Aside from Wheeler, DC, and a few others, would they jump from Bass if they had the opportunity to do it over again with the information they have now?

The format works best with smaller fields on smaller lakes with big fish.
Set it up like the NFL/college football with divisions so you can keep the fields small.
80 anglers total divided into four divisions. (Twenty per division)
BPT North BPT South BPT West BPT East

Each division fishes against itself on smaller lakes throughout the year.
Seven regular season tournaments for each division (28 total regular season tournaments)

The top 10 from each division (40 total) at the end of the regular season make the Bowl season

Semi final fish bowl 40 fishermen

Final Bowl championship 20 fishermen.

More Shelli and/or younger version of Shelli

The overhead costs would be higher and logistics more of a challenge, but you would quadruple the angler (smaller fields= more jersey and boat wrap time per angler) and sponsorship exposure throughout the regular season.

I think you may see a good many start coming back over. With the new requirements that MLF will have it’s going to leave a few with a bad taste. The top 50 is the only safe ones, 51st or worse you are a loser in the game now with them.
Just from what I gathered from the MLF guys when talking with them this past weekend, that was their #1 concern.

Are you talking about the promises that were never kept, the blatant allowing of some to cheat, the fact that they continue to change rules and regs mid-stream depending on who wants what or something entirely different?
Who in their right mind would want to mess with that trainwreck?

I do enjoy the smaller non-typical lakes that MLF is able to go to.

Guessing more than not have made more money than if they has stayed with Bassmaster. Wheeler, Connell, Ott and Alton Jr. sure have cleaned up in that format.

So you think a majority of the original have made more money in winnings at BPT since they left?

I think the vast majority of guys that left BASS wouldn't make the same decision again knowing what they know now. Half a dozen or so/year have been leaving the last few years as it is. And most of the big names. About the only high end names that haven't left already are Wheeler, DC, Ott, Thrift and Evers...I guess you could throw Skeet in there as he's a big personality, but I don't think he's been super competitive at BPT?

I like the idea of that regional format mentioned earlier in this thread, but there's just no way MLF could do it. They can barely afford to keep their current format going....

I loved the idea of this when they started out.....they went to a few, but look at their schedule this year and last. It looks similar to a legacy BASS schedule. Only smaller "non-typical" lakes have been Bussey Brake and the Chowan River events, I think ultimately they've learned to go where the money is, and the venues that pay them the best to show up as well.

I think so. Didn’t they get at least one season of no entry fees?

Is there a wiki page or something that outlines WTF happened during the split. Who all left BASS?

Just like guys that leave their wives. She has put on a little weight, doesn’t work anymore, grass looks greener over there, etc. Some of them come crawling back at some point.

Ain’t no way of knowing. What folks that haven’t left or attempted to leave would do.
But……. Ain’t nobody left B.A.S.S. for MLF since the initial divorce. That streets been one way for a while.

A lot of old timers left in an attempt to stay relevant, a few came back to bass..

"More Shelli" Shelli is/was great but I miss Natalie Dillon - a.k.a. 'Nattie Up North'. www.lifecoachnatalie.com