BPT / MLF Format Rules Needs To Change !!

[Logan S]

I don't think they will change anything major...And I don't think they should.  They did a single year while the industry was chaotic, if they knee-jerk this quickly it would be a sign of larger internal trouble (IMO).  

 

If they do make a change, they shouldn't make any of these gimmicky things I keep seeing here and elsewhere...MLF/BPT has enough gimmicks already (also, IMO).  

 

If they want to emphasize big fish they just need to put a limit in place.  Despite what @Team9nine wrote (and he seems to be connected somehow), I seriously doubt they will do it...More likely the ownership is just humoring the anglers by not shooting it down immediately.  A limit would throw a wrench into a lot of their selling points...Most notably, the cut-line drama since they would be culling ounces within a limit (or not gaining any weight) instead of counting every fish's total weight....The movement up/down the leaderboard would be much less drastic, almost non-existent in the manner it is now at the end of a round.    Lots of other big things too, but that's one I doubt they want to nerf...

[fishballer06]

30 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

• they have most of the bass fishing stars no doubt.

For now, they have the household names that we've all known for the past 5-10 years. But the BASS guys are proving they're just as good sticks and the newer guys are just gaining more and more popularity. 

[Troy85]

40 minutes ago, Logan S said:

Despite what @Team9nine wrote (and he seems to be connected somehow), 

@Team9nine is Johnny Morris!!!!!!!  ??

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, Logan S said:

I don't think they will change anything major...And I don't think they should.  They did a single year while the industry was chaotic, if they knee-jerk this quickly it would be a sign of larger internal trouble (IMO).  

 

If they do make a change, they shouldn't make any of these gimmicky things I keep seeing here and elsewhere...MLF/BPT has enough gimmicks already (also, IMO).  

 

If they want to emphasize big fish they just need to put a limit in place.  Despite what @Team9nine wrote (and he seems to be connected somehow), I seriously doubt they will do it...More likely the ownership is just humoring the anglers by not shooting it down immediately.  A limit would throw a wrench into a lot of their selling points...Most notably, the cut-line drama since they would be culling ounces within a limit (or not gaining any weight) instead of counting every fish's total weight....The movement up/down the leaderboard would be much less drastic, almost non-existent in the manner it is now at the end of a round.    Lots of other big things too, but that's one I doubt they want to nerf...

That’s a good point, and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. There is, and has been, a fine balance between what the anglers want and what the owners will allow. This situation is no different. Owners seem hesitant to change because it takes away from what they founded everything on, yet if the ‘players’ aren’t happy, they can easily leave and pursue other options. It’s at least partly why you have practice days now.  How many big names would have to defect before interest in the league would wane and sponsorship money leave? Guessing we’ll see more tweaks than complete revamping.

 

[Tennessee Boy]

There‘s no way they will ever go to a five fish limit.  There are endless ways they can tweak the rules.  Some more radical than others.  One simple change would be to raise the minimum scoreable bass weight to the approximate weight of a legal keeper on the lake they are fishing.   It’s always seemed wrong to me to let pros count a 1 pound fish that an amateur angler couldn’t count because it’s under the 15in limit.

[Hawkeye21]

I already like the format but I see why they would try and make adjustments to appease to the whiners out there.  I like the new rules they are going to put in place in order to get anglers to focus on catching some large ones.  I would be fine with them raising the minimum weight from 1 pounds to something like 2 pounds.

 

I hope they don't put a limit on the amount of fish that count.  I really enjoy seeing them catch a lot of fish.  If someone is watching the show and isn't learning anything from them then I doubt they are paying much attention.  I pay attention to where they are fishing, how they are fishing it, what lures they are using and listen to what they have to say.

 

We already have a typical 5 fish tourney series to watch.  What's wrong with watching something that's different but in the same sport?  It's fishing, try and enjoy it.

[hoosierbass07]

 

 One thing I am getting tired of is how they "hoss" almost every fish up on the boat.  That makes it look really really really too easy.  They need to find a way to get rid of all that "hossing".  Get rid of braid or something.  

[redux]

I get the strangest feeling that  @Team9nine is Pat from Stray Casts.

[TnRiver46]

On 12/29/2019 at 4:40 PM, mc6524 said:

^{I guess some people just don’t like change.  With the MLF you still have to catch fish.   How many of us weekend angles would love to catch 60+ bass in a da? The approach for these tournament fishermen is distinctly different than the traditional five bass weigh-in, but you have to admit, the MLF was successful enough to buy the FLW tour, and the Bassmaster’s cut the number of elite anglers competing and had to put in a lot of incentive money.  So, the MFL must be doing something’s right...}

Sounds to me like a lot of people don’t like the show. Just an observation. If I was writing/producing a tv show, I would want people to enjoy it 

20 hours ago, slonezp said:

That's why God invented Senkos.

I would much rather see a 3 day total of 15 bass @ 80 pounds or more than a 1 day total of 40 bass @ 40 pounds

Be careful saying things like that...... people get all mad at you for having an opinion.......

[slonezp]

16 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Be careful saying things like that...... people get all mad at you for having an opinion.......

If my opinion mattered, I would have retired filthy rich many years ago.

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

If my opinion mattered, I would have retired filthy rich many years ago.

Your opinion matters to me Paul! 

[FryDog62]

I think there will be subtle/gradual adjustments but they really need to get away from the small fish format.  IMO, If a good angler is catching 20 pound and a halfers, they are doing something wrong and need to adjust.  

[ChrisD46]

On 12/29/2019 at 12:53 PM, Mike L said:

Agree...

When they start talking about how they’re using what, I may start watching again. 
Understand, I’m not talking about a tutorial about every change, just saying what they’re using would be enough. 
 

I can figure out the why myself by looking at the water and conditions myself in the shot they give. 
Sometimes I’ll catch a glimpse of what they’re using when they flip one in or when they remove it. 

Also, a small snippet once in a while of the cast and how they work something back with a fish or not would be nice. 

Of course I’m assuming they want to increase viewer ship to increase ratings and sponsorship’s. 

 

Now It’s just boring as heck to watch. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

*I have to agree with your comments !

[ChrisD46]

On 12/30/2019 at 3:28 PM, Hawkeye21 said:

I already like the format but I see why they would try and make adjustments to appease to the whiners out there.  I like the new rules they are going to put in place in order to get anglers to focus on catching some large ones.  I would be fine with them raising the minimum weight from 1 pounds to something like 2 pounds.

 

I hope they don't put a limit on the amount of fish that count.  I really enjoy seeing them catch a lot of fish.  If someone is watching the show and isn't learning anything from them then I doubt they are paying much attention.  I pay attention to where they are fishing, how they are fishing it, what lures they are using and listen to what they have to say.

 

We already have a typical 5 fish tourney series to watch.  What's wrong with watching something that's different but in the same sport?  It's fishing, try and enjoy it.

*I'll take any subtle or gradual changes to improve the MLF product for viewing -  in it's current first year format , I find the product a bit boring to watch ...

[Hawkeye21]

On 1/1/2020 at 4:39 AM, ChrisD46 said:

*I'll take any subtle or gradual changes to improve the MLF product for viewing -  in it's current first year format , I find the product a bit boring to watch ...

I've seen a lot of people say this but I just don't feel the same way.  I loved it it and found it very entertaining.  I enjoy seeing them catch a lot of fish.  I know it's going to get better each year too.

[Ricatkinson]

It seems like they could have the best of both worlds by doing every fish counts on the first day of fishing, best 5 on the second, every fish counts on the third, and best five on the last.  It would be interesting to see how strategies, fish management, and techniques changed with the day.  

[BassNJake]

On 12/30/2019 at 3:28 PM, Hawkeye21 said:

  If someone is watching the show and isn't learning anything from them then I doubt they are paying much attention.  I pay attention to where they are fishing, how they are fishing it, what lures they are using and listen to what they have to say.

 

Many of the complaints are that they are not showing enough outside of catching. 

A lot of times they are just jumping from one guy to the next showing their catches.

Earlier in the season they were not catching as many, so you could watch multiple casts to the same target, where they were focusing their casts(this helps when seeing multiple casts to the same structure or the same section of water)

Later in the year they just bounced from one guy catching to the next, you didn't even see the cast.

 

I would enjoy seeing more outside of the catching especially when its just a scorable bass.

Show me more of the casting angles, boat positioning in relation to the structure/cover they are fishing, more talk about why and how you determined the bass were in that location.

 

I love watching days 2 and 4 of a BPT event.

The drama of the cut and the pressure of scoretracker make it very exciting IMO, but still second to a weigh in.

 

I was at the Bassmaster Classic weigh in and it is a powerful moving experience.

I watched live as Edwin Evers won the 1st Redcrest Championship, it was like watching football on TV.

Glad I was able to see it but nothing like going to the game.

[ChrisD46]

22 hours ago, BassNJake said:

Many of the complaints are that they are not showing enough outside of catching. 

A lot of times they are just jumping from one guy to the next showing their catches.

Earlier in the season they were not catching as many, so you could watch multiple casts to the same target, where they were focusing their casts(this helps when seeing multiple casts to the same structure or the same section of water)

Later in the year they just bounced from one guy catching to the next, you didn't even see the cast.

 

I would enjoy seeing more outside of the catching especially when its just a scorable bass.

Show me more of the casting angles, boat positioning in relation to the structure/cover they are fishing, more talk about why and how you determined the bass were in that location.

 

I love watching days 2 and 4 of a BPT event.

The drama of the cut and the pressure of scoretracker make it very exciting IMO, but still second to a weigh in.

 

I was at the Bassmaster Classic weigh in and it is a powerful moving experience.

I watched live as Edwin Evers won the 1st Redcrest Championship, it was like watching football on TV.

Glad I was able to see it but nothing like going to the game.

*More good points - simply jumping from one catch being reeled in to the next guy's catch being reeled in is not real interesting ... I believe with better directing / editing this is an area that could be improved .

[scaleface]

Heres a complaint about BASS coverage . They need a play by play guy that breaks down what the angler being highlighted is doing . Everyone is a color commentator . 

[FLAGATOR49]

Nobody likes a dink fest, but what other sport limits you to your best 5 touchdowns? Your best five hits? Your best five slam dunks/ three pointers?

 

The NFL is changed their rules for more offense and the MLF is providing more offense with their format. The NHL changed their rules for....more offense!!! The old saying was you may only get five bites a day but they are the right 5 bites. That's less action and entertainment for the casual viewer. More fish = More offense 

 

I believe they should set a high limit that varies from lake to lake accordingly, 10-15 bass in Florida/Texas and 25 bass for fisheries like Table Rock. 

 

[J Francho]

5 minutes ago, FLAGATOR49 said:

I believe they should set a high limit that varies from lake to lake accordingly, 10-15 bass in Florida/Texas and 25 bass for fisheries like Table Rock.

That's an interesting idea.  Can you elaborate on it?  What about northern lakes, like say Erie, where a 100 fish day is within the realm of possibility.

[FLAGATOR49]

Just now, J Francho said:

That's an interesting idea.  Can you elaborate on it?  What about northern lakes, like say Erie, where a 100 fish day is within the realm of possibility.

I have no experience on that kind of fishery so that's why I left it out, but you have to cut the number of fish somehow where these guys go after chunkers instead of score-able fish. 

 

Where would you set it for a northern lake? The results at Table Rock were similar with everyone bringing in 50 1 pound bass.   

[J Francho]

I was thinking of a cut, like who's first to a certain weight.  Similar to what you're saying, but more like auto racing, weight instead of laps.  Maybe that would reward luck?

[Troy85]

I think it would be interesting to set a limit on the number of fish they could weigh, but not allow culling.  When the fish is caught, they need to decide at that time if they want to weigh it or not.  If the limit it set to 25 for a particular event, they choose the 25 they want to weigh, after that they are done for the day. 

[FLAGATOR49]

Just now, J Francho said:

I was thinking of a cut, like who's first to a certain weight. 

I believe they did a cut weight in some of their previous events, the first 4 out of 8 anglers to a cut weight. It's a good idea, much better than this seasons format and would work well for elimination rounds. However, the race to a certain weight takes out a buzzer beater and come from behind victories.

 

The original B.A.S.S. formats had like 12 fish limits or something around that ballpark. The 5 fish limit was a rule change at some point that im sure didn't sit well with everyone.