Heard this from another angler. Said, he called to check.
No Hydrowaves Electronics
No Biosonix
No Alabama Rigs

Correct. I knew media banned biosonics a couple years ago. Thats why i dont have a hydrowave on my boat.

Dont forget no Jets either

Not everyone has multiple boats like you big boy! LOL

Is there a speeding clause also?

Tiltman don't have a jet!

Get back to the books, Ronnie..

Media seems to me like they are starting to cater to people that complain!!!!

Gordon banned any 2 lure rig when he banned the Alabama Rig. This includes a 2 fluke rig, a jig as a drop shot weight or a jig as a c-rig weight and any other you can think about.
Can you say Senior Moment?

You can look at the bright side, it will be easier to get an AOY if you're only fishing against 15 teams all year.

LOL Thats right Mister Two Boats... J K

That is where it is headed.

Whats next power poles and talons and just like i asked him this year at the ind champ on the red river when will you bring a ind champ on the westside and he said never so to me and others that is catering to your a group of people and other states and makeing other guys drive! This whole deal could open a big can of worms and iam just saying my opinion!

That is stupid!!,

Other than the Lake Fork division its already there... I cant tell you how many anglers I know that wont bother fishing anything right now because divisions cant draw more than a 35 average (other than Champs). What happened to 100 boat tournaments?? Oh thats right everyone decided to make more divisions on top of more divisions, heck lets add a Sunday division that fishes the same stuff the Sat division in the same area does.. then add 2 more divisions to spread everyone out even more! Throw in 3 new trails trying to start up in the same over saturated areas and what do you get?? AWFUL turnouts, horrible payouts, and a big flat waste of time and money! Rant over, carry on.

Buda13 you just hit the nail on the head! I remebr when ind cowtonw had 100+ and then he made all these other divisons and look what happeans every body complains about payouts well it doenst matter what you charge you have to get the people there to have good payouts!

+1

Yeap couldn't agree more. It also really hurts a trail when they change their championship date after the first event. Then change a scheduled Saturday event into "you get to pick if you want to fish Saturday or Sunday because FLW was on the lake Thur-Sat and anglers were crying that the fishing would be tough and the lake was beat up.

I'm stepping down off my soap box now. You'll carry on

Sounds like some of you guys should check out the Bud Light Trail.

Didn't you just win a BLT event where only 26 boats fished? Thats even less than Media.The problem is the economy sucks and theres to many trails.

Yep and they didn't have all those restrictions and championships right here in Texas. That's what the guys in this post are complaining about.

It was also same weekend as bass champs championship along with terrible weather and storms...

Well I am getting a hydrowave, so I guess media will be out for me. Thats plain retarded.

Ya'll don't get on Media soooo hard! Gordon still has some good trails and still gives away a good boat at his championships. You can't please everybody all the time.

Each Trail has it's Pros and Cons! We all know that each Tourney Trail does something that we all like and that we all also dislike.

And, as what was stated earlier, there's no shortage of options if you don't like one particular trail for any given reason.

JM2C.

-alton

im still gonna fish media gonna try to fish all 3 cowtown trails at that. fish the team division by yourself and dont worry the payout will be twice as big

With 15,000,000 options on which divisions to fish... It's probably easier just fishing one lake and jackpotting all that come there! Those fork guys make some cash fishing one lake!

Those Fork guys have to fish Fork only because they can't get there boats out of the water! They're all just tied up on the bank. That's what RedSkeeter told me in a PM!

-alton

You can have a hydrowave, just don't turn it on while fishing media. It sounds like guys are complaining because they don't have one so they think it's not fair. Next thing they'll do is make you govern your boat to 50mph because someone's boat can't go faster that that.

You're a Dr. You should know that Speed kills!

-alton

I do wished there were more individual tournaments

FK, you got that right. I keep hoping BassChamps or Media might bring back an Ind. Trail to the metroplex.

-Alton

There are cowtown Ind in media. This coming year they are more DFW than they ever have been

You are 100% right.

Bass Champs needs it bad. They could run a heck of an individual circuit.

The reason Champs and BLT don't have an idividual trail is Lack of interest.

Media is painting thereselves in a corner. When you start banning equipment that is legal on all other trails you loose anglers. Pure and simple. It is bad buisness.

LOL.....

I have some strong opinions, but this forum is not the venue to express my feelings.. I would talk to Gordon or David Haas in person, I owe them that.

We have the option to fish the trail, or not to fish..

It’s hard to please everyone, I think in trying to do that an organization can unwittingly hurt itself.
The old saying holds true in this case for me.. Less, is more

Media has always been the trend setter in odd rules. If the state allows the A-Rig and Hydrowave so should Media.

I remember fishing Media on Fork Slot lakes back around 2007.

I think 60 or so boats showed up and first place only won $2K and some change, and they also paid so deep that it was really a waste of time.

Plus it would take them forever and a day to get the payouts and announce who won money after weigh in.

+1

I will go out on a limb and say this.................

Media needs to be more worried about its rules already in place. Because I have watched them over the last few years bend them and cater to cry babies who wine to David Haas and Gordon. Rules are rules, set them, and leave them alone. Dont change or bend 1 because someone comes crying to you to change it for their benefit.

I hope that is one strong limb!

LOL!!!

......

Off Topic - my thoughts about the state of bass fishing tournaments and low numbers.

Let me jump out and say from what I see and read.....

I think Tournament Fishing has lost it's glory.

Bash me for saying it, but how many times have I read on here "We don't want no stinky pros telling us to use something they get paid for", "This stinky wrapped boat ran upon me and started cussing me!" ect, ect. You all know the post!

You can post any pro's name on here and I promise someone will get on here and say they are rich, cheating, using too many lures on one rod,ect.....

It's just too much Negativity! AND that has spread to people's perception of the sport!

I think the glory just isn't there anymore.

Now days it's almost frowned upon to want to be a Professional Bass Fisherman.

I think we buried ourselves in the sand!

I dont think you'll get bashed for saying that, I am not sure Glory is the right word though....reverence maybe?

I still like to compete, will follow what ever rules that are in place A rigs & Hydrowaves or no.

Pretty hard to get excited about it though wondering if there will be any ramps in the water anywhere.

Yep, on a lake he guides on. My only beef with the BLT is they allow guides.

I have no issue with guides fishing trails as long as they follow the same rules as everyone else.

You might want to check and see how many of those that fished had spent two or three times more days on the water than I had then you might have someone to gripe about. I don't think folks understand how much time on the water some of these locals are putting on the water before these tourneys prefishing. They jump on the guide bandwagon but are fine with folks that get to tournament prefish more than guides do. Doesn't make much sense but there is always something for someone to gripe about.

Me neither. I don't mind guides at all.

I have an issue spending my hard earned money to fish a tournament trail where there is a guide who gets to prefish everyday and soremouth fish all week while the rest of the field is at work. As far as a working man tournament or fishing for fun, I could care less. Bring it on. However, I'm not driving 2-3 hours and wasting that money to donate it to a guide.

But you will donate it to jackpotters??

Sounds like you need to find a local bass club. I hadn't been on Ivie in almost exactly a month before that tournament because I had been in and out of doctors offices/hospital. I drove over Friday night and signed up and went fishing...check and see how many teams hired other guides to take them out prior to the tourney.

Don't get your panties in a wad. Just calling it what it is. I don't donate money in tournaments. I fish to win. A working man tournament usually runs around 50 bucks or less. There's are big difference between 50 bucks to fish locally and 160 and 250 in gas and hotels. As far as you telling me I need to find a bass club, well I'm in one. Ive been a member of the Granbury Bass Club since 2003. Been everything from a TD to club president.

So basically your calling out a trail for something, that wouldn't even effect you becasue you don't fish their trail anyway?

All the more reason to increase the the payout and not pay so deep. Just sayin'.

Jackpotters are much more dangerous than guides. Anybody that has guided knows why. You spend more time babysitting and picking out backlashes than actual pre-fishing.

Youre on a forum discussing Media tournaments. Every media tournament runs at least 150. So, why voice your opinion if its not relevant to the discussion then gripe at someone when they react to it?

I don't get my panties in a wad don't wear them. I wear big boy pants when I fish tournaments and don't care who I fish against. Just the same whining I heard when I was at Amistad. Guides couldn't fish but there are 20 or more folks that can fish everyday a lot of them retired (folks know the names) that are fine to fish. Guides are just an easy target for folks that don't win.

Guides actually have a lot on the line when they fish a tournament on their home lake. Bomb and see how fast that news travels. That's why you don't see all the guides on a lake fish them.

Try again fish killer. I can tell your getting a little testy because you want to stick up for your buddy. I fish the BLT ft worth division and always will as long as they are around. I am good friends with Chris Davis and I believe they have the best trail around. They are well ran and don't cater to the good ol boys network like some of the others do. Again, my only beef is that they allow guides. Dont try to twist what I say.

Man... you guys are testy today. I'm going fishing. lol

God forbid someone post on this forum with a difference in opinion from the folks who spend their lives on this forum. Thanks for the reminder as to why I hardly get on here anymore.

Its funny you say that...I replied to your post that you directed at me for guides being able to fish...

I said why would you not want guides but would love to fish against jackpotters and you don't have a logical response then get mad at the forum or whoever. I think if you check this post there is a different opinion in each post without anyone getting their behind hurt about the forum.

The only person butt hurt on here appears to be you for someone mentioning that you won a BLT tournament on a lake that you guide on. Again, just calling it what it is. I don't know else to explain it to you. I don't mind dropping 50 and fishing against locals, guides, or even elite series pros. Hell I do it often at granbury and EM and have been on both the giving and receiving end of a beat down . The difference is, I'm driving 20 or 30 minutes and I'm playing around with 50 bucks rather than a couple hundred plus expenses.

If you're looking for someone to play on line with all day then find someone else. I have work to do. Hopefully someday we will have the chance to fish against one another and enjoy some friendly competition, but I don't have the time to argue on the internet bud. Enjoy.

NOT WANTING TO START ANYTHING BUT I JUST LOOKED @ THE RULES POSTED FOR SQUAW CREEK OPEN AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING IN THERE ABOUT ANY KIND OF RIGS. ALL I SAW WAS ONE ROD ONE REEL AND ONE "LURE".THAT WORD "LURE" COVERS ALOT OF TERRITORY.I'M NOT SAYING, I'M JUST SAYING, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

My day is going by so much quicker because of this thread. WHen JR stayed at my house during the lewisville open I did find a pair of Thongs in the guest bedroom.... Now I understand.

Lol

I agree with JR, let the guides fish. There are locals that spend 3-5 days on the water, prior to an event. Look at the guys that are at the top in almost every event on one lake. I guarantee most are on the water as much, or more than a guide.

Want to make it an even field? Make Mon-Fri before the tournament off limits. I bet the standings would change

Let who ever wants to fish fish. If you can't beat them, then you need to get better. Don't worry about who you are fishing against you have to be smarter than the fish first.

How 'bout no rules and we eliminate the lie detectors?

Nothing like that breeze off the water wile fishing with nothing but a thong on!

IMHO...Jackpotters are the ones who should not be allowed.
Guides aren't the problem in tourneys.

And when it comes to payback money and places,
Grandpa used to say, "Money is like manure, it don't do you no good unless you spread it around".....

I don't fish tourneys, but if I did, if I didn't like a trails rules, I wouldn't fish that trail.

I got pictures!! And you don't want to see them.

I know Media is taking some punches here and I did not fish any of their events the last year but it was more due to my schedule and other commitments at home and work. If they have had a decline in quality then i do not know that firsthand. I have always enjoyed Media and made some good friends fishing it. That being said the only complaints I have had is that a quick look back over the last 5-7 years shows the west divisions have been supported out here but yet we do not really get a Championship in this area. Texoma is not west to me. Also I know the Top 5 payouts are really on opposite ends of the spectrum especially on the individual side. I won one with about 70 boats in it and madearound $1300 and have had Top 5's with approx: same number of boats and barely got $125-150. Just a lot of difference in that range. Then again I remebered I don't fish Media with the idea to get rich and I guess I should have fished better and finished higher if I wanted a bigger check. I like the competition and the people I fish against. i have enjoyed Media in the poast and will at least give it another shot in the future.

Man, I should have made a big bowl of popcorn.

I was real glad to see a team championship on Hubbard Creek this year and I hope Gordon keeps a West championship. I don't have a problem with guides or jackpotters fishing because on any given cast it could be you. Besides if it weren't for jackpotters there wouldn't be any tournaments at all on some lakes.
I fish Media because I like the lakes they schedule. Rather than slam the trail either fish another or work with them to make it better.

Off my soap box.

Later

You guys had better watch out. I just heard Media Bass has instituted a new rule banning criticism of their rules on interenet forums. You are all Dq'ed.

Thanks for the gold John.

I think the West Texas Team Trail actually has a rule about criticism of their trail.

B.A.S.S. used to (might still) have a rule about criticizing their trail and if you fished with them and criticized them in public, you were subject to DQ from their tourneys....
something about conduct unbecoming of the sport of fishing...

Pretty bad if a trail has to make a rule about criticism. Maybe it's the crybaby rule.

Sounds like Gestapo talk to me

Not all Guides are good anyway !!!

I think Brazos Bass Cat in his original post was just stating his opinion on whether he thought guides should fish in tournaments or not. There wasn't a need to get defensive.

I think Media runs a decent trail. I will still fish some. There guide rule NO. 17 states you must not have guided within 60 days of the tournament. That sounds fair to me. Theres just to many trails and that is the real problem. Working mans pay way better by percentage but you still have jackpotters guides and pros.I just wish there were less choses and more entrys.IMO

I was making an unfunny joke. If that's a for real joke.. a bigger joke than I thought.

In my post above, I wasn't knocking the WTTT or B.A.S.S.

I was just stating what I had heard/and or read somewhere. Friends of mine have fished the WTTT and they told me about their "no complaining about the WTTT rules" rule.

The following paragraph is from the front page of the WTTT website:

"The rules are simple and easy to understand. Nothing is hidden and everything is written out where you know the rules going in. I know you will find the weigh-in to be very efficient and fair. Anyone, in the director’s opinion, that constantly gripes about a rule or a lake choice will be asked to not fish the balance of the season."
(westtexastournamenttrail.com)

I do remember a story from a few years ago about BASS having a rule about "negative press" or something of that nature and that if you signed up to fish their events, you couldn't publicly criticize them without getting into trouble with them.

Wonder if that rule still applies!?

BASS got bashed hard this year after 2 of the Open events. Some big names had negative post all over their FB, talking bad about the way BASS handled things

This thread reminds me of a boiled egg fart!! You know it's gonna stink after you rip it, but you just HAVE to get a smell to confirm it!

Point is: you know this thread sux, but you still have to open it to confirm it! Lol!

It's simple: fish it or don't fish it. Drama drama drama! Which leads to other trails being pulled in this carnival game.

I prefer to crop dust the toy isle at Wal-Mart then watch as all the parents check their kids diapers. Life's little pleasures.

I don't have a Problem at all with JR(or any guide for that matter) Fishing in the samee Trail I am fishing in. Being a Guide doesn't make them a Magical angler. Being a GOOD angler is why they can keep return clients and be a guide in the first place.

Being a Guide won't win a single tourney. They still have to be able to put together the best limit of fish the lake can provide.

Gandy, come see this....... John made a funny! Good stuff John

I will be fishing media because i like to fish! wow...Hit the easy button!

I fish Media because it offers strong competetion on a diverse schedule of lakes in the most convenient locations for the amount of time and resources I care to invest at this moment. I have no question about the integrity of the people who run their tournaments, or the way in which they are run. Their stated rules are what they are, if you disagree with them, don't fish their events.

I don't disagree with the fact that their rules may/do turn some anglers away from fishing their trail, but as everyone has repeatedly stated, there are sooo many trails to fish around... There's gotta be one that suits your preferences. And if not, well start your own... everyone else is right?

Hmmmmmm. We know the definition of a "guide", but what is the definition of a "jackpotter"?

Banning a local that fishes or performs well on one particular lake is a pretty ridiculous idea.

I actually like Media and the payout and I couldn't care less whether they allow the Sucker Rig in tournaments or not. If you need more than one bait on your line to catch a fish then take up trolling for striper. I only wish 'Ol Joe would have sent the Cowtown to Hubbard Creek again this year. C'MON JOE!

I love me some Hubbard creek but it's all good we will go north instead of west this year

I am too lazy to look it up...so somebody tell me what the off limits period is for guides on a given lake in Media.

Rule 17- Off limits is the same as anyone providing that they havent guided within 60 days before the tourney. Thats the way I understand it.I should have said on the tourney lake.

So is banning guides. Do a few offlimits days and have at it.

Agreed.

That's why they should open it up to anyone. It doesn't matter to me whether the off-limits is none or a week. Most of the time I fish so many tournaments and I have a full-time job I don't have time to pre-fish anyways. Let guides fish, jackpotters, etc... It's you against the fish, not you against the other guys.

If you are getting beat by someone, get out there and get better.

Can’t you just take the hydrowave or biosonix off your boat for the tournament?

Very easily

Long as you dont turn it on should be legal.

Let's get our rule straight and try to explain why it's in place. It's NOT a rule to control criticism.
1). Any team member that is found by the tournament director to be excessively complaining about a rule, a lake choice or the way the trail is run, may be asked by the director to not fish the remainder of the season.

We listen to everyone's opinion and even do voting on matters that people ask to be brought up. But, when someone continues to gripe at the next tournament once a matter is discussed and explained, the rule comes into play. It's a rule put in place to keep the trail fun and not hear a bunch of constant griping about why this lake, why this rule about off limits, why this and why that. You wouldn't believe what all a TD hears constantly from a select few. 99% of the anglers are there to have fun, compete and try to get a check. 1% are there to complain because someone beat them or they don't like the off limits or lake choice. I saw the TD of the FLW have to be airlifted to the hospital because of stress caused by several fisherman chewing on him about canceling day one on Amistad. TD's have enough of a job to do in order to make sure the trails are run smoothly than to have to argue with someone constantly that doesn't like a rule.

Media runs a great trail out here in West Texas. Tommy does an awesome job and we work together 100% to make it easier on the fishermen and fish. However, we will not be banning the hydrowave, biosonix or A-rig in the WTTT.

sounds like it should be called the "because we said so" rule.

I totally understand the point of your rule, but also you must understand the anglers are indeed "customers" and paying ones at that, so some will expect to be able to complain and some too much. But when your profiting off another person,listening to a lot of hot air goes along with it, IMO. Its not like your paying them to come fish.

Looks like trouble in paradise out at ivie

Haha...I like how my post got singled out...

It is a "Crybaby" rule as I said. If you complain too much you don't have to fish the trail or be allowed to.

I only wish I made money in this trail. With the door prizes that I buy directly out of my pocket, my time and the expenses for motel and gas, paying the entry for staff that helps at the weigh-in and paying the entry for my website guys, I honestly lose money. The Rod Glove and Sure Life Labs are the only sponsors that actually give us free products. I do it because there was a need for a trail out here for the father/son, husband/wife and two friends type of entry in West Texas and I love it.

Look up the word "excessive" in Websters. Geeesss!!! "going beyond the usual, necessary, or proper limit or degree"

Tommy I wasn't pointing the finger at you personally, but at the organizations as a whole. I meant a rule like that is very hard to interrupt and/or enforce. Though it would be nice to be able to say , "you've complained too much your out! " lol

The truth is its human nature to complain , but some do it too much at times.

Kudos to y'all for providing a trail to fish out west !!

All i have to say is media will never be what it use to be! I still dont understand why when you have 100+ in an indv trail why would you make more indv trails then it makes the indv trails smaller and the paybacks smaller i know your not going to get rich fishing these but i sure would like to fish agianst 100 and not 30! These rules about dont use this and dont use that is just becasue people complain about it casue they dont have one and other people do and in my opion and i say this in my opionion its dumb to make up rules as you go! If some one doesnt have something save up and go buy it dont complain casue other people have it and you dont! All my opionion!

Nothing taken personally for sure Doug. The point of the whole topic is just like Dax said,,,,, just because the majority doesn't have this or that is not a justification to ban something that's 100% legal. I'm really on the fence about the A-Rig. But, I personally use multiple bait rigs in drop shotting or on a double fluke Carolina rig. If that were the case, why not ban side finders? I can truly find fish on a side finder that someone without one can't find.

What makes no sense at all to me is there reasoning

"The Alabama Rig - Due to the possibility of serious injury to bass, Media Bass has revised our rules (Rule #8) '... not more than two separate lures with hooks may be used at a time by contestants.' This rule adaptation will allow anglers who wish to use the Alabama Rig to use the rig, they just cannot have ;more than two lures with hooks on it."

I have been using this rig for several months now. I have doubled up on stripers, sand bass & Largemouth. There has not been more than one hook in each fish and they where all in the mouth and in most cases I've been using 3/8 oz saltwater jigs with exposed hooks. No fowl hooks or excessive injury to any of the fish that I have caught.

Besides, I think people need to realize that this is not the be all end all piece of equipment it works great under the right conditions, but if the fish aren't biting its one of the last things they are going to go for.

What Media needs to worry about is sticking to the rules they already have in place, and not bending them for a few people.

For everybody crying about not being able to use their Hydro Wave, better go reread the rules.

Medias website says it is still ok to use the hydrowave. So can we use it or not.

if it's on the website, it is legal in court.

............Dang Sinkey that's the smartest thing I've heard you say in a couple years!

That was an old post before the changing of the rules.

I don't have a problem with Gordon placing a ban on the A-Rig but be honest and just say it because "I don't like it". The BS of using the idea that it will cause a higher rate of fish mortality is nuts when there isn't any thing that contributes to fish kills more than gut hooking one with the C-rig.

One of the main reasons that team trails don't draw as much as they used to is because of all the weekday "working mans" trails that sprung up the last severaL years. Alot of those teams who are fishing during the week don't fish the weekend trails anymore. There are only so many tournament anglers to go around. If there were less working mans tourneys, then the weekend trails participation would increase. Plus, the price of fuel, travel, motels, practice time, etc. makes it easier to stay close to home and fish a weekday trail than to follow a weekend trail. Plus, the entry fees on working mans trails are usually 1/2 (or less) than what a weekend trails entry fees are. The same goes for paybacks too. The economy plays a huge part in why tournament participation is down in many trails.

Too many divisions, too many trails, and a bad economy. Simple as that.

I agree Bullet, but I would add this:

Too many trails, too many divisions, too many working mans tourneys, too many "open" tourneys, too many Big Bass tourneys and a bad economy.

I think the reason for all the weeknight tournaments and open tournaments is because the fishermen make more money because of the over saturated trails. I can hold an open and draw 15 teams and the winners make as much as the winner in a 25 boat field at some of these divisional tournaments. I am not bashing the tournament trails, but i think that if they would eliminate a good percent of the divisions you would see less opens and lower participation at some of these weeknight events. Bottom line is in this economy, you get more bang for your buck fishing jackpots and weeknights.

The main thing of the A-rig is not that you catch so many numerous fish at on time. I activates suspended fish into chasing what looks like a school of shad.

More bass caught more bass to weigh in = more work for the TD..could that be the reason Media doesn't allow it..