What would you change?

[redux]

MLF should track the biggest 5. Some of those guys still catch big fish and it would be fun to see a better track of stats too.

 

I would also like to see the species tracked when that is part of the fishery. I first though about this when Hack caught that 7+ smallie on Chataqua (?). Made me wonder if knowing the species would make the field think about trying a different approach.

 

 

[MickD]

On 3/4/2019 at 12:51 PM, A-Jay said:

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

X 2.

I think the natural resources departments need to get into the game and limit the number of tournaments so that the fish and non-tournament fishermen are not subjected to week after week of practice and then the tournaments.  I believe in MI the DNR is pandering to the tourney trade and damaging the fisheries.  We even have some fools who are advocating tournaments during spawn, removing the fish from the beds for travel to a weigh in.  This is guaranteed to adversely affect the fishery.  But the DNR  is considering it.

[InfantryMP]

I do not think any other professional sports ban practices prior to a tournament so I do not see that as a problem. I think one of the things that could be changed that I believe to be silly is the penalty in MLF for the fish hitting the boat deck. I know you do not get one if the fish barely touches, but when you catch a lively bass and it pops off, why is the angler punished even if it is just for a short time? 

 

I understand the importance of the fishery and the species and protecting them as much as possible, but I do not believe one bit that is a big enough issue to penalize someone for it. Especially when the format can allow for someone to climb 20 spots in 20 minutes catching dinks all day. Every minute counts when you are trying to make the cut. 

[MickD]

16 minutes ago, InfantryMP said:

I do not think any other professional sports ban practices prior to a tournament so I do not see that as a problem.

I don't get the point here. It seems like what other sports do has no relevance to this issue.  My 

 

post was all about protecting the fish and fishery and how our DNR is putting more emphasis on tourist $$ than protecting/managing, which is their primary function.  Tournament practice is part of the issue.   Please elaborate.

 

If the fishery is not protected/managed properly there will be no tournaments.  Tournaments are held only where there are adequate numbers of fish.  Any idea how many tournament anglers there are in MI, including visitors? Any idea how many non-tournament anglers, including non-resident?

[InfantryMP]

2 minutes ago, MickD said:

I don't get the point here. It seems like what other sports do has no relevance to this issue.  My 

 

post was all about protecting the fish and fishery and how our DNR is putting more emphasis on tourist $$ than protecting/managing, which is their primary function.  Tournament practice is part of the issue.   Please elaborate.

 

If the fishery is not protected/managed properly there will be no tournaments.  Tournaments are held only where there are adequate numbers of fish.  Any idea how many tournament anglers there are in MI, including visitors? Any idea how many non-tournament anglers, including non-resident?

Well to everyone who mentioned to not have practices before the tournaments it makes perfect sense. What other sports do that? None.

[billmac]

Other sports practice their skills before a game, they don't practice by playing the other team.  My thought about a no practice tourney is to create more of a challenge for the fishermen.  How they fish a body of water cold, with only their experience and a map.  I think any changes to a tournament should be for two main reasons:

1. To protect the fish.  Tournaments should seek to do as little harm to the fish and the fishery as possible.

2. To make winning more challenging.

 

It seems like every advance in technology and change in tournament structure has the sole purpose of giving greater advantage to the fisherman.  I wouldn't mind seeing a reversal of that.

[MickD]

6 hours ago, InfantryMP said:

Well to everyone who mentioned to not have practices before the tournaments it makes perfect sense. What other sports do that? None.

I reread your original comment and finally got your intent.

[TOXIC]

Not to get too far off topic but it seems to me that so much emphasis is being given to "fish care" that we risk falling down the wormhole on preservation.  Let's not forget that the mere act of fishing is not good for the fish.  It's a bloodsport and we are stressing them no matter how you look at it.  Do I believe in the best fish care possible?  Absofreakinglutely!!  Do I believe in catch and release?  Absofreakinglutely!!  But I also know that even in the best circumstances, some fish are not going to make it.  Either by being gut or tongue hooked or put in a livewell and carted around for weigh in.  I think the MLF format FOR TOURNAMENTS is a good idea but let's face it, it will be hard to adapt for ALL tournaments.  Not gonna happen.  We have a whole group of smart educated Fisheries and Wildlife Biologists who are charged with managing the resource and who set slot limits, tournament numbers, etc.  As for not fishing the spawn, SCIENCE has proven that on most bodies of water there is NO negative impact.  As unsettling to some as that may sound (me included somewhat) it's a fact.  That's why Michigan (Lake St Clair for example) went from a closed season to an immediate catch and release year round.  That decision was based on SCIENCE and data not tourist $$ or corrupt politicians.  I know a gentleman who lobbied for the change and his data was indisputable.  Let's also not forget that when you buy your license, you can keep a legal limit every time you go out.  I just don't want to see the act of fishing so regulated that the sport fades away in the name of fish care and good intentions gone bad.   

[Hower08]

I'm 28 and while I do have a down imaging graph and an old gps graph that's only accurate within about 100 feet. I still do stuff the old school way.

 

Line up with the rock and crooked tree and come out 4 cast lengths to find that stump that hasn't rotted away yet!

 

These young guns coming out of highschool are awesome fisherman. I fish with a few of them. They understand the electronics and also have alot of financial help getting these things. 

 

Take them away they would struggle hooribly. So who ever said take them away to find out who the real fisherman are I agree. The old timers would be back on top in tournaments

[InfantryMP]

On 3/19/2019 at 5:21 PM, billmac said:

Other sports practice their skills before a game, they don't practice by playing the other team.  My thought about a no practice tourney is to create more of a challenge for the fishermen.  How they fish a body of water cold, with only their experience and a map.  I think any changes to a tournament should be for two main reasons:

1. To protect the fish.  Tournaments should seek to do as little harm to the fish and the fishery as possible.

2. To make winning more challenging.

 

It seems like every advance in technology and change in tournament structure has the sole purpose of giving greater advantage to the fisherman.  I wouldn't mind seeing a reversal of that.

I understand this concept. Here is the issue with that in my opinion. Everyone practices where they play. Baseball players practice on a baseball field and then play on one. Pro Fishermen have to practice on the water. I can tell you that if you listen to a lot of anglers, they say their intent is not to catch but to locate potential fishing spots. If they catch one, they try to shake them off to not disturb the area too much. 

 

I guess I am not sure it is feasible for them to practice their skills on one body of water, and then drive to the actual tourney water. I agree it would be more of a challenge, but who wants to watch every angler potentially struggle? Those tournaments that are broadcasted and Youtube have exploded the sport so much that people do not want to see the struggles they want to see the fun and the thrill of catching. 

 

This is just my opinion on it. I like the whole idea of a better challenge for sure, and great anglers will find a way to be successful in the end. 

 

 

On 3/20/2019 at 7:28 AM, TOXIC said:

Not to get too far off topic but it seems to me that so much emphasis is being given to "fish care" that we risk falling down the wormhole on preservation.  Let's not forget that the mere act of fishing is not good for the fish.  It's a bloodsport and we are stressing them no matter how you look at it.  Do I believe in the best fish care possible?  Absofreakinglutely!!  Do I believe in catch and release?  Absofreakinglutely!!  But I also know that even in the best circumstances, some fish are not going to make it.  Either by being gut or tongue hooked or put in a livewell and carted around for weigh in.  I think the MLF format FOR TOURNAMENTS is a good idea but let's face it, it will be hard to adapt for ALL tournaments.  Not gonna happen.  We have a whole group of smart educated Fisheries and Wildlife Biologists who are charged with managing the resource and who set slot limits, tournament numbers, etc.  As for not fishing the spawn, SCIENCE has proven that on most bodies of water there is NO negative impact.  As unsettling to some as that may sound (me included somewhat) it's a fact.  That's why Michigan (Lake St Clair for example) went from a closed season to an immediate catch and release year round.  That decision was based on SCIENCE and data not tourist $$ or corrupt politicians.  I know a gentleman who lobbied for the change and his data was indisputable.  Let's also not forget that when you buy your license, you can keep a legal limit every time you go out.  I just don't want to see the act of fishing so regulated that the sport fades away in the name of fish care and good intentions gone bad.   

Good Point on the fact that just hooking up, and taking fish away from their specific habitat is not ideal for them. I like the MLF format for the catch and release. I think it works out for the better. 

 

I have always been a catch and release kind of guy, but it is also nice to know that there is data backed up by science that shows fishing the spawn has no adverse reaction. 

 

Thanks for sharing that. 

[YaknBassn]

Put the pros in kayaks.  I think the pros fishing with the limited storage and range of kayaks would be fun to watch.  

[DogBone_384]

46 minutes ago, YaknBassn said:

Put the pros in kayaks.

Mike Iconelli in a Kayak tourney !!?!?!??!?? Would be AWESOME to watch!

[waitmanFE]

I really enjoy the MLF format. 

 

At the pro level it seems kind of hokey to drive around all day with 5 fish in a small livewell just to walk across a stage and take a picture with them. They easily have the technology to catch/weigh/release. 

 

Obviously this is not feasible for lower level/local tournaments that do not have marshalling. 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

@TOXIC I flat enjoy the MLF style, and I agree take away their electronics and they're (some) lost

 

Give em a $100 Walmart Hummingbird and keep the fishing locations secret. Ditch the spot lock and power poles. In my book, MLF made Bass Fishing fun to watch again. 

[Brew City Bass]

On 3/19/2019 at 10:26 AM, MickD said:

I don't get the point here. It seems like what other sports do has no relevance to this issue.  My 

 

post was all about protecting the fish and fishery and how our DNR is putting more emphasis on tourist $$ than protecting/managing, which is their primary function.  Tournament practice is part of the issue.   Please elaborate.

 

If the fishery is not protected/managed properly there will be no tournaments.  Tournaments are held only where there are adequate numbers of fish.  Any idea how many tournament anglers there are in MI, including visitors? Any idea how many non-tournament anglers, including non-resident?

I agree with you. As much as I love my fellow tournament anglers, it gets pretty crummy when all the best lakes are being hit by 100 of the midwest's best anglers Wednesday - Sunday. They take up every trailer spot, push you off spots while claiming "I'm in a tournament!", and generally put tons of pressure on lakes. Our lakes aren't big at all, so when 100 anglers are there, every spot is taken and there will be one to three people on each spot. Did I mention they take every trailer spot at every launch too? And I am not biased because I've personally fished some of these tournaments. 

But alas, we know money trumps all. Even if the DNR doesn't want this going down like it has been, I'm sure someone above them is telling them to shut up and deal with it because of the $$ it brings to the areas. 

 

On 3/27/2019 at 6:41 PM, YaknBassn said:

Put the pros in kayaks.  I think the pros fishing with the limited storage and range of kayaks would be fun to watch.  

I kind of like this. Sometimes it feels like all these big boats with $100k of gadgets are just training wheels. I'm sure every single one of these guys can find fish without it all. Sometimes I get bored watching a pro stare at their graphs for 8 hours, and with stuff like spotlock and GPS, I feel like being a master of your rig has gone the way of the dodo. 

Most guys follow their GPS right to the spot, set their lock on and fish. To me, this would be like hockey players having GPS guided skates and sticks. Do they still gotta do a lot to win on their own? Sure, but boy would it help them if they never had to worry about where they were skating or where their stick was. Sorry for the bad analogy haha.

 

[Heartland]

Cage fighting the night before for take-off spots.

 

If you utter, Big Fish or anything similar, and the fish does not weight over two pounds, it is legal for any spectator to push you in the water and you must swim to shore.

 

If you whine and complain about my spot this or that, you must wear a large orange pointed hat and fish from the bank the rest of the tournament. 

 

1 fish finder per boat, must stay affixed to either the dash or the deck no moving locations.

 

100% allowed to Ish Monroe another angler.

 

Aaron Martens and Shaw Grigsby are never allowed to do live interviews or speak on camera.

 

If you fail to place ahead of Byron Velvick in any Elite level tournament you are banned for the remainder of the year.

 

Mark Zona must be allowed to sell used cars in the parking lot during all events.

 

You are only allowed to fish baits you have poured, painted or assembled yourself.

 

No more trophies for winning a tournament.  Awards will be a crown and a WWF style belt that must be worn to the next tournament and handed over to the winner of the next event. Cape is optional.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

At 4am sitting at work this gave me a good laugh. Many thanks my friend!

[scaleface]

Watching the last Elite event crankbaits were a big factor . Landing those smallmouths by hand with two sets of trebles in it was tricky business . Bass should to take the anglers safety more seriously  and allow them to net their own fish .

[billmac]

10 hours ago, scaleface said:

allow them to net their on fish .

Agreed.  This would also be easier on the fish than the stupid scoop and hug.  I think of all 3 major tours, BASS has the least respect for the fish.

[Justin38]

How about limiting rods and lures kinda like pro golfers are limited on clubs and balls.

boats, electronics, and practice doesn't really bother me that much pro golfers use equipment they are sponsored by and I believe they get practice rounds on the courses before tournament play.

Just a thought

[redux]

Why the hate for the humble stick bait?

 

I have a friend who hates them too and the best explanation I have been able to pry out of him is "grumble grumble hunk o' rubber grumble grumble slug grumble grumble".