Bassfan Feedback

• Luke Michaels of Hammond, IN writes:

  Friday, May 31, 2013

  Good Point on B.A.S.S. crisis management to cut folks. Not only an indicator of cash-flow issues, but maybe even more of an indicator of very poor management.

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• Michael Caver of Southfield, MI writes:

  Friday, May 31, 2013

  RE: Balog on St. Clair – St. Clair is my home lake and I fill it in as the #1 lake. B.A.S.S. did a great job at picking St. Clair #1. I think Joe is a clown in his comment about B.A.S.S. picking St. Clair as #1.

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• Adam Lock of Metropolis, IL writes:

  Friday, May 31, 2013

  RE: Fritts at Eufaula – That's pretty good coming from Fritts who last used an old-school Eagle graph and a flasher.

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• Brian Feutz of Ada, MI writes:

  Thursday, May 30, 2013

  RE: Balog on St. Clair – Love it, Balog. Keep up the good work. Best reading on the net.

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• Nathan Weed of Pasco, WA writes:

  Thursday, May 30, 2013

  RE: Balog on St. Clair – I completely agree that the task of picking the 100 best bass lakes is a challenging task. I also think that Bassmaster's run at it each year is largely patronized towards their nationwide fan base. I wish they'd stop it. I regularly fish three of the lakes that make the list, and let me tell you, they are not great bass lakes by any means. They are nice places to fish, and hold decent fish (when put in perspective with our climate), but you cannot honestly tell me there aren't 100 lakes in Texas and Louisiana alone that aren't significantly better lakes than these. Furthermore, for every lake I have fished on this list I can think of another lake nearby that holds better fish and is just as conducive to large tournaments. My home waters is represented on the list every time its published but I only fish it if I don't have time to go elsewhere.

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• Chris McCall of Brookeland, TX writes:

  Thursday, May 30, 2013

  RE: Balog on St. Clair – Joe, I love that place and will be headed up there this summer for fun and maybe fish the EverStart there. Publicity like this can kill a fishery. I have seen what it did to Amistad and what it has done to Falcon. I pray the same doesn't happen up there.

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• Ted Barth of Bolivar, NY writes:

  Thursday, May 30, 2013

  RE: NY boater safety course – I'm not sure I totally agree. Many states already have this requirement and I think it would help safety on the water, not to mention that it saves you a few bucks on your boat insurance. I have a tournament on Lake Champlain and Vermont requires a certificate to fish their water. I really don't think it's such a bad idea. However, a reciprocating agreement would be a plus.

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• Harold Sharp of Hixson, TN writes:

  Wednesday, May 29, 2013

  RE: Balog on credibility – Years ago when Tom Mann fished B.A.S.S. tournaments, I heard him many times tell the fans at B.A.S.S. tournaments exactly what he caught his bass on. I also heard him talk about lures that he used that were not made by Mann's Bait Co.

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• Michael Deushane of Morton, IL writes:

  Saturday, May 25, 2013

  RE: Balog on credibility – I think the credibility of the pro fisherman should be the most important part of the story. As a fan, I'm interested in the what, where, why and how he won or placed high in the event. If a pro has a major sponsor, we as fans all know who that sponsor is and use those products because of the they're-good-enough-for-that-pro-they-must-work mentality. But if the pro won the event on a competing bait, I think he should be truthful about it. The sponsor should allow him to be truthful and respect that.

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• Terry Bonsell of Keyser, WV writes:

  Friday, May 24, 2013

  RE: B.A.S.S. layoffs – This is a worldwide way for a corporation to squeeze the last drop of money from an organization. Usually a sign of money problems within the company.

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• Cliff Peterson of Canton, KS writes:

  Thursday, May 23, 2013

  RE: Balog on credibility – It's been going on for quite a while. I fished as an amateur in the pro-am on Old Hickory back when it was also a Megabucks tournament (I think it was 1998) for the top 12 pros. One of the pros I fished with did well the day I was with him. When he was asked on stage what he caught them on, he said "a Vibratron spinnerbait," which was one of his sponsors. What he actually caught them on? His biggest fish he caught on a Texas-rigged flippin' tube, his next biggest fish, he caught on a Texas-rigged lizard, and the rest of his limit his filled with small Bagley crankbait. He did fish the Vibratron spinnerbait but only caught one small bass on it that day.

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• Melvin Jennings of Brookneal, VA writes:

  Thursday, May 23, 2013

  RE: Biffle's waterfall adventure – Biffle should have been DQ'd last when he fished in a no boat area and should not have been serviced after trying to jump waterfalls. If all competitors are not afforded the same service then it's cheating.

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• John A. Argese of Sayreville, NJ writes:

  Thursday, May 23, 2013

  RE: Balog on credibility – Mr. Balog, if you are going to expect me, the reader, to respect your credentials as a writer and purveyor of the truth, show me the same level of respect by sharing the name of the pro who you are accusing of swapping baits in the fish's mouth. Without that information, you have the same level of credibility as some Hollywood scandal sheet reporter. Put up or shut up.

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• Dustin Daggett of Twin Lake, MI writes:

  Thursday, May 23, 2013

  RE: Balog on credibility – The truth will set you free, tour pros, or at least your version will put $$$$ in your pockets.

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• Pat Leach of The Colony, TX writes:

  Thursday, May 23, 2013

  RE: Balog on credibility – Joe, I love your blog. You are so in tune to the fishing industry. I, for one, do not trust the reports about what the anglers caught fish on. I have seen the shows where the post-tournament write-up stated they caught all their fish on X bait in the latest hot color only to see them swinging keepers in the boat on file with an entirely different bait. Money drives anglers to push their sponsors baits. It is a shame that you can't get the straight story but these guys have contracts and have to pay the bills. But they also have fans running to stores buying those products that may have never caught a fish at a top level tournament. Keep up the good work, Joe.

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• Chris Harvey of Gillette, WY writes:

  Thursday, May 23, 2013

  RE: Balog on credibility – I had the same feeling about the Classic, but it wasn't because of Iaconelli. I had read all about Pace's winning jerkbait, the Jackall Squad Minnow in SG Threadfin (on a Shimano rod and Shimano reel of course), but I watch him boat one of his day 2 7-pounders and there it is, a clown-colored Rogue. Oh, ok. Now what am I to think about the Jackall bait? If he had explained that he used the Jackall under certain conditions and the Rogue in others, then I'd have a better understanding of when that Jackall bait really shines, maybe I buy a couple. But instead of the message being that I need two jerkbaits for different conditions, one of which is a Jackall, the message ends up being that the Jackall is not as good a Rogue. And I wonder if he used the DD Cherry too, or was it a Wiggle Wart?

  One pro I've always respected in this regard is Aaron Martens. He's basically the lead spokesman for Megabass, but his last two Elite wins have incorporated a Lucky Craft crankbait, a Bagley crankbait, and a triple-rattleback jig. He certainly knows how to spin and hype a product, but I get the impression that he is honest about what he's using and he explains why. For example, he used the Bagley squarebill instead of the Knuckle 60 because it's balsa so it's more buoyant and could be fished shallower. To me, that's not a knock on the Knuckle 60, it helps me understand what it does best. Now I need two squarebills, a balsa and a Knuckle 60. I don't see how that harms Megabass. As a consumer I get the message that Aaron is super-selective about his tackle and only uses what works, which gives me more respect for all of the products he endorses, from the X-dad crankbait to Phoenix boats, Mercury, Humminbird, the whole bit. I wish more companies allowed their pro-staff to operate like that.

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• Rob Wilkinson of Fredericksburg, VA writes:

  Thursday, May 23, 2013

  RE: Balog on credibility – With regard to Balog's Bass Wars article, this is nothing new and has been going on as long as there have been sponsors. When George Cochran won the 2004 Top 150 at Lake Guntersville, I was paired with him on the third day. I enjoyed it immensely as I watched him work a suspending jerkbait over the grass to catch over 23 pounds of bass. He later reported to the press that he was using a Strike King Wild Shiner jerkbait, greenback and bone in color while I was using a Lucky Craft Pearl Ayu, Pointer 100 that looked to be an exact replica to what he was using. I won’t ever say that he was using the same bait as me but I will say that apparently Strike King must have had the same molds and color schemes as Lucky Craft! Is George to blame or is it the system?

  With only a limited amount of money targeted towards sponsorships, these guys are forced to do what they can to keep their sponsors happy? When Curt Lytle won the BASS Invitational on Lake of the Ozarks years ago, he showed the lure that he caught most of the fish on but would not name it (Smithwick Rogue). It was obvious to all what the lure was but since it was not a sponsor’s lure, he felt wrong about promoting them. He also caught fish on jigs and a prototype crankbait made by his and rightfully promoted them. His sponsor at the time refused to pay him his incentive check because of the other lure. What is a struggling pro supposed to do? There is only so many advertising dollars out there and when a main sponsor blatantly disregards their contract, it is no wonder these guys feel that it is necessary to mislead the public.
  

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• Marty Salchak of Akron, OH writes:

  Thursday, May 23, 2013

  RE: Balog on credibility – Funny how Mr. Balog discusses credibility and shameless plugging of sponsors while in several videos on YouTube he says he's catching fish on Rapala DT-16s while in fact he is catching them on a little Great Lakes secret crankbait known as a C-Flash. Kinda like the pot calling the kettle black!

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• Todd Lowe of Greensboro, GA writes:

  Thursday, May 23, 2013

  RE: Balog on credibility – The next article I would like to see Joe write about is mechanical breakdowns. Tell us what motors blew up, which trolling motors wouldn't work, what lower unit went out, etc. I get so tired of hearing mechanical issues and never hear what products are holding up and which are not.

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• Craig Nels of Livermore, CA writes:

  Sunday, May 19, 2013

  RE: Balog on turning pro – Fine article! I couldn't agree with Joe more. The savviest vets got there because of what was between their ears, how quickly they learned and adapted and how hard they worked, not how much was in their bank account.

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• Tony Smith of Northport, AL writes:

  Friday, May 17, 2013

  RE: Balog on Wheeler – Joe Balog didn't know Jacob Wheeler was only 22? What rock has he been living under? I kinda find that hard to believe.

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• Milton Proffit of Fergus Falls, MN writes:

  Friday, May 17, 2013

  RE: Balog on fishing shows – I agree less paid advertising, more just fishing.

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• Chad Aaron of Ethridge, TN writes:

  Friday, May 17, 2013

  RE: Balog on turning pro – Amen, Joe. Like many guys who stick their neck out a short distance to fish regional stuff (EverStarts/Opens), I'm tired of hearing this from a hundred different buddies; "If I had the money, I'd fish a division and show everyone I can compete". Yeah, right. You'd show everyone you suck everywhere except your home lake in the time of year you can catch a few. I'm sending links to this article to every stick on the TN River.

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• Charles Bowman of Kernersville, NC writes:

  Tuesday, May 14, 2013

  RE: Balog on turning pro – Interesting article. Unfortunately, he makes the mistake that most wanna-be anglers do when thinking about bass fishing as a career. If you are a professional bass fisherman, you must sell product to make a living to make the business model work. Otherwise, the business model does not work.

  In my opinion, the reality is that most companies do not care if an angler is 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 50th or wherever, if he sells product. Ask the general public who won at West Point just last week and 99.99999 percent of people have no idea what you're talking about. If you want to make money in fishing, you'd better be able to sell product. Tournament fishing is simply one platform and stage that allows you to sell product. Nothing wrong with competition. Nothing wrong with winning trophies and all that ... but keep it in perspective.

  If you don't believe this is true, think of this: If a company did not sell product by participating as an angler or tournament sponsor, would the company pay for sponsorships of any kind? Absolutely not.

  This idea of winning your way to a living is what always derails bass fishermen. Bass fishing is not like golf or basketball or football or hockey ... or any sport where the public will pay simply to view the sport itself. Professional bass fishing must be the stage where a product is promoted because the general public is not going to pay to attend or see the sport itself. It's not bad, it's just different.

  How many Chevys has Earnhardt sold? How are sales influenced at Go-Daddy by Danica? If Earnhardt or Danica sell product, the company sees a return on their investment, and they invest more to sell more and make more money. The athlete makes money as the billboard to sell product. Sell more, make more.

  I like to think about Roland Martin. Is he a great professional angler? Yes. Is is a great promoter of product? Absolutely. Would he have been able to make as good a living, or have his longevity, on his winnings alone?. No way. In my opinion, he gets it. He knows how to promote, he knows how to fish, and he knows how to combine the two to make a great living. My hat is off to Roland Martin.

  If an angler thinks he's going to go fish, finish decent every now and then, then go crawl into a hole and expect money to come flowing to him because he's "great," he's wrong. The dollars would not even follow KVD. If he'll follow the pattern of Roland Martin – work hard, fish hard, promote hard and see himself as a total business and not just pigeonholed as an angler only, he can make it.

  I can think of a long list of non-promoters who were great fishermen and are gone. I can also think of a long list of so-so fishermen who are great promoters who are still in the game.

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• Bobby Colson of Nashville, TN writes:

  Tuesday, May 14, 2013

  RE: Biffle's waterfall adventure – Back in the day I fished a couple pro-ams (now that’s ams as in amateur, not co-angler, which is another whole story of what helped screw up professional bass fishing). Anyway, I had the pleasure of spending 2 days in the boat at two different lakes with Tommy Biffle.

  Tommy is the fishing equivalent of a gym rat in basketball (and that’s a good thing) – anywhere he can get his money in that will take him, he will fish. Him jumping waterfalls doesn’t surprise me at all. I just hope he gets a Classic win under his belt before it’s all over ... and after talking to him and listening to his stories, I have a feeling it’s going to be a long time before it’s over.

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• Martin D. Lamb of Clinton, IA writes:

  Monday, May 13, 2013

  Try as I may, I just cannot make any logic of how rules are formulated/applied at B.A.S.S. An angler attempts to buy a fish, he keeps his weight and is awarded a win. An angler goes out knowlingly without fuel and B.A.S.S. bails him out. An angler makes a decision to attempt jumping two waterfalls and he is bailed out, but a guy hits a submerged log, which he could do nothing about, and has to forfeit his day's catch. Our government isn't the only entity lacking in common sense.

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• Jude Dant of Louisville, KY writes:

  Monday, May 13, 2013

  RE: Balog on TV shows _ I completely agree. The absolute worst and most prominent thing I see today is a 30-minute fishing show using one specific bait. Really? They essentially pick the right conditions and sometimes a stocked lake/pond and slay them on a "miracle" lure. I think that is the reason Zona's show appeals to me so much. He just goes fishing. If they are killing one lure he might stick with it, but odds are you will see him try a number of things. That is great product placement if you ask me. Not forcing or setting up a situation that works for one lure.

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• Steve Brown of Oakland, TN writes:

  Sunday, May 12, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – I agree with Joe's comments that local sticks ought to get off their local waters to see how good they really are. Well, if the local stick's goal is to see how good an angler he really is, then yes, do just that. But if it's to secure a financial future in pro fishing, why bother? There are many regional anglers making a nice sum of money by regularly fishing their home waters. Yeah, they may not make the cover of Bassmaster, but they probably aren't mortgaging their financial future, either.

  The game we call pro bass fishing is gambling, plain and simple. The odds of making a profit are stacked against the participants. Even the sponsored guys who are getting entry fees paid and some expenses covered aren't netting enough cash to live without spousal support or other means of income. You can count on one hand the number of pros who are making top dollar through lucrative sponsorships. There's just not enough money in this game to go around.

  So, why not stay local? Make enough to finance your passion, maybe win a boat every now and then and sleep in your own bed most nights. There's nothing wrong with encouraging up-and-comers to try going to the big-show tours. They just have to do it with a lot of ability and cash. Yes, the ability is a prerequisite. But even some very talented tour guys are not making a living doing this. Man, they must really love it.

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• John Gaulke of Ithaca, NY writes:

  Sunday, May 12, 2013

  Joe Balog is dead on with his latest piece. I was very surprised by how poorly the majority of local "hotshot" bass guys did in the Cayuga Lake Northern Open held here last year. You hear the same thing with music - we all know local musicians who dominate the local scene but just "haven't gotten the big break." They need to make their own break and it's the same with the aspiring bass pros out there. It's a whole other ball game to make game-changing decisions with the pressure on. If someone wants it bad enough, they'll figure out a way to do it.

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• Rick Pierce of Mountain Home, AR writes:

  Sunday, May 12, 2013

  RE: Sonar Sound-Off – Miles, that was a very nice piece on Mother's Day week. No matter where your finish was, that one was a fisherman's perspective your mother will understand.
  

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• Edward Dyer of Alto, MI writes:

  Saturday, May 11, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – Having fished the large and small Michigan inland lakes, as well as big reservoirs like Table Rock and Bull Shoals, I think that Joe is right on in his opinion. Even though I have fished Table Rock almost every year since 1980, during the same week, the fishing is different every year and changes daily. It is so much different than fishing an inland Michigan lake where knowing a lot of spots can quite often be enough to get you to the winner's circle. You need to make adjustments daily and hourly to be successful.

  Guys like Kevin VanDam amaze me how consistently they can cash a check. If you put the added pressure of "having to win" in order to pay for your gas home, it puts enormous pressure on most tournament anglers. I've been fishing tournaments for 30 years and have seen hundreds of guys come and go, but there are also a handful of us "old-timers" who can still be a factor in local tournaments, and are realistic that they couldn't make it on the pro tour.

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• Phillip Sexton of Clarksville, AR writes:

  Friday, May 10, 2013

  RE: Biffle's waterfall adventure – I gave Tommy credit for being smarter. Stupid is as stupid does.

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• Mark Richards of Houston, TX writes:

  Friday, May 10, 2013

  RE: Biffle's waterfall adventure – Am I the only one who thinks that in a pro tournament, a guy who tries to jump two waterfalls in his boat and knocks his lower unit clean off deserves to be done for the day and think about what he just did, instead of having two service mechanics go to where he is and change out his lower unit so he can go fishing? That's ridiculous and about as bad as B.A.S.S. gassing up a a competitor's boat when he runs it out of gas during a tourney day.

  If you are running a sponsor boat the tourney gave you and you have some sort of equipment failure related to normal use, yes, I think they should give you a replacement boat or fix the problem. But if you are flat-out reckless or make a mistake that leads to such a failure, I dont think you are entitled to such assistance unless it is somehow in the interest of safety. It reminds me of the people who hike Mt. Everest in jeans and then call for a helicopter rescue.

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• John Barbaro of Leesburg, FL writes:

  Friday, May 10, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – I tend to agree, however, he left out some important reasons locals would not fare well on the tour. Tour anglers have a network of local anglers who would gladly give up information about the local lakes they live on. These networks didn't happen overnight. They were acquired through years of fishing and with the help of their sponsors. Waypoints and other info is given to these pros like candy. Rules would indicate this info is 30 days old. Yeah, right – I don't think so.

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• John Hempel of Brownstown, MI writes:

  Friday, May 10, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – Joe, nice article and I agree, but one of my questions that comes up often is how much information do the pros acquire from the locals besides the Internet?

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• Jason Houchins of Clarksville, VA writes:

  Friday, May 10, 2013

  I will never dispute the level of skill, the mentality, or the commitment that it takes to be a tour-level pro – these guys are good. But if you fish the Elites you are looking at $50,000 in just entry fees for one season. Then most likely you are looking at $50,000 in lodging, gas, repairs and whatever else you need for cross-country travel. Money has nothing to do with it? Really?

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• Robert Dixon of Lewistown, PA writes:

  Thursday, May 9, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – Couldn't agree more.

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• Justin Miller of Bay Saint Louis, MS writes:

  Thursday, May 9, 2013

  Mr. Balog has the right to his opinion. However, I would like to present another perspective on this issue. It hits close to home for many accomplished anglers.

  I have spent the better part of my life pursuing this sport and am friends with anglers who have fished both B.A.S.S. and the FLW Tour. I've heard the truth of what it takes to be a "touring pro" directly from anglers who frequently contribute to or are featured on this website. However, I'll simply use my own example instead of bringing multiple "household names" into this.

  I am currently in 5th place in the EverStart Central Division points race. I have fished four EverStart events this year. I am 26 years old and a full-time professional angler. I have no other job and have financed my season with my own money. Financial sponsorship has been nearly unobtainable for me this year.

  In 2013, I began at Okeechobee, on to Guntersville, Lake of the Ozarks, and I just got home from Pickwick last weekend. None of the venues we have fished this year, less Lake of the Ozarks, have I ever been to before. Regardless, my performance has been consistent and I am in position to compete for an Angler of the Year title in the division. This could essentially qualify me for the Forrest Wood Cup and propel my career with FLW Outdoors.

  However, if you examine the fine print, you will read that the Forrest Wood Cup qualification for Angler of the Year is predicated on a commitment to either a complete EverStart Series or the FLW Tour in 2014. In other words, a minimum of at least $4,000 in entry fees before you ever get to the Cup, of which you have already qualified for.

  As for angling ability, I consider myself a good angler. I practice from daylight to dark, spend hours in map study prior to every event and research all possible outlets prior to each event. I have spent hour upon hour studying my graphs. My tackle is pristine and plentiful. There are few techniques I am not familiar with. I put my time into every venue I visit.

  My point is this: There is no doubt in my mind that I (as well as others with similar stories) could and would be a full-time touring angler with the appropriate financial support. As it stands now, I will most likely not finish the season and will lose the opportunity to compete for a Forrest Wood Cup berth. This is completely due to the fact that I do not have the finances to commit to another season in 2014, regardless of whether I make the Cup or not. There is no guarantee I will win enough money to replenish what I have already invested and provide the opportunity to fish next season.

  This has nothing to do with my angling ability, having to compete in multi-day events or competing away from home. It has everything to do with the financial uncertainty of being a professional angler.

  This is the reality of the sport we all love, or at least the strong perspective of some of us.

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• Todd Langford of Ashburn, VA writes:

  Thursday, May 9, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Joe, that's the funniest article on bass fishing I have ever read! Surely you wrote that with all your boys on the tour in mind, because "pro bass fishermen" are so much better than any poor guy who just fishes when time permits. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! My sides hurt!

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• Bill McDonaugh of Thorndale writes:

  Thursday, May 9, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – Joe seems to be taking shots in the dark with this article. He says all the money in the world would not make a pro. Then he writes, "When a guy feels he has a year or 2 to prove himself, and he knows sponsors are watching and just getting a check could be the deciding factor on whether or not he lives to fish another day, I highly doubt his decision-making process is the same as Skeet Reese, who woke up and “just went fishing” on day 4. Regardless of the outcome of his decision, I’m guessing Skeet isn’t too worried about what it’s going to cost to fill up the tank in his truck at the end of the day so he can head off to the next tourney."

  If the angler had all the money, he would not have to worry about his sponsors or cashing a check. He would just be able to concentrate on fishing.

  Not saying everyone could make it as a pro, but many could if they did not have to make their decisions based on finances.

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• Michael Scanlan of Hazel Park, MI writes:

  Wednesday, May 8, 2013

  What is it with Skeet Reese not responding to requests for comments from BassFan? If I'm not mistaken, this is not the first time he has refused to comment. Whether he chooses to accept it or not, BassFan is important to this sport, and no professional athlete can afford to snub the press. Spending 10 or 15 minutes going over a winning pattern is not too much to ask.

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• Justin Wood of Sanford, MI writes:

  Wednesday, May 8, 2013

  What's the deal with Skeet not returning calls? If I recall, this is something he's done before to BassFan. Almost seems like he is too important to waste his time talking to the fans.

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• Brian Henderson of Puyallup, WA writes:

  Wednesday, May 8, 2013

  RE: Sunline Strong Performer – Great job, Yusuke! He is a real stand-up guy, giving credit where it is due.

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• Tom Gross of Kingston, TN writes:

  Tuesday, May 7, 2013

  RE: Balog interviews Christie – Really good article. It would be cool for you to ask a few other sticks the same questions and compare responses. I’m betting the gut will rule.

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• John Marley of Belton, TX writes:

  Tuesday, May 7, 2013

  Where is Reese's winning pattern?

  BassFan says: Numerous attempts to contact him have been made since the conclusion of the West Point Bassmaster Elite Series. To this point, none have been successful.

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• Carter Northcutt of Frankfort, KY writes:

  Monday, May 6, 2013

  I liked a lot of the older fishing shows more than some of the new ones, too. Whatever happened to Orlando Wilson? There was an informative show with the Murray brothers that we don't see anymore. The old Bassmasters television show was good, too. I liked Mark Sosin's saltwater show. He was always giving tips and good information on there.

  I just have cable and I get ESPN and the Outdoor Channel here in my area. They both used to have some good outdoor programming, but it seems several of those shows have moved to other networks. I think too many producers of these shows seem to think that making an outdoor show like a reality show, so-called, is what the people want. It is not what this person wants.

  I quit watching hunting shows because most of those people are hunting behind a high fence and in small enclosures. There is no fair chase.

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• Chris Houston of Sulphur, OK writes:

  Monday, May 6, 2013

  Congratulations to Larry Columbo! He has been a great friend to me and Jimmy for many years. Larry actually presented me with my induction into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. He has been a gentle giant among our fishing friends, always ready to help anyone in a moment's notice ... and a heck of a fisherman, too!

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• Michael C. Evans of Ripley, TN writes:

  Friday, May 3, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – Many of the newer fishing shows are doing exactlly that: They are trying to sell products, not the fishing experience. The Angling Edge and Mark Zona's show are two of the better ones that primarily promote the art and creativity of bass fishing.

  Fishing in and of itself is a pure sport, period. No fancy equipment is needed to enjoy the sport. It takes lots of dollars to advertise and sell products. Some producers and directors are only interested in selling the sponsor's product, not the sport.

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• Jim Weller of Paris, TN writes:

  Friday, May 3, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – Some of the best shows are now gone. I watch to learn, not to be sold something. Bring back Schooled With Denny Brauer and Classic Patterns. Larry Nixon's program was one of the best ever. Day on the Lake was another. I've all but quit watching what's currently available.

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• Rodger Timmons of Thomasville, GA writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion _ I agree with Joe 100 percent. Most of these new shows are not worth watching. The ones that really irritate me are Shaw Grigsby and Roland Martin. I used to have great respect for these guys and the products they used, but now it's just whoever pays me the most money has the best product.

  An example is Shaw and Stren line. They sponsored him for years and according to him it was the very best. Then along came Sufix and suddenly it was the best. Then it was back to Stren because "I won all my tournaments on Stren." I guess Stren paid him more money to come back to them! I don't have time to watch paid commercials, and that.s all these shows are.

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• Johnny McLean of LIttle Rock, AR writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – Joe, good article. Have to agree with you on Hank and Fish, they are truly funny guys who know how to fish. The thing to me that is purely ridiculous about fishing shows is how happy the participants are to catch a fish, 10-incher, 12-incher, 20-incher, it does not matter, they go nuts with happiness. It is embrarrassing to the sport.

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• Dan McGinnis of Lansdowne, Ontario, Canada writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – I agree 100 percent with Joe. Most of the crap on our "fishing channel" on TV is really pitiful. I don't even subscribe to it. I, like Joe, have boxes of videos of the good ol' days, when the shows that aired on TV were enjoyable to watch and were full of great fishing knowledge. Bring those shows back.

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• Jesse Powell of Bigfork, MN writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – As usual, great piece. There is a big difference between honoring sponsor agreements and pounding people in the face with them.

  Also, it is so frustrating when pros give absolutely ridiculous or over-the-top advice. In the last issue of Bassmaster, Edwin Evers acutually suggested hiring a pilot to fly you over the lake before a tournament!

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• Jeff Teague of Sterling, VA writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Elite Series marshals – I think B.A.S.S. needs to take another look at this program. When the co-anglers fished, they had a waiting list and received an entry fee. Now they are "looking" for someone to put in the boat. I recommend they give a free entry into a Bassmaster Open or free season entry fee for the Weekend Series.

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• Harold Sharp of Hixson, TN writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – We tried for many years to get TV involved with B.A.S.S. tournaments, and when it finally happened we realized it was a big mistake. TV people do not think like bass people do. We were interested in promoting the sport of professional bass fishing, the TV people are only interested in promoting TV people. So bass fishing on TV is not about bass fishing, it's about hype and promoting the TV people involved.

  Years ago TV got involved in Monday Night Football with Howard and Don. Later, Howard and Don were replaced by six or eight talking heads. Now before the Monday night game we have an hour B.S. session with six or eight talking heads, the game starts near 10 p.m. EST and most of the TV coverage is about a blonde on the sidelines reading something someone wrote about whatever. You never know when she's finished or what she was talking about.

  They also are heavy into basketball, but the camera is never close enough to see the players or the ball and again the blonde is interviewing the coach while the game is going on. TV is slowly getting into golf, which has always been a quiet game. Now the crowd is cheering for some clown dressed in a bright orange outfit who walks around eating up TV time promoting his golf outfit.

  Take one look at what ESPN did for B.A.S.S. while it was in charge. They got rid of half the Federation and soaked up all the sponsor money for TV ads, which raised the price of all the fishing equipment. TV ads are not cheap. When you watch a TV fishing show you will not learn anything new because you are being sold something by some TV person who knows little about catching bass.

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• Bud Kennedy of Myrtle Beach, SC writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – Loved the article. It is often the topic of discussion on my website, bassboattalk.com, and I am sure many others feel the same way.

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• Pat Leach of The Colony, TX writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – I really miss the old Bassmaster shows where you were on the water with them while they fished and they explained what they were doing. I remember the Bassmaster show where Denny Brauer was fishing Lake Skiatook in Oklahoma – that was a great show on how to fish a new lake. Leave the sponsor plugs for the commercials.

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• Rick Murphy of Plainfield, IN writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – The coverage of tournaments seems to be stuck in about the same place. Three or 4 weeks later you end up with an over-produced documentary about the tournament, when everyone already knows the whole story. They need to be more like golf coverage, but in a 1-hour condensed version. The golf shots are covered not in real time, but close. Fishing could follow the same model and more people would watch if they didn't yet know who won.

  Hire a guy from one of those TV golf trailers and see what he can teach you.

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• Luke Michaels of Hammond, IN writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – Nailed it again, Joe. I only have cable to watch fishing shows, and today's content is boring. I find myself turning them off more and more. Part of the problem is with today's business and sponsors. No sponsor partnering with a new program is in it for the long haul, like the business environment when Hank jumped in. It's prove yourself, drive sales in 6 months, or you're gone. Businesses are killing themselves through such short-term goals and no long-term planning. It's really poor business planning.

  I thought Fish Fishburne's program was great. His parody of today's "pro" fishermen and their shows was spot-on!

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• Michael Grovesteen of Fruitland Park, FL writes:

  Thursday, May 2, 2013

  RE: Balog opinion – 110 percent agree, Joe! Man, the old Bassmasters with Bob Cobb were the best.

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• Shawn Harden of Columbus, OH writes:

  Wednesday, May 1, 2013

  I think there may be some truth to those who are saying the majority of pros who want the A-Rig banned are not sponsored by an A-Rig manufacturer. I have been Facebook friends with several pros who want it banned and once they found out that I am okay with using it, some have unfriended me or banned me from commenting. One outspoken Pennsylvania FLW angler has started to ban anyone who does not agree with his views against the rig.

  I think Paul got it right on all points. If tournament directors decide to ban the rigs, then let's take out the electronics as well. No GPS or sonar. After all, they give an angler an unfair advantage.

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• Burnie Haney of Calcium, NY writes:

  Wednesday, May 1, 2013

  Paul Elias says "shut up and fish." Great observations shared. Let's hope sensible folks are listening.

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• Skip Bennett of Texico, IL writes:

  Wednesday, May 1, 2013

  RE: Elias opinion – Great article, Paul. I am no expert but I have always felt bed fishing is very harmful to a fishery. I have personally seen eggs in a livewell that a female has dumped. I would think that has a 100-percent more negative impact on the fishery than catching some big females in winter and pre-spawn patterns. At least they will go somewhere and naturally spawn instead of the livewell or 30 miles from we're they were ready to repopulate the lake and also have less chance of success.

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