Thoughts On The Major League Fishing Format?

[TNBassin']

Been watching MLF, and I gotta say I really like it. I love that all fish that are keepers go towards the total weight and not just the best 5. Watched an extended episode that I had already seen on their website, and enjoyed it immensely. You really got to see more in depth stuff than what the Outdoor Channel shows, and you can really see the personalities of Greg Hackney, and Denny Brauer really shine. I never laughed so hard at a fishing show. I might spend the cash for all of the extended episodes. It was that good. Anyone else drinking the MLF kool-aid??

[J Francho]

Yeah, I dig it.  Back before they even started filming, I talked to Boyd Duckett at length about it, and it has really lived up to the hype.  I guess the pros really have fun with the format, too.

[Darren.]

Not yet, really need to check the webisodes as I don't get the Outdoor Channel.

[A-Jay]

I am a fan as well. 

Looking forward to the next event. 

It's all about the coverage; tournament official and camera on every boat.

The Classic pales in comparison and should consider adopting a similar format. 

Simply shrink the field to a manageable number of anglers.

I understand the mindset of having competitors from various bass entities and the importance of having a high number of angling participants contributing to the increase in Sponsor Dollars.

The NFL Super Bowl only has 2 teams playing and their sponsors appear to do OK.

The past and current Classic format causes a very watered down spectator event simply because of shear number of anglers participating. 

 

Back before the social media explosion, this format worked fine.  Now, It's a Dinosaur and I fear it will suffer the same fate if changes are not made soon.

 

 

A-Jay

[prjavelin]

anyone that hasnt tried it yet should!!! its an amazing format and you get to meet the pros up close. its amazing. I love it. we will be getting another cup in april as per their facebook page. 

[aavery2]

I have purchased the last two seasons of MLF and have enjoyed the coverage as well as the format.   It may not be perfect, but they seem to be on to something.

[MemphisFF]

It's funny you're talking bout this show, went to BPS today and Edwin Evers was talking bout the show and the format of it, and how some are doin this type of tournaments in Texas..

[Josh Sifuentes]

I find it quite exciting and fun to watch. I just wish there was more of them.

[TNBassin']

I really can't get enough of this. For better or worse, these guy's personalities really come out with this format. Denny Brauer and Greg Hackney had me cracking up constantly. I loved it when Iaconelli was screaming like crazy after catching a nice fish, then it switched to Hackney and you could hear Ike going off. Hackney then proceeds to say "if he was my kid, he'd be getting a spanking right now" lol. 

[Dinky]

I really like it. Sounds almost corny to say it, but it is exciting and suspenseful--though not tingley!

[CKFishin]

Its the cat's meow....

[Felix77]

I enjoy it. It's different. It definitely makes the classic look archaic.

They need to find a way to do events live in order to gain any traction with other sports. In this Twitter/Facebook age watching it a week later seems old.

[J Francho]

Live fishing would be incredibly boring.

[MemphisFF]

I watched the one on a lake in NY and Ish was killin it.. First time watching it all the way thru I really enjoy it.. I saw where Evers and Tak were fighting over docks funny stuff and The Squirrel, lol

[BassinB]

Live fishing would be incredibly boring.

I really dont think it would. If they switched from angler to angler often enough with some decent commentators i would think it couldnt be possibly more boring than golf.

[CKFishin]

I really dont think it would. If they switched from angler to angler often enough with some decent commentators i would think it couldnt be possibly more boring than golf.

I don't think you could be more wrong... Live fishing would be incredibly bad not to mention its 8 hours... How do you block an entire channel for 8 hours?

[BassinB]

You wouldnt have to block a channel for 8 hours. You could televise the last 3-4 hours of fishing a day up until weigh in. And supplement the broadcast with higlight clips of the morning if not much is happening. That doesnt seem to far fetched to me.

[Nave]

I don't think you could be more wrong... Live fishing would be incredibly bad not to mention its 8 hours... How do you block an entire channel for 8 hours?

He can't be "wrong" it's merely his opinion. 

[J Francho]

What you need to realize, is MLF was created to be a TV product from it's ***.  BASS Elite events are tournaments, and TV coverage is secondary.  I'm not even sure live broadcast is possible from boats in many of the locations they fish.

[A-Jay]

What you need to realize, is MLF was created to be a TV product from it's ***.  BASS Elite events are tournaments, and TV coverage is secondary.  I'm not even sure live broadcast is possible from boats in many of the locations they fish.

Exactly - great point J.

 

So this is where Mr. McKinnis needs to adapt.   

Think of it this way - how do you and your sponsors reach the largest tackle buying audience ?

 I say it is not by catering to the few hundred spectators that follow the anglers around, which are more of a nuisance than anything else.  I know the waters they fish are public and there is no way around it - but it's like having fans on the field during a ball game - PIA.  Nothing wrong with watching the take off or the recovery / weigh-in but the encroaching seemed especially bad this year for whatever reason.

Fans can and should continue to attend these events as the Boost to the local economy is nothing to sneeze at.  

 

I believe some of the consideration as to where these events are held must involve an updated and more current media profile.  There is almost no way around it. 

 

By reducing the number of anglers there could be a camera boat with each competetor with a "B.A.S.S" official on board who could monitor the spectator boats.  Although there would be no legal authority to make boats move away - I bet if fans were politely asked to stay at least as far away as the BASS official, most would comply.  But leaving the anglers to fend for themselves is just asking for trouble.  Almost had some this year and it's only going to get worse. 

 

Perhaps the MLF events were like a mini test run to work out the bugs before the BASS makes it's move that way.  I certainly hope so.

 

A-Jay

[IowaHusker28]

In the middle of watching the free episode right now. I am already spending a few bucks on a couple more episodes. Shaw is cracking me up. I like all the commentary by the anglers, you can really get inside the head of an expert; which is really cool in my mind!

[solo_bro]

I felt like u got to know the angler so you can easily match a face and personality with the name. I love the format as well balls to the wall, out catch each other in a total weight.

[Basspastor]

You wouldnt have to block a channel for 8 hours. You could televise the last 3-4 hours of fishing a day up until weigh in. And supplement the broadcast with higlight clips of the morning if not much is happening. That doesnt seem to far fetched to me.

FLW did this exact thing on Fox after a Packers/Bears game back in 1999 with the Ranger M1 tournament.  They even had Joe Buck doing the play by play and interviewing the anglers. I'm not sure if they ever did it again.  I think they had an hour, but it might have been two hours or an hour and a half.  That was back in the day when they were talking about bass fishing being the next Nascar.  Those dreams are long gone now.  Neither BASS or FLW could make it happen.  I suppose it could still happen, but that seems pretty unlikely to me.

 

I enjoy MLF and maybe it has the potential to grow or maybe it will go the way of the M1, the Elite Series Majors and a handful of idea's that didn't last.

[TrapperJ]

i'd be happy if i could watch it the weekend its happening, how much harder would it be, to devote an hour a day on the 4 day tourney. 1 hour on Thurs, Fri, Sat, and Sun. Give me an hour program of that days highlights show the weigh-in, we dont have to see everybody weigh-in, and call it good.

 

Trying to cram 4 days of fishing in one hour its just to much.

 

LIke the Elite series didnt it used to come on Sats? Now it seems like early morning sunday unless it comes on later too. I know ESPN sold BASS so I'm guessing it's on its way out with ESPN maybe? which might be a good thing. It needs to be moved to a more Fishing friendly network, WFN, Outdoor, or NBC Sports, and then maybe we would see a format change.

[jhoffman]

Id like to see them trim the classic and the cup to 15

 

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