MLF is the new POWERHOUSE

[D.W. Verts]

They've announced the purchase of FLW. Yep. How this all will shake out will be interesting.

Or not.

https://www.flwfishing.com/news/2019-10-10-major-league-fishing-to-acquire-flw

Dale

[fishballer06]

This has been rumored all summer long, so I guess the rumors can finally stop.

With that, it will be interesting to see what they do with the format. Lots of guys prefer the 5 biggest fish format, and the MLF style is too hard to manage personnel wise at a level lower than pro.

I'm curious where the FLW pros will scatter to. There's a lot of good sticks in that field. It's also not going to surprise me if some of the guys who jumped to MLF will want to change back to a 5 biggest fish format after struggling in the new format.

Honestly, this could be a win for BASS if things go right.

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[Deadeye]

Before the BPT, the MLF used the Selects to allow other Fishermen to Earn Their Way into the MLF. They kept a Points Based System and you had to keep your place in order to continue to compete in the MLF.

The Top 2 from the Selects were then invited to Fish the MLF and the bottom 2 from the MLF would be dropped.

It made for some interesting Fishing for the bottom 2-6 as they had to keep an eye on where they were at.

In the Rumors that have been around since the Spring, the FLW will fill the Role the Selects played. It will be the Feeder System that gives other Anglers the chance to Earn Their Way onto the BPT. I would expect the several different leagues will all play a part in working your way up from the local level.

Lots of MLF Style Tournaments already being held across the country. Lots of guys Love the Format and Lots do not. Time will tell which the Public likes best.

[fishballer06]

Looks like they've already announced the plan for the pros:


The 2020 season will see the birth of the FLW Pro Circuit, replacing the 24-year-old FLW Tour. The Pro Circuit will feature a 150-angler field, and will be contested over a seven-event regular season that leads to the FLW Angler of the Year Championship event. All anglers who qualified for the 2020 FLW Tour will be eligible to compete in the Pro Circuit.

The Pro Circuit will operate on a six-day competition schedule that features FLW's traditional five-fish-limit format on days one through three, transitioning to the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release/every-scoreable-bass-counts format on days four through six (which include two 10-angler Knockout Rounds and a final 10-angler Championship Round). As is the case in all rounds of the MLF Bass Pro Tour, MLF-appointed in-boat officials will manage the competition and weighing of fish on the final three days of the FLW Pro Circuit. 


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[zippyduck]

That is going to send guys to BASS. The two different tourneys in 6 days is going to be tough for anyone to stay on bass. I like the MLF format and the 5 bass format but you fish both differently. This is going to flop.

[fishballer06]

Finding a school or two of fish that are tournament worthy can be tough to sustain for 3 days at it is. Can you imagine trying to stay on them for 6 days? Especially whenever there's 150 guys trying to catch them for that many days.

[BarryFL]

With today's technology, there is no reason to ride around for 6-8 hours with fish in your livewell.

Whether a big 5 or every fish counts format, catch, weigh and release is the new fish friendly way to keep the treehuggers at bay. Not much different than banning lead in some states.

The anglers will go where they can make the most money and right now that is MLF.

~Barry~

[redux]

I think the 6-days is ok. 3 days on the big fish. 3 days catching dinks. I'd assume that's pretty manageable for pro-level anglers although they will be rougher than truck-stop hoes at the end of it.