What's A Weigh In?

Because I had to! Part of the job.
quote=Josh Seale]


And yet you still went? To over a 100? [/quote]

IMO....Live weigh-ins are an outdated spectacle, hard on the fish, and a money grab on some levels.
However, the "show" aspect is evidently important to fans. Looks like we have a quandary.

Mark jones, i guess you have some sort of financial attachment to the BPT since you are so insistent on shoving it down the throats of everyone who says they do not like it.

I'm not really particular about whose or what tournament it is I just enjoy watching them catching fish but my real purpose for watching is learning. Learning how, why, when, where and what technique they're using so that it will help me catch'em too. I can learn from all kinds of tournaments, big bass, 5 fish or catch/weigh/ release if they show and tell. Some of the anglers are better than others at show and tell and those are my faves. Good luck with all the tournament trails especially the Texas trails.

I�m all about that check you get at the end of the day. Other than that, who cares how you weigh them.

WAWI, wanna handle this question for him?

LMAO...I've wondered the same thing myself after reading all this weigh in vs no weigh in and live every catch counts deal. Anyone that ever offers a different preference, He tends to get the panties all wadded up for sure

I'm a fisherman so I like watching both but this format will NOT be taking over bass tournaments all over, let's get real. MLF is usually a dink fest...but they will hit lakes at certain times of the year that produce some great fish, as they did in NC but that will not be the norm.
Again, I enjoy watching both because it's bass fishing...

99% of bass tournaments are still based on best 5 fish weight...when that percentage gets under 90%, we can talk about "great format change" in the industry

Yep, he sure does get defensive of anyone that doesn�t like the format. Funny thing is that his �Big Bass Tour� has its own little weigh-ins. And what fish matter there??? Only the big ones.

I dont understand the MLF is a "Dink fest" comment... Do you think that all day long during a Elite event the whole field isn't out there catching some .5-1lb fish? Of course they are, they just dont show most of it. Just because its a elite event those guys aren't catching 3lb fish all day long and culling every cast they make. With MLF counting every fish, benefiting them showing as many fish catches a possible, it allows us as viewers and of course fellow anglers see these guys develop a pattern and figure the fish out. They are out there to flat out catch fish, they want to catch big fish, no doubt in my mind. Good for the sport, good for the fish, great for the anglers IMO

Here is one thing that I would push for... Make the classic the "end all be all" of bass tournament fisherman. There should be some kind of points system to rank the top bass anglers world wide, X number of those anglers (top 80 or 100) get the invite) and it is the Major tournament of the world. Not just Bass Elites.

I�m fairly certain there�s several things I�ve made clear in these thread discussions but for those of you still confused, here goes. I like weigh in�s too and yep we run them. I�m 100% clear that, at the current time, grassroots events still require a weigh in and yes our agency does work for MLF. What I asked for in this thread is everyone�s thoughts after seeing three events now with some pretty compelling endings, if the weigh-in is really needed?

It�s in my opinion the best way to watch the pro level event and it is the future at the grass roots level as our tech continues to advance. There�s always going to be options for one fish, five fish or CWR style tournaments and yes various weigh in options but change is coming.

There, now we can be friends again...

This would be great but highly unlikely given the current situation between the leagues. If I ran BASS I would immediately have the Classic include the top anglers from all three leagues, especially after seeing the turnout at this latest Classic but I don�t see it happening.

New Format, plus it protects the resource. Sure wish Regional and Local Clubs would adopt this practice

So to further derail this thread, let me ask this. How do you think local clubs, regional, or events like bass champs would implement the MLF format? This will require a plan that is atleast as fool proof as the current system, which admittedly still doesnt stop all cheaters and they will try no matter what system is in place. You have to think of the cost of the system whether that will be on the anglers either by requirements or thru entry fees, or on the organization and they just eat the costs. Mark believes the cameras will be that system, so theres that point of view. I think cost is the factor there but who knows in years to come. That could be an option. To be specific, when I say the MLF format I just mean the weigh and release, still could be best 5 or total weight. And remember that every boat need an official scale that is calibrated and possibly a back up system ready to go.