RE: Balog solicits ideas – Joe, how about some comments on the regional tournament circuits, be they statewide or area-wide events. We hear of the Toyota Big Bass stuff down in Texas, but very little about the Midwest, Central or Northeast/West. Are sponsors missing an opportunity by not supporting these regional events?
I think the BPT will flop. It's going down the same unnecessarily complex path that NASCAR went down. Shotgun Round 1, period 1, 2, 3 ... Shotgun Round 2, period ... Knockout Round, etc., etc., etc. Nobody is interested in trying to figure out what's going on.
Bassmaster has it right for a true professional. Four days of fishing, cumulative weight for five fish per day is the winner. Simple, and the best prevails.
I think for TV, yes, the BPT can be cut, pasted, edited, massaged, and faked to make the BPT look like something. I think for the average Joe, trying to see what's going on, day to day, on his computer or on BassFan, the BPT means nothing.
Listen to any average Joe about a multi-day tournament. The question is, "Who's leading?" and how far back is 2nd. Adding stages and periods and round of this or round of that, and you've just lost the average Joe. For TV, fine, but for the average fan, I do not see this being good.
Add this to the long list of poor decisions in trying to modify a good game. Stableford scoring system in golf, "playoffs" in NASCAR, NBC's bass boat racing, BPT, etc.
I just do not connect with it.
RE: Balog solicits ideas – I appreciate your efforts in this column. My opinion is on bed-fishing in tournaments. I lived/fish on Table Rock Lake here in Missouri. During the spring there are many tourneys where bed-fishing is a major strategy. I have been told that it has no effect on the bass population. Common sense tells me that catching a fish off the nest, hauling it in a livewell for several hours, then releasing it miles away from the original nest must have a negative effect on the spawn. We do have great fishing on the "Rock," but the numbers of bass over 5 pounds are nowhere near what was being caught several years ago.
I don't want to sound like the "old grumpy guy" who yells to get kids off his lawn, but the amount of tourney pressure on these bedding fish each spring is intense. I believe that down the road the MLF format to catch and release immediately will be normal for all tourneys. We have gained so much innovation from tourneys, but at what point does the education and evolving skills have a negative result on our resource?
What I love about pro tournaments is watching the pros do something I can't, like catch big fish. I go out many times and catch all the 1-pounders I want. Seeing what they do to target larger ones is what draws me to watch. I did watch the first two days of MLF, and while the coverage was excellent, it's not going to keep my attention for an entire year.
RE: Balog solicits idea – I have what I consider a neat concept for an article that has been bouncing around in my head for the last couple of days with the launch of the BPT. How will the new BPT influence boat sales and, more specifically, boat and motor size. With the rules of the BPT predicated on lines in and lines out with no need to race to a starting spot or race back to check-in, is there a need for a 21-foot bass boat with a 250 hanging on the back, or would it be more economical for the pros to run an 18-footer with a 150 like they do in the MLF events? Could we see a reverse in boating trends?
RE: Balog solicits ideas – Joe, two things. Have you heard any real progress on the carp invasion? I live in Florida, like you, and we have our own issues, but those carp seem like a very serious threat. Secondly, I would like to praise our Game & Fish guys for their Big Fish program. Pretty cool idea.
It would be interesting to compile the five heaviest fish by each competitor to see what the standings would look like based on that against the total weight of all fish. I'm still not sure i like this BPT format.
I watched quite a bit of the first 2 days of the BPT. I found it enjoyable for the most part, but by the end of day 2 watching a parade of one-pound fish got old. This is Florida and it's already turned into a dink-fest. I think many will also tire of this after a while. That said, I'll tune in tomorrow.
Great first day for BPT – after a few glitches early, the broadcast was great. Big fish caught in tough conditions. It appeared to me most fished their strengths as they always do. Much screen time for lots of guys, not so much for others. Can’t wait for rest of the week. Bass geeks rejoice everywhere!
With regards to Mr. MacLean's comments about "catching fisherman," to an extent he's correct. There is an aspect to today's sport that focuses on the angler. The question then becomes, Why is he surprised?
The moment that someone being able to make a living sport-fishing became a reality, coverage of the athlete in addition to the sport itself became inevitable. The same situation is present in NASCAR, where coverage of the drivers, their personalities and their activities outside racing are just as prevalent as coverage of the race itself. That reality extends to golf, tennis, football, baseball, basketball soccer and, indeed, any sport that pays its athlete to play and, more importantly, to win.
If we are going to accept that having a professional level of competition in the sport of bass fishing is part of its continuing future, then we also have to accept that coverage of those athletes is part of the game.
RE: BPT rules – Too far with the rules. When you have so many rules and all you can do is think about not breaking a rule, it really becomes less fun. It is already difficult enough asking tournament anglers not to talk about tournament waters with people outside of a competition. That is what we do; we talk about fishing and our most recent day on the water is a typical point of conversation. I don't tell crucial information and I don't expect someone to give it to me. Asking fisherman to share no info whatsoever with other competitors takes the last outlet of just to be able to talk about fishing away, and would make my life less enjoyable.
RE: Balog on old-school stuff – The demise of pork and the pistol grip ... will HydroWave make this list in a few years?
I heard one of the pros who switched to the new BPT say on a bass show that maybe now the pro anglers will get more coverage than the commentators at B.A.S.S.!
RE: Balog on old-school stuff – I've used Power Baits since day 1. Fish seem to hold on longer and swallow quicker. Half of my plastics are still PowerBaits. Sometimes I use garlic and coffee – at least the coffee neutralizes my hand smell. Still use shad paste on hard baits and spinner blades, seems to work on inactive fish, double taps. Love the pistol grip rod for throwing small square-bills and spinnerbaits in tight corners with little splash. The rest of the article, have used at one time and do not know. Joe's article is my first read every Thursday.
BassFan World Rankings, Jacob Wheeler being No. 1, are you guys going to be including BPT in your rankings?
BassFan says: Yes, BPT events will be included.
The confidence bait for me has been the same bait since the mid '80s. It doesn't matter which season either, just as effective any season. Water color and temp dictates the color and whether 4 or 5 inches. Gary Yamamoto Hula Grub.
I look at various sites and I'm surprised at the negativity regarding the various tours and participants. I've been fishing for over 50 years and following the bass scene since it started. They have done a lot of wonderful things to elevate the sport, develop new tackle and techniques, and educate the rest of us. There are hundreds of "pros" and you aren't going to like them all, but try to sit back and enjoy what they are doing.
BASS, FLW and MLF all bring something to the sport – only time can tell which format will be most popular. We've come a long way from the old fishing shows where the host narrated a half-hour of film, and there is part of me that still loves that, but I'd still rather watch a fishing show than most of the other nonsense that's on. Remember that it's supposed to be fun!
RE: Burghoff's strong start – Good job, Sonar! You learned some valuable lessons going forward! Will be anxious to see how you do the rest of the year.
RE: Bolton's shopping trip – So BassFan posts a video on shopping and B.A.S.S. has an article on a photo shoot for anglers in their studio. I think "professional" bass fishing has become more about catching fishermen rather than fish.
RE: Bolton's first Tour win – Never met the guy, but I have great admiration for the gentleman.
RE: Bolton's first Tour win – Great job, Terry Bolton. Great job, FLW live, and great job letting Daniel Fennel MC the final day. He should do all 4 days.
I'd like know how much non-productivity and loss time employers will suffer while guys live-stream fishing from their desktops and phones while at work.
Maybe expand the Classic field. B.A.S.S. and BPT could get together on this. Invite the top 15 BPT finishers to the Classic. The KVDs and Hackneys of the sport will truly be missed. Something for all to think about.
RE: Balog on live-streaming – First, I love your articles. Second, I am a bass junky in my fourth year of bass fishing at age 58. I like watching live shows but I really love when anglers like Scott Martin or Jacob Wheeler provide fishing tips on why they chose that bait or why are they are fishing this cover or structure. I want to learn, not hear continual sponsor plugs. I understand they need to, but I can read their jersey or boat wrap. Keep up the good work!
RE: Balog on live-streaming – I've enjoyed the live feed coverage when I've had a chance to watch it. However, I'm too busy during daylight hours to see much of it. I do like to catch the live weigh-in feeds at the end of the day. I still depend on the tournament TV shows for most of my viewing enjoyment.
RE: Balog on live-streaming – It will absolutely not dilute it and this is definitely the future of bass fishing coverage. Bass fishermen aren’t stupid. They were sick of hearing guys at the weigh-in state which bait they caught them on, only to hear rumors they caught them another way. We want to see how it’s really happening in real time. We also want to see the character of anglers on the water in the heat of the moment, not on a staged television show.
RE: Balog on live-streaming – Televised bass tournaments are at their best after condensing and editing. That's hard to do with streaming live coverage. I think the real challenge ... and MLF has seemingly met that challenge ... is presenting a condensed 1- to 2-hour show that feels live and is entertaining, but the viewers are not aware of the outcome. That's gonna be hard to pull off for most tournaments. Likewise, watching hours of live fishing, well, is not very entertaining most of the time.
Many people lose interest in watching sports when they already know the outcome. Fishing has always had this issue, but it's magnified since the days when I didn't know who won the Bassmaster Classic until my magazine came in the mail.
RE: Balog on live-streaming – Live coverage is the future for the true bass fishing fan. The produced 1-hour shows that are 33 percent advertisements will still appeal to the general fishing public. Now there is something for everyone.
RE: Balog on live-streaming – I’ve overstocked my man cave with beer, increased my data plan, applied for early retirement and I have my bookie looking into betting on BPT anglers. Let the games begin!
Comparing fishing to golf is like comparing apples to oranges; but that's the best you could come up with. Fishing is dealing with living creatures that change moods and patterns every hour. Just wait till one of these guys goes out on day 1 and busts 80 pounds and the next day you can't buy a fish. Then you will see some major griping and complaining.
I have fished with these guys since 1998 in 16 tournaments as a co-angler and one as a marshal. These are the most competitive, selfish and egotistical people in the world. To put 80 of the biggest egos in the world together on an uneven playing field, BPT will self-implode.
RE: Balog on measuring sticks – In response to the idea that the fishing industry needs to look at things from a new point of view, I agree. However, I must disagree about that kick-in-the-butt being the idea of MLF-style tournaments.
Your idea about people only caring about numbers, I must disagree with you. When the people I fish with or talk to about fishing, talk about their day they talk about keepers. And more importantly, they either talk about their biggest one or two, or they talk about their best five. Many of these people do not fish tournaments. And not all of them talk about weight, some talk about length.
I think limiting boat sizes and technological limits would be a much better way of helping the industry grow. You can see that in the explosion of kayak anglers in recent years. More people fish out of kayaks, jonboats, and 10-plus-year-old fiberglass boats than will ever fish out of the state-of-the-art boats on the market.
RE: Arey's transition – Followed Matt on FLW and I'm looking forward to following him on the B.A.S.S. Elite Series. I think the industry shake-up will end up being a good thing for all circuits. As a fan and a competitor, I will follow all three circuits!
From what I understand about BPT, the field will be split into two groups and fish a lake on alternate days. Anyone who fishes knows that a lake does not fish the same every day. How can you compare weights from different days under possibly totally different conditions? In order to have a competition, you must have fishermen fish the same lake the same day; otherwise you just have the luck of the draw.
BPT is just going to be a television show about a group of guys catching a lot of small fish, with a lot of hollering and screaming, and a little dramatic music thrown in. Think about it like this, would they split the field at the Kentucky Derby into two groups, run one group in the sun one day, the other group in the rain the next and compare times?
BassFan says: It's a different format, to be sure, but "luck of the draw" plays a role in a lot of major sports. Perhaps the most notable is golf, in which course conditions for players who tee off in the afternoon are often dramatically different than they were for those who played in the morning. Still, at the end of the day, all competitors are ranked on the basis of "how many?"
RE: Balog on measuring sticks – Great article. The good thing about BPT is it is catch and immediate release. I remember reading your articles on bass mortality in tournaments. This will take that out of the picture.
By John Johnson BassFan Senior Editor
A look at the ages of the anglers who comprise the current Top 10 on the Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers Division
By Dustin Wilks Special to BassFan
(Editor's note: "Catching Bass with Dustin Wilks" airs four times per week on the Sportsman Channel – 6
By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff
PALATKA, Fla. — Cory Johnston fished a full tournament. But with all due respect to nine other competitors, he could’ve
