He's not the only one.

Not sure Chris but I know a lot of Elites fish more than just the Elite series tournaments. For example all of this years MLF also fished their respective other tours granted the MLF stuff normally only took up 2-3 weeks total during the year. Will be interesting to watch how it plays out regardless.

Seems like to try and kill BASS and the people it promotes may hurt the MLF overall. After all using the BASS Elite Pros seemed to be part of there model. The advertising dollars are with BASS right now, Its up to the MLF to make this successful.

I doubt BASS is going anywhere. I am guessing to make it successful in its infancy they will work around the BASS schedule.

Plus side is there will be some openings for some anglers.

I think people also are missing that if JM thought BASS/FLW were going away he would not have renewed his sponsorship of both.

He just renewed with FLW and added Nitro and Triton as boat sponsors and the 2019 Open are named the Bass Pro Shops Opens.

If BASS guys leave their spots will be filled with open qualifiers and then FLW guys flock to the opens trying to get in. Theres more money in BASS than FLW by sponsors. Its pretty well known.

I'm sure the timing of this release is no coincidence that they waited until B.A.S.S. and FLW announced their 2019 schedules before making this announcement. Note that the release doesn't have tournament waters/dates, yet, so it's highly doubtful that they'll conflict.

That is correct in my opninion. Those 2 aren't going away and no one wants them to. I think BASS re-structures it's pathways and cost in order to fill fields more along the lines of FLW. Those two will have to compete more head to head to draw the anglers not in the MLF. To me, FLW already living in that world is less exposed than BASS.

A lot of un answered questions here. Are we sure everyone is going to jump ship? What is their incentive to leave?

I don't think there's any way to not conflict. FLW and BASS have a hard enough time scheduling events. And I believe they both have their schedules arranged such that tour pros have to choose one trail or the other. Throw another tour in the mix and there will have to be some scheduling conflicts. As for the "are we sure anyone's going to jump ship?" you can bet they will. Higher payouts, more exposure, MLF fish-care practices, cumulative weight for the day versus best 5, and on.

Hopefully no entry fees and good payouts. Making the best of the best wanting to fish it.

with x amount of money out there for real pro fishing the pie gets cut again.

I'll probably get flamed for this but choosing 9/11 to do this press release should have been more thought out.

Nope. I agree 100%

There are 365.25 days in a year.....they can pick another day.

Today is a day for remembering the attacks on our soil, and the men and women that lost their lives, either innocently or by helping others.

Couldn't agree more. Bad PR on Day 1...

I think they did it because they had to many leaks already and felt like they needed to get ahead of it. They could have waited one more day though