Running a new business differently than the way it’s always been done has been vogue for twenty years now. It’s called ‘disruption.’ Will it fail? Will it forever change the landscape of professional fishing? Who knows. The economy is littered with companies that tried to disrupt an industry by flipping it on its head and failed. There are also a ton of success stories (Amazon, Uber, etc). Is MLF Amazon or uber? Of course not, but it’s the same mentality of market disruption.

I’m not saying they’re right or wrong for doing it this way, but just pointing out they are trying to go up against the institution that made bass fishing as popular as it is. They may be the worst businessmen in the world. They may fold before the end of the year. But a lot of the negativity, I think, comes from people who are resistant to change, and instead of a healthy rivalry while acknowledging they’re trying to grow the sport (and they are growing the sport) there is animosity and defensiveness.

Big O misconstrue evidence he puts out to support his theories and then calls people lemmings, shysters and water boys. His entire existence on this forum has been to bash MLF and insult anyone who enjoys watching it or simply tries to explain the flaws in his “evidence.” These are not well thought out points based on personal preference he’s making. They’re vindictive, hateful and personal to him in some way. He’s either personally involved somehow (an angler that was slighted by MLF or related to one) or somehow otherwise related to the industry. It’s just not rational dialogue or behavior any other way.

Powroznik is still fishing redcrest, why they not kick him out too?

My guess is because he didn’t qualify for the elites and signed the new contract with MLF to pay entry fees.

^^^^^ And there you have it all wrapped up nicely in a bow.

This should be the end of the thread, but I know it won't be.

I agree with you. Choice is simple, follow it or don't. No organization owes anyone outside their organization any explanations about how they do business.

MLF has 6 hours of TV exposure on the Outdoor channel and CBS this weekend.....hard to argue that this isn't a huge increase in exposure for the fishermen and more importantly for their sponsors......

it does seem like the sponsors would like the MLF TV exposure, but in the past two years we have heard BP, Swindle and Christie say that their sponsors undoubtedly wanted them at BASS. Maybe different companies have different strategies, but that really stuck out to me.

I watched the chili bowl race this weekend and was shocked how many fishing commercials there were, it was all MLF guys.

So they kicking pro circuit invites from 4 to 3 for every BPT event?, for the regular season I think Powroznik is OUT.

I agree with you that no organization owes outsiders any explanations, but at same time don’t agree with Duck Hunter that what MLF is doing is vogue and called a disruption. On surface it appears MLF is being run by the typical Wall Street equity investor playbook. There has not been much mention of the fact that before FLW, MLF tried 3x to buy BASS from the new owners and were shot down... that wasn’t a plan to grow things, it was a plan to deplete things. And that’s what they’ve accomplished with FLW and as a result they struggled to fill the spots on many of the different circuits in the 2020 season. While some claim they (MLF) deserve credit for growing the sport and the industry, they seem to overlook the opposite happened within FLW but yet there was an exponential growth seen in the last year within boat and tackle companies. No doubt that growth could be attributed to the COVID where people were seeking activities that could be done in solitary or small groups, but it certainly can’t be contributed to MLF or anything they’ve done.... Furthermore, while MLF may not owe anyone an explanation on how they conduct business, that shouldn’t mean people as outside observers, or insiders of the industry should be silenced from bringing to light questionable and unethical conduct and practices. I don’t think that type of thing is changing the industry, but rather, it’s exploiting those who are in it... and the consequences for them not having an approval of their business ethic and attitude is there for all to see with the massive loss in sponsors they’ve experienced. Contrarily, due to the bad behavior by MLF, BASS has gained popularity and sponsors, not only in endorsements, but in the recently announced multi-year 7 figure media contract they signed with Fox Sports. That’s going to once again give the sponsors and anglers who are associated with BASS the platform and big stage exposure the BASS brand is known for delivering to its customers. That’s not people who are resistant to change... that’s an industry speaking loudly that they are going to shun the type of disruption MLF and others purportedly thinks is vogue.

I agree with you that no organization owes outsiders any explanations, but at same time don’t agree with Duck Hunter that what MLF is doing is vogue and called a disruption. On surface it appears MLF is being run by the typical Wall Street equity investor playbook. There has not been much mention of the fact that before FLW, MLF tried 3x to buy BASS from the new owners and were shot down... that wasn’t a plan to grow things, it was a plan to deplete things. And that’s what they’ve accomplished with FLW and as a result they struggled to fill the spots on many of the different circuits in the 2020 season. While some claim they (MLF) deserve credit for growing the sport and the industry, they seem to overlook the opposite happened within FLW but yet there was an exponential growth seen in the last year within boat and tackle companies. No doubt that growth could be attributed to the COVID where people were seeking activities that could be done in solitary or small groups, but it certainly can’t be contributed to MLF or anything they’ve done.... Furthermore, while MLF may not owe anyone an explanation on how they conduct business, that shouldn’t mean people as outside observers, or insiders of the industry should be silenced from bringing to light questionable and unethical conduct and practices. I don’t think that type of thing is changing the industry, but rather, it’s exploiting those who are in it... and the consequences for them not having an approval of their business ethic and attitude is there for all to see with the massive loss in sponsors they’ve experienced. Contrarily, due to the bad behavior by MLF, BASS has gained popularity and sponsors, not only in endorsements, but in the recently announced multi-year 7 figure media contract they signed with Fox Sports. That’s going to once again give the sponsors and anglers who are associated with BASS the platform and big stage exposure the BASS brand is known for delivering to its customers. That’s not people who are resistant to change... that’s an industry speaking loudly that they are going to shun the type of disruption MLF and others purportedly thinks is vogue.
[/quote]


Lol, loss "massive" amount of sponsors. Why don't you list this " massive" amount of sponsors they have lost. I don't keep up with who sponsors what. But I bet someone can make a list of new sponsors they have acquired as long or longer than your list for the same time frame. As far as BASS getting a 7 figure deal for tv. I have no idea what the details are on that. But lets use your logic. Are they putting all that money into the tournament purses. Or are they stealing it from the anglers and keeping it

Once again your choice is simple. Follow it or don't. Frankly I could care less about your argument or those arguments that oppose you. I do agree with Duck Hunter and to tell me who I should or should not agree with is just unjustified arrogance. You shouting from the mountain top isn't changing a thing (at least here). I am going to keep watching MLF/BPT just like I am going to also watch BASS. So let me ask, as you referenced above, are you an outside observer or an insider in the industry? Now questionable and unethical practices are as subjective as the Ford/Chevy debate. It's going to be relative to how an individual perceives it or how it affects/affected said individuals. Lot of unnecessary concern for those that drive a Dodge or Toyota. So which are you? A Ford/Chevy guy or just a Dodge/Toyota guy injecting his opinion?
Dubee this was in response to Big O. Not you.

I don’t tell anyone who or what to follow or watch, I just bring to light for discussion observations I have of MLF that perhaps will give someone something to think about and research themselves if they are contemplating getting involved with them in some capacity. My perspective as being an outside observer or industry insider is irrelevant, but I think both see and question the same types of things I’ve questioned and opined on. And you are correct, the perspective and view point of anyone regarding this is subjective. It seems not may people understand that, but I do. That’s why you won’t see me personally bash or insult them directly for having their own perspective. I will just try to counter it with information. To address one of the questions above, I don’t have a list detailing the departures of sponsors... perhaps MJ can help you with that, as that’s in his wheel house... but I took Boyd Duckett at his word in a recent article when he used that (loss of sponsorship because of COVID) as an excuse to introduce entry-fees into the 2021 BPT. As far as what BASS will do with the money they receive for signing that massive multi-year live TV and media contract; I would hope the anglers become a beneficiary of some of it, but they also should use it to expand and improve their existing infrastructure to support more circuits and affiliations with the BASS brand. Perhaps they will form a union of sorts with JM and his new venture on the west coast and be part of that as an expansion to BASS. Word is, not all will be lost for MLF when that comes to life - rumor is their new tour could be prominently named MPGT and those who remain loyal to the MLF kook-aid will get 1 complimentary bedding set for each event, delivered directly to the anglers airb&b abode.

Now the part of the post that applies to me in this I can totally get on board with. The way it's written and worded makes it a discussion. I do think your being an outsider vs insider is relevant but only in how serious you expect people to take your opinions. If your a bona fide insider you will be taken seriously but if your an outsider they view you as a raving lunatic. Either way it's all good. Hell you may be right for all I know. I am still going to watch though.

The growth in boat and tackle industries last year was 100% due to Covid. As you said, no one was allowed to do much besides be outside. At the same time, Covid put immense pressure on all businesses, especially new ones, and wreaked havoc on professional sports, especially ones where you have at least two dudes in a boat. Cities, counties and states were all in various state of lockdown. I recall you saying that wasn’t the issue with MLF last year and it was just an excuse for them to steal more money from people - which you’re continuing to do here now. Using last year to say MLF stole money by cancelling Redcrest without addressing the reason for it, playing the same about all of the other cancellations, including the expo, which you beat your drums incessantly about, is Jonathan taking into account the effect on a startup business in an extreme down cycle economy. You may be happy they suffered because you hate it, but you should still understand that a younger organization is going to suffer more than the only game in town for 50 years, all else being equal.

The “recently announced multi-year 7 figure media contract” was definitely influenced by MLF having however many 100s of hours of coverage across several different channels.

I’m sure one of the selling points to anglers was the TV coverage MLF has, since social media and TV coverage like that are the best and easiest ways to make money for anglers (and you don’t even have to be a pro; non-pro you tubers are killing it with their fishing channels). And MLF anglers being able to tell their sponsors they’re going to be on hundreds of hours of TV is appealing, but I don’t know the financials behind that or who sponsors who. But, how can you say MLF isn’t growing the sport when BASS could’ve had a similar deal to the one they recently signed when they were the biggest and oldest tournament trail in the industry but TV coverage wasn’t at all what were seeing now? It was in response to MLF having hundreds of hours of coverage across multiple networks, including CBS, and the selling point to Fox Sports was, I’m sure, “you’re competitor has 800 hours of fishing, let’s make a deal.” MLF grew the sport that way, and you’re trying to give BASS credit for growing the industry and sport by signing a 7 year deal in response? Come on.

What I actually meant by “growing the sport” in addition to the TV coverage, is MLF made a product that’s way more TV friendly and also changed the tournament format that oftentimes results in incredibly intriguing TV, even for a sport like bass fishing. There are cameras on multiple guys for the last several minutes, all within a few ounces of each other, jockeying to make a cut, make a bigger check or win.

I like the five best format too, but adding live drama to the finish is appealing to way more people watching on TV or streaming. It’s much more exciting that watching a weigh in an hour after lines out. Allowing anglers to know in real time where they stand to the ounce adds intrigue and drama like other, way more popular sports. That’s how the MLF format has grown the sport. It appeals more to fans of stick and ball sports. If anyone has a casual interest in fishing, but doesn’t care enough to watch it on TV, having a format with more drama and last-second theatrics without having to wait to see who wins is appealing.

They can coexist without a doubt, but you’re not taking any of this into account. It’s just blind hate, cherry-picking facts, misconstruing facts, and more.