Big Industry News!!!

[Glenn]

Well, not to put a damper on anything, but I haven't heard anything from my sources at Wal-Mart, B.A.S.S. nor FLW except for this:

Glenn:

It's official. I've now heard everything. No offense, but that is the

most preposterous rumor I've ever heard. Not a thread of truth to it.

And that's from pretty high up in the FLW chain.

No offense BassChaser57, but it must be nice living in your world.  :

[BassChaser57]

NOTE: I did not say FLW is going away, I said the head of FLW is going to work for the Johnny Morris owned B.A.S.S. and Wal-mart is phasing out of the industry so I presume it will.

You will just have to wait and see for your self as time will tell. As I said, I will accept "you had the inside scoop" at a later date.

My information came from the owner of a major competitor in several markets and if you guys are at Fork during the big tournament you may meet him. You are not hurting my feelings one bit, I just thought you might like to know. Avid says he would not bet a nickle on it but this guy has already bet more money on it than most of us will ever see.

This is not only true but made for a good thread also. 8-)

[Glenn]

I didn't say FLW is going away either.  The comment above was in regards to Irwin Jacobs leaving FLW to head up B.A.S.S.

[kintuky9]

We oughta take up a collection amongst ourselves and buy BASS.

[cullin8s]

The only way Irwin Jacobs will run bass is if he buys it and combines FLW and B.A.S.S.

The rumor about BASS being bought by Bass Pro Shops is an old one that started at the classic show 2 years ago, people spreading rumors should at least make up something new for excitements sake.

[tallydude]

Yeah, I spoke with sales associates at two Wal-Marts, and both said that neither the gun section or the fishing section were going out.

Yeah, but TF, how much information are sales associates going to have and how accurate are going to be about information and decisions made at a corporate level? Not saying you're wrong, but it's likely the Wal-Mart will phase out any stock or purchae orders before anything like that goes into effect. So it's quite likely that you'll see stock on the shelves for some time to come even if Wal-Mart does away with the supplies.

[reelon]

If this is true, what will we I say to the monkey while at Wal-Mart: "Mr. Monkey there is no more fishing section in Wal-Mart" the monkey will not be a happy camper.  :-/

[JT Bagwell]

I asked Jay Kumar about these rumors last night and

he said he likes to take the "wait and see" approach, but

he does not believe any of the rumors above.

JT Bagwell

[TR186FLA]

And Jacksonville is getting a BPS and Cabelas.... NOT.............................................I will believe it when I see it....  ;D ;D ;D

[VDsguideservice]

This rumor has yet to be confirmed by anyone with a stake in the game. George McNeiley, ESPN/BASS strongly denied the validity of any possibilty of a sale in the Birmingham paper, friday. Will somebody please step up and say yes or no.

[Redlinerobert]

I think Morris buying BASS would be a great thing.  He knows the market, agrees with the ORIGINAl phiosophy I'm sure and would take BASS to the next level.  

Of course this means that Triton will be OUT and Morris' boats will be in.  

[gordon24]

OK I'll sart this off by saying I have no information either way on this topic! I am only writing what I have seen.

I am fortunate to live in the birmingham Alabama area. I got to experience bothe the FLW championship and the BASS classic on the water,the outdoor show,and the weigh-ins. At the FLW championship outdoor show there was not a hint of BASS anywhere.No Triton,Mercury,or any sponsor. nor were there any BASS pros at any booth or giving seminars. Now 6 months later at the classic the outdoor show was Full of stuff and people from FLW. Ranger and Evinrude both had a big area setup. Forrest wood was there all three days! hank Parker was there all three days,and by the way he was a main guest at the FLW championship. Luke Clausen worked the show along with Larry Nixon(who left BASS bitter). the FLW champ- Brett Ahler was there all three days. And many other FLW guys were there. It really seemed odd to me that BASS would allow - especially Forrest Wood be a main thing at the outdoor show while the weigh in was going on. it just seemed odd to me.Any thoughts.

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

Maybe BassChaser57 has it right and the breaking news is here at BassResource.com!

[Glenn]

Ya, I read that too:

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/classic/news/story?id=2782510

The official answer is "no" from all accounts, both publicly and through the grapevine.

I think somebody here wanted a lot of attention, and to pull an early April's Fools joke.  Well done!  

[Catt]

"Our studies show that NASCAR fans are twice as likely to be boaters and fishermen than the rest of the population," McNeilly said.

He needed a poll to figure that out, coulda just asked us  

[Gorgebassman]

THEY COULD STILL SPONSOR THE FLW AND NOT SELL ANY FISHING GEAR.

YOU'VE GO KELLOG'S, BANANA BOAT, CHEVY, LAND O LAKES, A&W, AND BOUNTY, JUST TO NAME A FEW THAT DON'T SELL FISHING EQUIPMENT. SO I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A FACTOR.

THEY ARE SLOWLY PHASING OUT OF STORES THAT DON'T DO SO WELL. THE ONE NEAR ME IS ONE OF THEM. THE STORE MGR TOLD ME SO.

Being that I am a store manager they might be phasing out the fishing tackle in stores not near the water there not doing away with fishing tackle.... After seeing this post I called the home office and did some digging if there getting rid of fishing tackle than the store mgr your talking to knows more than I do. But I doubt it

[BassChaser57]

If this news is right or wrong it will not affect my paycheck 1 penny. Of course I did NOT talk to Johnny Morris but I have faith in my source and am simply forwarding my info as I have it. There is always a first time to hear news and if B.A.S.S. has to deny in the paper then in my book where there is smoke there is fire.

Personally I do not care one way or the other, my friend in the tackle business was extremely happy about the news as he thought Johnny Morris would do a great job with B.A.S.S. as ESPN has messed it up. Wal-Mart getting out of the tackle business could raise his wholesale business 50% very quickly.

This may not come to pass but I believe it will and was told to me as cutting edge news and we all know B.A.S.S. NEEDS a new direction.

Some of the better fishing shows on TV are the BPS shows and maybe we can get some excellent programming out of this marraige.

I am in Tokyo right now but will forward info as I get it.

Lets all watch for news as we respool our reels getting ready for spring. 8-)

[fish-fighting-illini]

This has got me confused but you are right that it makes for fun reading if nothing else. Anything about fishing beats this fr%*%@#$# snow and cold!!!!! (got that off my chest thanks).

 I did think it odd that my Walmart ( a supercenter) never carried quick disconnects for TM's but the other day some showed up in the fishing section. A week later they were in the clearance aisle? Mine still has good supplies of most everything. Their reels have been in the case so long they are looking discolored! lol  I keep waiting for that Symetre to be clearanced.

JT Bagwell how the heck did you talk to J Kumar?    in the QC's ?

I always liked him and Zona but I always liked Kumar better, Zona could get under your skin.

[Garnet]

It's pretty obvoius in Ontario that Wal Mart will be getting out of fishing. Everytime I go in it looks more and more like Kmart.

Garnet

[Guest avid]

Once old Sam W. passed on and left the running of his visionary, if controversial business to the hordes of corporate suits, it would be foolish of us to expect anything other than pure profit to drive the stores direction.

In addition to changes in the hunting and fishing departments, it would not surprise me to see long established policies related to videos and cd's also change.  Theres alot of money to made in "explicit" rap or rock  cd's.  It's just a matter of time before Wal-Mart looses anything resembling an identity and drops it's founders philosophy in the interest of profit.

[cart7t]

.....

My information came from the owner of a major competitor in several markets and if you guys are at Fork during the big tournament you may meet him. .....

Ahh, a major competitor starts a rumour throwing confusion and uncertainty out there. Wonder what his motives might be?  

BTW, you said

The FLW Tour is also going away as Johnny Morris hired the head of FLW to run B.A.S.S.

Facts--Just the Facts

So you're drawing a conclusion based on a rumour from a competitor of Walmart or BPS?  There is no factual basis for anything you've posted yet.

[radiob]

I WAS AT WALMART SATURDAY, NEEDED A FEW LAST MINUTE ITEMS FOR TROUT AT BENNETT SPRING, AND THEY HAD A FEW NEW ITEMS ON THE SHELF AND WERE ALSO RESTOCKING A BUNCH OF ITEMS. I CAN FIND OUT IF THEY ARE GETTING RID OF THE FISH STUFF IN A DAY OR TWO, BUT I HIGHLY DOUBT THEY WILL. ANY ONE GO TO OPENING DAY AT BENNETT SPRING? I WAS BROADCASTING LIVE AND WENT FISHING LATER ON IN THE DAY AND DIDN'T CATCH ANYTHING BUT A SMALL RAINBOW AND A COLD. WENT FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS SATURDAY WITH A FEW FRIENDS THAT WERE IN TOWN FOR OPENING DAY AND CAUGHT A 1 1/2 SMALLIE BUT NO TROUT. I WASAN;T THE ONLY NE THOUGH, NO ONE WAS PULLING OUT TROUT LIKE USUAL.

THE RADIO GUY

[BassChaser57]

WOW-

No I do not have the prospectus on the merger but will stand my my source as telling info for the truth and will gladly wait and see.

What I did see was my first 300HP engine on a Nitro yesterday as I just got back in the U.S.  Maybe they are everywhere but that was a first for me. What a boat. 8-)

[Hale]

Wow....this was the most far fetched thing I have read in a long time. It was like picking up National Enquirer at the grocery store. And the sheeple that just follow along with it.....

[Redlinerobert]

I can tell you that the local walmart has a pathetic amount of fishing tackle.  I went once and will never go again -