New tournament circuit announced today

[looking45]

TULSA (September 11, 2018) – Major League Fishing (MLF) officials today announced a significant expansion beginning in 2019 with the goal of dramatically growing visibility and participation for the sport of fishing. The plans will help realize the founding partners’ original vision for MLF to elevate competitive bass fishing and its top-tier pros to a national exposure level and grow a fan base on par with other top major league sports.

The expanded MLF program includes the addition of the Bass Pro Tour, a premier 80-angler, eight-event tour with a championship and heightened payouts, made possible through enthusiastic support from Bass Pro Shops and Outdoor Sportsman Group (OSG). Both partners are supporting MLF as part of their commitments to the future of the sport through participation and conservation efforts.

Under the visionary leadership of noted conservationist and founder Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops has been committed to connecting new audiences to the outdoors and advocating for conservation for more than 40 years. These foundational values directly align with MLF’s innovative approach to competitive fishing.

“Bass Pro Shops has proudly supported MLF from its *** because we believed in its mission to elevate the sport of fishing. Today we’re very excited to take the next step and help showcase this great sport to every household in America,” Morris said. “We truly believe this partnership will create many positive and significant new opportunities for kids and families, professional anglers and the sport itself. Equally important to us is leveraging this popular platform to showcase the importance of conservation and promote responsible fishing practices.”


“MLF has delivered on its promised vision every step of the way since Day One,” Outdoor Sportsman Group Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Matt Hutchings said. “MLF has made fishing an even more popular spectator sport through televised events on Outdoor Channel and other networks, as well as Outdoor Sportsman Group’s diverse media platforms in publishing and online. The MLF model is a proven success and we are excited to continue the journey with all of our partners towards future prosperity.”

Today MLF tournaments reach a bigger audience than any other tournament of their kind, and television ratings and independent surveys consistently indicate the fast-paced, action-packed format resonates with anglers of all ages, and is especially effective at reaching the youth audiences essential for achieving long-term interest and growth.

MLF’s conservation-minded “catch, weigh and immediate-release” rules allow participation on waters where typical tournament formats can’t go. The model has earned respect and accolades from many state fish and game agencies.

While MLF will continue its popular Cup events and World Championship, airing on Outdoor Channel and CBS, respectively, it will now also have its own new Bass Pro Tour competitions and championship, and eventually tour qualifiers, all of which will use the same entertaining MLF format in which numbers caught can often contribute more to anglers’ scores than does big fish.

“Seven years ago, Gary Klein and I settled on a mission to expand the sport of professional bass fishing through competitive tournaments with an all new and exciting made-for-television format,” said MLF and Pro Bass Tour Anglers’ Association (PBT) co-founder Boyd Duckett. “After assembling 13 more of the sport’s top-level professionals, the PBT partnership was formed. We always believed if we elevated the visibility of our sport everyone in our industry would be a beneficiary.

“The preparation leading to this moment has been slow, methodical and well thought-out to ensure the outcome would be positive for everyone connected to the sport. As a result, we have a fully developed plan ready to go. Everyone in the fishing industry should appreciate the new path that Outdoor Sportsman Group and Mr. Morris have helped pave for the sport’s future because of their own personal beliefs toward conservation and the responsible use of our fish and water resources.”


MLF officials will announce the finalized MLF Bass Pro Tour schedule, format and anglers in the coming weeks.

MLF was formed in 2011 when Boyd Duckett and Gary Klein convinced television executives at Outdoor Channel to share their vision and invest in the concept for a live-action style broadcast during which all anglers could keep track of how other competitors were doing via on-board scoreboards.

“We’re especially proud to be supporting anglers themselves, who make up an important part of MLF’s ownership team,”added Morris. “Our support for this expansion does not diminish our enthusiasm or support for other popular tournament series including BASS, FLW and hundreds of grassroots events across the country.”

According to Nielsen ratings, MLF has been Outdoor Channel’s top-rated show in first quarters for three years in a row.

MLF also airs on World Fishing Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network and Discovery Channel.

For current MLF schedules, rules, pros and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

[RHuff]

Woah! Fantastic News! 

[12poundbass]

I'm guessing there's a ton of details to work out, like if they keep the catch, weigh, and immediate release format how are they going to cover every competitor? 

 

Things will be interesting these next couple days, weeks, and months. I'm guessing there will be a bunch of overlapping in schedules MLF, FLW, and BASS. So who's in who's out? 

[looking45]

Weighing fish for every contestant was my first question too? So there will be only one angler per boat? Where will they get the people to be the weigh master for each boat? Still a lot of details to be ironed out

[Team9nine]

Everyone won't all fish at once - likely 40/40 first 2 days...

[12poundbass]

3 minutes ago, looking45 said:

Weighing fish for every contestant was my first question too? So there will be only one angler per boat? Where will they get the people to be the weigh master for each boat? Still a lot of details to be ironed out

BASS typically doesn't have a hard time getting people to pay to watch anglers, so I doubt MLF would have a hard time getting people to weigh fish and be a part of the action. I'd do it in a heart beat! 

5 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Everyone won't all fish at once - likely 40/40 first 2 days...

Yeah but 40 cameras and cameramen? I assume that's what there going to do but whew that might be expensive, and logisticaly a nightmare, but we reap the benefits so I'm not complaining. ?

[n8cas4]

I also read from another media outlet that there will be a live component meaning followers won't have to wait months to see results.  How they're going to do it …. I have no idea.  BassmasterLive does "5 live" with 5 live camera's through most of the tournament day.  But, how would MLF do it with say fields of 40 ?  My guess is they will have a few live cameras, with a system similar to BASStrak keeping tabs on the weights of all the other competitors.  True fans of professional bass fishing will know the results when they happen, while everyone else will see the TV show on CBS sports a month or so later.  

 

This style of tournament is fun to watch, but it takes a whole week ...Will it be even possible for anglers to fish both the new Bass Pro Tour AND the Bassmaster Elites?  What happens to the Bassmaster Classic without the Kevin Van Dam's, Iaconelli's, Skeet Reese, Greg Hackney, Aaron Martens??  What happens to the Elite series and FLW tour?  Are they now just the farm system for MLF's new tour?  

 

 

[12poundbass]

9 minutes ago, n8cas4 said:

I also read from another media outlet that there will be a live component meaning followers won't have to wait months to see results.  How they're going to do it …. I have no idea.  BassmasterLive does "5 live" with 5 live camera's through most of the tournament day.  But, how would MLF do it with say fields of 40 ?  My guess is they will have a few live cameras, with a system similar to BASStrak keeping tabs on the weights of all the other competitors.  True fans of professional bass fishing will know the results when they happen, while everyone else will see the TV show on CBS sports a month or so later.  

 

This style of tournament is fun to watch, but it takes a whole week ...Will it be even possible for anglers to fish both the new Bass Pro Tour AND the Bassmaster Elites?  What happens to the Bassmaster Classic without the Kevin Van Dam's, Iaconelli's, Skeet Reese, Greg Hackney, Aaron Martens??  What happens to the Elite series and FLW tour?  Are they now just the farm system for MLF's new tour?  

 

 

If they keep the MLF format which it sounds like they're going to do I don't know how you could make it without having a camera in every boat?

 

Look at Jordan Lee's classic win, he came out of nowhere to win and there was hardly footage. Same with Steve Kennedy last year, nothing because he was so far back. In MLF every fish counts and we've seen enough times where a guy at the bottom finds a school and goes on a tear and comes back. You can't have, say 20 cameras and bounce back and forth between guys, I don't think anyways. 

[Team9nine]

Could potentially use Scoretracker live updates in combination with onboard cameras (GoPro, etc) to get near instant coverage, all run wirelessly to a central headquarters that coordinates all coverage.

 

Could also tier coverage options so free coverage is ST Live online, then PPV  or MLF membership/pass to have access to your favorite anglers onboard camera or some such. Once you get the field cut down after days 1-2 (or 3), you could then live camera everyone left and just do some nice editing for TV coverage of cut rounds. Final rounds could stay as normal.

[punch]

27 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

If they keep the MLF format which it sounds like they're going to do I don't know how you could make it without having a camera in every boat?

 

Look at Jordan Lee's classic win, he came out of nowhere to win and there was hardly footage. Same with Steve Kennedy last year, nothing because he was so far back. In MLF every fish counts and we've seen enough times where a guy at the bottom finds a school and goes on a tear and comes back. You can't have, say 20 cameras and bounce back and forth between guys, I don't think anyways. 

If every marshall in the boat has a smart phone or tablet they could easily get footage all day and cut to an angler at any point during the day, as long as they have a data connection. 

[Tim Kelly]

17 minutes ago, punch said:

If every marshall in the boat has a smart phone or tablet they could easily get footage all day and cut to an angler at any point during the day, as long as they have a data connection. 

If it has any relationship with the existing MLF idea, the footage needs to be broadcastable quality. Smart phone footage would be very disappointing. Be barely acceptable for live coverage, but it's all about the TV show, so most of the coverage needs to be better quality.

[BassNJake]

So a big announcement, that only confirmed the rumors and now leads to more questions.

 

I cant see some of the bigger names leaving to fish exclusively on another tourny trail.

 

So KVD is going to throw away chasing the most classic and AOY titles?

Ike will leave his 20 straight classic appearances and go fish a new trail built on promises?

Jordan Lee is going to pass on making it 3 straight classic wins?

Scott Martin will walk away from FLW after all the support they have shown him and Roland?

(FLW has an event out of Rolands marina every year)

 

I still see 3 separate trails with MLF scheduling around the Elite series and Flw being the 3rd wheel

[n8cas4]

So, essentially BASS is canceling the west coast swing (soon), so that their top stars can fish both trails?  

 

That’s a lot of tournaments !  

[Ben Stacy]

36 minutes ago, BassNJake said:

So a big announcement, that only confirmed the rumors and now leads to more questions.

 

I cant see some of the bigger names leaving to fish exclusively on another tourny trail.

 

So KVD is going to throw away chasing the most classic and AOY titles?

Ike will leave his 20 straight classic appearances and go fish a new trail built on promises?

Jordan Lee is going to pass on making it 3 straight classic wins?

Scott Martin will walk away from FLW after all the support they have shown him and Roland?

(FLW has an event out of Rolands marina every year)

 

I still see 3 separate trails with MLF scheduling around the Elite series and Flw being the 3rd wheel

Pretty sure you're gonna see KVD and a whole pile of others fish exclusively on MLF's Bass Pro Tour. They are owners and want to see this thing take bass fishing to a new level with no entry fees, big sponsors, huge payouts. It's coming and BASS and FLW are on the ropes. The west coast swing is rumored to be cancelled for 2019 for the Elites. You just shot an 80 person hole in the top 2 tours too - I'm hearing this is gonna be either you're in or you're out. No fishing multiple tours. MLF is gonna swing for the fences and you can't play nice. They want to, have to, crush the competition. They need sponsors to think they are gonna be the only show in town. It's capitalism folks, made in the USA and it's freaking awesome.  

[ohboyitsrobby]

I've heard it's an in or out thing too

[webertime]

It is exclusive...  you do MLF and nothing else.   KVD and Skeet are MLF.  Jason Lambert is too I believe. 

Sponsor list is impressive. 

[12poundbass]

1 minute ago, webertime said:

It is exclusive...  you do MLF and nothing else.   KVD and Skeet are MLF.  Jason Lambert is too I believe. 

Sponsor list is impressive. 

Source? Link?

[webertime]

21 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Source? Link?

Not giving up source, no link.  

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, webertime said:

Not giving up source, no link.  

?

[Logan S]

I hope it works out for them...

 

Not hating, but what happens if/when that big sponsor money dump dries up?  FLW was flush with sponsor money in the early/mid 2000's from Walmart and other non-endemics to the point they had 'teams' of anglers for each big sponsor and $Million dollar payouts in the Cup.  Lots of people said FLW would overtake and dismantle BASS.....Look where we are now.  

 

As a fan, I just want to be able to follow the pro tours so hopefully it works out and is entertaining.  I do hope they don't try to box out the other tours by scheduling on top of them or doing non-competes...If their trail really is that much better than BASS/FLW they shouldn't need to strong-arm their participants into it.  

[Ben Stacy]

If you are trying to slay the beast you don’t leave things to chance. MLF is going for it. They may crash and burn but it seems like they have major media backing (CBS), Outdoor Channel, etc. with ties to big time sponsors. Their format hits on PC things like catch weigh and release so no fishies are harmed which makes it more appealing to a non-traditional fan. IMO MLF is operating with surgical precision and will succeed where others have failed but as you say, time will tell. 

[redux]

Ike is definitely going which kinda sucks because he is so horrid to watch on MLF. Between the screaming, tantrums, and terrible fish handling I've gone from being mildly entertained while he annoyed Deny to being disgusted by how childishly myopic he is while competing...YO!

 

He did a Live with Lucas after his Open victory and outright said the existing tours are greedy during a minor rant about dwindling pay outs. Lucas was non-committal. Ike's been yakking about this for years and has been very open about not liking BASS from the get go. Heck, they DQd him at an event years ago and made a rule just for him. No love lost there.

 

BASS and FLW are going to be reeling over the next few years and will probably be relegated to Farm Team status unless they make some major changes ASAP, if not sooner.

 

I'm just glad there is something more interesting than Berkley's take on the Whopper Plopper going on in 2019. As much as I love bass fishing, it can get awfully repetitive and predictable and this is a shakeup fans will be able to enjoy. Although, I'm not sure all the organizers are going to be happy in the coming years.

 

[TOXIC]

Devil is in the details.  I have heard that it's an exclusive trail 80 anglers and they will be paid 200k a year, no entry fees.  Now.....for my humble opinion.  MLF has been a success without any on-site crowd or fan participation.  They have relied solely on video broadcast.  This new trail will attempt to take it to the next level in that format because the viewership has shown they can "touch" a lot more people and save money doing away with the weigh-ins and crowds.  It's pretty costly to have the whole setup in the FLW/BASS/Elites style tournament.  You've got a lot of employees needing to run the weigh in, set up for stage and holding tanks. release boat and a million other details that the Video format does not have.  For the anglers, would you rather gamble on a pay day or be guaranteed a paycheck?  It's been common knowledge that very few of the pros are making any $$ on tour from tournament winnings.  There are more gambling with their 75k entry fee and losing than are even breaking even.  This I'm not guessing at because I do consider some of the fishermen on the Elite Series friends and I do get to hear their opinions.  As for the overall Catch/Weigh/Release/Total Weight style of tournament, there are pluses and minuses.  Pluses include better fish care, more action and there's always the video component that let's every viewer be in every boat.  My concern is does it really show who is the best angler?  In for example, an Elite Series tournament, not only do you have to catch fish, you have to catch big fish not just "score-able" fish and you have to manage your fish for multiple days.  IMHO it is much harder to fish that style of TX compared to the MLF format.   All that being said, I enjoy watching the MLF format.  IT will be interesting to see how the details play out.  

[Team9nine]

Too much flux (and online speculation) to make any definitive statements yet IMO. Once they have their meetings; Once they start getting commitments from anglers; Once BASS has a chance to respond and fire back with their own statement, then I think we'll start getting firm details.

 

As recent as this weekend I was hearing a scaling back of JM's part on the whole deal because they pushed back on exclusivity he wanted (but supposedly didn't get), entry fees anglers would pay to get in were back on the table (they'd pay ?), angler buyouts were falling through, and practice days would get incorporated in some form or fashion next year. What actually got signed and agreed to, only a limited number of people probably really know at this point.

[Glenn]

20 hours ago, looking45 said:

MLF officials will announce the finalized MLF Bass Pro Tour schedule, format and anglers in the coming weeks.

Until then, it's all gossip.