MLF Announces Changes To Bass Pro Tour

[Glenn]

https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/mlf-2024-changes-101723.html

 

Thoughts?

[MN Fisher]

Aaaannnd - we go back to the dink-fest (yawn)

[AlabamaSpothunter]

That's a no from me dawg 😂

 

Only 50 anglers, every fish counts, does or said nothing to address the ridiculous dog poo show they created up north fishing for spawning SMs.

 

Only thing I liked is that they are paying the winners a bit more.

 

The Elite Series is so much better imho, coverage is worse though, MLF didn't really need to double down in that dept. to beat BASS.   

[detroit1]

I will watch no matter how they do it. 

[Susky River Rat]

I am fine with this format. I don’t think you should have two different leagues trying to recreate the same format. I think for an average person the every fish counts is easier to get into. The 5 fish bag is the more traditional approach. Where diehards can appreciate more since it’s been the standard. 

[Tennessee Boy]

First and foremost,  they need to make up their mind.  It’s becoming a joke.  
 

I’m not surprised about the reduced number of competitors.  That makes sense from the financial side.   
 

I’m okay with going back to all fish count as long as the minimum is 2 pounds or higher.

[volzfan59]

10 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

First and foremost,  they need to make up their mind.  It’s becoming a joke.  

In the Army, we used say "The only constant is change". Seems like mlf lives by that motto, they are a joke.

 

Correct me if I'm missing something. If they're only going to fish 50 angler's on the bpt tour, sounds like some folks are going to get a layoff notice.

 

I'll continue to support the B.A.S.S. Trails.

[Tennessee Boy]

39 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

Correct me if I'm missing something. If they're only going to fish 50 angler's on the bpt tour, sounds like some folks are going to get a layoff notice.

Yes some will be looking for other tours.   If am reading it correctly,  first place in each tournament will win $130,000.  Every one else gets $2000.  That’s a big change.   If you finish 2nd in every tournament you make the same as someone who finished last in every tournament?  
 

Qualifying for the Redcrest guarantees you $5000 with a chance at $300,000.  Heavy Hitters gives them another opportunity to make some good money.

[Team9nine]

How quickly we forget this sports history, and all the rules/sponsor/format/personnel changes BASS made and flip-flopped on over the years. It’s just part of the business, and no league is exempt.
 

I do like the possible move to just 50 anglers, something BASS talked about doing for years (limiting the field to reflect “Elite” status and focus attention on the best anglers), but never had the wherewithal to actually do it. Also think it's the right move to go back to ‘every fish counts’ given their history and business model.

[gim]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

If am reading it correctly,  first place in each tournament will win $130,000.  Every one else gets $2000.  That’s a big change.   If you finish 2nd in every tournament you make the same as someone who finished last in every tournament?  

That is about as stupid as it can be.  So the guy that finishes in 2nd by mere ounces gets the same amount of prize money that finishes in last place who couldn't catch anything.  Makes total sense.  NOT

 

Clearly the prize money should be tapered down from top to bottom.  Not loaded up on top and then essentially nothing beyond first place.

[Team9nine]

Guessing that’s just a poor wording choice in the press release, and that they mean every angler gets paid, with the last places getting $2,000. I’m sure that will get clarified at some point. Last I saw, they pay out roughly $700k per event, so if they did $130k to the winner and $2k to the remaining 49 places, that leaves about $470k on the table. I doubt  that is what they meant.

[scaleface]

A lot of those Elite anglers who jumped ship are going to have try and requalify or just give up. This puts them in a tough spot.

[volzfan59]

Great podcasts on this very subject. Matt Stefan, Andrew Upshaw and Luke Dunkin's Low Budget Live. None of them are very flattering towards mlf.

[GReb]

I like the reduced field. The tv product will be much better with a smaller group fishing every day where every catch counts.  I think we are going to see some schedule changes too with a reduced field putting smaller lakes in play. Those of us who are tired of seeing the same 10 lakes regurgitated each year would appreciate it. The invitationals could remain on the standard big lakes. 
 

Bass and MLF can coexist and it’s a positive that they have differences. The door is wide open for the NPFL to upgrade its position in the market. Some well known anglers with brand recognition and sponsors will be free agents next fall. 
 

People bash MLF for changing but I applaud it. They are still in the infancy stage and mistakes are expected. At least they are reacting instead of dying of stagnation. There’s something to be said for that. 

[T-Billy]

Gonna be a bunch of big names looking for a new home. I'm a fan of the every fish format and I'm happy to see it return, but I'm far less than impressed with Boyd and Co. Quite the poop show they've been putting on.

[TnRiver46]

Y’all ain’t gonna believe this one…….. blaukat made a video about it ! 

[volzfan59]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Y’all ain’t gonna believe this one…….. blaukat made a video about it ! 

I saw that. He pretty much agrees, mlf is a joke.

[Fishingmickey]

39 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

I saw that. He pretty much agrees, mlf is a joke.

Pot calling the kettle black.

 

[Tennessee Boy]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Y’all ain’t gonna believe this one…….. blaukat made a video about it ! 

He went 11 minutes before he started complaining about FFS!  Very out of character for him.

[Shortpolesammy]

I like it. I have liked most everything that MLF has done besides going to 5 fish. Hear me out…. Anybody that says it’ll be a dink fest is crazy. When DC won stage 6 and 7 in 2022 ge would have turned in nearly 30 lb sacks on each of the last two days in both events.   Having every fish count also means that it’s anybody’s game. No matter if you’re in 10th or 1st, if you find the right school, it’s game on.  If you’re a 5 fish guy, that’s fine, watch the elite series. But the competitive nature of every fish makes for some exciting viewing (see Red Crest when Bobby Lane won it).  Professional fishing is an ever evolving sport. The more eyes we can put on the sport, the better it is for all of us. I’m not sure about the 50 angler field yet. I really like the way they do it now with the two different groups and then combine the field. But, I’m sure this is an attempt to save money so I can see why they are doing it I guess. Sucks for the 30 guys that will get left out. But I’m guessing those anglers will just go to the Tackle Warehouse tour. At least with the change, we now have the best of both worlds with the Elites and BPT. So everybody should be happy! Cheers!

[Scott804]

I mostly just don't like how they're screwing a lot of their guys. So many guys jumped ship because they were promised a league "by anglers, for anglers" and yet they had no say in this decision. Anyone who does not make the cut is put in a very tough position the following year, and the guys who just qualified have a very tough path ahead to stay in. 

[Glenn]

I gotta tell you guys, when you get out on the boat with Elite or MLF anglers and the cameras aren't rolling, they all have their complaints about each organization.  Some of the comments are very critical. 

 

You'd be hard-pressed to find one that's perfectly happy.

[bowhunter63]

I watch it Don’t understand all the rounds But their magazine is worth is worth 10 bucks a year I just hope it dose not become a Karen fest. Matt Stefen has a good video about it 

[flatcreek]

Ain’t no perfect world 

[TnRiver46]