Back in the days of the Bassmaster Invitationals, if you sacked a state limit every day during the qualifying tournaments, you were practically assured a Bassmaster Classic berth. This is no longer true. Due to the five-bass limit, the increased caliber of the competition and the generally improved bass fishing, kicker bass are essential for survival on the Bassmaster Elite Series trail. This is also true of other highly competitive, top-level tournaments, such as the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens.
