MLF on Dale Hollow

[chadmack282]

Where are u watching MLF?

[XzyluM]

42 minutes ago, chadmack282 said:

Where are u watching MLF?

The Outdoor Channel. 

[drew4779]

Be aware that dale hollow, despite having record size smallies, can be a very difficult lake to fish for most of the year.  My old man has a buddy who lives on the lake and he says it's nothing like the great lakes where i've literally exhausted myself due the amount of fish i bring in.  I know 2 guides on dale hollow that consider 6 good smallmouth a good day.  In that format, I feel targeting shallows for largemouth isn't necessarily a bad plan.  Not saying some haven't figured this lake out, but it's kinda cool to see the pros struggle initially like many others I know on dale hollow.

[toni63]

Do they get paid to show up? I wonder how enthusiastic the competitors are about this format when all the stuff that makes the best the best is taken away. Maybe this is really interesting because its new and different, but I can see guys dropping out in later events when they find out that most of their choices are not their choices at all, but down to the discretion of the tournament director.

Like which part of the lake you get to fish versus what parts someone else gets to go to, etc.

I've just found, when being a competition director in other sports, that when you start dictating that kind of stuff, guys will always say it was those restrictions that cost them the win, not their own ability. And since they feel like the outcome is not within their control, they will choose to go compete somewhere else.

Hence my comment, do they get paid to show up? Because under this format, I think MLF is going to have to make it worth everyone's time to compete regardless if they win or place last.

 

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, toni63 said:

Do they get paid to show up? I wonder how enthusiastic the competitors are about this format when all the stuff that makes the best the best is taken away. Maybe this is really interesting because its new and different, but I can see guys dropping out in later events when they find out that most of their choices are not their choices at all, but down to the discretion of the tournament director.

Hence my comment, do they get paid to show up? Because under this format, I think MLF is going to have to make it worth everyone's time to compete regardless if they win or place last.

 

Actually, just the opposite. As I understand it, MLF is co-owned by the 24 elite anglers who founded it, along with the Outdoor Channel. 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, I believe. No entry fees and no tournament winning payouts. Instead, it is some form of 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.

The newest anglers (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.

-T9

[toni63]

Interesting. Kind of confirms what i figured though, they get paid whether they win or lose. Can't see them competing with these restrictions without a check.

 

[Steveo-1969]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

Actually, just the opposite. As I understand it, MLF is co-owned by the 24 elite anglers who founded it, along with the Outdoor Channel. 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, I believe. No entry fees and no tournament winning payouts. Instead, it is some form of 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.

The newest anglers (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.

-T9

Thanks T9, that explains a lot.  I could never understand why the original 24 anglers were automatically in the Cup but the Select anglers had to qualify for it.  So what's the buy-in for the Select anglers?  Do they share the revenue if they win in the Selects and qualify for the Cup?

[gulfcaptain]

1 hour ago, Steveo-1969 said:

Thanks T9, that explains a lot.  I could never understand why the original 24 anglers were automatically in the Cup but the Select anglers had to qualify for it.  So what's the buy-in for the Select anglers?  Do they share the revenue if they win in the Selects and qualify for the Cup?

Sucks for Randy Howell and Brent Chapman, both were in the original group of anglers back in 2012.  Guess they decided to bail out after the first season but now want back in after the success of the series.

[Team9nine]

19 hours ago, Steveo-1969 said:

Thanks T9, that explains a lot.  I could never understand why the original 24 anglers were automatically in the Cup but the Select anglers had to qualify for it.  So what's the buy-in for the Select anglers?  Do they share the revenue if they win in the Selects and qualify for the Cup?

I'm not certain how "confidential" they make the buy in amount, so let's just say it is a 5 figure amount for each angler to fish the Selects for a year (min. 2 events).

Select winners do get a paycheck if they win an event, but I honestly don't know how much.

-T9

[Steveo-1969]

2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

I'm not certain how "confidential" they make the buy in amount, so let's just say it is a 5 figure amount for each angler to fish the Selects for a year (min. 2 events).

Select winners do get a paycheck if they win an event, but I honestly don't know how much.

-T9

Thanks T9!

[RichF]

MLF is a neat idea and pretty entertaining.  I can't get over a few things though... The real time catch update is a terrible idea.  It just promotes spot stealing by guys who don't find fish.  The cumulative weight deal is kinda lame too.  What does catching 20, 1 pounders prove?  Any one of those guys can stumble across a school of 12 inchers, catch a bunch, win, and it would be blind luck not skill.  This "even playing field" format (no prior info, no practice, etc.) is such a great idea because the viewers could actually see who has the most skill at actually catching bass.  Unfortunately, counting every 12 incher doesn't reflect that in my eyes.  Just count the five biggest like any other tournament and only let the anglers know what place they're in, not who catches what, and MLF would be exponentially better.

  

[Bluebasser86]

It's all part of the strategy. Just because you know a guy is catching fish at a spot doesn't mean you can run over and catch them too. How many times have you been in the same boat with someone and one of you was catching fish while the other wasn't? Knowing someone else is catching them is fun to watch how each competitor handles it and it's funny to listen to them thinking out loud. Since they know each other and know their strengths, they often feel like they know how the other guy is catching fish, and they're wrong a lot. You can tell it really gets to some of the guys. 

I really like the cumulative weight thing too. Again, it's another decision they have to make. A lot of numbers baits don't account for many bigger fish and vice versa. So they have to make the decision to target lots of fish, or better quality. A guy could spend the whole tournament catching those 20 1 pound fish, just to have a guy that spent the whole time fishing a big jig get on a good spot, catch 3 5 pounders and a 5lb 1oz fish and get beat. I've seen both strategies work but normally it's the guys catching the better quality that end up winning the thing. 

As for catching a 12" bass not taking any skill, ask Fred Roumbanis how he feels about that sentiment after only catching 1 bass over that mark in 3 periods of fishing. There's been plenty of times when guys struggled to catch any bass at all. 

Overall, I really enjoy it and I think the catch and immediate release and emphasis on fish care is an excellent idea.

[gardnerjigman]

I love the style and with is was more realistic to do in jackpot tournaments. 

[RichF]

I completely agree that its entertaining and fun to see how the anglers react when they hear so and so is catching them.  However, I think you would still see guys react the same way if they were told they are in 4th place with xxlbs and the 3rd place competitor has xxlbs (without mentioning names).  I think that would eliminate the temptation of wanting to run over to the same area the guy in 1st is fishing. 

As far as the skill thing goes...I just like seeing guys with better fishing skills do better in competition.  I think it's awesome to see a guy like Andy Montgomery, who is insanely talented at skipping a jig (a very advanced technique in my opinion), do his thing and win.    It's not exciting (for me) to see a guy throwing a senko along the shore, cast a spinnerbait in open water, or drop shot straight down in front of his boat and catch a bass (big or small).  There aren't many anglers that can do what Andy does with that jig.  That's plain skill and that's what I'd like to see more of from MLF.