What would you change?

[billmac]

If you were designing a professional tournament from the ground up, or given carte blanche to make changes to existing tourny rules and structures, what would you do?  I know there's a lot of different tourneys but pick one that you are familiar with.  For me, I think the MLF addressed most of the fish handling concerns I had about the other tours.   I think I might go with a lot less practice time, but that's just musing.

[scaleface]

With todays technology I would like to see them be able to fish until the last minute before they have to head back . Marshall announces its time to go . Maybe put a forty-five minute limit on it so they dont make a hundred mile run and be two hours late . For instance fishing shut off is at three and you have to be back by 3:45 , or some other time .

[TOXIC]

I'm just the opposite.  While I like the MLF format, change it up so that you only have the basics.  Boat, motor, trolling motor and gear.  No electronics, no powerpoles, no hydrowave, etc.  IMHO, 1/2 the field would be lost.  

[Team9nine]

1 minute ago, TOXIC said:

I'm just the opposite.  While I like the MLF format, change it up so that you only have the basics.  Boat, motor, trolling motor and gear.  No electronics, no powerpoles, no hydrowave, etc.  IMHO, 1/2 the field would we lost.  

Maybe an exception and allow flashers only. Otherwise, I like it ?

[Tennessee Boy]

I would use a points based scoring system that rewards catching bigger fish.  I like the fact that there's not a limit in MLF but I think it encourages numbers over size.  Every angler values a ten pound bass more than ten one pound bass but in MLF they count the same. 

 

Here are two possible scoring systems.

1) For each fish you get one point for each ounce over one pound.  A 10 lb fish would be worth 144 points.  A 2lb fish would be worth 16 points.

 

2) Take it even further and square the weight of the fish in factional pounds.  A 10lb fish would be worth 100 points.  A 2lb fish would be worth 4 points.  A 1.5 pound fish would be worth 2.25 points.  A 1 pound fish would be worth 1 point.

[Tennessee Boy]

40 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

I'm just the opposite.  While I like the MLF format, change it up so that you only have the basics.  Boat, motor, trolling motor and gear.  No electronics, no powerpoles, no hydrowave, etc.  IMHO, 1/2 the field would be lost.  

It's a good idea but you're gonna make a lot of sponsors VERY unhappy ?.

[RichF]

ABA just started a 150HP and under team tour which I'm a huge fan of (only available down south of course).  I think limiting horsepower would make tournament fishing quite a bit more accessible to a larger group of anglers.  More affordable and nobody would have to compete against 80K boats.  Yes, I know, the boat doesn't catch the fish, but it can a huge advantage way more often than not.  I'm also a big fan of reducing the gadets on the boat.  I think a lot of anglers nowadays forget (or just never had to experience it) how important boat control is and how difficult it can be your trolling motor doesn't run itself.   

[billmac]

I like the flasher idea.  I've thought about how it would be cool if they had a kind of throwback tournament, with flashers and a 10 lb bait limit.  I think MLF has had some tournaments that were mystery locations and I like that a lot.

 

I don't think MLF treats 10 lb bass and 1 lb bass the same.  A 10 lb bass and 10 one lb bass count the same, and I'm fine with that.  Is there not a big bass award in the MLF?

[J.Vincent]

Pro Bass Tournaments on unknown waters announced 48 hours in advance. All boats must be aluminum with a 100 hp limit and 55lb thrust trolling motor limit. Every angler gets a 10 rod limit, 10 Plano Limit, 10 lb Plastic Limit and 1 Physical Map. No GPS, Graphs, Smartphones or Power Poles allowed. But each competitor gets the option of bringing either 1 Drift Sock, 1 Anchor, 1 Net, 1 Push Pole or 1 Marker Buoy. We would find out real quickly who the best in the business are.

[Logan S]

Not much...Standard BASS/FLW format, 5 bass limits...But catch-weigh-release would be a nice addition.  Pro tours have the logistics to do CWR, they already do with MLF/BPT and the BASS Bassfest tournament.  Another one would be no restrictions on boats.  If a guy wants to run a jet boat or anything else because he thinks he can use it beat everyone else...Let him do it.

 

I don't share the opinion that many others seem to have regarding boats, electronics, gear, and practice time.  I actually believe that by limiting that stuff you're watering down the competition level and innovation... Let the anglers have whatever stuff they want and an appropriate practice time and then turn them loose on a lake and see who figures out how to beat the rest of the field.  

 

The biggest thing for me isn't really format...Its locations and timing.  All of the big tours, even the Opens/Costas, go to basically the same rotation of places at the same times of year.  I love how they are fishing early in the year now where it's still winter in some places, but it would be cool to have more summer and fall events again.  If you go back and watch old Bassmaster and FLW shows...They went to SO many more places and at different times of the year.  I know it's all about the $$$ from host cities now, so there's little chance of it happening...But if there's one thing I could change it'd be this.  

[TOXIC]

Call me an "Old Timer" but I think with the advances in electronics, it's more like video game fishing and the "young guns" are experts with it.  With all of the "Live" electronics, you can find the fish and watch them in real time.  You can drop your lure down, watch it, see the fish come up and take it, rinse and repeat.  You don't have to be a master at finding fish, you just have to be a master of your electronics.  I'm thinking that if you take that out of the game, it would get interesting.  

[Log Catcher]

I have to agree with @TOXIC. If most of the pros didn't have super electronics and Hydrowaves they couldn't catch a fish. I feel like if you have to have all that your'e not much of a fisherman anyway. Take all of that away and we would find out who the good fisherman really are.

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, TOXIC said:

Call me an "Old Timer" but I think with the advances in electronics, it's more like video game fishing and the "young guns" are experts with it.  With all of the "Live" electronics, you can find the fish and watch them in real time.  You can drop your lure down, watch it, see the fish come up and take it, rinse and repeat.  You don't have to be a master at finding fish, you just have to be a master of your electronics.  I'm thinking that if you take that out of the game, it would get interesting.  

 

2 hours ago, Log Catcher said:

I have to agree with @TOXIC. If most of the pros didn't have super electronics and Hydrowaves they couldn't catch a fish. I feel like if you have to have all that your'e not much of a fisherman anyway. Take all of that away and we would find out who the good fisherman really are.

Having no electronics would certainly require the anglers who utilize them a fair amount to change their game.

There could be a question regarding safely too, especially if the plan is to place anglers on unknown water with no GPS / mapping.

 While all of this may determine which anglers can catch fish without electronics, it may not lead to an increase in entertainment value.  Depending on where & when these events occur - and if fish are deep(er) there may be quite a few Less caught - sort of boring to watch.  The deep clear water smallie derbies might be especially tricky; especially after post spawn.  

 Additionally, this may force even more anglers to resort to the dock pitching dink fest.  Not a fan.

 

As for changes, I like the concept of Catch, Weigh, & Release.

Finally, I would ban the practice of 'planting cover' in any lake there's a derby - seems really weak.  

A-jay

 

 

[billmac]

Hydrowaves are permissable?

[Tennessee Boy]

Anglers have found off shore structures over the years using the technology available at the time.  I started out using a paper map, a compass and a flasher.  Now I use a Humminbird Solix.  Some people are more comfortable with modern fish finders than others. Some are better with paper maps and compasses than others.  Forcing anglers to fish with 1950s technology or any other period would favor those with the most experience and comfort with the technology being used.  What does that really prove?  When you find the spot by whatever means,  YOU STILL GOTTA CATCH THE FISH.

[TnRiver46]

I wish it would go back to late 80s early 90s where we had to watch the tournament on TV to see who won. Kind of like all other sports! I don't own a computer........

[Tennessee Boy]

9 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I wish it would go back to late 80s early 90s where we had to watch the tournament on TV to see who won. Kind of like all other sports! I don't own a computer........

It was great watching tournaments in the 80s because you didn't know who was going to win even though the tournament happened months ago.  Today,  someone on this site always spills the beans before it comes on TV.

[Oregon Native]

Gosh...everyone one wants to take away this...take away that!!! Would definitely loose sponsor dollars   So.....just take em to a boat ramp or a park and have them all fish off the bank.  Can only use what you can carry.  Now...that would be back to basics.

[redux]

17 minutes ago, Oregon Native said:

Gosh...everyone one wants to take away this...take away that!!! Would definitely loose sponsor dollars   So.....just take em to a boat ramp or a park and have them all fish off the bank.  Can only use what you can carry.  Now...that would be back to basics.

Agree. I'd let the bottom 10 anglers fish from the bank on Sunday. Put a camera on them, give them the same zones as the boaters, and only let them use banks that are public access. Give them the same time as the anglers in boats. Same take off time and same return time. They can drive or walk. They get 5 rods and whatever tackle they can carry.

[RichF]

I wouldn't ban graphs. I like mine. I don't like how easy it is for competing anglers get waypoints (yes even with the no info rules, some do) but that comes with the territory.  What I think is getting out of hand is self propelled trolling motors.  Don't get me wrong, I would love to have one, I just think they're excessive for competition.  That's a big reason I like the original MLF. Everyone competes out of the same boat basically.  150hp, fortrex, power poles, and 2 hds 9s.  Well equipped and half the cost of their normal rigs. 

[Way north bass guy]

Maybe once a year, I think it’d be cool to see any of the big circuits have a draw partner tournament. Random draw the day before to decide teams, both guys fish together the entire tournament and combine weights caught, give them the afternoon to choose who’s boat to use and get all rigged up and let em loose for the weekend on a lake.  Imagine any combination of guys fishing together for two days, I bet you’d see some pretty interesting pairings and the different ways they’d work together to figure out a lake and bring in the best limit ( or total lbs if it’s mlf style).

[DerekM]

I would change the MLF pro tour to best 10 fish.  I would keep the MLF cup format the same.  

 

For BASS I would change it to catch, weigh, and release best 5.  I would keep the rest of it the same.

 

For amateur tournaments I would like to see catch, photo of length, and release best 5.  There are other tournaments that do this and it works well.

 

 

[SWVABass]

Not really achange to how a tourney is fished but I would deff like to see BASS get back to the grass roots even more and open up more spots to nation anglers to compete in the Classic. Right now I think 3 anglers get in?(not positive on that number but I think right).

 

also flw did it a few years back but bring back the living the dream and help support an angler to make it to the big leagues. 

[SC53]

Only thing I would change is to make catch, weigh & release like the MLF.

Moving all the fish from one place to another has to change the lake or river dynamics. Plus the additional stress put on the fish, while in the live well and handling, doesn’t help the fishery.

[billmac]

How about a no-practice tourney?