95% of those guys probably dont give 2 sheets about the size of the fish. They care about making a living. MLF is going to give 80 guys that ability to make more money than BASS has ever came close to. From winnings to air time that will promote sponsors. And the sponsors are what pays the bills.


And believe me I agree with the 5 fish idea. I personally cant stand the MLF format. It's not tournament fishing to me. But for the aspect of those guys making a living they will do it. Quickly.

Well don�t mention the cowboys they suck but money is money...

the Cowboys are the first sport franchise, OF ANY SPORT, to have their franchised valued at over $5,000,000,000!!!!

Coyaintnogoldfish are you ever positive about anything. I don't seem to recall you saying anything positive. I hope your personal life is better then your attitude on here.This is what the anglers wanted. That was one of the things that MLF did. They let the anglers have a say. So if I'm reading your words correctly you have no insight on how to run a business. A pro fisherman is running a business. That's his lively hood. It puts bread on the table. Do you think he really cares if its 5 fish or a so called dinkfest. He's going to fish the trail that takes care of him and his family. And did you read what the FLW anglers said about FLW'S comments on what BASS and MLF are doing. They aren't very happy. Bottom line. They are paying more and fishing for less. So you go on to FLW, go get those 5 biggest fish. Hell puff your chest out. Then go to the bank and look at that negative in your business account. These Pros are Pros for a reason. They are the best of the best. They are not fishing for you and I. And in spite of others comments about a dinkfest. That dinkfest is Outdoor Channels # 1 show. I really wish more would be happy for the pros. Instead of ragging on what MLF is doing.

Hey looks like a good opportunity but I don't see how they r gonna be around very long paying out that kinda $

Spot on, Rangerkev.

I think the money guy is Stan Kroenke. He own Kroenke Sports and Entertainment. KSE is the parent company to The Sportsmans Channel, Outdoor Channel, World Fishing Network. They also own BassFan.

His net worth is $8.5 billion. He's married to Ann Walton Kroenke (Walmart Walton's) who's net worth is $6.5 billion.

There is some serious money involved

If you think the BASS and FLW guys were not happy so as a whole they made MLF, that�s incorrect. For a handful of guys, that�s the case. And honestly, there was a lot of momentum towards MLF until BASS responded. I was even excited to hear about this new trail. There is nothing wrong with competition. But, any businessman could see that many of the steps, announcements, press releases, etc were done vey poorly and not in a way that helps grow the meat of the sport. It was a personal attack on BASS 100%. The fringe guys who don�t care as much about the competition or know the franchises intimately aren�t going to see it like those of us in the middle of it do and that�s ok. It�s probably better that way. But to intentionally try to cripple the guys that made the sport what it is doesn�t sit well with me and frankly really chaffs me. That doesn�t make me negative about everything in life, but it sure does frustrate me when it comes to the sport that I�m very passionate about.

I bet you hate Amazon, Netflix, Uber, Tackle Warehouse and the 100�s of other companies that have disrupted our traditional and comfortable ways of doing things. I bet you the old execs of Blockbuster are probably sitting around a what a burger table on this rainy Saturday morning saying �damn we were stupid�.

�Complacency will be the architecture of your downfalll�
- Jeremy Gutsche

Thank you Monty Wright for your detailed informational posts on MLF's new programs.

See that is where you are wrong. It�s not garbage based on higher ratings than bass gets on ESPN. And the bass guys are going to leave in droves. How many people are going to tune in to watch a bunch of no names we have never heard of compete for their own money when all the heavy hitters of the sport moved over to MLF.

Maybe Bass should have payed it forward to some more of their anglers who make the sport instead of greedily getting as rich as possible. The anglers fish for their own money while the owners prosper. This is not how you run a pro organization. Hell, they haven�t had a single payout increase since the inception of the elites. Inflation alone has reduced their payouts compared to expenses by 30% or more. The classic payout has even went down. Other pro leagues have a players union and get paid to show up. The best of the best in fishing should be no different. The industry generates billions each year and the money is there to be had.

Alright, so I�ve gotten some sleep and re-read everything with fresh eyes. Let me start by taking this back... it�s not garbage. That was a strong word. People like it. It�s not how I would prefer to compete. If it were a 5 fish, heaviest string CWR, I think it would be better personally. I�m actually shocked there aren�t more guys who feel the same way on here.

Also, I certainly don�t hate market disrupters as I stated in my last post. I don�t like they way Duckett went about it. If you don�t know the back story, I�ll let you enjoy life without know it. Ignorance is bliss.


Here are the POSITIVES:

It has definitely HELPED improve payouts for BASS and MLF guys, and my guess is that FLW will have to respond even though they have taken a seat so far.

It has provided competition and diversity in the market and they will continue to drive each other towards better programs.

It�s a much needed boost to the lifeblood of the sport. It has become stagnant in the last 3-5 years and needed a change. Just unfortunate it was a reaction by BASS and not then being proactive.

MLF will reach a broader target audience than BASS did, which in turn will bring in hopefully millions of people who didn�t watch the sport or even know it existed. Who knows, in a decade or so, we might see it trend similar to the way golf did and have massive payouts and no entries.

It�ll give a way for more grass roots guys a path into top tier competition. My guess is that they will all have 100 member fields at some point. 350 spots for pros is solid compared to 280.



I do see the benefits to it and I know there will be growing pains before it gets better. It could have all been handled way better by the execs in my opinion. That�s my biggest beef.

I�ve also spent the last decade trying to learn how to catch big fish. And it�s a million times more rewarding for me to catch an 8lber than to catch 4 2lbers. It�s a lot more of a mental and physical grind and I love that about the sport. I look up to the guys who can put their pants on after 6 days of practice and competition and go catch 25lbs again. To me, regardless of the payouts or the franchise title, that is bass fishing competition in its truest form.

Completely agree!

Coy, you need to get more rest. Comments like that are much easier to decifer.