2021 FLW Pro Circuit Schedule

Some great Southeast lakes on the schedule for sure. However, it's amazing to me that with as many Texas anglers as they have on tour, they can't manage to put one single stop in Texas. It's certainly no great mystery why most pro anglers end up living in either Alabama or Tennessee. Also a bit puzzling to me is that all of the professional tours keep scheduling events in New York. I know we all hope that this Covid insanity is gone long before then, but that is no guarantee. Still a fairly decent chance that any event scheduled there could be delayed or even worse the Anglers have to go through ridiculous quarantine restrictions. What are your thoughts?

2021 FLW Pro Circuit Schedule

Ok, so riddle me this, two states sold more than 2,000,000 resident fishing licenses, Texas and California, at 2,117,000 and 2,340,000 each. No tournament in either. Alabama (498k), South Carolina (511k) and Maryland (340k) combined sold less than either of those states, but each got an event? I get it, it's about what town/area will pony up most money to get them there, but dang seems you'd want to go where most interest in freshwater fishing.

Ok, so riddle me this, two states sold more than 2,000,000 resident fishing licenses, Texas and California, at 2,117,000 and 2,340,000 each. No tournament in either. Alabama (498k), South Carolina (511k) and Maryland (340k) combined sold less than either of those states, but each got an event? I get it, it's about what town/area will pony up most money to get them there, but dang seems you'd want to go where most interest in freshwater fishing.

Got to keep the sponsors happy

I don’t get it either, not that I would/ could fish it anyway.

This is 100% related to host fee revenue. All tournament leagues require it. Texas is notorious for low or no fees. It’s simply more profitable to visit the states that appreciate the tournament organizations/anglers and the economic impact they bring to a fishery.

Everyone has always know that tournament host fees are the #1 consideration for these tournament trails. It's rare to hear someone in the industry actually admit it. It's not just FLW either. It's all of them. Must be big money to trump every other consideration.

Maybe I'm dense, but what do you mean by "tournament host fees" and "appreciation" of the tournament? All tournament host areas reap an economic windfall from large amateur and pro tournaments, motels, restaurants, gas stations, tackle, grocery stores, rental homes, etc. Seems the impact is generally similar no matter where the tournament is held. So, does the economic development department or chamber of commerce pay BASS or FLW a large lump sum to host a tournament?

Yes

Yes

yes

Yes and they pay big!

When you stay at a hotel etc. you pay a tax that in some cases goes into the "kitty" to pay such fees.

Just a side note on these 2 tourneys in particular...

I can not blame them one but for wanting to fish up North during these time periods!

Sucks for a lot of the guys, lots of travel back & forth. Might knock the number of entries down.

Entries?, its invitation only now and if guys decline they will call enough guys up down the Toyota series standing that will gladly throw their money at the Pro Circuit

Yes entries, as in the guys that currently fish it (I wasn’t referring to a BASS Open system). 2 of the guys are from this region, I’ll be interested to see if they fish it again. Neither one did very well to begin with, I’d be shocked if they tried it again; but everyone seems to be rolling in money these days so they might.

You are correct though, someone will be willing to take the open spots, guys are crazy these days.

Beautiful, consistent weather and EVERYONE catches fish like crazy. I've never heard anyone say they didn't like the northern swing.

I don't disagree, but there were lots of BASS guys that hated all the BS they had to put up with in New York this year with all the quarantine restrictions. Lots of other good smallmouth fisheries in other northern states they could go to besides New York.......but I'm sure those places don't pay nearly as well.