What’s behind the rise of MLF and all the defections from some of the top name pros to this tour exclusively? Can someone help us read between the lines? How is this going to change the sport going forward? Personally, I’ve never even watched MLF, but my curiosity is high, fueled by all the recent buzz.
Maybe it is the entry fee schedule for the year
MLF is starting a new tournament series called the Pro Tour I believe.
They invited 80 pros from the elite series and flw series to leave their current organization to fish in their new tour.
Many big names have publicly announced their leaving the elite series and going to mlf.
Sounds like it’s a total catch record release format which is a big change for these guys.
Will be interesting to see what happens.
I’ve watched the MLF a number of times and it is way more entertaining than a normal bass tournament. I’m all for it!
I’ve watched the MLF a number of times and it is way more entertaining than a normal <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>bass tournament. I’m all for it!
Doesn’t really interest me if they keep the current format. It basically promotes catching as many small fish as possible.
The weigh-ins are going to be boring!
I suppose they are banking on advertising from TV. It makes sense. It’s one of the few sporting events you could never witness live.
I am with Munchy. They should set an artificial bag limit. Since everything is released they could set it at 7-10 best fish. Also no periods and borders on areas they can fish.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>to_setter wrote:</div>
I’ve watched the MLF a number of times and it is way more entertaining than a normal <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>bass tournament. I’m all for it!Doesn’t really interest me if they keep the current format. It basically promotes catching as many small fish as possible.
Sometimes yes, but not always. There are times when guys get on a big fish pattern and whallop others fishing deep water with drop shots for a bunch of 12 inchers.
The best part is the equal playing field for the most part. They don’t know where they’re going. Everyone has to try to get things figured out as quickly as they can. Time and time again, it really shows the skills of the guys that are better all around fisherman. I love the head to head nature of it and the fact they KNOW where they stand. Talk about pressure!
From what I’ve heard the MLF is much more fisherman friendly. Less cost on entry fee’s and higher payouts. Apparently B.A.S.S and FLW take the majority of the money that comes into the tour and does not pass the money on to the fisherman with reduced entry fees and higher payouts. I guess most of the guys on the tour barely make enough money to break even (except of course the KVD’s of the world)
There is WAY more money backing the MLF and the anglers have much more input on how things are run. Plus they already have a contract with Discovery Channel for the upcoming season.
BASS didn’t change things for decades and it has really hurt them. MLF has been really popular over the past few years and is much better for TV. More continuous action for the youngsters with ADD. The good thing with this is it forced BASS’ and FLW’s hands in making the tours much better for the anglers pockets.
The best part is the equal playing field for the most part. They don’t know where they’re going.
Not sure that is going to work with an 80 boat field. Only so many lakes can handle that many boats. If everyone is invited to, let’s just say Minneapolis, there are only two bodies of water that the tournament would be on, Tonka or the Mississippi. The reason that worked with MLF is because they only had a dozen or so competitors at a time on the lake so you can hit smaller lakes.
Love the concept but reality is a whole other issue.
Okay, just watched MLF for the first time ever. Pretty entertaining if you like bass fishing and particularly tournament bass fishing. Not overly educational IMO if you’re looking to catch the biggest bass on the lake, but may help in teaching the public how to put something – anything – in the boat quickly.
What I’d like to see them do occasionally is, pick a popular public lake, and make the pros fish from shore like so many other anglers must do rather than from an $80K bass boat with $5K in electronics. The Corp sponsors might not appreciate that, but I bet many fans would.
What I’d like to see them do occasionally is, pick a popular public lake, and make the pros fish from shore like so many other anglers must do rather than from an $80K bass boat with $5K in electronics. The Corp sponsors might not appreciate that, but I bet many fans would.
It may be fun as a Ryder Cup type deal where there’s heckling between the players and such, but doubt it would be of any interest as a serious competition.
I’m hoping the pro tour doesn’t follow the cup format. I’d like to see best five or best ten catch and release for the pro tour.
Have they released the tournament format? I’m guessing it’s best N fish are counted.
With the original show, they had what, 8-10 fishermen? I think they also shot in 1 day? By counting every fish it meant that the pressure was on to the end because every fish bumped you up. It kept it entertaining up to the finish. I think with 80 boats or whatever they don’t need that.
I don’t see the format changing from the regular MLF format. Also I believe I read that the 80 boats will be split up and fish on different days and then the top X boats would fish for the title on the final day.
If I was a angler being courted by them, I’d feel more like a traditionalist and not be interested. Of course significant $$$ would probably change my mind.
The MLF is going to get way more coverage than ever before. It will be televised on more and bigger stations. More money for MLF, more money for their anglers, more anglers converting to MLF.
There was an Ike Live show that streamed this week that has a representative from each series chatting about the issues. It’s 4.5 hours long and I’m only about halfway through it but so far it has been pretty informative on the issues in both BASS and FLW.
If I was a angler being courted by them, I’d feel more like a traditionalist and not be interested. Of course significant $$$ would probably change my mind.
It’s not necessarily about being a traditionalist, it’s about an ever expanding list of gripes with the other series that is leading the exodus. They said it best in the Ike live segment I posted. It doesn’t matter if you’re a pro fisherman, a janitor, CEO, blue or white collar, if you don’t like how you’re being treated at your employer and someone else comes along and offers you a better deal, most people would take it.
Ah, thanks for the info.
MLF format is fun, just have to establish a 15 inch minimum so it doesn’t turn into a dink-fest…
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mplspug wrote:</div>
If I was a angler being courted by them, I’d feel more like a traditionalist and not be interested. Of course significant $$$ would probably change my mind.It’s not necessarily about being a traditionalist, it’s about an ever expanding list of gripes with the other series that is leading the exodus. They said it best in the Ike live segment I posted. It doesn’t matter if you’re a pro fisherman, a janitor, CEO, blue or white collar, if you don’t like how you’re being treated at your employer and someone else comes along and offers you a better deal, most people would take it.
You hit the nail on the head!
MLF format is fun, just have to establish a 15 inch minimum so it doesn’t turn into a dink-fest…
I love the MLF format but I never thought about upping the minimum length. That would make it better!
There was an Ike Live show that streamed this week that has a representative from each series chatting about the issues. It’s 4.5 hours long and I’m only about halfway through it but so far it has been pretty informative on the issues in both BASS and FLW.
<div class=”oembed-wrap”><div class=”fluid-width-video-wrapper” style=”padding-top: 56.23529411764706%;”><iframe src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/dV1VfBU99sA?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; encrypted-media” allowfullscreen=”” id=”fitvid34832″></iframe></div></div>
Hopefully you weren’t like our son who had a test first period the next day and was waiting for Ike to reveal his decision until 11:30pm. It was a great marketing ploy to go all Sopranos with it.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Munchy wrote:</div>
There was an Ike Live show that streamed this week that has a representative from each series chatting about the issues. It’s 4.5 hours long and I’m only about halfway through it but so far it has been pretty informative on the issues in both BASS and FLW.<div class=”oembed-wrap”><div class=”fluid-width-video-wrapper” style=”padding-top: 56.23529411764706%;”><iframe src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/dV1VfBU99sA?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; encrypted-media” allowfullscreen=”” id=”fitvid34832″></iframe></div></div>
Hopefully you weren’t like our son who had a test first period the next day and was waiting for Ike to reveal his decision until 11:30pm. It was a great marketing ploy to go all Sopranos with it.
Haha! No, where Ike goes doesn’t matter to me. I downloaded it to my phone and listened to it like a podcast on the ride to and from work. Took a few days but I heard it all.
And if you didn’t know he was going MLF you weren’t listening to the entire episode. He and everyone hinted at it about a dozen times.
“I love the MLF format but I never thought about upping the minimum length. That would make it better!”
I’ve always looked at catching 12-14 inch fish as a negative and you need to adjust to catch at least acceptable fish (15+ inches). I don’t think a format that rewards catching small fish is very entertaining to watch or reflective of their professional skill level. Hope it changes, it’s an otherwise fun format to watch!
I love how the bass elites now had they’re entries cut in half or less. Maybe if they weren’t so greedy years ago they would have something left. I don’t see the elite series going anywhere but down.
I like the mlf format for the fact of not moving fish around the lake.
I would love to see all tournaments in Minnesota be allowed on weekdays only. Weigh ins at public accesses on a weekend no way.
I love how the bass elites now had they’re entries cut in half or less. Maybe if they weren’t so greedy years ago they would have something left. I don’t see the elite series going anywhere but down.
I like the mlf format for the fact of not moving fish around the lake.
I would love to see all tournaments in Minnesota be allowed on weekdays only. Weigh ins at public accesses on a weekend no way.
Bassmaster definitely shot themselves in the foot. However, I don’t see it as an entirely bad thing. This is going to open the door for a lot of other talented, lesser known anglers to step up and create names for themselves. I really believe all three circuits will do well.
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