Question Comparing FLW Tour/Series vs. BASS Opens/Elites....

[Manigotapee]

So this morning I was watching FLW Outdoors before work, and I noticed that most the FLW guys:

A: Use spinning tackle and light line

B: Catch smaller fish

C: Usually have smaller winning weights (I know they reset but still over 4 days there isn't much winning weight...)

So.......

Is it a strategy thing to just get 5 in the boat for the FLW guys and that is why they use light tackle and have smaller weights?  Or are the Elite guys that much better?

You rarely see a spinning rod in the hands of an Elite pro (with the exception of a few lakes).  I am just curious and wanted to see what you guys think?

Take care

Thomas

[JayDub]

I believe that AS A WHOLE, the best professional talent is in BASS, BUT the reason the FLW guys seem to "catch smaller fish" and use certain tackle... is 100% based on the lakes that the 2 different organizations fish.

[Shadcranker]

Ditto that. If you put the FLW guys on Falcon, Clear Lake, Amistad, Guntersville, and KY Lake, they'd be nailing those 80-100 lb sacks too.

BASS does a better job of fishing big time lakes at the right time of year, while FLW continues to go to Beaver Lake, Norman, etc.

[smallfry]

Exactly what the other posters said, they fish lesser and more heavily pressured lakes.  

In addition, you can't discount the effect of a 200 boat field and the extra day of practice time (which until it was reduced this year was even a bigger difference).  That's spreading the fish around over twice the fishermen and an extra day.  It also places a much greater importance on what take off position they draw.

Some of those FLW guys would be right at home competing in the Elite series, they just choose to fish the "Freaking Little Worm" tour.

[Aaron]

I beleive that part of the criteria FLW uses to select its lakes is proximity to an arena type facility.  I think that for the Tour series they only fish lakes that have arenas nearby that can house the weigh-ins.

I think this is the reason they stopped fishing KY lake on the Tour even though FLW's HQ is just down the road.

[CJ]

FLW takes more into consideration when it comes to selecting tournament sights. They try to keep it fair by alternating between several lakes during a period of a few years. They will return to Ky. Lake in the next year or two.

As for the pros, let's not forget that some of the all-time greats fish FLW exclusively. George Cochran, David Fritts, Larry Nixon, and there's more. It's not got anything to do with their ability. They simply feel FLW is the tour for them.

Their techniques are determined by lake and season.

[Tin]

Right on CJ.

I would really like to see what some of the FLW guys like Andy Morgan, Bolivar, Fukai, and Ehler could do in B.A.S.S.

[MusicMan]

How do you co-angle with FLW? I haven't been successful in finding info for it.

[eastkybass]

How do you co-angle with FLW? I haven't been successful in finding info for it.

Go to flwoutdoors.com and look under tournament regestration and you will be able to find what you are looking for.

[Matt Fly]

They all kinda alternate Lakes, as CJ  and smallfry said, its the Field size, the seasonal pattern, size of lake, species of fish, and an anglers strengths that dictate fishing styles and the size of fish being caught.

There have been some great names that fished both series.    Ike, Yelas, Tak, Davis, Fritts, Cochran, Clausen, Cook, Kelly Jordan, and the list gets long.

     Theres so much talent, that on any given weekend, some ones strengths can win on either trail.

    I see lots of BASS guys using the spinning gear as well when needed.