Bottom line BASS is the "average joes" bass league, the more hardcore more in the loop guys tend to favor FLW. FLW is growing growth in the sport no matter WHO does it is good.

other thoughts on combined championship, what about a Ryder cup type situation, top ten points leaders in both leagues go at it? that would be a blast, have one touney in the south east, one in texas or cali, one in the breadbasket and one on the grate lakes. Count each place as a poit, lowest score wins

Quick answer:

BASS is approximately 530,000 members

FLW is approximately 35,000 to 40,000 members

Simple math!

Tell that to the relative "No Names" in FLW who have made millions. If it were so second rate do you think the likes of Larry Nixon and George Cochran would be there? I think with the sale of Triton to Platinum Equities, you are going to see more BASS types moving to fish FLW or BASS or Both. Further, I think the sale of BASS is going to bring several of the "FLW only" fisherman back to BASS on at least a part time basis. I think by this time next year there will be a lot of confusion over the direction of the two trails cleared up.

BS on why the anglers of BASS aren't being invited back Falcon and and the fish KILL is the last reason.

Ask Amistad C of C why? After BASS came back to Amistad without the Co anglers.

Its not the Elites who put money into the town or area, it was the Co anglers and families who travelled to the events that put money into the towns.

Vast majority of the Elite pros don't use motels and such, they have there own travel trailers, with no co anglers anymore, there isn't that much money being pumped into the economy, and most don't know that these towns promise Espn 50 free rooms for a week and 500000 for expenses and such, and they don't recoop as much money as they thought they would without having the co anglers travelling.

Which is the very reason we can expect some changes with Jerry McKinnis in charge. He is a people person and you won't find anyone on the either of the trails who would speak negative of him.

As far as the "no names" fishing FLW....maybe you should get the FLW magazine. Alot of those guys who do well are in there giving valuable tips each month. Many of those "no names" have won well over 1 million dollars in just a few years.

If your a millionare bass fisherman, your not a "no name" pro....they did something right to win that kind of $$!

I guess BASS Elite series is a good show if your up at 3:30AM. I get to watch it every once in awhile when I can't sleep. BUT who are they marketing too at 3:30 AM?

I wish FLW came on cable. That would help them out alot. I used to watch it on Fox SW.

I watch FLW all the time and Bassmaster also. Bassmaster just seems really get my blood pumping, and FLW outdoors is just so so. My 11 year old son will sit and watch and entire Bassmaster show with me screaming and carrying on about the fishing, etc.. but will not watch more than 10 mins of an FLW outdoors show because it is boring.

i have always heard the pros say "you wanna make money, fish FLW-= you wanna be famous- fish B.A.S.S.".... FLW just needs more publicity and better hosts! Put fish fishburne in there and watch what happens!! that dude is crazy!

You've made some great points about the AOY, the Falcon debacle and the dumping of outdoors programming. But, you lost me on the average joe comment. FLW favors the more hardcore? For one, the Ranger boat deal and forcing of sponsers is a big Fail. That does not favor the anglers it favors the orginization. FLW has to do this different before they gain the respect of serious anglers and the pro's.

The other point is those saying FLW anglers are as good or better. Really? What happens when Ike fishes over there? What would happen if Skeet and KVD dropped in on a few tournys? KVD is the Elite, and he's in BASS..... By no means do I agree with those stating FLW is minor league or something that's not true, they are at a high level just like BASS. But angler to angler, BASS has the best of the best.

I keep hearing this argument about the Co's, but it's being exaggerated. Don't you think the marshals need hotel rooms and food? Sure there are probably more Co's, but it's not like this revenue is totally lost. A lot of the co's have travel trailers also and/or stay with Pro's. These lost revenues are partially filled by the Marshall's. Yeah, I've heard, well it's usually locals. I disagree, I know ton's of guys in this area that went to Amistad to Marshall. I even know some that went to Guntersville. If it's on a cool lake the Marshal's will travel and when they do, it is revenue for the host city. But whatever, it's kinda side tracking the original topic. Co's or the lack of em aren't getting BASS more attention than FLW.

Ultimate Match Fishing.

The FLW guys have owned the BASS boys(including Ike and Skeet) the last 2 years.

The prize money is no longer a million bucks. After the ranger bankruptcy that only offered $100,000 Ranger bonus if you won the cup. The guy that won it this year was running a Ranger but it was a 2005 model which did not qualify him for the bonus.

T Boone threw in $100,000 as part of his new partnership with FLW.

UMF is a niche competition. It's fun to watch, but I'd hardly use it as a barometer for assessing an anglers skill.

LOL. BASS still got that arse kicked.