MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals - Lake Okeechobee - Live Now

[ryanerb]

MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals - Lake Okeechobee - Live Now

 

Well this tourney is being broadcast live on their website.

 

I guess an invitational is not an open, but also not the bass pro tour, even though all these poor souls have to fish against Wheeler in this invitational LOL

 

5 fish limit. 

 

Looks like around 21lbs is leading right now, and seems a large chunk of guys are just flippin. I heard something about limited areas of clean fishable water, perhaps due to the Hurricane, etc. 

 

Watch Live: 

https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/2023-02-08-lake-okeechobee/live/

[InfantryMP]

B-Lat caught something like a 7 or 8 just a few minutes ago. Interesting catch as he thought it was stuck in the motor, and then lost it, but oh no big girl was still on!

[ryanerb]

9 minutes ago, InfantryMP said:

B-Lat caught something like a 7 or 8 just a few minutes ago. Interesting catch as he thought it was stuck in the motor, and then lost it, but oh no big girl was still on!

Yeah, that was a super fun one to watch. The announcers had some fun with that. Tense moment for sure. Glad he landed it! He's got a hint of IKE in him hahaha

[KSanford33]

Thanks for posting this.

 

I'm always surprised by the different rules that different tours have. So in this one, it's an official weigh-in, but you're allowed to use a net. I know B.A.S.S. doesn't allow nets, and I saw one on YouTube recently that was catch-weigh-release, and they got a two minute penalty if the bass touched the boat.

[ryanerb]

32 minutes ago, KSanford33 said:

Thanks for posting this.

 

I'm always surprised by the different rules that different tours have. So in this one, it's an official weigh-in, but you're allowed to use a net. I know B.A.S.S. doesn't allow nets, and I saw one on YouTube recently that was catch-weigh-release, and they got a two minute penalty if the bass touched the boat.

A lot of the top top pro tourneys do not allow a net. This invitational I don't believe is a top top pro tourney. It is not the 'Bass Pro Tour'. It's super confusing... 

 

Yup, tourney formats change, and even change year to year. MLF BPT for a long time did all catch and release and unlimited catches, now I believe they are going to a 5 fish limit style. 

[KSanford33]

2 minutes ago, ryanerb said:

A lot of the top top pro tourneys do not allow a net. This invitational I don't believe is a top top pro tourney. It is not the 'Bass Pro Tour'. It's super confusing... 

 

Yup, tourney formats change, and even change year to year. MLF BPT for a long time did all catch and release and unlimited catches, now I believe they are going to a 5 fish limit style. 

Far be it from me to criticize the people who run these, but I can't imagine another sport having different rules depending on who's running it. But hey, I'm just happy there's a lot of tournaments to choose from.

[ryanerb]

B-Lat with another good one. 

Tough to say what he's throwing on that spinning rod. 

Looks maybe like some kind of weightless worm? I'm not convinced it's a senko?

 

10 minutes ago, KSanford33 said:

Far be it from me to criticize the people who run these, but I can't imagine another sport having different rules depending on who's running it. But hey, I'm just happy there's a lot of tournaments to choose from.

Haha yeah, there are some standards out there such as the IFGA line class records, etc etc. But as for tourneys, which are a form of gambling, the organizers get to set the rules, such as no alabama rigs, etc etc. However, I would overall say, the de-facto standard of bass fishing is the cumulative weight of a 5 fish limit. 

[InfantryMP]

B-Lat with another decent big one! All on a spinning rod on the O.

[ryanerb]

Dumb question, forgive me. I'm wondering why Wheeler is both on the TW pro tourneys (invite only) and also the Bass Pro Tour (invite only). Thinking the TW pro trail is like the 'farm league' and the BPT is the 'main league', it seems it would be better to give someone else wheelers spot on the TW pro tour. I know for an open tourney, that's different, it's open to anyone, but given MLF is running both tours, it's interesting they invited him to both within the same umbrella organization. You would think it's going to scatter him more and make it tougher to focus on the BPT.  I think all the guys in the TW pro tour are vying for a spot up in the BPT tour (graduate from the tw pro to the bpt if you will). Since Wheeler already got his spot in the BPT tour, why does he step down back to the TW Pro tour? I'm just rambling on and curious...

[GReb]

2 hours ago, ryanerb said:

Dumb question, forgive me. I'm wondering why Wheeler is both on the TW pro tourneys (invite only) and also the Bass Pro Tour (invite only). Thinking the TW pro trail is like the 'farm league' and the BPT is the 'main league', it seems it would be better to give someone else wheelers spot on the TW pro tour. I know for an open tourney, that's different, it's open to anyone, but given MLF is running both tours, it's interesting they invited him to both within the same umbrella organization. You would think it's going to scatter him more and make it tougher to focus on the BPT.  I think all the guys in the TW pro tour are vying for a spot up in the BPT tour (graduate from the tw pro to the bpt if you will). Since Wheeler already got his spot in the BPT tour, why does he step down back to the TW Pro tour? I'm just rambling on and curious...

It’s no different than Elites fishing the Opens 

[Team9nine]

2 hours ago, ryanerb said:

Dumb question, forgive me. I'm wondering why Wheeler is both on the TW pro tourneys (invite only) and also the Bass Pro Tour (invite only). Thinking the TW pro trail is like the 'farm league' and the BPT is the 'main league', it seems it would be better to give someone else wheelers spot on the TW pro tour. I know for an open tourney, that's different, it's open to anyone, but given MLF is running both tours, it's interesting they invited him to both within the same umbrella organization. You would think it's going to scatter him more and make it tougher to focus on the BPT.  I think all the guys in the TW pro tour are vying for a spot up in the BPT tour (graduate from the tw pro to the bpt if you will). Since Wheeler already got his spot in the BPT tour, why does he step down back to the TW Pro tour? I'm just rambling on and curious...

He’s not fishing the entire circuit, just 3 of the 6 events, so he’ll have minimal impact on standings or guys advancing to the BPT circuit. Some guys who might be on the bubble with staying on the BPT circuit might fish both just to try and guarantee staying on the main circuit. You see that all the time on the Elite Series with guys also fishing the Opens.

 

Another common reason is just to have a chance to make more money. As a professional angler, the more events you fish, the more chances you have at cashing a check. For most tour pros, only fishing 6-8 events a year simply isn’t enough tourneys to try and make a living doing it. A lot of two circuit pros, and even a few who try and tackle three.

 

In Wheeler’s case, since they’ve been “off” since around November, he just wanted to use this event as a dry run for the first BPT event which follows shortly after this one, and to get his mind back into that competitive  mentality.

[ryanerb]

41 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

He’s not fishing the entire circuit, just 3 of the 6 events, so he’ll have minimal impact on standings or guys advancing to the BPT circuit. Some guys who might be on the bubble with staying on the BPT circuit might fish both just to try and guarantee staying on the main circuit. You see that all the time on the Elite Series with guys also fishing the Opens.

 

Another common reason is just to have a chance to make more money. As a professional angler, the more events you fish, the more chances you have at cashing a check. For most tour pros, only fishing 6-8 events a year simply isn’t enough tourneys to try and make a living doing it. A lot of two circuit pros, and even a few who try and tackle three.

 

In Wheeler’s case, since they’ve been “off” since around November, he just wanted to use this event as a dry run for the first BPT event which follows shortly after this one, and to get his mind back into that competitive  mentality.

Perfect response!

 

I could see the TW & BPT so close to each other, both in time and distance, makes it a no brainer as almost using the TW tourney as some form of practice / dry run like you said. 

 

Making more money makes sense too.

 

If it was a open and wheeler wanted to fish it, so be it, as most other pros who fish opens. I'm thinking more almost from the organizer side of things, they get to 'pick' who they invite, and thus wheeler was invited knowing he was also on the BPT. An interesting choice for an invite. 

 

Interesting to know he will only fish 3 of 6. May as well just fish what he can. 

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

He’s not fishing the entire circuit, just 3 of the 6 events, so he’ll have minimal impact on standings or guys advancing to the BPT circuit. Some guys who might be on the bubble with staying on the BPT circuit might fish both just to try and guarantee staying on the main circuit. You see that all the time on the Elite Series with guys also fishing the Opens.

 

Another common reason is just to have a chance to make more money. As a professional angler, the more events you fish, the more chances you have at cashing a check. For most tour pros, only fishing 6-8 events a year simply isn’t enough tourneys to try and make a living doing it. A lot of two circuit pros, and even a few who try and tackle three.

 

In Wheeler’s case, since they’ve been “off” since around November, he just wanted to use this event as a dry run for the first BPT event which follows shortly after this one, and to get his mind back into that competitive  mentality.

The big question is, how’s the new boat? ?

[Team9nine]

6 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

The big question is, how’s the new boat? ?

He seems pretty happy with it  Believe the “big reveal” comes next month.

[12poundbass]

1 minute ago, Team9nine said:

He seems pretty happy with it  Believe the “big reveal” comes next month.

I wasn’t asking what he thinks of the boat. ?

[Team9nine]

10 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I wasn’t asking what he thinks of the boat. ?

Me? I haven’t actually seen it other than what is out in the public domain. I’ve just talked to him and got his thoughts on the whole deal and what comes next.

[GReb]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

Me? I haven’t actually seen it other than what is out in the public domain. I’ve just talked to him and got his thoughts on the whole deal and what comes next.

It definitely looks a little different than the competition 

[InfantryMP]

No surprise to me that B-Lat started the day well, as he ended the day very well yesterday! I think Wheeler is out there just knocking some rust off, and breaking in the new boat.

[ryanerb]

Did I just hear the announcers say something about a 25% off Tackle Warehouse sale coming up?! Maybe I have selective hearing and just wanted to hear something I wanted to hear... 

[InfantryMP]

Is it just me, or do the anglers waste so much time weighing and figuring out the fish once they have the limit?

 

In my local tournaments I weigh each keeper as I catch them and log it on the scale and attach the corresponding cull tag to it. When I catch my 6th, and weigh it, I know immediately which one to go with it, and the subsequent fish. 

[InfantryMP]

I take back what I said about Wheeler...He is in 14th now....not 88th

[A-Jay]

The Live Weigh-in is being conducted and aired right now.

Seems this is what the majority wanted for MLF.

So who here's watching it ?

I am not.

A-Jay

[Team9nine]

This is an Invitational, not a BPT event. I believe all the lower level events (below BPT level) are traditional ‘boat 5’ events. First BPT with the new format starts next week, I believe. Peeked at results daily just to see where Wheeler was at and see who was atop the leaderboard, but that’s been it. Might watch next week just to see how the ‘feel’ of the events have changed. Personally was a fan of the ‘all fish count’ format myself, but get why they changed. Would have liked to have seen more of a hybrid/compromise like ‘best 8/10’ count, but…

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

This is an Invitational, not a BPT event. I believe all the lower level events (below BPT level) are traditional ‘boat 5’ events. First BPT with the new format starts next week, I believe. Peeked at results daily just to see where Wheeler was at and see who was atop the leaderboard, but that’s been it. Might watch next week just to see how the ‘feel’ of the events have changed. Personally was a fan of the ‘all fish count’ format myself, but get why they changed. Would have liked to have seen more of a hybrid/compromise like ‘best 8/10’ count, but…

Me too and me too.

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

On 2/9/2023 at 12:43 PM, ryanerb said:

Did I just hear the announcers say something about a 25% off Tackle Warehouse sale coming up?! Maybe I have selective hearing and just wanted to hear something I wanted to hear... 

 

Select sale on certain items @ 25% off.