New tournament circuit announced today

[punch]

I think prestige and records all will get quickly get kicked to the curb when money gets involved. If the MLF Pro Tour offers anglers a more substantial way to earn a living, with lower overhead... they will flock to it. The financial power of Johnny Morris is real. Bass and FLW have to be very, very concerned. They don't have the coffers that JM does. 

 

Ike on (on his most recent Ike Live show} admitted that out of 100 BASS Elite pro's, 60 will barley break even or lose money fishing the tour. If MLF offers anglers a better opportunity to make a livable income, they are going to jump on it so fast it'll make your head spin. 

 

The fishing industry isn't doing THAT well. MLF could easily blow up the entire landscape of the professional bass fishing sport. 

As a fan of the sport I can't wait to see how this whole thing shakes out over the next couple years. 

 

 

[J Francho]

Seems like this might also disrupt the current angler-sponsor model.  A television product isn't the same as a traditional tournament.

[n8cas4]

At the moment, MLF needs B.A.S.S. and FLW (to some extent) to help them determine the top anglers to invite to the new tour.  B.A.S.S. and FLW are now the farm systems or proving grounds for an angler to showcase his/her worth.  

 

To that end, what are they giving to B.A.S.S. and FLW these first few years?  In my opinion, they'll need to let anglers fish both the new tour and AT LEAST the elites.  

MLF talked about eventually starting tour qualifier tournaments for the new BPT, but until then, they need B.A.S.S. and FLW.  Otherwise, when it comes time to bring in new talent, they'll be bringing in anglers that don't have what it takes or don't have star power.  Without "Stars" I don't think MLF will be able to succeed BEYOND where they are now.  

[Tim Kelly]

So if the new format rises to the top, are we going to see new designs in bass boats, maybe without livewells?

[n8cas4]

31 minutes ago, Tim Kelly said:

So if the new format rises to the top, are we going to see new designs in bass boats, maybe without livewells?

I don't know if I trust my fellow grassroots club member, Johnny Boater to accurately record all his catches.  

[TOXIC]

One element that they need to not do away with and keep just like the current MLF format is the lack of pre-fishing or practice.  That's the only way you get to listen and watch how they break down their water.  

[Troy85]

6 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

One element that they need to not do away with and keep just like the current MLF format is the lack of pre-fishing or practice.  That's the only way you get to listen and watch how they break down their water.  

I agree.  This is one of my favorite things about MLF, is you actually get to see and hear how they approach a certain body of water and establish a pattern.  

I really enjoy watching the elite series, but you don't get near as much info from the anglers as you do in MLF.

[12poundbass]

17 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

One element that they need to not do away with and keep just like the current MLF format is the lack of pre-fishing or practice.  That's the only way you get to listen and watch how they break down their water.  

I too agree with this. I would like to see them fish some 'big bass lake's and not catch 1-2 pounders all the time (even though that's all I catch). I did enjoy when they were in Alpena a couple years ago and A-mart found a school offshore and went on a tear. I'd like to see more offshore structure fishing and how they break it down. 

[Team9nine]

25 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

One element that they need to not do away with and keep just like the current MLF format is the lack of pre-fishing or practice.  That's the only way you get to listen and watch how they break down their water.  

 

Will be interesting to hear the final details, because from what I've heard, there will be some type of practice period going forward, just not certain what it will look like.

 

4 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I too agree with this. I would like to see them fish some 'big bass lake's and not catch 1-2 pounders all the time (even though that's all I catch). I did enjoy when they were in Alpena a couple years ago and A-mart found a school offshore and went on a tear. I'd like to see more offshore structure fishing and how they break it down. 

 

This is where some type of practice period would be good, I think. It would definitely put some guys off the bank to begin with if they felt somewhat comfortable with what they found. The gamble for quality might pay off. If so, it also helps eliminate some of the dinkfest complaints so many guys complain about.

[12poundbass]

3 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 

Will be interesting to hear the final details, because from what I've heard, there will be some type of practice period going forward, just not certain what it will look like.

 

 

This is where some type of practice period would be good, I think. It would definitely put some guys off the bank to begin with if they felt somewhat comfortable with what they found. The gamble for quality might pay off. If so, it also helps eliminate some of the dinkfest complaints so many guys complain about.

I don't mind seeing them catch 'dinks' because lets face it That's what the majority of us catch on a regular basis and I soak up every bit of info they feed us on where to find them. I like seeing them catch numbers because that's where I sometime lack, I might catch 3-5 on a 4 hour outing where these guys can catch 4x that in the same amount of time. 

 

Sometimes a 6 plus fish is really nice to see too. With the possibility of a practice period maybe that will change it up. Maybe MLF listens to the masses and are trying to tweak things here and there. That's what every good business does to stay viable and there's great business minds behind MLF. 

[Team9nine]

1 minute ago, 12poundbass said:

 

Sometimes a 6 plus fish is really nice to see too. With the possibility of a practice period maybe that will change it up. Maybe MLF listens to the masses and are trying to tweak things here and there. That's what every good business does to stay viable and there's great business minds behind MLF. 

Sounds like it's some of the anglers pushing for it. 

[TnRiver46]

I've never really watched much MLF, I like the biggest limit format much better. Even I can catch 12" bass. Sometimes.......

[Logan S]

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

One element that they need to not do away with and keep just like the current MLF format is the lack of pre-fishing or practice.  That's the only way you get to listen and watch how they break down their water.  

Eh, I wouldn't want to watch the NFL as much if the teams couldn't practice...These are the best in the world, I want to see them be prepared.  Preparing for a tournament is just as much of a skill as executing in the tournament, at least in my opinion as a tournament angler myself.

 

I know I'm in the minority here...But I don't find the whole 'no-practice, just fish' thing to be a definitive 'true-test' of how good the anglers are.  Further, I don't really think they are breaking down the lake beyond basic levels - They don't have time to!  It's a scramble find something as fast as possible, which is why you see them flying down banks, dock lines, and grass lines so often. 

 

It's certainly a good measure of pure fish catching and instincts, but I'd much prefer to watch the pros have an allotted time to prepare and practice and then hit the lake.  I've noticed the level of detail I often see the anglers go into on BASS Live far exceeds what I usually see on MLF, for obvious reasons...They have time to dial things in on BASS Live.

 

I'd also prefer 5-bass limits even with the immediate release format...Although the total-weight format in a multi-day tournament where the anglers get practice time could be something very new and cool to see.  On the right lake at the right time, could see astronomical weights and true heavyweight shootouts.  

[fishwizzard]

I find the MLF format way more engaging to watch then the traditional “best five”.  I will at times throw a BASS tourny on as background noise, but they are painfuly dull to actualy watch.  

 

But really until I can watch a tourny on one of the big streaming servies, I am never going to see any of them live.  Right now I hunt around for them on youtube and watch videos months/years after the events happen.  I would watch them (and the million ads) , but my interest isn’t enough to pay for cable or buy a digital tuner. 

[Tim Kelly]

The best five vs the total weight thing is going to be interesting. I enjoy the MLF format and have subscribed since it's beginning, other than when they made it impossible. The downside is that, while it does offer a level playing field and is a test of some skills, it is, or can be, a little dull sometimes seeing everyone bank beating. I expect if they were dropped on an unknown version of Kentucky lake in the summer they would beat the banks and miss the ledge fishing giants completely as it would take too long to find them. I enjoy seeing who can make the best of the lake and catch the quality, but they probably need a little time to get the best from a lake. If pro bass fishing were to be completely dominated by people who were good bank beaters and numbers fishermen it would take away from the knowledge growth that has happened with the best 5 formats on how to get the better fish. There's room for both, but it would be a shame for the whole industry to move away from the 5 biggest as the gold standard.

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, Tim Kelly said:

The best five vs the total weight thing is going to be interesting. I enjoy the MLF format and have subscribed since it's beginning, other than when they made it impossible. The downside is that, while it does offer a level playing field and is a test of some skills, it is, or can be, a little dull sometimes seeing everyone bank beating. I expect if they were dropped on an unknown version of Kentucky lake in the summer they would beat the banks and miss the ledge fishing giants completely as it would take too long to find them. I enjoy seeing who can make the best of the lake and catch the quality, but they probably need a little time to get the best from a lake. If pro bass fishing were to be completely dominated by people who were good bank beaters and numbers fishermen it would take away from the knowledge growth that has happened with the best 5 formats on how to get the better fish. There's room for both, but it would be a shame for the whole industry to move away from the 5 biggest as the gold standard.

I agree with your statement completely. Have you seen the episodes in Alpena Michigan where KVD and Aaron Martens found schools of fish offshore? It was fun to watch. When things get dull is when someone pulls away with the lead and dominates. It's great action when it goes down to the final minutes. I hope they find a happy medium, because I love the back and forth action, I also love seeing actual "giants" being caught! Time will tell and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes of this in the coming weeks. 

[Logan S]

3 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

I find the MLF format way more engaging to watch then the traditional “best five”.  I will at times throw a BASS tourny on as background noise, but they are painfuly dull to actualy watch.  

 

But really until I can watch a tourny on one of the big streaming servies, I am never going to see any of them live.  Right now I hunt around for them on youtube and watch videos months/years after the events happen.  I would watch them (and the million ads) , but my interest isn’t enough to pay for cable or buy a digital tuner. 

Don't take this wrong way or anything...Buttt...Did you know the Elite Series BASS Live is broadcast for free right from their website?  6 hours of live coverage for 3 days of each tournament.  FLW has their own version as well, right on their site.  What you say you want has existed for a few years now.  I'm a cord cutter too BTW, I watch BASS Live via the ESPN Roku app on my TV - Or from my desk at work or sometimes even from my boat while I'm fishing .

 

One other interesting anecdote I've noticed that's not directly related to the new trail...It seems that most people that are tournament anglers themselves prefer the 5-bass limit and most people that aren't tournament anglers like the 'every-fish-counts' format better.  This isn't a scientific observation, just a trend I've noticed with people I know personally and what I see online.  

 

I haven't watched a production BASS show in years because I already know what happened and saw it on Live.

[fishwizzard]

36 minutes ago, Logan S said:

Don't take this wrong way or anything...Buttt...Did you know the Elite Series BASS Live is broadcast for free right from their website?  6 hours of live coverage for 3 days of each tournament.  FLW has their own version as well, right on their site.  What you say you want has existed for a few years now.  I'm a cord cutter too BTW, I watch BASS Live via the ESPN Roku app on my TV - Or from my desk at work or sometimes even from my boat while I'm fishing .

Fishing is the only sports thing I am into, so I never want to spring for a ESPN subscription. I did pay for the MLF streaming site for a while but couldnt get the stream to work on my TV, same with the BASS site.   The Roku YouTube app is great, so I use that.  I think my Roku is a few generations old at this point, I should see if the new ones can stream from random websites any better.  

 

I think I do agree with your point about the audience split in taste over best-five vs MLF. 

 

[Logan S]

7 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

Fishing is the only sports thing I am into, so I never want to spring for a ESPN subscription. I did pay for the MLF streaming site for a while but couldnt get the stream to work on my TV, same with the BASS site.   The Roku YouTube app is great, so I use that.  I think my Roku is a few generations old at this point, I should see if the new ones can stream from random websites any better.  

 

I think I do agree with your point about the audience split in taste over best-five vs MLF. 

 

I forgot about the subscription thing...Regardless, you can still get it directly from the BASS and FLW sites live.  Check it out, might like it...HDMI to the TV or just go right from the computer or phone  .  BASS AOY tournament will be live next week, 20th thru 23rd.

[Team9nine]

New story just posted online that answers a few more of the questions being pondered concerning the new tour...

 

Highlights:

 

- 80 Invites are out

- Meetings through the weekend

- Expect many anglers to be upset (that they didn't get asked)

- A 2nd set of invites to go out if they don't get full buy-in

- 3 year committment

- No restriction on fishing other circuits, but they expect it to not be feasible from a travel/overlap standpoint

- No sponsorship restrictions

- Feeder circuit will be established by the end of the 3rd year. Bottom 10 fall out.

 

"I'm sure there will be some (who decline), but I can't imagine an angler who wants a pro career making a choice other than this one, and when they see the details of it, they'll understand why. The payouts, the media platform, the potential for the growth of the sport, the whole package that they get to be a part of ... when they see the horsepower that's strapped to our rocket, they'll have a good idea of what this thing's capable of."

 

- Also read a different piece that stated meetings will likely require signed NDA to attend, so don't expect a ton of new news or info from the anglers after this week. Also, MLF expected to hire 40-50 new staff to pull this all off.

[12poundbass]

5 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

New story just posted online that answers a few more of the questions being pondered concerning the new tour...

 

Link, I'm technology dumb as you know. ?

[Team9nine]

Just now, 12poundbass said:

Link, I'm technology dumb as you know. ?

 

Sorry, site restricted - don't want to infringe on forum policy. Will have to search it out...

 

[Tennessee Boy]

They've got to change the scoring for me to really take them seriously.  I like not having a limit but you've got to reward catching larger fish.  No one thinks five one pound fish are equal to one five pound fish.  The scoring should reflect that.

[Troy85]

@12poundbass Just do a google search for "MLF new format" and you will find some articles about it.

[J Francho]

11 hours ago, Team9nine said:

"I'm sure there will be some (who decline), but I can't imagine an angler who wants a pro career making a choice other than this one, and when they see the details of it, they'll understand why. The payouts, the media platform, the potential for the growth of the sport, the whole package that they get to be a part of ... when they see the horsepower that's strapped to our rocket, they'll have a good idea of what this thing's capable of."

If I was a young, up and coming angler, this would be the thing I'd be shooting for.