MLF/BPT Moving to a 5-Fish Limit???

[Troy85]

2 hours ago, Stratocat_Joe said:

Like Watson, Coulter, and Wheeler discussed, it's going to diminish the viewing product, especially with the move to the live broadcasts by both leagues.  It will be hard to fill an 8-hour TV/streaming broadcast with anglers who are only seeking 5 big bites.  Even in the "every fish counts" format, there were lulls in the action.  The casual viewer won't want to watch people fish...they want to watch people catch.  I've mentioned this elsewhere on a MLF/BASS thread, as a fan of the sport of bass fishing, I watch both formats.  But my wife (aka a casual viewer) can't stand watching a traditional 5-fish limit because she finds it boring watching people fish for 5 bites.  However, she would sit down and watch a MLF event because the format usually created more action and viewing drama.  As the Watson, Coulter, and Wheeler mentioned, that action and drama will likely be diminished with the new scoring change.

I wonder how many casual viewers sit down to watch BPT in its current form?  My wife, like yours, would prefer to watch BPT over BASS because there is more action.  At the same time though, she would never turn it on and watch it on her own.  Its kind of the same thing with my casual fishing buddies, they enjoy fishing and go fairly often, but they would never sit down and watch BPT or BASS. Makes me wonder if MLF overestimated the casual viewers desire to watch an 8 hours fishing broadcast.

 

 

[TnRiver46]

On 10/17/2022 at 6:22 AM, T-Billy said:

I wish they would. I'd love to see some northern events shortly after ice out

Unfortunately that’s next to impossible, the dates are set way too far ahead of time and ice out isn’t a day on the calendar 

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Unfortunately that’s next to impossible, the dates are set way too far ahead of time and ice out isn’t a day on the calendar 

And it's a wide range too - "The earliest ice-out date on Lake Minnetonka was March 11, 1878, and the latest happened on May 5, 2018"

[Stratocat_Joe]

4 hours ago, Troy85 said:

I wonder how many casual viewers sit down to watch BPT in its current form?  My wife, like yours, would prefer to watch BPT over BASS because there is more action.  At the same time though, she would never turn it on and watch it on her own.  Its kind of the same thing with my casual fishing buddies, they enjoy fishing and go fairly often, but they would never sit down and watch BPT or BASS. Makes me wonder if MLF overestimated the casual viewers desire to watch an 8 hours fishing broadcast.

 

 

I don't know for certain but my guess is that this is why MLF/BPT made their content available across multiple viewing platforms...to attract more casual viewers. They obviously have their live streaming broadcast but also have/had content available on Discovery Channels, CBS Sports, Outdoor Channel, Sportsmans Channel, and WFN.  BASS has been very limited by only offering it's content through ESPN (previously) or Fox Sports, aside from it's live coverage. I don't have cable, so, if I don't catch BASS Live, then they miss out on my viewership and I'm a fan of the sport.  However, through my streaming platform (I use the Frndly app), I have access to most of MLF's content on all of the Outdoor/Sportsman/WFN channels, in addition to their live-stream.  Coulter alluded to MLF/BPT's plan which is to capture TV revenue to share amongst the anglers in an attempt to become a true professional sport, similar to NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, etc.  They just have to grow the audience base.  However, as Watson said, I think this scoring move is a step backwards as it diminishes the action/drama of the viewing product.  Sure, some of us bass fishing fans will continue to watch, but we're the same ole' recycled pot that they can only wring so much money out of!

[T-Billy]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Unfortunately that’s next to impossible, the dates are set way too far ahead of time and ice out isn’t a day on the calendar 

Doesn't need to be on the day the ice melts. Just within the first few weeks while the water is still very cold. It's always gone by the end of March in my area, and it takes weeks for the temps to climb out of the 40's. It's doable, but they probably think nobody wants to watch them struggle to find five bites a day. Personally, I'd be VERY interested to see how the pro's approach that situation.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, T-Billy said:

Doesn't need to be on the day the ice melts. Just within the first few weeks while the water is still very cold. It's always gone by the end of March in my area, and it takes weeks for the temps to climb out of the 40's. It's doable, but they probably think nobody wants to watch them struggle to find five bites a day. Personally, I'd be VERY interested to see how the pro's approach that situation.

I was just saying why they probably don’t do it, first time they would try it would still be frozen or the waves would be too big to  let them launch 

[Deleted account]

My wife: "If you are going to watch jerkoff fishing again, I'm going upstairs to read my book"

Me: "Ok I'll watch that silly dragons prequell thing with you, the hotties still going topless, yes?"...

[12poundbass]

Watching an MLF event this morning on Watts Bar reiterates my initial thoughts when I saw this. They’re taking away from what made MLF exciting. If they go to the five heaviest the chance of the event coming down to the wire is all but gone. On the Watts Bar event Wheeler had a 5lb lead. With the five heaviest, that’s a lead that is pretty insurmountable most of the time. 
 

 

[T-Billy]

Watson and Coulter agree, 70% of MLF anglers voted for the five fish format hoping it'll help them be competetive with Wheeler. LOL. I hope Wheels cleans their clocks and gets the AOY in 23.

 

[gim]

On 10/28/2022 at 1:51 PM, T-Billy said:

and it takes weeks for the temps to climb out of the 40's. It's doable, but they probably think nobody wants to watch them struggle to find five bites a day

Anything other than the status quo which is coming north in midsummer or later and watching them all drop shot with live scope offshore for smallmouth.  It's lame and it's boring to watch.

 

The spring bite up north features a variety of strategies that generally do not include staring at a screen with a drop shot.  Its time take advantage of that instead waiting until July to head north.  I know this because I do it myself.

[12poundbass]

22 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Watson and Coulter agree, 70% of MLF anglers voted for the five fish format hoping it'll help them be competetive with Wheeler. LOL. I hope Wheels cleans their clocks and gets the AOY in 23.

 

Anyone who’s remotely paid attention to professional bass fishing knows he will. 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, T-Billy said:

Watson and Coulter agree, 70% of MLF anglers voted for the five fish format hoping it'll help them be competetive with Wheeler. LOL. I hope Wheels cleans their clocks and gets the AOY in 23.

 

Yeah buddy, wheeler will beat ya no matter what the rules are if it’s fishing 

[T-Billy]

20 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Yeah buddy, wheeler will beat ya no matter what the rules are if it’s fishing 

I got a chuckle out of Watsons comment. If they made it five bass and one carp, Wheeler will catch the biggest carp everytime. LOL.

[BassNJake]

looks like MLF created a new league the 2023 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals

3 day 5 fish events with weigh ins

 

BENTON, Ky. – Major League Fishing announced today the roster for the 2023 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, six three-day tournaments that feature a field of 150 pros competing for a top prize of $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST V in 2024. All six Invitationals are full, with a waiting list, as veteran and aspiring pros vie for a share of more than $3.9 million in cash awards.