Ruling Body Of Bass Fishing.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

The more I think about it the more I think that bass fishing in general would benefit from one ruling body. One set of rules that all abide by when fishing in tournaments or pleasure ( even if we fudged a little) Not that there has to be one tournament trail ( let's face it that will never happen) but just one set of rules. Much like the USGA for golf.

i am curious to know what y'all think would be the pluses and minuses of one ruling body.

[Chris at Tech]

Why?

[Tyler Smith]

I don't know about everyone else but my thought towards that is that there is no point in setting one set of rules. I feel that if each league or series followed the same rules there would be no point in having more than one league. I feel the different rules differentiate the leagues and series and anglers can choose what set of rules they like and the league they want.

[nascar2428]

That would be one big political mess trying to get 50 states to agree on one set of rules for bass fishing.

[Gatorbassman]

Then bass fishing would be as boring as golf.

[Crestliner2008]

Each particular area of our country has various environmental issues & concerns that require a set of regulations to benefit that particular region. And each state DNR has the detailed information and studies regarding their individual environment. To try to alter that, in order to adhere to any kind of a standard set of rules, to me, is not a very good idea.

[WRB]

Amazing that anyone would want more regulations than already exists.

Move to California for good dose of what it is like to have everything regulated and pay fees to enforce those regulations you don't agree with.

Tom

[SirSnookalot]

Each state has to have it's own set of regulations based on what's best for them.  I don't believe tournament fishing is the main interest for a state, it's for the overall fisherman and how best to improve the fishery for them.  Probably not a state in the union that is over funded, quite the opposite I'm sure is true and their just isn't enough wardens enforce the exiting regulations.  We may need different regulations on bag and size limits, additional revenue in the form of higher license fees and fines, I'm not apposed to any of that.  

There are different governing bodies in golf, PGA and USGA sanctioned tournaments have slightly different rules, as does the R & A. The rules again differ slightly for the general recreational golfer and each course can put in some of their own local rules as well.

I realize the intent of the OP is for tournament fishing, but how many tournament anglers are there compared to the overall number of fishermen, I don't have a clue.