That's Mark... He runs that trail.

Exactly my point. Didn't want to direct it at 1 individual or division but It's a big issue at fork. And tournaments at fork require an extra amount of patterning over other lakes to be able to find those quality unders, which can be surprisingly hard to find with the premier quality fish in fork. It's not like other lakes where you are looking for the best quality fish you can find. Finding just that right size bite is hard and being on the lake 4 or 5 days a week really let's you key in on the patterns to target those specific fish that other competitors just don't have the time to do. I don't blame the guides who fish them. Whether I agree with it or not if it is within the rules then that is their decision as to whether compete or not, and they are not in the wrong either way. That's why I didn't name names. I'm not trying to insult anyone and I don't blame the guides who fish the tournaments. The problem lies within the rules of blt/bassnbucks and until it's changed, I think many people will be deterred from fishing in these events

i think there are a bunch of people that don't fish them because of that. If the rules say they can fish, more poewr to them. Nothing against the guides if that's the rule but not me.

I can promise you a 9-10lb sack consistently thru the year is going to put $$ in your pocket. Don't you think they would quit guiding and win 10 trucks a year instead if they overs were that plentiful? I'll take 5 good little swimmers consistently vs one or two overs a year FOR SHORE.

So bass bucks/blt needs to create a trail just for guys with little confidence and no time to practice

No Jared I don't think that's what he said at all.... He's saying he doesn't think its fair for a guide ( a person who makes his LIVING fishing on Lake Fork) to be able to also fish these tournaments.

It's like you entering in a golf tourney trying to win some money but having to play against Phil Mickelson.... Not exactly fair.

I for one don't really care who fishes what. I like competition. I'm in it for fun and to try and win against some good fishermen. Most of the time we stink it up though....

Ease up on the guy. He's got a good point. No reason to be a smart arse.

I think its a pointless argument to say no "guides" but allow his neighbor who simply fishes the lake all the time. The only difference is that one gets paid to fish.

How many days a year does a guide fish vs the guy who has a normal full time job? Big difference there. Doesn't mean the weekend guy can't go out and win on his home lake or any lake for that matter but common sense would tell ya that the guide has the advantage more than likely because he should be on a good current pattern. That was a long sentence. I understand the man's point of view. But! Anybody can win at any given time. Just because ole Barrett wins a lot on Ray Bob don't mean he and his partner will win this weekend yet lots of folks were sure worried about him. On game day its anybody's game..... Let the chips fall where they may.

btw I play golf regularly. Have been playing since I was a kid. Pretty damn good too. But I'd be an idiot to pay $250 bucks to enter a tournament knowing Phil, Tiger or any of those guy were entering the tournament. If I was going to just have fun and didn't care whether I won or not then maaaaybe..... Maybe if I actually got to play with them....But against them.... No thanks.. Whats the point?

I will fish against the pros any day. Been in a few tournaments with big names and had a better catch than them. Fished against folks who used to or still is a guide and got beat, but some of us are fortunate to fish more than others. If I could fish 3 to 4 days a week, I too, might be more competitive... my .02

Maybe someone should start a trail that that keeps the competition to a minimum.

Rule 1) if you have won $X on lake -------- you can't fish
Rule 2) if you fish the lake more than X amount of times a year, you can't fish
Rule 3) if you guide, you can't fish
Rule 4) if you've ever caught a share lunker, you can't fish
Rule 5) if you get new electronics and boat each year, you can't fish
Rule 6) if you wear a jersey and have a wrapped boat, you can't fish

Everyone gets a participation ribbon at weigh-in

Very good analogy.
I am a golfer as well.......
back in my day I would have played anyone ,,,,,,anyone.
but I was 26 years old, played every day and could make the ball do tricks.
I am an 18 handicap today; family and work.
if I fished all the time I would go up against "the pros/guides". Since I don't fish all the time I would be just lucky if I caught as good as they did in a one day or 2 day tourney.

Wow you guys really know how to hijack a thread. The guy just wanted info of fall trails. Geez

You aren't understanding the point. I'm assuming you don't fish a lot of tournaments on a super popular guiding lake like fork. With an exception of a few big names(Toledo bend, Rayburn, amidstad, falcon, etc) there are not a lot of lakes in Texas that allow a bass guide the opportunity to guide bass trips full time(3-5 days a week) as his sole means of living like lake fork does. Where you may see a guide on a lesser known lake who guides on weekends or on his day off or splits his trips between several lakes in the area, fork guides fish FORK 3-5 days a week on average(some even more). 3-5 full 8-10 hour fishing days a week is a LOT of time on the water. I know plenty of locals who fish their home lakes a lot, but fishing for a few hours after work a few days a week is not comparable to getting several full fishing days(simulating a tournament day) per week. So that argument is weak. And I don't see how it shows that I "lack confidence" when I said that I don't mind if pros compete. PROS ARE BETTER FISHERMAN THAN GUIDES! The only problem I have is with the advantage that guides get through getting to spend a lot more time on the water. Go fish a blt fork season and see the same 2 guides finish in the top 3 in every tournament and see if you don't feel differently. Not the guides fault but I can guarantee you that keeps a lot of anglers such as myself from fishing.

Yes because clearly my acceptance of letting pros compete is a sign of my fear of competition. I'm fine letting KVD fish in the tournament, yet I'm looking for a "participation ribbon". You nailed it. You must be such a big bad fisherman spending your days trolling tff and preying on us fisherman who look for participation medals.