(Note: This is the second part of a 2-part article on Rick Clunn's and Gary Klein's responses to FLW tightening its final-round logo rules.)

Decision Time

"Now a few of us are being thrust into a position where we have to make a decision," Klein said. "I don't know if I can make that decision prior to the season or make that decision when I make the cut."

Clunn said much the same. "I have to evaluate what to do," he said, "but right now my feeling is that I will continue to fish. If I make the Top 10, I'll have to evaluate the sponsors (shirts) that are available, but they often give their (Ranger) guys first choice.

"If I (choose) last and what's available is a major conflict, they better keep the next guy around because I just couldn't fish," he said. "No one with a sense of right and wrong will tell you that it's right to force me or any other angler to wear something he doesn't represent."

FLW Will Enforce Rules

As to whether Operation Bass has considered that eventuality, communications VP Brian Sayner said, "We haven't spent a lot of time thinking about this issue at all because we don't think it's an issue for the masses of fishermen out there. We have not had one call objecting to this rule."

If any fisherman opted out of the final two days of competition "that would be totally up to them," he said. "I'm not sure what the point of doing that is. Why would you begin the tournament only to quit halfway through?"

No allowances would be made, Sayner said. "We have always been an organization that has enforced our rules to the letter, and we'll continue to do that. These are our rules, and nobody is exempted from our rules.

"So obviously if someone got to the final rounds and opted not to wear one of the shirts, we wouldn't have a decision to make -- meaning we would enforce the rules."

Wear It and Say Why

Klein has another possibility. "If I were to fish and made the cuts, and I wore supplied clothing from FLW, it would be a great opportunity for us to tell the world why we're wearing what we're wearing. A lot of negatives can be generated from it if we're forced to suddenly show up in a corporate shirt.

"I think it's a step backwards," he added. "The people I feel sorry for are the anglers who are trying to get started in this sport for the right reasons. Because FLW is putting anglers into packages for corporations, and that is done by Irwin for Irwin's benefit."

Sponsor Dichotomy

Sayner said he's not entirely sure where the controversy is coming from. He pointed out that Clunn, Klein and all the other pros who have made the final-round cuts have all fished out of Ranger boats on the final 2 days.

"That's a fact," he said, and it's an interesting dichotomy. They're not sponsored by Ranger, yet somehow they got past that for the last several years."

Operation Bass Dichotomy

Clunn noted that competition between two leagues "is definitely healthy for everyone" and Klein mentioned the "tremendous payback" of FLW tournaments. Those to sentiments are heard often from pros.

"On the one hand I don't agree with what Irwin does, and on the other hand I have to thank him for what he does," Clunn said. "Aside from his private ideologies, he's done a lot for the sport. I don't know if ESPN would have noticed (B.A.S.S.) if not for Irwin.

"So competition is good," he said. "I wish we could have both and fish both. That's why I continue to fish both.

"There is no perfect circuit," Clunn added. "If I kept waiting for that I'd still be working at Exxon.

"I will fish the best tournaments out there as long as people allow me to. I'm still going to fish (FLWs) until they make a rule to keep me out -- and they probably will eventually."

- End of Part 2 (of 2) -

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