Ever since the split between the two top professional bass fishing organizations, B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing (MLF), there’s been some tension between anglers and both organizations. The reason for the split was due to the anglers themselves being unhappy with how little input they were having with B.A.S.S. They wanted more say-so in the scheduling and other areas, but B.A.S.S. was not willing to listen.
Anglers wanted adjustments made to tournament payouts and to be heard on other requests. They wanted more input on when and where tournaments would be held. They wanted B.A.S.S. to avoid scheduling events on holidays so they could be home with their families. Anglers were not a happy bunch as most of their requests fell on deaf ears.
In 2011, with B.A.S.S. not willing to conform to their requests, the disgruntled anglers decided to jump ship and start their own professional bass fishing organization called Major League Fishing or in short, MLF. At first it appeared this mass exit by some of the top 80 anglers on the B.A.S.S. pro tour would be devastating and possibly cripple B.A.S.S.
Turns out, that was not the case, as B.A.S.S. just reloaded and filled the vacated slots with anglers who were on the rise who had been fishing the Open Series. It opened the door for so many up-and-coming anglers looking for a break and the opportunity to fish at the highest level with the best professional bass fishing organization in the world.
It was very similar to Major League Baseball’s strike years ago. The players thought they had the upper hand but found out rather quickly that there were Triple-A players who were just as good, and ready and willing to cross the picket line for the opportunity to play in the big leagues. The strike was short-lived as MLB players realized they were replaceable.
Trust me when I say there was no shortage of anglers looking for an opportunity to fish at the highest level, even if it meant they would have to take out a second mortgage on their house. It goes back to that old saying, “Everybody is replaceable.”
Turns out, MLF anglers may have made a huge mistake walking away from B.A.S.S. as MLF went through some tough times, not only losing anglers but sponsors as well. At the end of the day, it’s all about the sponsors and the money they bring to the table. Without sponsors, no organization can survive, and it appears MLF is dying a slow death. They are constantly revamping and applying band aids to their format. They are making desperate moves from a company standpoint that raises red flags and eyebrows on whether MLF is in trouble.
Some anglers have already jumped back on board the B.A.S.S. stability train due to the issues at MLF. There are some MLF anglers that will stay until the ship has sunk, then they’ll decide what route they want to take to get back to B.A.S.S. Some might be able to get back to B.A.S.S. through certain exemptions while others will have to requalify through the new nine-tournament Open Series format.
As you can see, it’s going to be a wild ride in 2024 with so much uncertainty in professional bass fishing. But I think it’s safe to say that B.A.S.S. is on firm and stable ground. They are the standard and continue to set the bar for all professional bass fishing organizations. The Bassmaster Classic is STILL the top bass fishing tournament in the world that every bass fisherman dreams of fishing from the day they ever pick up a rod and reel. It is truly the Super Bowl of bass fishing!
Only time will tell if Major League Fishing will survive. From this angler’s perspective, I hope they do as bass fishing NEEDS two professional organizations. There’s plenty of room and plenty of anglers for both organizations to co-exist. The question is, are there enough sponsors for both of them to survive?
‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing, and stay tuned as the 2024 professional bass fishing season will be very interesting.
Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com
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