What will be the next big story in tournament fishing?

GKramer · Post by **GKramer** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:04 am

While rounding up bass fishing dollars keeps a lot of guys on the sidelines, I'm wondering about those guys who once upon a time set out to make a career of it--and succeeded?

But now, after many years of it, do they have the same questions as professionals in other sports--such as knowing when is it time to step off the front deck and hang it up? Bass fishing has not always been accepted on the sports pages because it hasn't seemed that athletic, but now, it's pretty evident, competitive bass fishing is much more physical, really a young man's sport.

There are still some compelling stories out there, but a lot of careers are going in different directions. I wonder what will be the next big story? Or will there even be one?

Am I alone in this?

gk

www.kramergonefishing.com

j10b · Post by **j10b** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:09 am

Don't know about the next big story, but a few nutritionists did some studies on guys with a body type of Aaron Martens to Peter T. On average they burned about 3000 calories. 2000-5000 was the number I read. Seems enough to be considered a fairly active event.

Tournament fishing was the basis

NickTheLittleStick · Post by **NickTheLittleStick** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:05 am

I think bass fishing is one of the few sports where experience greatly out weighs physical attributes, including age. Fishing is just as mental, if not more, then physical and raw talent really isn't as prevalent. Skill is really something that has to be learned on the water and the more time you have, the beter you become. I do think it is an advantage to be both young and seasoned, but overall I think it all depends on you experience.

Oldschool · Post by **Oldschool** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:22 am

The endurance to be competitive during a tournament isn't the main issue with age, it's the combined phsyical endurance of travel, practice and 4 days of tournament fishing that takes it's toll over the years.
25 years of tournament fishing is a very long time. 60 years of non tournament bass fishing is a life time of enjoyment.
Tom

Randy Walker · Post by **Randy Walker** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:04 am

I seen the same story on the average calories burned...It was not only the amount of physical movement that occured in a day of competitive fishing, but the major focus and concertration played a factor in burning calories. I love when I hear stories about...bass fishing is not a sport that is physical or mental, then they get a professional athlete out in the boat for a day of serious fishing and then how fast there tune changes. Larry Nixon said that he can't keep up with the young fellas when it comes to running and gunning or throwing huge swim baits all day, so he uses his knowledge and years of experience to try to get the upper hand and does what he does best...he still catches them on a worm...

kb · Post by kb » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:50 am

Well let's see Kramer here are a few of what could be the next big story.

Skeet Reese wins his second Bass Angler of the Year in the same year he won the Classic and joins Mark Davis as the only angler to do that.

KVD wins his 5th Angler of the Year titile.

Greg Hackney is offfered a big deal to leave Bass and become a full time FLW Pro. He will make a decision to stay with????????

Gary Klein wins his 3rd Angler of the Year title in the new shootout.

Aaron Martens shows his versatility on the river and Jordan to win AOY for the second time. Makes a speech than nobody but you Kramer understands.

Gary Dobyns finally takes home the US Open titile and makes a speech that addresses all the old time press writers that tagged him with "zip code". Worried outdoor writer leaves for the restroom and runs to his car.

Rick Grover unloads his first load of Triton's just days before Bass A Thon

Ok these are just a few of the big stories that could come down in the next few weeks, months...

kb

Steve Reed · Post by **Steve Reed** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:08 pm

KB wins back to back HBC's

hahaha

I think a really big story will be if the guys on the elite decide to fish the FLW and Elite series... it looks like a couple are probably gonna do it... (Ike).

Wolfeman · Post by **Wolfeman** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:22 pm

The new 'killer' swimbait costs $2000 and sells out in one day.

mac (Doyle McEwen) · Post by **mac (Doyle McEwen)** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:29 pm

Even better Wolfeman, the new swimbait only costs $5 nad no one will buy it, because it just can't work at that price..

mac

DL · Post by DL » Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:55 pm

PED's...not likely but I'm sure someone will at least try it..

Who's gonna be the first to be victimized by an over the counter "supplement" ?

Robert F · Post by **Robert F** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:11 pm

Steve Reed wrote:I think a really big story will be if the guys on the elite decide to fish the FLW and Elite series... it looks like a couple are probably gonna do it... (Ike).

Ish said he is doing it next year as well. That, to me, is not a big story. If FLW lets them in that would be a big story. Neither are in points qualification to fish the tour. Ike probably will not make it as a Stren qualifier has to come from the top ten. Ish has a good chance if he sweeps Clear Lake and Delta Series events. He is way out on Stren Western.

N.A.R · Post by **N.A.R** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:48 pm

FLW looses its sponsorship with WalMart and all the so called sponsers (FLW employees) will loose their deals. Only a handful will be left National Guard and BP.

N.A.R · Post by **N.A.R** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:51 pm

Robert F wrote:
Steve Reed wrote:I think a really big story will be if the guys on the elite decide to fish the FLW and Elite series... it looks like a couple are probably gonna do it... (Ike).
Ish said he is doing it next year as well. That, to me, is not a big story. If FLW lets them in that would be a big story. Neither are in points qualification to fish the tour. Ike probably will not make it as a Stren qualifier has to come from the top ten. Ish has a good chance if he sweeps Clear Lake and Delta Series events. He is way out on Stren Western.

No Sponsor exemptions? Yamaha?

Robert F · Post by **Robert F** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:05 pm

N.A.R wrote:FLW looses its sponsorship with WalMart and all the so called sponsers (FLW employees) will loose their deals. Only a handful will be left National Guard and BP.

But probably right on. I see FLW opening up to self promoted anglers. I do not see Cabela's shelves providing the team deal opportunities that WalMart blackmailed out of it's products.
Does FLW do sponsor exemptions? That's a BASS thing. It will be weird to see what happens with Hack. He is not qualified for a Tour spot as well.
I do not see Yamaha with FLW for long. They have not had a service trailer at a western event all year.

Steve Reed · Post by **Steve Reed** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:13 pm

Does Ike not qualify for the first place in the Strens? Or was this last year, I know Cody Meyer is going on tour and he was Stren AOY.

Robert F · Post by **Robert F** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:17 pm

Last year for Ike Steve. I think Ike missed one Northern event this year. They take top ten Stren and top thirty Series. Cody qualifies through either.

KPalmer · Post by **KPalmer** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:40 pm

Bass-Bowl 2011

Top 10 FLW tour Anglers up against the Top Ten Elite Series Anglers..

Kevin · Post by **Kevin** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:54 pm

DVL will finally re-open

some guy · Post by **some guy** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:53 am

Kevin wrote:DVL will finally re-open

GKramer · Post by **GKramer** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:42 am

How about this one?

MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 11, 2009) â€“ FLW Outdoors announced that it has reluctantly filed a lawsuit in Minnesota State Court against BRP/Evinrude for their failure to pay its agreed upon sponsorship fees for the entire 2009 FLW Outdoors tournament season.

Irwin L. Jacobs, Chairman of FLW Outdoors stated, â€œFLW Outdoors has had a long-term sponsorship and working relationship with Evinrude as a premier sponsor of FLW Outdoors and its tournaments. In 2009, FLW Outdoors received confirmation from Evinrude officials both in writing and verbally that Evinrude had agreed to the continuance of their sponsorship with FLW Outdoors at about the same level of sponsorship fees for 2009 as they had in 2008.â€

some guy · Post by **some guy** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:52 am

FLW stepped up and took on the Evinrude's contingency dollars. That's pretty cool they toook care of the anglers like that.

Oldschool · Post by **Oldschool** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:02 am

FLW needs to be add to the government loan program;
http://www.usdebtclock.org
Tom

Rick G · Post by **Rick G** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:11 am

Wow. That is crazy. Best thing that ever could happen for Ranger is for Mercury to be a FLW partner. Never say never! The marine industry is so wacked out right now. Rick G.

kb · Post by kb » Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:15 am

Would raise the question as to how current the parent company Genmar is with Evinrude as well. If they are owed a large amount on motors and that money is tied up in bankruptcy court they may have chosen not to pay the FLW monies.

I am sure this is way over what any of us are paid to know.

kb

Rick G · Post by **Rick G** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:18 am

+1 KB. Rick G.

DL · Post by DL » Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:18 am

There are still some compelling stories out there, but a lot of careers are going in different directions. I wonder what will be the next big story? Or will there even be one?

How about the truth as to why Mr. Jones left the FLW stage? Maybe he realeased a statement but I never read the reason why...

Steve Reed · Post by **Steve Reed** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:55 am

lunker punker · Post by **lunker punker** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:38 am

DL wrote:
There are still some compelling stories out there, but a lot of careers are going in different directions. I wonder what will be the next big story? Or will there even be one?
How about the truth as to why Mr. Jones left the FLW stage? Maybe he realeased a statement but I never read the reason why...

N.A.R · Post by **N.A.R** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:25 pm

Steve Reed wrote:, I know Cody Meyer is going on tour and he was Stren AOY.

There's alot up in the air right now with FLW.....Lawsuits, Walmart etc etc I would be very carefull before I make this jump.

I would believe they woud have to go back to the 200 boat field to recoup some of this money.....

Jason C. · Post by **Jason C.** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 1:50 pm

You asked and you shall recive!!! The next big story in tournament fishin..FLW SUES Evinrude...

j10b · Post by **j10b** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:21 pm

Robert F wrote: Does FLW do sponsor exemptions? That's a BASS thing. It will be weird to see what happens with Hack. He is not qualified for a Tour spot as well.
I do not see Yamaha with FLW for long. They have not had a service trailer at a western event all year.

Only exemption they have for the elites is a past Classic Winner and AOY.
http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=1861

Notable

> It's not exactly true that an angler who finishes in the Top 30 automatically gets to fish the 2007 FLW Tour. He or she only receives "priority entry." The FLW Tour reserves a number of slots for sponsors, and no one â€“ except FLW Outdoors officials â€“ knows exactly how it works.

> In that same vein, someone who finished below the 100th-place cutoff in the FLW Tour points might have a sponsor exemption, and is not in jeopardy of losing an FLW Tour spot. For example, Jimmy Millsaps finished 149th in this year's FLW Tour points, and doesn't automatically requalify. "I'm on the Gain team now, so I think I might be in, but I still would like to qualify my way in," he said.

Robert F · Post by **Robert F** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:33 pm

My reference to exemptions in BASS is for the Opens. I know they do that a lot. I do not believe there is any way back in to the Elites except through the qualifier. Right? You may be right about team exemptions in FLW. I do not know. This motor thing could be the big story. I do think the Yamaha deal is on shaky ground. I bet Evinrude gets patched up. I see Mercury replacing Yamaha as they can not do one motor sponsor. There were guys in the 190s in the Cup? I would like to see that. That's a lot of guys getting skipped over.

j10b · Post by **j10b** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:42 pm

They dont do exemptions in the OPENS either. They will let a guy sign up late if there are Spots. No one is getting bumped for an Elite in the Opens. They have also paid the entry fee for a Co to fish the pro side if they were short pros.

I'll find the guys name but he got an sponsors deal for the cup too. I think he was on the duracell team. NOT BENNETT
I could very well be wrong about the CUP, but you are saying FLW doesn't do exemptions yet they do. BASS did away with that when ...oh gee Ranger left. When did i say 190th in the cup? He jumped over guys to make the 77th spot I'll dig and find it. And If I am wrong I will apologize now. I could have been confused about one guy being 122th in Tour points but 30th in series points and God knows what in the strens.
Point being you accused BASS of doing something FLW has perfected.

In fact a couple of Elites fishing the Opens are coming out to fish the US OPEN.

http://www.timtuckeroutdoors.com/ntsc.php

Robert F · Post by **Robert F** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:04 pm

I know a guy that is in the Opens on an exemption this year. I am sure all these events have special circumstances. I have had mine. That is for anything but the Elites. They seem to be really tight with that one. Ask GG. BTW how is Ish going to fish the Elites next year? Is he planning on making it through the qualifier? He is out of regular qualification? Yes or no.

j10b · Post by **j10b** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:41 pm

Robert F wrote:I know a guy that is in the Opens on an exemption this year. I am sure all these events have special circumstances. I have had mine. That is for anything but the Elites. They seem to be really tight with that one. Ask GG. BTW how is Ish going to fish the Elites next year? Is he planning on making it through the qualifier? He is out of regular qualification? Yes or no.

BASS takes the top 86 and will work down the list for double qualifiers from the OPENS.
They got rid of the wild card last year.

There are no exemptions for anything. You have windows to call based on your tournament finish the previous year. You call get in and then can tell your friends you are special

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:46 pm

I will skip all the BS and tell you the next big story is Cody Meyer. Shock effect draws readers, the real deal sells books, and mark my words, this kid will have a book written about him before he is 40. Awesome fisherman and a good personalitity. I may not be able to catch em all the time but I do know talent when I see it and if you dont GK, you are missing out. You better court him now for the bio or you will miss out.

j10b · Post by **j10b** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:52 pm

Smitty wrote:I will skip all the BS and tell you the next big story is Cody Meyer. Shock effect draws readers, the real deal sells books, and mark my words, this kid will have a book written about him before he is 40. Awesome fisherman and a good personalitity. I may not be able to catch em all the time but I do know talent when I see it and if you dont GK, you are missing out. You better court him now for the bio or you will miss out.

EDIT Cody and Justin Kerr should be the next big story. Won 2x last year and has been in contention all year. That guy is going to be in the Elites one day. He could have been the guy last year if those in the media would have helped put him in the news more.

Robert F · Post by **Robert F** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:21 pm

Cody and Justin are studs. Hope both of them are next year's big story

Gary Dobyns · Post by **Gary Dobyns** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:21 pm

KB and Grover made some good points. We don't really know what's going on besides the fact a lawsuit was filed......... Kramer why don't you SHOCK the fishing world JUST ONCE...... with something positive. I've known you for a long time and you love to "beat" guys up with a pen and roll in negativity. Just once, that would be a shock to all of us.

Signed by,
Zip code fisherman

j10b · Post by **j10b** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:31 pm

Gary Dobyns wrote:KB and Grover made some good points. We don't really know what's going on besides the fact a lawsuit was filed......... Kramer why don't you SHOCK the fishing world JUST ONCE...... with something positive. I've known you for a long time and you love to "beat" guys up with a pen and roll in negativity. Just once, that would be a shock to all of us.

Signed by,
Zip code fisherman

+1 Big Story? I agree with Gary here. Why don't you show the world that the west has some of the best guys out there.

There was 2 guys last year that took the world by storm. Randall Tharp and Justin Kerr. Everyone knows who Randall is. FLW featured him BASS featured him, Bassfan featured him.

Justin Kerr did very well and got a little blurb on Bassfan. He got no love from the biggest scribe in the west. Randall got press time and time again. Even when he finished out of the top 5.
Justin got nothing.

DAN · Post by **DAN** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:34 pm

Exactly, Cody Meyer is the next big story, solid young man and great stick, Cody I'll do a story with you!

j10b · Post by **j10b** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:35 pm

DAN wrote:Exactly, Cody Meyer is the next big story, solid young man and great stick, Cody I do a story with you!

Why dont you add Kerr and do a story on the two young guns? That would work. Give us something besides negativity to talk about.

Negativity breeds negativity

swimbait · Post by **swimbait** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:37 pm

Two big stories I'd like to read about:

- BASS and FLW merge to form a single professional circuit ... like every other 'real' sport - so we can find out if KVD and Skeet and Aaron really are better than Yelas and Ehrler.

- California gives up on the quagga mussel, realizes that no one's tap water has ever been shut off because of it, and we can all go fishing again without pulling over a mile from the lake to make sure two drops of water don't plop out of the lower unit.

j10b · Post by **j10b** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:55 pm

swimbait wrote:Two big stories I'd like to read about:

- BASS and FLW merge to form a single professional circuit ... like every other 'real' sport - so we can find out if KVD and Skeet and Aaron really are better than Yelas and Ehrler.

- California gives up on the quagga mussel, realizes that no one's tap water has ever been shut off because of it, and we can all go fishing again without pulling over a mile from the lake to make sure two drops of water don't plop out of the lower unit.

I love both these ideas. Although I would like to see a playoff system. I think PAA is trying to do this.

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