If they aren't monitoring TFF and they make their money in Texas running a fishing trail then they aren't that smart to begin with... Why did they say they were adding the new lakes to the trail?

Should just rename it the East Texas Division......

I'm not sure...myself, i've never fished Rayburn and just spelled out what it sounded like he said. Sorry for misleading.

Is this Black Bayou or Bayou Black? And where is it? I found Black Bayou, but not Bayou Black.

I plan on fishing these tournaments next year. Do not really like having to go down south twice but I will still make the drive.

Everyone is intittled to his or her opinion. With that being said, If it's grass roots fishing like you stated; Why is it costing me more to fish the tournament than what the tournament pays out? Answer me that......Secondly, why call it the Cowboy Division when the whole purpose for that is to fish the lakes in Texas. If that's the case change the name and have all the d#$n tournaments in Louisiana. Then you all can have your wonderful turnout fishing your bayous and such. There are plenty of lakes in Texas that can hold a BFL tournament. Lake Belton held a Fishing for Freedom Tournament to support the troops last year with over 200+ boats and this year we are looking at 246+ boats. Better turnout than the BFL will ever have. Lake Waco is a large enough lake, Lake Livingston and the list go on and on. Grass roots...yeah lets bring it back to grass roots and start fishing our Texas Lakes like we should.

Cypress bend only had one ramp operational last time I was there. There is a lot of tourneys moving to deeper ramps.

look guys...every year the tournaments jump around. I learned a long time ago, if you don't like something...wait and it will change and if you do like something...don't get used to it because it will change. Let it ride as it's already published and make the best of it. If you aren't interested, then don't fish.

If BFL moves back to just Texas they will get about 60 to 70 entries for boaters. The way they have it now, they will get about 90ish. They cant do both due to the fact that the numbers for each will decrease and not be profitable enough. Even though the payout for the circuit is only 60 to 70% payback like other National circuits in our area, the Regionals are free entry, and the BFL All American is free entry (with gas allowance) with everyone cutting a check which makes up for the poor payback.
Priority entry into the Everstarts is a benefit as well but you can get that for being in a TBF Federation Bass Club. Most of us (80%) will loose money whatever we fish, or if we do win money this year, we will loose it next year.

Ditto....not my favorite schedule, bet it levels the field for angler of the year and I kind of like that. Interesting bodies of water too.

+2 on what skeeter190 said. Look at the BASS LA weekend series. they only pull around 60-70 boats. If you had a LA or TX East only division, turnout would be low, payouts low and enthusiasm low. Go to FLW, and look at years back on the schedules, for the old LA and Cowboy, low turnout until they combined. I'd much rather get my brains kicked in by 100 folks than 50. I've never been down to south LA fishing, but I know the fishing is great and I'd be willing to bet those 2 tournys are going to have a very nice turnout. I think overall it's a good schedule, something for everyone. I'm sure next year, there will be other lakes in the mix with the staples of Toledo and Rayburn. Rarely is a schedule 100% to the liking of 100% of the people. FLW, BASS, Bass champs, BLT, etc's goal is a max field every time. That way, they make more money. In turn the anglers make more money.

I am all about opinions that is why i read the Forums all day.
But, the selling point or business side of the BFL is Grassroots tournaments, cheaper entries to try and get boaters to sign up and take their skills to the next level. Which is what FLW wants. Nothing in the rules state that you have to stay in a 150$ a night hotel, eat at the Stump on Rayburn for 15 dollars a plate, or spend 500 dollars in gas running all over the lake during your 2 days of practice. That doesnt fall on FLWs back. If you fish the BFLs to make money then you need a camper stacked on top of your ford focus that you bought because your big F250 diesel costs to much to drive, pack cheese sandwiches (no ham... to expensive) and find fishing holes that are right next to the ramp.
I have been fishing for a long and am by NO MEANS even close to breaking even (costs/winnings) someday i hope that changes, but you cant expect to get rich off of a grassroots tourney trail is all im saying. its not going to happen.
Ever fished a club tourney circuit? where you win 65 dollars for weighing 20lbs of greenbacks that you practiced 2 days for? BFL is just a bigger version of this, that has potential to turn into something great (qualifying for regional champs, All american, Tour)
Secondly, there is also nothing in the rules that states "if the division is named Cowboy, then all tournaments WILL be fished in the state of Texas. Look at the other BFL divisions, ARKIE, OZARK etc. and look where the lakes are, all over the state, some of those boys have a long ways to drive also, and im sure if they had the same forum that we have, they would have a few complaints also, but it all rolls back down to BFL needing numbers, to pay bills. Right now Louisiana is the only place around that they get these kinds of numbers.
I will help, lets get a petition started, if we can find 200+ boaters that say "I will sign up for the BFL tourneys if they are held on Belton, no questions asked" then i bet a lot of money that FLW would consider moving atleast one of the tourneys to Belton... But it wont happen. theyve had BFLs at Cedar Creek, Texoma (huge lake), Whitney, we actually had a tournament on Livingston last year (turnout was worst of year)and others... turnouts were terrible. Not even half of what they are pulling out of LA. They just do not have the following up here like the forum says they do. People request/complain to get tournaments up here in the metromess, then dont show up. I do not blame them a bit for not coming up here. Do i wish they would? absolutely
Year before last, they even tried spliting the series, the schedule was Rayburn, Toledo, Texoma, Cedar Creek, Texoma...
Guess where the big numbers were and where they werent.
They have tried many times to bring the circuit "closer to home" for us ?metroplexians?, but the guys just do not show up to fish...

I am in no way trying to start a war over this. but this subject comes up every year. and i dont think that people understand the reasoning behind why these tournaments are so far away... They also do not see the research and testing that FLW has performed in the past to see where the best tournouts will be.
There are good lakes in east texas, and good lakes in west texas and central to southern LA... but the numbers come near the LA border and always have
FIELD OF DREAMS...

hope to see you out there.

Same Song and Dance (just a different year)....you can't make everyone happy and put the tournaments in their back yards.

It's the experience of going to new places, fishing against good dudes, and enjoying life.

Why fish the same pond your whole life...so many options...just go with it!

Payout would be better if the economy didn't suck! The cost of living (fishing) going up up up! Even BASS and FLW Tour pros are scrapping by! If you aren't you are the Big Balla! Enjoy it and don't fish this level...hit up the big time!

Like the previous post. We only get one go around and no do overs. Might as well go out and do it. I don't want to be one of the folks who says "one day i'll do this and that when I retire" then get run over by a concrete truck on the way to the social security office...with our economy the way it is...I'm not gonna get any social security so I might as well spend it on entry fees. Can't take it with you.

I use to fish that division but they moved everything to far away.