Maybe someone needs to do a poll on how many watch each tour and how many used to watch mlf.

Meh. Sky�s not falling.

Zaldain swung for the fences on day 3 or he would've finished in the Top 10. Considering the percent that left to BPT and the percent that stayed with Bassmaster the numbers are probably more proportionate. I think it's hard to count some of the at-large bid entries as having a legitimate shot against guys that fish for a living.

In the grand scheme of things another trail opens the door for additional anglers to make a living fishing. Bassmaster will reload in a couple of years. There will be new faces that can really catch them. Livesay is looking like a stud right now for a guy that has 2 career elite events under his belt How many people on this forum are as good as most of the folks on the tour? I guarantee it is more than you think. Just think if all you had to think about every day when you woke up was catching the next fish. That's the reality for most of those guys.

I believe they�d all argue there�s way more to their day than the next fish. There�s travel logistics, new business development and sponsorship obligations, building social media and content platforms, managing the budget of their business and on and on. It�s not a cake walk.

Mo little fish (mlf) is boring . There only suspense is who is going to be twentieth place .

It'll take several years to see how it all shakes out. Next year's Classic is gonna look a lot different. As far as the organization making money and not sharing it with the "performers" I imagine was partly what was in Mr. Business-Man Boyd Duckett's mind. Kinda like, "Man, B.A.S.S. is making a bunch of money off the anglers... I should do that, too!"

I agree that long-term, the no entry fee model isn't sustainable. I think the Elite Series and MLF are both hoping to out-survive the other one so that they can start raising entry fees again. Even if the Elite Series gets diminished (which I don't think it will), B.A.S.S. has a lot more to it than the Elite Series (B.A.S.S. Nation, the Opens, Bassmaster magazine; 500,000 members, etc.); MLF is just an organization for professional anglers.

Because they all fished the Elites last year. Most of the Elites this year did not.

People keep mentioning why not embrace all series of bass fishing. The only thing I am sour about is that BPT just split up the best anglers in the world even more. We already had two tours that split up the best anglers and now we have 3. I want to see the best anglers in the world going up against each other. What would make me happy is if all 3 tours agreed to a SUPER BOWL of bass fishing. The top 10 in AOY from each tour compete against each other for the World Championship of Bass fishing. That would make me happy :-)

You nailed it. I watched a lot of the coverage from Lake Conroe, it was good to watch, but almost to much during the week. I went to the pull through or whatever they call it one afternoon, small crowd and no excitement. If the angler did well and moved on, they were excited, those who tanked not so much.

I think time will tell on the BPT. As others have said the weigh-in for the crowd is fun to be a part of.

PGA has been able to sustain a no entry fee for 40+ years for their elite series of tournaments....the sponsor/television income goes back to the golfers....one of the examples I looked at had the winner getting 1.9 million,2nd place was 1.1 million and 80th place was still $18,000......there are entry fees for lower level golf tournys that generate little sponsor or TV income....

Think about this for a minute. MLF has been the top-rated outdoor show on the Outdoor Channel for the past three years in a row. $$$. They've steadily gained sponsorship since the inception of MLF. $$$ The sponsor and advertising $ are flooding into BPT right now. $$$ With more live coverage, the addition of CBS Sports network and most of the worlds best bass fishermen now with BPT, there is nowhere to go but up for those guys. $$$$ Simple business.

I love when people compare golf to fishing. It's awesome.

In my book there is no comparison on the TV exposure. MLF is on Outdoor Channel, which basically sucks. Almost anyone can get and put a show on there. BASS is on ESPN. BIG difference there on exposure. Plus, Outdoor channel isn't even offered in most cable packages. You have to upgrade to get it.

I agree that would be awesome but it will probably never happen.
Oklahoma has something similar at the local club level. A few of the top teams in the standings from a few different trails fish off in a separate tournament. It's a new deal and I'm not exactly sure how it turned out last year. Cool concept though