Everyone isn't leaving, only a few are...

Short as it gets

Well, I thought it was obvious, but for those such as yourself who don’t seem to see the obvious, I will explain.

1.) Although none of it has been publicly substantiated, It’s been repeatedly cited with authoritative command by those who expect to be given credibility, that FLW LLC was insolvent, on the verge of filing for bankruptcy, and ceased to exist upon closing of the rescue buyout from MLF. FLW LLC of old does not exist anymore, so no one is “staying” with a now defunct and closed entity. All contracts, commitments, and obligations to anglers whom were part of any FLW LLC tournaments became null and void and that’s the reason why MLF was not responsible to, or expected to honor outstanding commitments to anglers whom fished under the old FLW LLC tournament structure and award system. That’s if what’s being reported and recited by many can be believed.

2.) What remains of that now (Purportedly) defunct entity of FLW LLC is only assets, and those assets are going to be resurrected and restructured into something different than what it once was known as; reportedly It’s now only a qualifying tournament league for BPT, not an independent Pro league as before. That’s if what’s being reported and recited by many can be believed.

3.) Under the above circumstances, anyone who is signing up to fish the MLFLW (yet unnamed?) league is signing up, and committing to fish in a newly formed circuit/league with different rules, etc... That’s if what’s being reported and recited by many can be believed.

Again, if what has been recited and repeated by many, often times with authoritative command when in defense of MLF, is to be believed, then any angler would naturally be thought of in a state of flux until they publicly announce they are going in one direction or another. I would also surmise that even the sponsors of those unannounced anglers would be interested in what they planned to do so they can also make informed decisions for 2020 and their brands exposure.

Does that clarify what I was thinking all along was the obvious?

Because a lot of them got messed over when they cancelled the FLW Cup. That was minimum $10K that they qualified for legitimately and got pulled out from under them. Some have other reasons, but the other side is they don't have a desire to be put in a second tier feeder system for a series they don't care to fish. These guys were pros before, and now are considered minor league.

It would be like promising you a bonus at your job of $10k for hitting goals. Then the company get's bought out and says too bad so sad, and also demotes you. You gonna stick around for that?

It's still the same league to me. Just new owners. Just like everytime BASS got sold. No one had an announcement to say they were staying with BASS.

What you mean? FLW no longer exists, by default that means everyone is leaving and already has left. What now matters is what tournaments are each individual angler going to fish in 2020. I am sure sponsors are asking the same question because exposure of their brands depend on what circuit the angler will be fishing.

On a side note, a few means 3-4 - there is far more former FLW pro anglers that have already announced they are not returning to whatever the old FLW LCC becomes when it’s resurrected under the new ownership of MLF.

There aren't very many sponsors who don't know where their anglers are fishing in December FYI. All I can tell you Seminole is to be patient and take deep breaths. You're going to see a bunch of updates in the coming days/weeks and it's likely going to trigger you. As I've said since day one, the sky isn't falling and ALL the leagues are going to be okay. As has been mentioned in this very thread, it's never been a better time to be a professional angler.

Can't wait until they start fishing so we can all be fans again.

If the sponsors know, how come the fans of those anglers aren’t being told by some form of an announcement? I am thinking fans may also want to know what sponsors are supporting anglers to move into the new farm league system so they can decide who to remain loyal to. Am I wrong in thinking it’s important for the anglers to give their fans a indication of what direction they are moving and who is supporting them to go in that direction?

Big O Florida is making me do something I never thought I do; defend MLF.

Hate the format, hate how they attacked BASS, and dislike Boyd Duckett. But damn bud you are on a crusade but with no clear goal in sight. They bought FLW in the open market. It was inferior to BASS and BPT so why keep it the same? I’ve rarely seen any business acquisition where the acquiring company didn’t make changes. You’re wrong about BASS; every time they have sold there has been changes. Some of those are what led to the older anglers unhappiness and ultimately MLF.

And who cares if the anglers aren’t getting everything they were promised right out of the gate. It was their choice to fish it and they should’ve been smart enough to realize Rome wasn’t built in a day. Every pro sport has issues between management and players so why should fishing be different?

You seem to be a former FLW/Costa guy or small time fishing product owner that really has his feelings hurt. But word of advice, save your breath. No one has ever been convinced to change their minds on this forum and you don’t have the communication skills or tact to be the first.

If the sponsors know, how come the fans of those anglers aren’t being told by some form of an announcement? I am thinking fans may also want to know what sponsors are supporting anglers to move into the new farm league system so they can decide who to remain loyal to. Am I wrong in thinking it’s important for the anglers to give their fans a indication of what direction they are moving and who is supporting them to go in that direction?

I follow Anglers because of their fishing styles and their personalities. I don't care who sponsors them.

I also don't care what league they choose to fish, I'm a fan of the fishermen.

I don't want to see MLF fail, it is the reason why I hope they eventually change the format.

I wish they wouldn't have taken the country's best fishermen and put them in the dink league, but they had no chance of surviving using this format without superstars.

At the end of the day if more fishermen can make a living fishing professionally, I'm happy for those guys.