How To Qualify For Mlf

[CDMeyer]

Does anybody know how the qualification system goes for Major League Fishing?  I have looked everywhere and can not see it..... so if anybody could help I would love it!!!!!

[Brian Needham]

they are probably chosen

[aavery2]

I would say that a pre requisite would be to fish and finish high in an Elite series event, although Byron Velvick does fish in MLF. 

[J Francho]

MLF is a television product, so I imagine they are contracted to fish.

[iabass8]

I think I remember reading it's invite only.

[VAHunter]

I agree, invitations only.  While I like it, I don't believe it's the future of competitive bass fishing as it's been called.  Anybody ever hear what they win?  I sure haven't.  As noted earlier, clearly a television product for sponsors.

[Jrob78]

I've always wondered what they win also. My guess is it isn't much. I do know that the next "season" will have all new anglers.

[Team9nine]

There is no qualification system to get in. It is a "made for television" tournament show. The anglers are all basically part owners in the final product, as is the cable TV company (Outdoor Channel). Basically a 50/50 split as I understand it. No entry fees and no tournament winning payouts. Instead, it is a revenue sharing arrangement with the Outdoor Channel. Consider them all stockholders if you will. Each of the 24 put up their own money to help initially fund and create the venture. As such, no one is ever "eliminated" unless they choose to sell out their ownership stake in the company. Nobody has yet.

 

The newest anglers you heard about (MLF Select) is their first attempt at bringing in some "new blood" to the group and slowly expanding. These guys were by invite only, and all had to pay a "buy-in" fee to accept the invite. They will not be replacing any of the original 24, but instead will actually be competing against themselves in groups for a chance to be added to the permanent line-up of guys as I understand it. A few will get in, most won't. They wil have their own televised tourney shows, though, as part of the deal, while they compete to advance for that chance. This will all be in addition to the regular scheduled events of the founding 24 MLF guys.

 

-T9

[A-Jay]

There is no qualification system to get in. It is a "made for television" tournament show. The anglers are all basically part owners in the final product, as is the cable TV company (Outdoor Channel). Basically a 50/50 split as I understand it. No entry fees and no tournament winning payouts. Instead, it is a revenue sharing arrangement with the Outdoor Channel. Consider them all stockholders if you will. Each of the 24 put up their own money to help initially fund and create the venture. As such, no one is ever "eliminated" unless they choose to sell out their ownership stake in the company. Nobody has yet.

 

The newest anglers you heard about (MLF Select) is their first attempt at bringing in some "new blood" to the group and slowly expanding. These guys were by invite only, and all had to pay a "buy-in" fee to accept the invite. They will not be replacing any of the original 24, but instead will actually be competing against themselves in groups for a chance to be added to the permanent line-up of guys as I understand it. A few will get in, most won't. They wil have their own televised tourney shows, though, as part of the deal, while they compete to advance for that chance. This will all be in addition to the regular scheduled events of the founding 24 MLF guys.

 

-T9

 

Very interesting stuff.

 

How or Where did you happen across this information ?

 

A-Jay

[Team9nine]

A-Jay:

 

Some of it, MLF has given out to the public in past press releases and posts (other forums). The rest I know because I'm a close personal friend of one of the contestants. Obviously I can't give out exact (tiny) details as much of that is kept under (his) contract confidentiality, which I completely respect, but did want to give the general details of the basic arrangement for clarification (as I understand them).

 

-T9

[A-Jay]

A-Jay:

 

Some of it, MLF has given out to the public in past press releases and posts (other forums). The rest I know because I'm a close personal friend of one of the contestants. Obviously I can't give out exact (tiny) details as much of that is kept under (his) contract confidentiality, which I completely respect, but did want to give the general details of the basic arrangement for clarification (as I understand them).

 

-T9

 

 Thank you.

 

Personally, I like the show.  Although it is a "contest", I do understand that it's first & fore most a made for entertainment (TV & Internet) show.   As it stands now, it seems mostly like a contest.  My hope is that the "Entertainment" side of the show doesn't take over.

 

A-Jay

[MarkH024]

They asked me.  I declined to keep the competition level equal. 

[hoosierbass07]

 And since it is a made for TV event, you must always question if it is a true honest competition.  They might be following a script.  With TV you can never trust them unless they clearly state it is an honest competition but even then you can't believe them because TV is all made up.  If they stood in front of a judge or Senate hearing and answered "Yes, our competition is completely legit" then I might believe them.  Until then I question and so should everyone else.  

[J Francho]

Speaking to Boyd Duckett personally about MLF, I got the impression that the competition is real, not scripted.

[Jrob78]

 And since it is a made for TV event, you must always question if it is a true honest competition.  They might be following a script.  With TV you can never trust them unless they clearly state it is an honest competition but even then you can't believe them because TV is all made up.  If they stood in front of a judge or Senate hearing and answered "Yes, our competition is completely legit" then I might believe them.  Until then I question and so should everyone else.  

Why would they script it?  What would be the benefit of that and how would that somehow be easier or better than allowing the real thing to happen naturally?  It doesn't even make sense, nor would it be logistically possible.

[VAHunter]

Why would they script it?  What would be the benefit of that and how would that somehow be easier or better than allowing the real thing to happen naturally?  It doesn't even make sense, nor would it be logistically possible.

Agreed.  I don't think it's scripted.  Too many type "A" personalities thrown in there.

[iabass8]

 And since it is a made for TV event, you must always question if it is a true honest competition.  They might be following a script.  With TV you can never trust them unless they clearly state it is an honest competition but even then you can't believe them because TV is all made up.  If they stood in front of a judge or Senate hearing and answered "Yes, our competition is completely legit" then I might believe them.  Until then I question and so should everyone else.  

I bet they are using those top secret baits, rods, and reels that look just like the readily available product but are clearly just high end lookalike customs. don't forget the line spun from zeus' pet spider they all use too.

 

I think you can take your tin foil hate off for this one...it's a fishing show.....

 

I wouldn't even understand how scripting something like this would even be logistically possible when you can even go on the extended casts and see them making just about every cast....

[Megastink]

I guess nobody connected the dots:

MLF=owned by Boyd Duckett, who also owns Duckett Rods. Most of the Duckett pros fish MLF.

[hoosierbass07]

 I'm not saying it is scripted.  I'm simply saying you should not 100% trust that it is a real competition.  It might be 100% fair and honest.  I assume it is.  I sort of enjoy the program myself and probably enjoy it more than Bass Master Elite tournaments on TV.  Right now TV is full of cheap crappy reality TV and none of it is real reality.  So when you get a made for TV fishing competition don't blindly trust that it is 100% fair.  

[iabass8]

I'm not saying it is scripted. I'm simply saying you should not 100% trust that it is a real competition. It might be 100% fair and honest. I assume it is. I sort of enjoy the program myself and probably enjoy it more than Bass Master Elite tournaments on TV. Right now TV is full of cheap crappy reality TV and none of it is real reality. So when you get a made for TV fishing competition don't blindly trust that it is 100% fair.

Of curiosity what would make this particular fishing competition fair or unfair towards the anglers.

[Megastink]

I believe it is 1,000% fair and honest.

[gripnrip]

Of course it is a competition.  Because it is invite only doesn't mean it isn't a competition.  I like it and I think it is 100% real.  What makes the show is the pressure that the live leader board put on the competitors.  You know it is nerve racking!  

 

The technique show on the other hand is questionable. Ike for instance pimping the Molix over the vibrating jig he was using.  But that is nothing different than any other pro pushing their product.  

[jtharris3]

They asked me to join but they wouldn't allow me to take my dog on the boat during filming so I declined!

[Jd_Phillips_Fishin]

I guess nobody connected the dots:

MLF=owned by Boyd Duckett, who also owns Duckett Rods. Most of the Duckett pros fish MLF.

Im not saying your wrong but how come most of them dont use Triton boats or Vicious line? Those are Duckett's main sponsors.

[gripnrip]

Im not saying your wrong but how come most of them dont use Triton boats or Vicious line? Those are Duckett's main sponsors.

He isn't wrong.  If Triton or Vicious want to pony up money to be official sponsors of MLF they can.  It doesn't have anything to do with Boyd's sponsors.  Triton and Vicious pay Boyd.  They don't pay MLF.