While at Gary’s Tackle Box in Gainesville, FL the other day I visited with Patrick Pierce, Bernie Schultz, and Shaw Grigsby – 3 of the 49 pros competing in this week’s Bassmaster Classic Wildcard presented by Star Tron on Lake Okeechobee. Make that ‘3 of the Floridians in a field of 49 competitors’ who are fishing for the last spot in the 2014 Classic field.

There are more than a few Floridians in the field and most have extensive experience on the “Big O”.

One of the gripes circulating through Internet communities is that the tournament’s location at Okeechobee provides a heavy advantage for Sunshine-Staters.

Another complaint was a total payout of (only) $80,000 with an entry fee of $2,000.

With a maximum field size of 175, the payout doesn’t look very good on paper. Just getting there is expensive as Okeechobee isn’t on anybody’s way to anywhere. Heck, I live in Florida and the lake is over halfway to Cuba from my front door. I can get to Atlanta as quickly as Okeechobee.

And, among the field of 49, 13 are from Florida. Including Roland Martin. Might it be tough for out-of-staters to compete? Yes. But it will be tough for even the natives. And please, show me a lake where there would not be a home field advantage for somebody. At least this advantage is split between 13 different guys so nobody emerges as an outright favorite.

Now for the good news:  Chris Lane, Bobby Lane and Terry Scroggins won’t be there. They already qualified for the Classic. That helps the guys who are fishing.

Also good news:  only 49 pros took Bassmaster up on this offer to grab a spot in the Classic. The $80,000 prize structure still stands. The top 30 will still be paid. That’s over 60% of the field.

That prize structure makes the financial risk much more palatable, especially in the face of the potential reward. Most of the field will break even or make money as they fish for the much larger prize of Classic entry.

“Chris Bowes told me it was a fixed payout,” said Schultz. “I said ‘ok’ and hung up the phone. Then I sat there and said ‘what does that mean? What is a fixed payout?’ So I called Chris back and asked ‘what’s a fixed payout?”

Schultz learned that by ‘fixed payout’ Bowes meant the top 30 would share the $80,000 purse regardless of how many – or in this case, fortunately for the contestants – how few signed up to fish.

Some Floridians I like in this event would include :

Shaw Grigsby if the bass are bedding in any numbers and the weather cooperates in his favor.

Patrick Pierce is one of the best flippers you may not yet know of. But remember that name. Try not to get stuck fishing behind him. Pat doesn’t miss much. Ask me how I know.

Bernie Schultz is versatile and draws upon decades of experience with Florida bass. If the topwater bite is strong, so too will be his chances to win. I have watched him work magic with a Rapala X-Rap Prop.

We all know Roland Martin is practically fishing in his back yard. He won Bassmaster events on the big lake in 1980 and 1991.

Drew Benton of Panama City, FL won on the FLW Tour event in February of this year Okeechobee. I watched from the back deck of his Phoenix boat as Benton intercepted numerous 5-pounders from a wave of prespawn females. Many of the lake’s bass are heading towards bedding grounds as you read this.

Then there’s Cliff Prince from Palatka, FL. The Elite Series pro can flat out fish.

Oh, and while Bobby and Chris will sit this one out, there’s still a Lane fishing the Wildcard:  their brother, Arnie Lane. Enough said?