No one will be able to own both without triggering anti-trust lawsuits. Anglers will sue, sponsors, and the general gov’t. One over arching owner would be a nightmare and hold a disproportionate influence over the entire industry.

I’ve seen the anti-trust process at work in O&G. It’s a long, arduous, expensive process. And the Gov’t rarely loses.

NPFL?

It’s based on Market Share. NPFL doesn’t move the needle enough yet.

Sign me up!

Someone mentioned Johnny Morris earlier....Interesting.....He is the one person in the industry who could put this sport back where it needs to be.

I must be doing something wrong. When I look at the results on MLF website, I only find one Toyota Series tournament with one less co than pro, in the BFL looking at 12 tournaments (don't have time or desire to look at all BFL), I see three tournaments with shortage of co's (4 short)

T

G man cannot be a good guy, he once ran dangerously close to 2 competitors on purpose.

He must be a terrible person.

It's not that co-anglers don't want to fish. It's that they don't have a chance when somebody is scoping the schools. I'm beginning to sound like Randy Blauket. And I have a LS 34 on my bow. Drag a Carolina Rig I guess. This is really a 2024 phenomenon. Maybe 2023 to an extent. But any problems it was going to cause, it is causing it now.

Neither do bass or major league. These two organizations are literally so small in the big scheme of things. “Pro” fishing is on no one’s radar. You get better interest in a cornhole tournament.

I don't see this going down the anti trust road at all. Not enough money involved, not even close. I think there would have to be MULTIPLE BILLIONS of dollars in play here and if you added up both organizations total assets and revenue it wouldn't even be close. Bass fishing just isn't that big of deal. Golf maybe.

I agree, in the Antitrust world if Bass Pro can buy Cabelas this is nothing

Pro bass fishing is tiny, professional cornhole audience is bigger, sad but true.

IMHO Boyd Duckett would be a great owner of both BASS and MLF...he is a pro angler himself and he knows what being a pro angler requires from an individual and he would take whatever steps required to iinsure really good anglers have the opportunity and exposure to enable them to sustain a fishing career and be able to support their families....look no further than his (and other owners) decision to reduce the number of fishermen on MLF tour,a decision based on the number of fishermen they have learned is the maximum number a pro trail can furnish income and sponsor exposure for the fisherman .
Duckett is much like Trump in that he is independently wealthy from making good business decisions and not likely to be influenced by sponsor,venue or media dollars into making decisions to increase his income at the expense of the pro angler out there trying to make a living and support their families...

Bear do you ever get tired of that taste in your mouth?