Well another offseason means more crazy changes to the structure and format of the Bass Pro Tour for 2024. Here are my thoughts on them.
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I was born and raised in Chicago, but after working 12 years in the financial Industry regulating the futures and options markets at the CME/CBOT I decided to pursue my passion fishing professional tournaments and left my full time corporate job. At that point, I moved to Junction City, WI with my wife Sara and two boys Hank and Duke. I’ve been fishing professionally since 2011 and full-time since 2015. I’ve qualified for seven MLF Championships and won over a half million in tournament winnings at the professional level.
Wow so the last place loser doesn't get paid .. what a joke they should raise the entry fee to 60k to pay for the last place or take away from first place… that makes more business sense
Boyd needs extra money to warranty them Crappy rods! MLF is turning out to be a total Poop Show.
You've been dealt a tough hand. So you have to fish your ass off next year. Like we say here in TX, put on yer workin' clothes and pull yer hat on tight, and get to it! BTW, you've become one of my favorite YT influencers. Thanks for excellent presentations on a real life level.
Viewership has dropped because they have made everything too confusing for your everyday fan. From the rules, to the website, how to track the anglers in AOY, to how the cuts work. The majority of it is very confusing. Sometimes simple is better.
I see a day in the not so distant future where B.A.S.S. is the only tournament that is still in like the 70's and 80's before FLW got started.
That sucks man….sounds like this business is dying. May be time to try the bass opens as well …good luck 🍀
Just another way for them to cater to specific people, keep them there and make it hard, near impossible for anyone to actually get there! NPFL and Bass Opens looking a lot better!!!
I’m for the 5 best fish.that is how my league does it
Matt, you have one of the best you tube channel’s out there. I have been fishing for 50 years and guided for 35 years and still am learning fishing techniques for all species . Thank you for teaching all of us new techniques and bringing us new lures to use. Your “core tackle” is outstanding. I wish you all the success in the world on your life’s journey fishing tournaments, creating lures, your YouTube channel, raising your sons and living the life you love. I look forward to following your adventures .
Unfortunately, the economy is hitting the BPT. I have seen it in boat prices, lure prices, and tackle. Prices went back up, and the normal fishermen are out of the market. Strike King is not number 1 because they make the best lures. They are the ones you can afford. It's getting harder to pay for a boat, nice tackle and then possibly lose a $20 lure.
I suspect their may be many guys fishing two circuits next year so they have a backup plan if BPT doesn't work out. I wonder how many seriously consider the BASS opens or NPFL?
Go back to your own video when you asked if you should go BPT or BASS… then thank all the people who told you to go BASS.
This sounds like NASCAR starting 10-12 years ago they changed rules every year to get the the results they wanted then changed they again when it didn’t work
If i were a pro fisherman I would not fish the MLF BPT
You can do it Matt! It seems crazy to me with these changes. I feel they do not have a concern for the fishermen and are only focusing on money.
Matt you live in La La land. I have not watched MLF since the Lake Cayuga scandal, where the MLF protected all the CHEATERS and only fined one. I am sure the scandal affected MLFs bottom line as it should for leading a corrupt organization. The MLF is under no obligation to reveal how much money they make or where it goes. The MLF took the risk and get or lose the benefits of success. Tournament fisherman want lower entry fees and higher payouts, just like Unions. As a result of the complaining you guy’s are getting higher entry fees and lower payoffs. Tour fisherman don’t have too fish the MLF. There are thousands of WANNBEES, willing to sign up and lose money. to become a pro. Just Sayin……😊😊😊
I like what you said, fish as hard as you can… and keep on your YouTube and Core paths with family in mind. Tight lines Matt, and have a great holiday season!
Do not know your feelings on forward facing sonar, but You can bet it will see major use in the coming year. Those that know the ins and out will surly rise to the top. Genersl fish knowledge will pay little to the final fields. IMO. I wish you the best of luck moving forward.
I’ll just keep fun fishing! I’d go to the casino before I’d fish tournaments. Good luck Matt.
My personal opinion is live scope hurt viewing numbers because I didn’t personally enjoy watching someone stare at a screen while fishing and I don’t think I’m the only one.
Thank you for sharing so much info. Some of this was not in their press release. I’ve been following you for a while and certainly wish you luck in 24.
You work hard and it shows. I pray that blessings are coming your way brother!!!
The bottom line is. Catch fish are take your butt home. 😢
This is crazy smh
That sucks they have changed every year that's not right. It's crap should have left it for TV only .
Or you could just do the better thing and jump into the opens and dominate then get on the Elites like Ben just did. You have the skills. Wish you the best man
The only thing that stays the same is that everything changes
The changes just show the direction the economy is headed in. As a trade worker I see what’s happening and the trend it’s heading to and they’re just preparing for what’s coming
This stinks. I hate watching guys stare down at a screen fishing deep water but…I understand you do what you have to do to be competitive. I hate it for you since you've worked so hard to make BPT but I will continue to pull for you in every tournament. Good luck Matt.
They took the pay out because that’s called tournament fishing lol. Not everyone should be getting paid. You agree to that.
I agree with your frustration. MLF just can't seem to settle on a fishing platform. However, their catch-weigh-release format is a step in the right direction in regard to fish health.
The BFL's are no better after being taking over from FLW. In some anglers' opinions, including mine, pro's that've won hundreds of thousands of dollars fishing professionally shouldn't be allowed to compete in BFL events. Some 20+ years ago, BFL's were primarily established for the weekend anglers. It was intended to give them a chance to compete locally, and climb the ladder to qualify to compete in more professional events. That concept seems to have totally been swept under the rug.
Matt, perhaps you'd be interested to share your opinions about fishing the NPFL?
It's the same as a company laying off employees. It does not indicate a sustainable business model. They should have stuck with the original MLF format and started a separate pro level tour.
My 2c is that viewership is way down, This FFS fishing is not fun to watch; as a viewer of Bass fishing it actually sucks to watch!
I like it either way! Obviously if your a pro you can fish well lol. Maybe they should swing back and fourth every other year 👍🏼
Would you consider going to B.A.S.S
Money controls everything!!!!😬
I thought there were no entry fees for the BPT?!?!? I guess I missed that change somewhere along the line. Yes Matt, you are being screwed all of a sudden. If they are going back to every fish counts, then get rid of Active Target and FFS!!! Becasue nothing is more boring to watch than 100+ pound limits of those fishing by looking at a video screen on the bow. Wow now I may rethink signing up to MLF after this year, or watching it on TV.
And they are going back to every fish counts…GEEEZZZUUUSSS they will affect the fishing again! Wow, 2025 is going to 50 anglers from 80??? They must be losing money from Sponsors. And dropping payouts to anglers finishing 41-80??? Wow, they are losing their appeal from the beginning years….Now almost like the other leagues… MLF BPT is hemmoraging
Every fish counts or 5 fish isn't the reason. I stopped watching because of the FFS. I'm not wasting my time watching every head staring at a screen. I'm not against FFS, they can use it if they want. Just not good watching for the viewer. Also going to be a lot of cutthroat stuff going on out there now. Cheating will be ramped up for sure. Lots of foul hooked fish coming you watch. It just happened to swim into my Jerk bait…honest! hahahaha Lot of guys careers are over as far as top tier tours. Need a new tour with 5 fish limits and no FFS…instant ratings.
Matt they keep changing the rules. Why do you keep supporting them? Go to bass
Going to 50 so they can have 4 day tournaments is a win for the viewers but not getting to see people I'm a fan of is a loss. They want it to be the top 50, it will be tough to get/stay there, they do need to make it lucrative enough to make it worth it. 2925 payout looks like a sham.
Would love to hear about their confusing payout. Just how they laid it out it looks like if you don't win all you get is $2,000 is that the case or how where you guys told?
I follow a lot of Mlf guys but I’ve never watched a Mlf tournament ever