I have been enamored with the show since it came out and we actually fish a format that copies theirs as far as we can without the judges and cameras once a month at Lake Fork.

Our members really enjoy the "every fish you can catch" and because we do a paper tournament we also count the slot fish.

When we get to "our" semi-final and final we do reduce Fork into sections which are not known until the morning of.

This year for the first time there will be a cash benefit to the boater and co-angler (judges) besides the Cup award.

I knew it when Rick Clunn caught over 75 lbs. from the Arkansas river back in 1984. Not all of'em but 75% of'em can come to your home lake and in a 4 day tournament will wear you out. That's what they do and how they feed their families. They add a new meaning to the word "compete" and compete they do.

For the most part they beat the bank and 1 lb them all day long. That doesnt impress me much. I know that their talent is far beyond mine, but MLF hasnt contribited to that opinion.

How many people on a new lake with quality fish would be content to beat the bank and catch 1 lbers all day to put up the numbers they do? Im not gonna do that.

Ive been more impressed by the few guys that stuck with patterns that produced fewer but larger fish and won.

Love the show, but I watch to hopefully see that one guy target bigger fish and see how he does it.

I think it would be interesting to increase the size limit and force them to search out better quality fish.

What impresses me more is how they can fish 3 and 4 day tournaments and have consistent days every day.

Anybody can go out and catch a 20 lb bag or have a phenomenal day. What separates them from many of us fans, is they can do it over 3-4 days and make adjustments each day with weather changes and what not.

Those guys are the best of the best, but they do seem to target 1-2 pound fish, that's why it isn't all that interesting to me

Agree completely. I like the show though.

To the OP, without question it's shown me how fast they can break down a lake and catch huge numbers of fish in a short time. I'll ask all the 1-2# naysayers how may times they have gone to a lake they've never fished before and caught 10-50 fish in 7.5 hours of fishing. These guys ALL do it for the most part.

And they all don't chase the 1-2# fish. You hear several guys during the extended broadcasts talking about other guys catching little ones and they stay their course trying to catch larger fish only changing plan when/if they get far behind. The other issue with the small fish is the lakes they have tended to fish combined with the time of year they fished them. i.e. Ray Roberts and Grapevine during a BAD drought in VERY cold water. Then all these northern lakes where a 4# fish is like an 8# down here.

Best fishing show ever made. So good, I am playing around with the idea of a "high" entry fee 50 boat tourney using their scales, technology, etc.

-0-

Exactly! I'm no pro but I'm also not a hack and have cashed my share of checks over the years. I've gone to stock ponds for the first time and not caught 10 fish. Meanwhile, these guys are doing it every time on much larger bodies of water and being given 15 minutes to ride around and find somewhere to start.

I learn every time I watch, the format is great. I've often wondered if I could get one of them on a small private lake that I have fished for 9 years now to go head to head for a day with a 5 fish sack who would come out on top.

I wish the limit was 14 Inches. Would be more interesting to me.

Prove it.

I actually have several times. Once this spring on smallies, loved every minute of it.

And I too like the format.

Whats a "high" entry fee?

$1,000

I thought the whole deal with MLF is they don't even know what lake they are going to until that morning and right before they actually go to the lake. Theses guys are a cut above the average joe or guide. This is not to say their are not a lot of really good sticks in TX but the guys at the top usually stay at the top and the bottom usually don't last more then a couple years and then they are doing something else. I think their are a ton of people fishing opens and lower class tournaments that never even make it to the show but are still good sticks for the average guy to fish against. Theses guys fishing at the top have forgotten more then most of us will ever know, this by no means says we can not have a ton of fun. The guys at the local softball league, who won their devision last year, are better then the average athlete but they are not going to the big league to play for the Rangers. Yea I know they do think they are as good tho just asked them. LOL

I feel like a red headed step child. I don't get the Outdoor Channel!