So Bass Pro runs the numbers...at the top of the best selling rods, Mr Crappie. OK, they're here to make $, so they decide to cut out part of the chain. "Wally, we want to buy the Mr Crappie name." Waldo says "No thanks." Should have been the end of it, right? Wrong.

BPS takes the rods, makes some subtle changes and markets them as Crappie Max. They have the right, so it should be over, right? Wrong.

The 2012 Master catalog comes out and on the page with the Crappie Max rods there is a silhouette of guess who in the background? I guess they just can't take no for an answer.


Wally's been cool with the deal, refusing to bash or say anything bad about BPS. They didn't ask permission to put the pic up...cheap shot. Very cheap.......

Thats Low !!!! I think this is the pic Tony ?

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores...pring_master_12

Wonder why Bass Pro does not carry Lew's stuff......Way to go Bass Pro, real classy....

So you guys will be boycotting Bass Pro now, right?

I got on here and bragged about my crappie maxx rod the other day. Now I feel like I need a shower. I really didn't know. Yuck.

Good one!
After fishing, BPS is my crack.
Maybe you can just call Johhny Morris and give him what fer.

That's some pretty shady business dealings... hmmm

wonder how much money and boats they gave the guy while he was fishing for them?

Nice....

I wonder if they have usage (copyright) rights to all publicity photos?

I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong...but it's bidness. Bidness is bidness. And that beez bidness.

Anyone using someone's photo without a release is subject to a lawsuit.

It's still publicity for Wally, I'd think it would be good for both of them. They probably own the photo and didnt need permission. I see your point though.

+1. You can bet their marketting staff scored another big one with this but, as in the quote, "bidness is bidness. And this is bidness".

You can also bet that their attorney's did their research on the fact as well.

I would fire the marketing director over this.

I would give him a promotion. This is free publicity for them. Just saying, bidness is bidness!

I got a 10' Crappie Max for Sale.

They made him an offer to buy his business and he declined. In the catalog it could be argued that the silhouette is Woo Daves, Jerry Jones or Alfred E Neuman. I'm not saying it's illegal, just unethical to "imply" that the rods are Wally's. Must say something about the selling history of his rods.

No big thing, it just caught my eye.

I wonder, do you know for sure that they've done something unethical or is this an assumtion on your part. Do you have some connection to Wally Marshall that would make you take this personally? Maybe he gave them permission. Maybe they still have rights to use his image in their advertising. They most likely paid him to use his image. Just because he wouldn't sell the rights to his name doesn't mean he wouldn't take their money to use his picture.

I think the picture is just an example of what they've done. Notice the Crappie Maxx rods have the same names as Wally's line? Tightline Special, Pro Series, etc. I would think that the fact that Wally and I have been friends for years might skew my opinion, but I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to see what they're doing. Assumption? I guess. Just throwing it out there, let the people decide.

already boycotted due to the fact you can buy it cheaper at other places and they started charging tax for on line purchases even though it is shipped from out of state - a pure rip off

Since you're good friends with Wally, why not ask him and get your facts before posting something like this?

i still love my crappie max rod though.

I am not an intellectual property (copyright) atrorney but I work in advertisement and have seen this before. From my experience if BPS ever had the right to use his photo in any of their catalogs then they can use it in anyway they choose. Basically they do this bc when the contract is signed the marketing folks do not want to limit themselves to where they could use a logo/photo in the future. It's really not in a contract to rip anyone off. It's bc the catalog has not been designed at the time the contract is signed. I'm sure as someone said earlier bass pro as well as walley have attorneys that have looked it over. Im not at all saying this is right, but it's probably not illegal.

And what makes you think I haven't?

Alls fair in LOVE, WAR, and BIDNESS.

Sometimes it stinks,,,but that's the way the game is played universally today.