RE: Balog on Table Rock – Keep writing what we are all thinking. I agree, but it may be interesting to see if the same puzzle will be solved by the same champion.
Keep writing good stuff; I praise the messenger!
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May 2019
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Charlie Hartley of Grove City, OH writes:
Friday, May 31, 2019 -
Reginald Crews of North Augusta, SC writes:
Thursday, May 30, 2019Biggest fish of the day should determine the tiebreaker.
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Justin Pitts of Gadsden, Al writes:
Thursday, May 30, 2019A couple of comments on Balog's recent column. On one hand, Joe admits that BPT assaults "1-pounders" and is the "Ned-Rig Army" ... yet claims it is more entertaining. Maybe in his opinion, but it seems the majority of the fishing public still likes seeing big bass caught, not dinks.
"We’ve already seen smaller circuits adopting much of the MLF format, from immediate weigh and release to bracket-style competitions. As I predicted here in previous columns, those not looking to adapt to this new game are finding themselves falling behind."
Where are you seeing these events? Maybe in the North where they have closed bass seasons, but here in the South, heart of bass country, we have yet to see an MLF-style event. Fishers of Men tried it for this year and they had two participants at their first event and appear to have cancelled the rest of the events due to lack of interest. I'm starting to wonder what Joe's real motives are or if he is just that out of touch these days.
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Martin D. Lamb of Albia, IA writes:
Thursday, May 30, 2019RE: Balog on Table Rock – Okay, I will bite, Joe. First off, just because there are several other venues doesn't mean the required permitting or logistics could be satisfied to secure events there on short notice. Second, if you are not into repeats then you certainly do not wish to follow B.A.S.S. or FLW events as they notoriously fish repeat venues year after year (especially the Opens). Just because Table Rock is fished twice in three weeks doesn't make a repeat. I am willing to wager the final outcome involves different players and diverse strategies. Maybe MLF should follow B.A.S.S.' lead and just cancel altogether?
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Skip Bennett of Texico, IL writes:
Thursday, May 30, 2019RE: Balog on Table Rock – Spot on, Joe. I’ve been trying to create Sanctuary Coves for fish that can’t handle the smackdown put on them by the thousands of tournament anglers each year who frequent the lakes. Now bring in the BPT twice in three weeks, where will the fish go? Fish therapists are being brought in from all over to give them an ear instead of a lateral line.
Thanks, Joe, for the stupidest article you have ever written.
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James Melvin of New Wilmington, PA writes:
Wednesday, May 29, 2019RE: BPT by the numbers – So the angler with the highest average weight per bass caught is in 64th place for AOY and 75 out of 80 anglers are apparently averaging less than 2 pounds per bass caught. MLF tries to sell that big fish still matter, but the numbers thus far show that quantity has a greater value than quality.
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Skip Bennett of Texico, IL writes:
Wednesday, May 29, 2019Prayers to the Browne family.
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Jeff Porteous of Cornwall, ON writes:
Tuesday, May 28, 2019RIP Glenn Browne. My deepest sympathy to the family ... God bless all of you. From Canada, we all love you.
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Duke Jenkel of Pinckneyville, IL writes:
Tuesday, May 28, 2019Such a tragedy to see the loss of Glenn Browne. Had the pleasure of being around him many times. Great fisherman, even better guy. We're gonna miss ya, Glenn!
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Billy Stadele of Littleton, CO writes:
Tuesday, May 28, 2019RE: BPT by the numbers – I would love to see the full statistical breakdown and lists of the full field for the MLF events. I think it would be really fun to dive through these at the end of the season too. Maybe have the same thing done on the B.A.S.S. and FLW side, although there would be some limitations due to not all of the boats always getting a marshall to enter some of the data on those tours.
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Bill Johnson of West, TX writes:
Saturday, May 25, 2019RE: BPT back to Table Rock – Smart move, Grand Lake won't be fishable for several months.
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Walt Herrmann of Clarksville, TN writes:
Friday, May 24, 2019Great article! Updates keep us on track. One dilemma is the statement "we want them gone completely." Is this really possible? If the zebra mussel is an indicator, as well as every other invasive species, the Asian carp is here to stay. Now by promoting "we want them gone completely," you are not going to attract the necessary industries. So, with that said, the current industries are the best we'll have. Will that be enough to 1) get the numbers under control and 2) keep the numbers low? I am sure someone out there has insight into answering these two questions.
Personally, if I were a "big time" business owner, I would not invest money into a business of harvesting Asian carp if the goal of the local population is to completely eradicate them. So now that the statement has been made, "we want to eradicate them; have them completely gone," I can see only small enterprises coming to the forefront and a "longterm" timeframe for the numbers of carp to be brought down. People are simply going to have to be patient. As for the overseas part of it, advertising in the U.S. needs to be the primary focus. I went to my local Publix and filled out a "request form" for Asian carp. I have even spoke with the fish market VP at the Publix headquarters in Florida. Investments by local small businesses would be the route to take as these businesses would not be investing the large sums of money that large industries have, based on the statement "we want the fish completely gone." Looking to hear what others have to say.
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Skip Bennett of Texico Il writes:
Friday, May 24, 2019RE: BPT back to Table Rock – BPT is the best show, hands down. Now I can get some work done during the mornings and watch consistent fish catchings in the afternoons.
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Cindy Bender of Gilbertsville, KY writes:
Friday, May 24, 2019RE: Update on carp – The Commonwealth of Kentucky recently renegotiated the price per pound for Asian carp sold at the Kentucky Fish Center in Eddyville, KY. The new price per pound for silver carp under 7 pounds is 10 cents, plus the 5-cent per pound subsidy. Silver carp 8 pounds and above are 18 cents plus subsidy.
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Thomas of Youngblood writes:
Friday, May 24, 2019We’ve all experienced, hopefully, days where we catch 30, 40 or more than 50 fish. When we tell others, their first question is, “What was the biggest one?” And a pound and a half fish doesn’t cut it. It is ingrained in us, even before tournaments, to catch larger fish. In all other tournaments – walleye, inshore – we strive to catch the best fish. Why? This shows we can make even the slightest adjustment to go from catching 1-pounders to catching 4-pounders. That’s what I want to learn from tournament folks.
Honestly, the BPT is boring. I know, they don’t have to “pay to play” like other tournaments. How long will this model, combined with the smaller fish, larger numbers, last? I don’t know. I wish them the best. But when the folks putting up the money for winnings ROI drops, we may end up where we started. For me, that will be fine because I want to catch the best five.
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Randy Sullivan of Sarasota, FL writes:
Tuesday, May 21, 2019Am I the only one who thinks the Bass Pro Tour is a better television show than fishing tour? Each event I find myself caring less and less, and I'm a bass-tournament junkie. Almost every fish is under 2 pounds, which is not keeping my attention. I still check the results, but I have stopped watching the live feed. Maybe it's just me.
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Michael Belter of Reidsville, NC writes:
Monday, May 20, 2019I highly doubt that an MLF format is going to catch on in a serious way at lower levels to provide a feeder system for the league. There is no way anyone in their right mind would trust their fellow competitors in another boat to weigh their own fish when thousands of dollars are at stake. Too many competitors would give themselves the benefit of the doubt when those fish are bouncing around on the scale and give themselves the highest weight it shows. And having referees in the boat would be cost-prohibitive at any level lower than the top tier of professional ranks.
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Dom Capurso of Jersey City, NJ writes:
Thursday, May 16, 2019RE: Balog on Jimmy Liao – This professor's work sounds fascinating. We should have him dispel some of our real-world bassin' myths.
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Josh Tousey of Muncie, IN writes:
Wednesday, May 15, 2019RE: Wiggins' Quantum deal – If Wiggins says the Quantum Smoke S3 is a good reel, you better believe him. Especially if you intend on a shaky-head setup!
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Dustin Dunford of Wytheville, VA writes:
Wednesday, May 15, 2019RE: Tiebreaker methods – Ipicked full-day fish off for two reasons – 1, the pay scale from first to second is a huge jump and 2, what if one guy is keying on a early morning bite, then the one-hour fish off after the tourney would cancel that out. I'd like to give them equal chance to be the "real" winner.
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Frank Tennity of Honeoye, NY writes:
Tuesday, May 7, 2019RE: MLF anglers and Classic Expo – This reminds me of when ESPN thought they owned the B.A.S.S. Federation. I am not against rules for fishing, but each angler is a business and don't tell them how to run their business. Personally, if it was me, I would try to get the majority of the anglers at MLF to stand up to this kind of abuse. What happened to the anglers having a voice in how things are done, especially in their off time from MLF?
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Chad Baker of Bluff City, TN writes:
Tuesday, May 7, 2019BPT just had a preview of how they plan to showcase the college-level talent. They plan to be the Walmart of fishing!
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Riles Rick of Baton Rouge, LA writes:
Sunday, May 5, 2019RE: MLF anglers and Classic Expo – I believe they have every right to do this as they are currently the only actual professional tour. When the other organizations are making you pay money to try and win it back, they can’t have much say in what events you attend.
There is only one true professional tour. They, in a sense, own the anglers. This group of anglers are the best and most popular ever assembled. I believe in the very near future sponsors will shift the big money to the Redcrest and roll with BPT stars and relegate the other two tours to what they’ve chosen to be, glorified jackpots. BPT holds all the cards.
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Roger Griffith of Sneads Ferry, NC writes:
Thursday, May 2, 2019RE: MLF anglers and Classic Expo – Don’t work the Classic; I could care less personally as I’ve moved on past the MLF ship-jumpers. Say what you will, I went to the last classic in Tennessee. Every single day the Expo was packed. And it’s no surprise to me that Boyd Duckett decided to allow it next year seeing how the Classic is going to be on his home lake and it’s the 50th anniversary, which means it’ll be a huge event. But whatever; don’t show up and fade away. Speaking of the best anglers, last I checked KVD was considered the greatest ever, how's the BPT working out for him? Think he’s made about $6,000 this year and is sitting almost dead last in that ignorant format.
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Chance Huiet of Liberty, TX writes:
Thursday, May 2, 2019RE: MLF anglers and Classic Expo – Boyd said this whole thing was to benefit the fishermen and let them make the most money possible without spending a ton of their own. Yet now, after contracts were signed, he says no to working the shows and fishing the tournaments that pay for these guys to be pro anglers. That’s an oxymoron if I've ever heard one. I see quite a few guys leaving BPT after the 3 years. Unless it’s proven the contract was modified, thus making it void. Either way, I hope Duckett doesn’t make it after those 3 years.
BassFan says: Just to be clear, MLF anglers are not restricted from fishing in other tournaments. For instance, several have competed in Bassmaster Opens this year that did not conflict with Bass Pro Tour events.
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Tom Baldwin of Cedar Hill, TN writes:
Thursday, May 2, 2019I like the MLF but will the catch-and-immediate-release catch on like we fish today with B.A.S.S. and FLW? My bass club is going to test out the MLF format later this year. The only thing potentially in the way of the MLF format taking off is the wireless connectivity at some of the lakes we fish. I would hate to fish and the results be delayed or not come in at all. At least with the weigh-ins at the end if the day, you know the results and can fish any lake at any time.
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Jeremy Limerick of Punxsutawney, PA writes:
Thursday, May 2, 2019RE: MLF anglers and Classic Expo – I believe they have every right to do this as they are currently the only actual professional tour. When the other organizations are making you pay money to try and win it back they can’t have much say in what events you attend. When we get to the point that the tournament brand (B.A.S.S. and FLW) are also giving the money to the anglers in the form of payouts instead of lining their own pockets with it, then we will see the best anglers in the world showcased.
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May 2019
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