 of him. 

Another crappy part of the coverage was the final announcing at the weigh-in.  The announcer never even said Luke Clausen's name.  He just said, "Let's light it up".  What every happened to saying "Let's light it up for this year's Bassmaster Classic Champion Luke Clausen!"?  It just seemed poorly rehearsed on the announcer's part.  The other thing that kind of made it seem a little boring was that Luke didn't have much reaction to winning.  A slight smile.  No fist pumping or emotion.  Everyone's different, but I love to see an excited winner.  Oh well, nothing to really blame him for about that.  It is what it is.  All in all...bored for the most part. 

Lastly, having this classic just 6 months after the last one and using the same qualifiers took a lot of the excitement out of it.  Other than the weather, Ike and KVD, there wasn't a whole lot of drama.  I hate the spring classic thing.  A spawners slugfest isn't my idea of a skills championship.  Man, B.A.S.S. is really screwing things up lately IMO.   :(
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: Cheetam on February 27, 2006, 11:30:41 AM
Quote from: Revtro on February 27, 2006, 09:17:42 AM
The announcer never even said Luke Clausen's name.? He just said, "Let's light it up".? What every happened to saying "Let's light it up for this year's Bassmaster Classic Champion Luke Clausen!"?? It just seemed poorly rehearsed on the announcer's part.?
Do you think this is the case because Luke isn't fishing BASS this season?  Why promote a champion who decided to fish your competition over you?  I wonder if he'll be asked to pass the trophy to next year's champion?
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: djkimmel on February 27, 2006, 12:34:20 PM
They'll just give him an envolope with an address to mail the trophy too... ;D
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: Hooksetter on February 27, 2006, 12:49:51 PM
Pathetic. Thats all I can say about it. They spent way too much time letting Trey, Byron, John, Jay, Shaw, Kim, Mark, Denny, Jerry, Mark, Robbie and Tommy tell us what was going on out on the water instead of showing us. If I heard correctly they had a camera man with all 25 anglers on the final day, there had to be all kinds of footage they could have showed us.

I'm no expert on televising events of any kind, but shouldn't you actually SHOW someone catching fish on a show about fishing? Maybe ESPN needs to hire Bob Cobb. The shows were alot better when was doing them.

Oh yeah, I almost forget. Where was ANY coverage of Larry Nixon? Or Ron Shuffield? These two guys have been a big part of the last 20 years of professional fishing, especially Larry Nixon. Ron got a little, but Larry got none. I know that it is because they are not fishing with BASS this year but they should have treated them better. Instead they kept showing crybaby Ike throw a fit, but thats a whole other subject.
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: MBell on February 27, 2006, 01:27:53 PM
That whole camera in the water thing was probobly just an excuse to not show incredibly boring footage.  If that was his reaction to winning the classic, can you imagine how boring a fsihing day with an 8lb limit would be?  You have to give the guy respect for winning the classic, but you would almost want to wash this classic from the record books.  This classic was disrespectful to the previous classics and it's winners.  I hope this stuff is generating ratings/interest from the non bass fishing public, because it's just losing the fans they already have.  I really liked the old Bob Cobb Bassmaters on TNN, and even the flw when it was on ESPN.  The on the water stuff is where it's at, no one has really covered it well in the last few years, there always trying to find a gimmick.  Weigh-ins are pretty boring in my opiniion.  Did you notice when he was holding the trophy up they showed the crownd and the exist were jam packed with people leaving.  To those who were there in person, how was it?
-Matt
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: Revtro on February 27, 2006, 01:45:27 PM
Cheetham, you may have a point.  I hadn't considered that. 

Man, I TOTALLY agree with Hooksetter.  Where was Larry Nixon who finished very respectably in this event and had a good bag or two?  They completely disrespected him in my opinion.  I'm glad my DVR also recorded FLW this weekend.  Grr.
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: dartag on February 27, 2006, 04:21:09 PM
remember  Nixon, Shuffield, Cochran, and Luke the winner are all fishing FLW,   why is Bass going to give them props.  they focused more on there own guys..

Rev.  when you watch the FLW notice all the sponsors on boats and shirts they block out.. some was coverage of last year with Everstart.  but there were other shots of kelly Jordon with his shirt blocked out..
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: carolina chip on February 27, 2006, 04:40:08 PM
I think "It is what it is"..... For us bass fishing is a passion... we are rightly critical

For ESPN and  TV, its new territory with regard to figuring out how to bring it real time to the screen....  I feel that BASS is still trying to figure out how to evolve and their TV coverage is part of that equation. I am just glad to see fishing competition making it to the screen.

Overall, I thnk FLW is doing a much better job. Regarding BASS, I have seen enough IKE, Byron and Mcginnis and "whats his name sideburns" that replaced Fish.

I try to be optimistic and say.. I am just glad that fishing is trying to come to primetime sports TV.
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: djkimmel on February 27, 2006, 10:51:15 PM
Good points
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: Cy on March 01, 2006, 01:01:29 PM
Let me start with, I do not work for ESPN or BASS.

I agree with Chip.  I think you have to consider what ESPN is trying to do here.  They are working very hard to bring a normally highly edited for TV sport and show it live.  We are all excited about the idea of live fishing tournaments on TV but lets face it when you are not catching them or only getting a few bits a day the in between times are boring to watch.  Shoot sometimes it is even boring if you are fishing let alone watching.  I was out on Toho Friday morning and ESPN runs a lot of tape back and forth from the cameras to the docks for editing, trying to get good highlights.  They also have to guess who is going to catch them and who is not.  The only option they have is to put an $80,000 camera and an operator in every boat on the water.  That sounds expensive and there is not room for observers then.

I agree that FLW coverage is darn good but they use mostly cheaper, smaller, fixed mount cameras to keep the cost down, I would assume.  The angles are sometimes off camera or the camera is out of focus or it gets dirty.  Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think FLW tries to do live coverage on any of their tournaments.  They have a week to edit before it is aired.  I think it is a catch 22 no matter what they do.

So IMHO ESPN is trying to pioneer something here.  It may never get any better for events like the Classic unless they decide to scrap the live idea and just show the highlights and the big fish a week or two after the event.  Based on most of the opinions here I think that might be a good idea.  I don't know if fishing can ever be a live TV sport.

But I think you do have to admit that ESPN/BASS/ABC/Disney is pumping a lot of money into the sport and that is good for everyone, including guys like us.  I am in the process of hunting for sponsors right now and I am selling bass fishing as the next NASCAR because I think it will get there.  I wouldn't be surprised if the 2010 Classic was on ABC on Saturday afternoon.  Let be honest media is power over the people and these guys have a lot of it!  There is going to be growing pains any time there are major changes to anything and bass fishing is feeling those pains right now.  Lets try and be patient.

Sorry to get on my soap box.

Cfruel
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: blakstr1 on March 01, 2006, 01:49:26 PM
as far as the coverage they know whos catching what, each boat is armed with a nextel phone equipped with basstrak software.  every fish that is caught is logged in immediately by the observer, they enter weight and whether the fish is kept or released, it automatically keeps the top 5 (culling is automatic) these phones in turn relay GPS information to the production trailers, so if an angler suddenly catches a bunch of fish, the camera is on the way.  ESPN had 8 cameras assigned to anglers, the angler and their observer would ride together to a spot while the camera man and a driver followed in a second boat and a film shuttle followed as well.  the camera man and observer would swap positions, if the angler was catching a lot of fish then the camera would stay with him otherwise they would be on to someone who was, but things don't always go as planned...check into Blake's Excellent Adventures tomorrow and read my Day 3 summary, I will explain this in greater detail.

As far as the excitement at the final day weigh in, it was pretty loud from the floor where I was (in the area called the live well in front of the stage) but yes we all took off immediately..  it did drag a bit but weigh-ins are weigh-ins, i guess. 

I know Revtro DVR'd some of it, but did anybody tape or watch any coverage early Sunday morning, basically between 7:00 and 7:30? 
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: Cy on March 01, 2006, 01:58:43 PM
Blakstr1,

I have all the coverage on DVR but I haven't had time to watch any of it yet.  Is there something you are looking for from Sunday morning?
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: Revtro on March 01, 2006, 02:51:01 PM
Yep, I DVR'd it all, but watched it and deleted it already.  Had to make room for 24, Lost, and Battlestar Galactica.  ;D
Title: Re: Classic Coverage
Post by: blakstr1 on March 02, 2006, 06:40:42 AM
Quote from: Cfruel on March 01, 2006, 01:58:43 PM
Blakstr1,

I have all the coverage on DVR but I haven't had time to watch any of it yet.? Is there something you are looking for from Sunday morning?

yeah sunday morning i was at the blast off..i was in the crowd while the 7:00-7:30 basscenter was on.  ESPN brought a camera up there and said we were live a few different times, but nobody has seen it that i know of and i was wondering if i was on TV.  my mother-in-law taped everything that weekend except for that time slot...basically i want to know if they did show people yelling and screaming during that time.