You know what is really crazy about the whole elite series deal? Here's Jared, leading the Bassfan.com rookie of the year race, cashing a bunch of checks and by all accounts having a great season. But the fact that a great rookie season equates to him barely breaking even on expenses with one tournament left to go? that's screwed up.

Say he makes another 10-15k in the final tournament and makes the classic and makes another 15k there (just being realistic about the average amounts of money he might win) At that point you've fished your whole year and made maybe 25-30k? And that's a good year? That's just messed up... Seems like to fish the Elite series you virtually have to have sponsor salary money, money from seminars and appearances, or some other outside income source.

With continued fishing success, Jared will probably get all of those things but its hard for me to see how BASS expects more people to break into the Elite ranks with such tough odds. Tournament fishermen are gamblers by the definition of the sport, but man if someone offered me a job doing something I loved but told me that if I was the best new employee at the end of the year I might get 20-30k, with no benefits and no guarantee of making anything. Whew that would be a tough one to take!

Anyway, I give props to Jared and I hope he keeps doing well. Maybe some day bass fishing can evolve in to a true professional sport where the atheletes are guaranteed to make money if they qualify in to the highest levels. I sure hope so.