Note: This is part 1 of a 3-part series.

No one argues that the FLW Tour and Operation Bass headman Irwin Jacobs have done a ton for the sport of bass fishing. By creating another pro tour (FLW), here's what the Jacobs-era Operation Bass has done, among other things:

> Brought new, non-endemic (non-fishing industry) sponsors into the sport, like Wal-Mart, Kellogg's, Fujifilm and others

> Got a boatload of press about bass fishing in outlets that before would not have acknowledged bass fishing's existence (e.g., Time Magazine, CNN, The Wall Street Journal)

> Created a fleet of cool-looking bass boats decaled to look like NASCAR cars

> Raised tournament purses, which excited the fans and gave bass pros a better chance of making a living

> Improved television coverage of bass fishing

> Lit a fire under B.A.S.S., which has benefited from the competition

> Perhaps most importantly, it created new excitement about and awareness of bass fishing at a time when it was sorely needed. In fact, if FLW hadn't happened along, ESPN might have never noticed B.A.S.S.

Despite all of this, the FLW Tour remains controversial to many top pros for one main and a few secondary reasons. Do these reasons have merit? You decide.

(Note: Pro complaints aren't just about Operation Bass. Many pros also didn't like B.A.S.S.'s World Championship Fishing boating-fishing format, which BassFan will cover soon, and they also have a few problems with BASSMASTER Tour and Open events.)

The Sponsor Rule

It's no secret that pros universally chafe under the "no-display-of-non-FLW-sponsors" rule during the final, televised rounds of FLW competition.

While this rule is understandable from a business standpoint -- companies sponsor events for exposure and don't like non-sponsoring companies "stealing" their paid-for time -- some pros feel like they're letting down the sponsors who have helped them over the years if they accede to the rule.

"FLW has done a lot for the sport of fishing," said Mark Davis, currently ranked No. 3 in the world. "Unfortunately, the sponsors I've acquired over my career do not coincide with FLW sponsors. Therefore by their rules I can't promote my companies, at least not on television, and that's really what our sponsors want."

Davis, who fished the FLW Tour for a few years before deciding to abstain, added: "There's nothing there for my sponsors, and I just don't feel right accepting the salaries (his sponsors) pay me and turning around and spending it on a tour where I really can't promote them."

A similar opinion is given by Kentucky angler Kevin Wirth. "They cut your life-support system off," he said. "You can't promote anyone but their sponsors, the ones they're making the money from."

- End of Part 1 (of 3) -