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The direction that BASS is taking the profession of fishing is not unlike the PGA, Pro Rodeo, Pro Bull Riding, NASCAR and on and on. This direction is some what new for the professional bass fisherman, but the other major sports at one time had to make the same move and I am sure met the same resistance that BASS is meeting now. If this new direction BASS is headed works out it will be great. But if it fails it will be okay also. The fishing sport is not built around the professional bass fishing world, but the people that get up at 4:00 a.m. and spend their hard-earned money to enjoy a day on the water with friends and/or family.

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Pete Simmel of Greenwich, CT writes:

Thursday, October 27, 2005

I'm very sorry to hear that Loudmouth was cancelled. Not really being a freshwater fisherman, the show made me interested and I learned alot about who's who in the bass fishing world. I would actually go out my way to watch it. Being from the North and strictly a saltwater guy, I was genuinely a huge fan of these guys and I will miss them. It may have been too comedic for the hardcore freshwater guy, but it got me and some of my buddies interested. What are you doing ESPN? You just lost me.

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Jason Beeler of Wagoner, OK writes:

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Elton Luce Jr. of Sam Rayburn, TX writes:

What can ESPN do for bass fishing? Leave it alone. Sell BASS to somebody that cares, get out of the idea that everybody follows a cookie-cutter set of ideals that a focus group gives you, and let things take their natural progression. Just because an idea works in one area (such as NASCAR) doesn't mean it'll work in another. ESPN has some mighty talented folks working for them. They need to chalk the outdoors thing up as a loss and concentrate on what they do best -- whatever that is.

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Tim Cline of Sherman, TX writes:

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Mark Richards of Houston, TX writes:

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

After reading the article on Skeet, I wish he would please provide some clarity on how the sport is getting from where it is now - where a guy puts up a ton of his own money, does well, and probably goes broke - to making "a quarter mil" without entry fees. I've said this before, but at some point, people in this sport are going to have to realize that its potential is not unlimited. That fishing is not by nature a spectator sport like Nascar, and these assumptions that this sport can evolve into something of that magnitude are simply farfetched and counterproductive.

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Gilbert Brown of Fredericksburg, VA writes:

Friday, October 7, 2005

I've met Pooley Dawson and yes he is a good man, however I didn't think it was necessary for Ray Scott to state, "I had employed the hard-working young black man part-time for a year or so when BASS was barely beyond a dream in my active imagination." What does his race have to do with it? Maybe I'm missing the point.

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Nick Simon of Caledonia, MS writes:

Friday, October 7, 2005

Thanks, Ray, for the column on Pooley Dawson. I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple years ago and have worked with him at a few events since. He is one class individual and will be surely missed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Pooley for his service to the BASS community. One thing, I wonder if Pooley's "towel" was retired too (snicker)?

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Bruce Fleming of Bentonville, AR writes:

Friday, October 7, 2005

I agree with Jay's assesement that "noise" is not the way to grow the sport. Pro anglers and co-anglers should grow the sport by making themselves available to the public, especially the kids, to answer questions about their sport and how they got started. I feel that some of the pros in the sport today are being led down the path that the NBA has gone with trash-talking and the attitude that you have to get in someone's face to become an idol. Bass fishermen work very long and hard to compete and become successful and those stories ought to be told. Noise is short-lived and trendy. Being good to fans and fellow competitors is lasting.

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Robert Joslin of Ft Smith, AR writes:

Thursday, October 6, 2005

Jay Yelas' piece sounds to me like sour grapes. I'm not saying that I agree with the rules that BASS has made in the last few months, but you shouldn't be bashing on Ike and his "likes." I am assuming that you are referring to Skeet, VanDamn, Hackney, Swindle, Rojas, Hite, Marten and Stone when you refer to his "likes." I feel like these are the fishermen that were in the spotlight the most because they were the story makers this year. Ike and his "likes" all have different personalities. In my opinion, these different personalities are one of the things that make the sport more exciting and interesting.

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