BFL Cowboy 2012

Guys, I am asking that those of you that fish the Cowboy division please make your thoughts known. There was a rumor on here over the last few weeks that the Cowboy division is going to the Atachafalaya Basin and also in the same area to Bayou Black next year. Both of these destinations are somewhere around 7 hours from central Texas and around 5 hours from the Houston area. Over the weekend this years tournament director indicated that this was the tentative schedule for next year. If you are a BFL Cowboy fisherman, or were considering fishing next year let FLW know you're feelings on this schedule. My understanding is that Anthony Wright who was our tournament director a few years ago controls this schedule, please reach out to him at awright@flwoutdoors.com before they release this schedule for next year.

+1
They lost me as an angler for sure.

They handed this schedule out at the meeting on friday night at Red River.. Cant make any numbers work from Dallas work short of winning every T and the Contingencies..

They lost me too! I thought the Cowboy Division was more Texas than half in central to eastern Louisana. 8 hours drive ain't worth the low payout. Plan on fishing Bass Champs which are within 5 hrs and pay at least 5 times the money!!!! Change the schedule and I'll reconsider.

Many years ago this was a Red MAN TOURNAMENT TRAIL they fished B Sandlin, Tawakoni, Palestine. I do remember that one year went to Choke Canyon. But it was all in Texas tournaments, hence Cowboy Division.
And they lost me going to Louisiana, to far to go.

I'm out as well

Dang guess i'm not gonna fish it next yr either. Thats some hard travel.

I was really wanting to fish it next year but as stated before its just too much driving. I remember when it was RedMan and it came to Bob Sandlin. I would love for either BFL or BWS to come back to pines or sandlin or both.

They r having the two day super tournament at Pines next season gonna a good one. I think sandlin is a great lake but alittle small fot these.I don't mind going to red river i like it there but the basin and bayou black are way to far

Sandlin is Small but its 9500 acres and with no more boats than they draw it would handle great.

Toledo,Rayburn,livingston or conroe, pines would b real nice schedule imo

Rayburn, Toledo, Livingston, Richland, Pines

I like fishing Bayou Black and Atchafalaya BUT would take a little more time on prefishing, days off, as well as the miles...

Steve can you do something to slow the fall on Sandlin???

Were going to have to fish four couples per boat... lol...


Just my thoughts...

My vote is Feb Toledo Mar Tyler Apr Rayburn Jun Livingston and Sept Pines

Does anyone know if u have priority into the everstarts next season could i say only fish rayburn and toledo or do u have to fish all 4 of the tournaments to have priority co angler side

Shane when was the last time you fished a tourney that wasnt on Tyler or Pines? lol

John, Sandlin isnt fall much now. I went out there for the first time in a month today after work. There is still lots of water to fish. I really wouldnt worry about it much.

Feb: Toledo Bend, Mar: Rayburn, Apr: Livingston, Jun: Red River, Sep: 2 Days TB or Rayburn. Forget Conroe unless it rains being drawn down so Houston can have water.

Lake Belton can be considered. Fishing for Freedom (15 Oct) has over 225 boats signed up already and growing daily.

I think Top 40 boaters and coanglers at end of year points in a division get priority... hope this helps...

Belton,whitney and waco can handle enough boats also

Did they happen to disclose the date and location for the regional at the end of the year? I had heard Red River was at the top of the running.

I agree also. Belton, Waco and several Central Texas lake's would be more than big enough for a BFL tournament and I guarantee the turn out would be better. Why call it the Cowboy Division and the tournaments are not even held in Texas? What a concept!!!!

Intend to fish (boater) this as my first BFL circuit so I'll weigh in on this. What about a Northeast-Southwest stretch: Lake O' The Pines, Rayburn/Toledo Bend, somewhere between Houston & Conroe where Everstart has been, Amistad/Choke?

Out of San Antonio so its already 5-7 hours travel to the East/Northeast for us but i'm Trying to avoid my bias (South Texas) but for me fishing BFL is preparation for Everstart...

2/25/11-Sam Rayburn out of Cassells Boykin (not sure of spelling)
3/17/11-Toledo Bend out of Sam Miguel
4/28/11-Atch. Basin out of Belle River Landing
6/9/11-Bayou Black out of Bob's Bayou Black Marina
9/29/11-Lake O Pines

October 17,18,19-Regional on Red River out of Grand Ecore
All American is on the Potomac River up in DC area

this was given to me by anthony wright on the phone. he said it was final as of now.

I live in north LA and me and a few guys plan on fishing boater next year. I agree and would not prefer to travel that far down south as well. From Monroe,LA it's around a 5+hour trip. I would be ok with one trip down there and have one of the other east TX lakes thrown in the mix,or red river, but it's the regional, so that's alright. Two trips down south for alot of the TX guys is not going to be a fun trip time and cost wise in my opinion. I bet some of it has to do with how many they can draw. Alot of the Media Bass trails down there are drawing 70-80 per tourny down there, so FLW is probably thinking they can get a 125+ field by going down there. My 2 cents. Bryan Adams.

Guys trust me they are not monitoring TTF, if you want your voice heard send them an email.

I like the schedule and plan on fishing the circuit. I don't think it would be good business to change the plan once the plan has been distributed to the public

Also, I saw on Rayburn it said Casa blanca??? Cassells Boykin maybe? I wonder why San Miguel instead of Cypress Bend launch on toledo? I don't think it would be wise to change stuff once it's put out, just would rather alot of folks not have to go that far south....but, with what I've seen on alot of the local tournies down there, I bet the turnouts are going to surprise some folks..fishing too.

I dont know why this always comes up...
Its a business and they are out to make the most money. And someday have the best tournament trail around. There is no such thing as a Cowboy division any more, its the Louisiana division that happens to be named "Cowboy". They go where they can get the numbers. They had a cowboy division back a few years ago... I fished it... and take it from me, the numbers sucked, therefore no need to have a Cowboy division when it costs them more money to drag the stage around the state than they are bringing in. Right now they are drawing terrific number (compared to) and from talking with the guys that are fishing it this year, they like the trail and the changes they have made. I live in Fort Worth so every tourney for the past 2 years has been a 5 hour drive time AVERAGE. next year will be a little worse, no big deal, i like the trail, money isnt great. until you get to the Super Tourney or the regional champs, and the chance to qualify for bigger and better things is right there.
My Grandpa told me a long time ago. You do not fish for the money, if you do you are wasting your time and a whole lot of money... Just Fish, if you make money along the way.. GREAT. the BFL is not designed to "get rich" off of. its all about qualifying for regionals and the next level, which is what helps FLW grow.

Grassroots tourneys with cheap entries, is going to = grassroots tourneys with cheap payouts... its simple math...

They will draw good numbers at the basin and the bayou.. trust me.

I'll be fishing the full trail this year. See yall out there!

I do remember seeing a few years back there was a TX and a LA division and poor turnout. It has been better number wise since they combined. I think in the long run it will be a plus for the division...2 tournys down south EVERY year, maybe not, but I'm sure some of the south LA guys don't want to go to Toledo or Rayburn every time either. Plus there are plenty tournies on those two lakes that folks can fish. In the end FLW is trying to do what is best for FLW and the fishermen. What we have to do is support it best we can. Plus, the more folks that show up, the better the payouts. I don't know about most folks, but if I'm fishing the BFL or any trail to make alot of money, I'm way behind

If they aren't monitoring TFF and they make their money in Texas running a fishing trail then they aren't that smart to begin with... Why did they say they were adding the new lakes to the trail?

Should just rename it the East Texas Division......

I'm not sure...myself, i've never fished Rayburn and just spelled out what it sounded like he said. Sorry for misleading.

Is this Black Bayou or Bayou Black? And where is it? I found Black Bayou, but not Bayou Black.

I plan on fishing these tournaments next year. Do not really like having to go down south twice but I will still make the drive.

Everyone is intittled to his or her opinion. With that being said, If it's grass roots fishing like you stated; Why is it costing me more to fish the tournament than what the tournament pays out? Answer me that......Secondly, why call it the Cowboy Division when the whole purpose for that is to fish the lakes in Texas. If that's the case change the name and have all the d#$n tournaments in Louisiana. Then you all can have your wonderful turnout fishing your bayous and such. There are plenty of lakes in Texas that can hold a BFL tournament. Lake Belton held a Fishing for Freedom Tournament to support the troops last year with over 200+ boats and this year we are looking at 246+ boats. Better turnout than the BFL will ever have. Lake Waco is a large enough lake, Lake Livingston and the list go on and on. Grass roots...yeah lets bring it back to grass roots and start fishing our Texas Lakes like we should.

Cypress bend only had one ramp operational last time I was there. There is a lot of tourneys moving to deeper ramps.

look guys...every year the tournaments jump around. I learned a long time ago, if you don't like something...wait and it will change and if you do like something...don't get used to it because it will change. Let it ride as it's already published and make the best of it. If you aren't interested, then don't fish.

If BFL moves back to just Texas they will get about 60 to 70 entries for boaters. The way they have it now, they will get about 90ish. They cant do both due to the fact that the numbers for each will decrease and not be profitable enough. Even though the payout for the circuit is only 60 to 70% payback like other National circuits in our area, the Regionals are free entry, and the BFL All American is free entry (with gas allowance) with everyone cutting a check which makes up for the poor payback.
Priority entry into the Everstarts is a benefit as well but you can get that for being in a TBF Federation Bass Club. Most of us (80%) will loose money whatever we fish, or if we do win money this year, we will loose it next year.

Ditto....not my favorite schedule, bet it levels the field for angler of the year and I kind of like that. Interesting bodies of water too.

+2 on what skeeter190 said. Look at the BASS LA weekend series. they only pull around 60-70 boats. If you had a LA or TX East only division, turnout would be low, payouts low and enthusiasm low. Go to FLW, and look at years back on the schedules, for the old LA and Cowboy, low turnout until they combined. I'd much rather get my brains kicked in by 100 folks than 50. I've never been down to south LA fishing, but I know the fishing is great and I'd be willing to bet those 2 tournys are going to have a very nice turnout. I think overall it's a good schedule, something for everyone. I'm sure next year, there will be other lakes in the mix with the staples of Toledo and Rayburn. Rarely is a schedule 100% to the liking of 100% of the people. FLW, BASS, Bass champs, BLT, etc's goal is a max field every time. That way, they make more money. In turn the anglers make more money.

I am all about opinions that is why i read the Forums all day.
But, the selling point or business side of the BFL is Grassroots tournaments, cheaper entries to try and get boaters to sign up and take their skills to the next level. Which is what FLW wants. Nothing in the rules state that you have to stay in a 150$ a night hotel, eat at the Stump on Rayburn for 15 dollars a plate, or spend 500 dollars in gas running all over the lake during your 2 days of practice. That doesnt fall on FLWs back. If you fish the BFLs to make money then you need a camper stacked on top of your ford focus that you bought because your big F250 diesel costs to much to drive, pack cheese sandwiches (no ham... to expensive) and find fishing holes that are right next to the ramp.
I have been fishing for a long and am by NO MEANS even close to breaking even (costs/winnings) someday i hope that changes, but you cant expect to get rich off of a grassroots tourney trail is all im saying. its not going to happen.
Ever fished a club tourney circuit? where you win 65 dollars for weighing 20lbs of greenbacks that you practiced 2 days for? BFL is just a bigger version of this, that has potential to turn into something great (qualifying for regional champs, All american, Tour)
Secondly, there is also nothing in the rules that states "if the division is named Cowboy, then all tournaments WILL be fished in the state of Texas. Look at the other BFL divisions, ARKIE, OZARK etc. and look where the lakes are, all over the state, some of those boys have a long ways to drive also, and im sure if they had the same forum that we have, they would have a few complaints also, but it all rolls back down to BFL needing numbers, to pay bills. Right now Louisiana is the only place around that they get these kinds of numbers.
I will help, lets get a petition started, if we can find 200+ boaters that say "I will sign up for the BFL tourneys if they are held on Belton, no questions asked" then i bet a lot of money that FLW would consider moving atleast one of the tourneys to Belton... But it wont happen. theyve had BFLs at Cedar Creek, Texoma (huge lake), Whitney, we actually had a tournament on Livingston last year (turnout was worst of year)and others... turnouts were terrible. Not even half of what they are pulling out of LA. They just do not have the following up here like the forum says they do. People request/complain to get tournaments up here in the metromess, then dont show up. I do not blame them a bit for not coming up here. Do i wish they would? absolutely
Year before last, they even tried spliting the series, the schedule was Rayburn, Toledo, Texoma, Cedar Creek, Texoma...
Guess where the big numbers were and where they werent.
They have tried many times to bring the circuit "closer to home" for us ?metroplexians?, but the guys just do not show up to fish...

I am in no way trying to start a war over this. but this subject comes up every year. and i dont think that people understand the reasoning behind why these tournaments are so far away... They also do not see the research and testing that FLW has performed in the past to see where the best tournouts will be.
There are good lakes in east texas, and good lakes in west texas and central to southern LA... but the numbers come near the LA border and always have
FIELD OF DREAMS...

hope to see you out there.

Same Song and Dance (just a different year)....you can't make everyone happy and put the tournaments in their back yards.

It's the experience of going to new places, fishing against good dudes, and enjoying life.

Why fish the same pond your whole life...so many options...just go with it!

Payout would be better if the economy didn't suck! The cost of living (fishing) going up up up! Even BASS and FLW Tour pros are scrapping by! If you aren't you are the Big Balla! Enjoy it and don't fish this level...hit up the big time!

Like the previous post. We only get one go around and no do overs. Might as well go out and do it. I don't want to be one of the folks who says "one day i'll do this and that when I retire" then get run over by a concrete truck on the way to the social security office...with our economy the way it is...I'm not gonna get any social security so I might as well spend it on entry fees. Can't take it with you.

I use to fish that division but they moved everything to far away.

Hey 200ZX it is Bayou Black and is located in Gibson,La.

Thanks, Fork Fanatic! That is what I was thinking. Heck all of these aren't too far from me. I might give them a try pending scheduling.

where is the atchafalaya basin

When I fished the Open there a few years ago it was out of Morgan City, La

It should be in Pierre Part, La. out of Belle River public landing on spillway side.

Opinions from a passionate group.  A few questions to support your positions and insight on mine:

1. What do you believe is the purpose of the BFL?  I believe it is simply a primer, feeder, and qualifier for the next level.  From their business perspective, I don't believe it is intended to be an independent revenue stream that survives based on it's income statement - it contributes to the overall value of the FLW brand.

2. What is your commitment to the BFL (circuit angler, angler, circuit co-angler, co-angler, or spectator)?  I've been a spectator for awhile and decided to tentatively commit to BFL in 2012, prior to the schedule announcement, which is why I weighed in on this discussion.  Why does it appear that there is an overabundance of co-anglers relative to anglers while the entry fees do not substantially differ?  I've had others explain that the ROI is better from the co-angler perspective - that's fine if your in it for the money at this level - I'm not.  Not by goal.

Sure, I'd like to see a "home" lake on the circuit but only one that has or might be scheduled for Everstart, etc.  I believe proximity favors the local anglers.

For me, the difference between traveling 5, 7, 9, etc hours to foreign lakes is part of my preparation process.  As you elevate, everything (fees, travel expenses, etc.) increase while your opportunity to pre-practice decreases.

Insight into my position...

atch basin and bayou black are pretty much the same body of water.