Uhh.. what? That's why it's called a vote. >50% is the consensus.

Lol, I was being ironical...

Seriously? Are you serious?

Of course I am serious. Now tell me why it wouldn’t be a better decision for a BPT angler, if they are going to have to pay an entry fee, and fish a large field of competitors, not just pay those fees to BASS and fish the remaining Bassmasters Opens?

If they happen to win one or place well enough in the years standings they’ve instantly qualified for a pro circuit that has proven to be stable and long lasting that’s respected in the industry. As it stands, the thing they are doing by fishing the FLW Pro Series is drawing criticism towards themselves and their organization for diluting the chance of an actual FLW pro of winning a tournament. Both options pay out money, so why not go for the one that offers the biggest upside for their career path and personal reputation?

I rarely if ever agree with you but the logic here makes sense.

There will be some of the MLF guys fish the Opens. Some of them will fish the FLW's, some will fish the Costas or whatever they're called now. Two of them fished a $100 jackpot we had a couple weeks ago. They didn't hurt anyone's feelings. That's what they do, they fish whatever tournament that fits in their schedule or are close to home at the time.

I heard they were loosing sleep worrying about your loss of respect. You don't even respect yourself.

If anglers were going to do that anyway, as you suggest, then why did MLF increase the size of the field for the FLW Pro series by 50? That’s the issue - MLF is purposely diluting the chance for a FLW pro that’s already in that series of winning a tournament. It’s just another shady business practice by a shady operation.

BOF. Can I call you BOF? You are like an itch that can't be scratched---annoying as hell

It’s obvious why, and it’s already been explained, but you’re being obtuse because you’re extremely biased.

MLFFLW doesn’t want its top names to fish a competing tournament, for obvious reasons, so it made the decision to give them opportunities to fish within their organizational funnel so they can try to make some money while MLFFLW retains its biggest stars. This is an unprecedented time that no one saw coming. It calls for unprecedented measures. Will it work? Maybe not. Is it a bad look? Maybe, depending on your view point. But it’s an option and they have to do what’s best for the company and anglers.

It’s a business decision. You know that, but you’re beating your drum because you or someone close to you got slighted (in your opinion) by MLF. It’s business. That’s the way it works. You don’t like the way you’re being treated, move on. That’s the great thing about this country.

But my original question to you from above when you asked if I was serious was; tell me why it wouldn’t be a better decision for the BPT angler, if they are going to “have to pay” to fish tournaments with such a large field, to pay entry fees to the entity that offers them a chance at qualifying for most long standing, stable, and proven circuit in the industry?

After all, it’s just business and it’s a business decision for the anglers, not necessarily MLF. And like you say above, if MLF doesn’t like the way they were treated, then they can move on. That’s the way it works, right?

I predict those words will play out to be truer than you think come the end of the season... for the very reason you suggest.

That contract those BPT guys signed is no longer worth the paper it’s printed on and the buy out clause certainly is not going to be enforceable.

For the most part I agree with your point of view on MLF, on this and past issues. But I wonder if your being honest, and honest with yourself if you had the success as some of the other anglers when you fished, would you have the same point of view, or be saying what your saying? Not bashing you at all. Just hard to think if you won 2 or 3 FLW tournaments, won or even qualified for the classic, had career earnings over $500k, if you’d have the same conviction you have. Obviously you know I know who you are. But I’m curious if you can answer honestly about that. Cuz if you can I’d respect that.