Vote for an Okie

B.A.S.S. is doing something new, and kind of screwy in my opinion, in its post-season format this year.
Instead of qualifying its top 12 anglers in the season point standings to the post-season tournaments as in the past, B.A.S.S. is only taking the top eight.
The final four spots will be determined by fan voting. Instead of getting in based on merit, it becomes a popularity contest. It doesn’t seem fair to the guys who finished ninth through 12th in the point standings but B.A.S.S. is trying to generate more fan interest in pro bass fishing.
However, this new format could be good for Ardmore angler Jeff Kriet, who did not finish in the top 12 but was leading the voting in Region 2 as of Tuesday. Tommy Biffle of Wagoner was fourth behind Denny Brauer and Rick Clunn in that region.
Oklahoma already has one pro angler in the field, Talala’s Edwin Evers, who finished second to Kevin VanDam for the Bassmaster Angler of the Year title for the second consecutive year.
Evers is one of three Oklahoma anglers who have qualified for next year’s Bassmaster Classic. The others are Kriet and Bixby pro Fred Roumbanis.
Voting continues for the final four spots to the $100,000 post-season events in Alabama at Vote.Bassmaster.com through Sunday.
Oklahoma fishing fans hopefully will cast enough votes to put another Okie casting in the post-season tournaments, which begin July 23-24 at Alabama’s Lake Jordan then moves to the Alabama River for the July 29-31 finale.
The four winners will be announced July 13.

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