RE: Reyes' passion – I truly enjoyed reading this article. I've known Jason Reyes since his tournament fishing career began. He is a straightforward young man who is a leader among his peers. His insights to fishing are true lessons to be learned. This article proves his love and dedication to the sport of bass fishing.
RE: Watson on MLF – Most of the comments on Major League Fishing made by James Watson that are directed to his marshal or even to himself are simply joking around or "ribbing." This makes for more entertaining TV. Thanks, Don Rucks, and way to go, James, for crushing the field with the dock/spoon deal.
RE: Johnstons' team approach – Go get 'em boys. Tight lines from Canada.
RE: Johnstons' team approach – The "Rookie Brothers" are going to hit the FLW Tour with a full head of steam. Two skilled heads working together really helps for finding good water. I hope Andy Morgan doesn't bust their bubble too soon.
RE: Morgan's consistency – Andy is a great representative for both fishing and hunting. Proud he is from east Tennessee. Do whatever it takes to keep our outdoor heritage alive.
RE: Balog on bed-fishing – I personally see no difference in bed-fishing compared to forcing a reaction strike by a 15- to 20-foot cast to a visual target, triggering a feeding frenzy with multiple presentations to a school on a ledge that was found visually with modern electronics, or making 10 casts with a wacky worm to a cruising bass. If it's hooked in the mouth, it represents angling ... period.
Bed-fishing has been done by anglers for decades and to provide a contrary opinion to that of decimation of lake population, a previous opinion of this column has been that bass fishing has never been better and continues to improve.
RE: Balog on bed-fishing – I think your comment on the "two out-of-towners" (which you are one also) using shiners, catching fish and you saying it shows no demonstration of any knowledge or skill and nothing to be proud of" is very disrespectful. Anyone who catches a trophy fish should be proud of the fact, especially a weekend warrior or vacationer. Then you say you have brought many spawners back to the scales yourself. So it's okay for you to collect tournament money and hold a trophy high for doing the same thing? Enough on you.
How about closing off certain bays or areas of the lakes to ensure non-harassed fish can spawn and replenish the stock.
What Dennis Pentecost said! Love it!
RE: Balog on bed-fishing – Joe, Joe, Joe ... Please do not move down to this state and bring the northern notion of it's bad to fish for spawning bass. This subject has been beat to death and if it truly had a harmful impact on fisheries, then the state of Florida would have been decimated from the thrones of the bass fishing world many, many years before you decided to move here. Not only is the best time of year to fish down here from November to May, it's also the coolest time of the year to get out and enjoy the waters. Try it in July and August and you may want to move back up north and continue preaching to those who restrict fishing during the spawn. Otherwise, move on to your next topic.
The only true impact to fishing during the spawn is the 20,000 northerners who come down here every year and fill cooler after cooler of bass (and crappie for that matter). Now trust me, I know not all visitors are keeping their fish, but I've seen enough to know that is the only true impact of harming a fishery when these 6-, 7- and 8-pound fish are being harvested from our waters and it's happening every day at places like the Big O, Lake Kissimmee, Toho and the rest of the Florida lakes. A 200-boat tournament where catch and release is the common practice is not impacting the state of the spawn at any alarming levels that have been going on since catch and release has become a staple in the bass fishing world.
If the state of Florida chose to operate the way northern waters are run by eliminating fishing for bass during the spawn (which is roughly half the year long here), it would cripple the freshwater fishing industry in this state. Please keep the opinions and thoughts about how this state should run its programs and how the anglers in it should choose to fish to maybe just the thoughts in your head. It's really quite simple – if you don't want to catch spawning fish down here, don't fish from about the beginning of November until about the third week of May, Also, pack plenty of water and sunscreen for those dog days of summer, because if you fish at all during those times, I can promise you one thing ... you're going to catch a spawning fish.
Welcome to Florida.
RE: Balog on bed-fishing – Science does prove that gobies will eradicate a bass nest in seconds once the bass is removed. This does not stop guys like Mark Zona and Kim Stricker from giving tutorials on how to catch nesting bass on their shows. Stressing the importance of "releasing the bass immediately" is pretty hypocritical since the damage is already done to the nest.
Furthermore, most bass shows filmed in the spring are plucking bass off nests the entire time, then trying to sell the consumer the "magical" bait. I appreciate Joe Balog's opinion and fully agree with it, but if he wants to really make an impact on protecting the future of fisheries he should work with his colleagues (Zona, Stricker, Bucher and more) and get these hypocritical shows removed from production. Of course, this is not likely to happen since they all have to push product and there is no easier time to catch a bass than when it is in defense mode protecting its young. The guys who promote this should be ashamed of themselves.
RE: Balog on bed-fishing – I really cringe when I see people fishing for spawners ... sure it's fun to catch a big bass, but plucking one off its bed is easy, especially a spawning river smallie. Some of the so-called "guides" on the Susquehanna take clients out to pluck 4- and 5-pounders off their beds every year, even now while the river is being killed by fracking that the EPA and fish commission ignore and pretend to not know the cause of the fish kills.
People who target bed fish in the North, where the entire population spawns in a 2- to 3-week period, need to start being fined or it's never going to stop.
RE: Balog on bed-fishing – Whether we are looking at them or not, if you are fishing shallow in the spring you are catching spawning bass. I would also add that in Texas and Florida the spawn lasts 3 months. If we were to close the lakes to bass fishing during this time it would have a huge economic impact on these areas.
As for bed-fishing being easy, I beg to differ. Yes, there are times when it can be very fruitful, but most of the time that is not the case. To be realistic, the same thing is done with hunting as well. Everyone knows game is much more vulnerable during the mating season, so are we going to change this as well?
I do not have an issue with bed-fishing responsibly (i.e. catch one, take it to the weigh-in and release it). My problem is the guy who sits and catches the fish multiple times for his enjoyment. It is no different than hunting, which I enjoy immensely.
RE: Balog on bed-fishing – I love fishing for bass on beds and I am not a tournement angler.If reliable studies concluded that it was harmful to the bass population, then I would stop sight-fishing for them. It would far more difficult to convince me to stop fishing altogether during the spawn.
RE: Balog on bed-fishing – Joe might have been at this tournament, it was the last time the Michigan BFL was at Burt/Mullet. This event is probably the biggest sight-fishing smashfest in the country. I always wonder what the impact is of that single event due to the fact nearly the entire Top 20 bring in 20-pound bags of bed fish.
RE: Balog on bed-fishing – The real issue about the spawning bass is what the FWC has done to the habitat, so in my opinion, asking them about anything relating to trophy bass while there is a flotilla of spray boats destroying any and all habitat out there is pointless, especially during the spawn. You are new to town so I am not sure you realize what Lake Woodruff used to look like, but I urge you to find out and the truth will become clear.
RE: Biggs sitting out 2016 – I've known James since I began fishing tournaments 17 years ago. He was a great angler back then and always a humble, down-to-earth guy. I went out with him a few months ago and picked up some good instruction and had a great time. The guy has proven that he has what it takes to compete at any level in the fishing game, but more than that, he is just a first-class guy.
RE: Morgan's consistency – I first met Andy Morgan on Lake Chickamauga when he was 16 years old. I heard the dock talk about how good he was and at first was skeptical that anyone could be that good at that age. Boy, was I wrong! I fished against him in the BFL and watched him bloom on the FLW Tour to become what I consider one the best tournament fisherman in the world, if not the best!
He will eventually win the Forrest Wood Cup and that could happen this year on Lake Wheeler. A great article on a great person!
BassFan says: Bill Taylor serves as tournament director for the FLW Tour.
RE: Biggs sitting out 2016 – Great article, brother. I know it was a very hard decision for you. I know you're following God's lead and with that you will be blessed, and you'll be stronger and better. They better watch out!
RE: Cotten's DQ – So sorry, Rick but you are the reason that honor remains in this sport that we love. You will overcome the deficit. Thank you.
RE: Cotten's DQ – Shame on FLW for scheduling an event within off-limits of another. This happens too often.
I just got done watching round 3 of MLF and I thought James Watson acted like a spoiled brat!
RE: Ardent boosts pro staff – Heading to the Classic with Ardent reels, Smart Cull, Reel Care and other Ardent products. When fishing at the Elite level, everything has to work perfectly, all the time. I wouldn't fish a tournament without Ardent, it's that simple.
Interesting to know Joe Balog has moved from Harrison Township, Mich. to a new home state of Florida.
RE: Balog on field make-up – I have a hunch that northern trails struggle more for several reasons, which include the fact that the lakes are iced a good part of the year, causing residents to have more varied interests. Add to that some really unusual regulations as compared to the South, and you have an environment that is not as friendly to the concept of tournaments.
RE: Rodriguez steps up to Elites _ Good luck, Fabian. Great guy and really good angler.
RE: Balog on field make-up – Keep politics out of it. Also, the only way it would work is to add more events so pros can make a living. Since that's not going to happen, I don't see any way to ask pros not to fish.
Also, this is not a true professional sport. As long as the fans continue to have trouble to watch live and watch in person, I believe it's never going to be a sport like golf or NASCAR, so to compare bass fishing to those sports is wrong and just not accurate. This is just an observation and an opinion that I have.
RE: Rodriguez steps up – Good luck to Fabian! He has been a great competitor for many years and I don't consider him a rookie at all. I love to see a guy who has paid his dues make it to the highest level.
It will be interesting to see how the payout at the Costa FLW Series event at Lake Okeechobee will break down. At 250 boats, that's $400k taken in on the pro side alone. I realize FLW will pay out a little more at the championship, but let's crunch numbers at the end of the week and see who comes out ahead. Besides that, 250 boats is way too many ... even for Okeechobee.
I feel there should be invitations to both B.A.S.S. and FLW championship tournaments for the founders (Jerry McKinnis being one of them also) that shows the appreciation for what we are all grateful for and experiencing.
RE: Ken Cook's passing – I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Cook. I was at a Classic event as a Federation state president. He was a real neat guy who came up through the ranks. He will be greatly missed by a lot of people.
RE: Horton's move to FLW – Great article. Jamie is a class act and will do very well on the FLW tour.
RE: Ken Cook's passing – True legend ... praying for you, Tammy.
RE: Info-gathering – Joe Balog's article, along with Rick Clunn and Randy Blaukat's comments, have me wondering about top-level bass fishing. I have a lot more questions: When did this shift occur? Is it just the younger guys or does it have nothing to do with a generational attitude? Who are the main culprits? What's their take on it?
Certainly the advent of GPS and the Internet have helped to spur on the new approach of the "modern professional bass fisherman." I certainly get the feeling that the pros on tour know who the main offenders (if I may use that term) are, but don't want to name names. I, for one, would be interested in knowing which pros owe their success more to their skill at obtaining waypoints than their skills at finding their own fish.
Maybe it's sour grapes as, in fact, pros have always used all means at their disposal to learn all they can about the areas they will be fishing. It's an interesting topic.
RE: Info-gathering – It has always been who gets the best information wins, be it from local Federation club members, previous tournaments or local tackle shops.
RE: Info-gathering – There really isn't a fail-safe way to enforce that rule and many more which are already in place. Also if you took the cell phone and Internet away from most anglers today, they would have all of their fishing equipment up for sale. Especially the new generation of anglers and the entire college fishing program.
RE: New Bass Cat sales manager – More significant exits from Ranger. Sad to see the once preeminent boat company slowly being restructured to its (and our) detriment. I'm sure you'll soon be able to order one at a kiosk in a mall.
As for Bass Cat ... the king is dead, long live the king. Your reputation for service and quality of boats has solidified your position at the top of the list. As a current Ranger owner, I'll be dreaming of my new Bass Cat one day.
Thoughts and prayers going out for the Cook family ... great guy!
RE: T-H hires Mason – Congratulations, Jimmy. I can't think of anyone more deserving, better equipped or knowledgeable. This move is going to be great for T-H.
Joe Balog's article on Clunn seeking information hits on a topic that makes many of us frustrated and irritated. This entire problem of information creating an unfair playing field can easily be eliminated. Tournament directors are entirely responsible for this, by allowing such liberal info and help rules to exist.
If it were up to me, the day B.A.S.S. or FLW announces the next year's tournament schedule, it would be illegal to solicit any information, receive any waypoints or talk to anyone (even other competitors) regarding the tournament sites. Put the lakes off limits to all competitors until 5 days prior to the event, when they would have that time to scout. Any angler found in violation of any of these rules would face a 5-year suspension. You would then see the best anglers rise to the top, and not the best-connected.
They should have a legends tournament and the winner goes to the Classic!
RE: Tommy Martin – Great article, thanks! The Masters golf tournament incorporates the legends. Wouldn't it be awesome to see the legends of our sport included in the Bassmaster Classic? It would motivate me to drive farther to see legends likeTommy Martin.
There's a bunch of reasons FLW can't be considered upper-echelon – field size is just one of many. No doubt the few big guns they have left will be trying to qualify for the Elites again this year. That's probably for the best.
By John Johnson BassFan Senior Editor
Zack Birge had his toughest season on the MLF Bass Pro Tour in 2023, ending up 48th in the final points standings
By MLF Communications Staff
EUFAULA, Okla. – As he idled out of Peter’s Point-Nichols Point Marina for the Championship Round on Lake Eufaula, Zack Birge
By MLF Communications Staff
EUFAULA, Okla. – Through five days of fishing at the MLF Bass Pro Tour event on Lake Eufaula, central Oklahoma’s notoriously
