26 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

There are a bunch of guys who own it including KVD. I believe Boyd Duckett was the one who came up with the concept.

Gary Klein ... when is this announcement coming, Glenn?  

Co-owned by the anglers and the cable company. Klein and Duckett are the angler's "front men." Started with over half of the 24 anglers forming  an entity called the Pro Bass Tour (PBT). Others were invited in later. Other owner is the Outdoor Channel. Pros invested their own money, basically shareholders in the company, like a revenue sharing entity. They get paid out of the profits generated by the business.

I think when it began 12 or so pitched it $50 k a piece. Others have bought in over time. I can't name drop but I know for that 50k is now worth upwards of a million. Not a bad investment

21 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Boyd has a lot, but Johnny's got WAY more ? He's the key player in the deal.

 

https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/now/2018/03/06/where-does-bass-pros-johnny-morris-rank-among-worlds-billionaires/399905002/

Are you saying Johnny is the big player in the MLF tour/expansion?

3 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Are you saying Johnny is the big player in the MLF tour/expansion?

Yes - waiting on him to sign as I understand it

On 8/19/2018 at 9:14 AM, nosdog2 said:

Scott Martin announced it on his Youtube channel while he was at the FWC banquet.  

 

On 8/19/2018 at 9:18 AM, Burrows said:

Flw co anglers are coming back next year. Scott and billy anounced it on Scott’s channel.

It would seem like Scott and Billy were mistaken.

They announced the 2019 season rules on Aug 31 and no co-anglers on the pro tour.

 

https://www.flwfishing.com/tips/2018-08-31-2019-flw-tour-rules-and-entry-dates

 

Among the rule changes for the 2019 FLW Tour are the implementation of the new VIP Marshal program, which will replace the co-angler program, as well as the transition from a priority entry system to a qualifying system with a 150-boat field starting with the 2020 season.

Things have been quiet, except for speculation. I read on another forum that select anglers have been invited to Atlanta for a meeting before AOY practice opens up. Anybody else heard this? @Team9nine any updates you're allowed to share? 

@Glenn?

It's still a big work in progress, though getting closer. Everyone needs to just take a deep breath and wait. It (an announcement) will come when everything gets solidified, which it hasn't yet. Some things have changed a bit, and you've got lots of personalities, sponsors and money involved trying to work everything out. It takes time. I believe Atlanta is by invite only, and they'll be looking for commitment from the anglers there. If they get it, that helps with us all hearing something sooner rather than later. No commitment - possibly no go. 

4 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

It's still a big work in progress, though getting closer. Everyone needs to just take a deep breath and wait. It (an announcement) will come when everything gets solidified, which it hasn't yet. Some things have changed a bit, and you've got lots of personalities, sponsors and money involved trying to work everything out. It takes time. I believe Atlanta is by invite only, and they'll be looking for commitment from the anglers there. If they get it, that helps with us all hearing something sooner rather than later. No commitment - possibly no go. 

I had read Atlanta was invite only as well. 

15 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I had read Atlanta was invite only as well. 

Sounds like Atlanta is the initially offered/invited anglers for the new venture. Others cound get invites later if they don't get enough committed first time through.

Are we talking a 2019 trail?  This is pretty last minute if it is ...

Whatever it may or may not be...I don't know that an invite-only tour will be as wildly successful as many other might think.

 

Have to remember that a HUGE part of both BASS and FLW is the grassroots local stuff from BASS Nation and TBF to BFLs, to Costas/Opens, and even College Fishing on both sides.  In both BASS and FLW there is a chance, however slim, that Joe Local can fish his way into the Classic and/or Elites (and comparable FLW events).  

 

Some invite-only super tour will probably be super popular, but without the grassroots foundation of BASS/FLW it's going to be a very different venture.  Don't forget that there are TONS of guys out there that are willing and ready to step into the BASS/FLW pro tours if a slot is open due to people leaving...Obviously they aren't all KVD-caliber, but you can be assured there will be SOME excellent anglers in that mix.  

 

 

38 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Sounds like Atlanta is the initially offered/invited anglers for the new venture. Others cound get invites later if they don't get enough committed first time through.

I hope this happens soon than later. To be honest when MLF first started I wasn't a fan of the name (not original IMO) and thought it wouldn't last long so I didn't give it a shot. Then it stuck around and I gave it a shot and enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to seeing what they've come up with. With the message Don Barone wrote a couple weeks ago, to Ike speaking of a big announcement coming soon, frequently, and other pro anglers posting cryptic comments about it there's plenty of hype so hopefully it goes through and we know sooner than later.  

44 minutes ago, n8cas4 said:

Are we talking a 2019 trail?  This is pretty last minute if it is ...

Yes and no - depends on how they decide to cover the events. Keep in mind the 2019 shows are all being held and filmed this year, to air on TV next year. If they held to that format, anything fished next year wouldn't be shown until 2020. Being the smaller field vs BASS/FLW, they historically have waited for published schedules from those leagues then just worked around them.

6 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Yes and no - depends on how they decide to cover the events. Keep in mind the 2019 shows are all being held and filmed this year, to air on TV next year. If they held to that format, anything fished next year wouldn't be shown until 2020. Being the smaller field vs BASS/FLW, they historically have waited for published schedules from those leagues then just worked around them.

The absolute WORST thing about MLF is the long wait time — between when the event takes place and the air date. It’ll be harder to keep secret if the field expands dramatically.   

 

As a viewer, don’t you feel out of the loop a little?  It’s almost insulting that we have to wait while the small community of MLF employees, referees, anglers know and get to keep the secret between each other.

Yes, but up to this point, it is made for TV broadcasting, not a traditional tournament. More like a syndicated weekly show you watch shot months before. In that regard, most of the audience they're trying to reach has no idea or doesn't care. Only the more hardcore bass anglers are bothered by it. But there will be changes next year, so we'll just have to see what happens. 

1 hour ago, Logan S said:

Whatever it may or may not be...I don't know that an invite-only tour will be as wildly successful as many other might think.

 

Have to remember that a HUGE part of both BASS and FLW is the grassroots local stuff from BASS Nation and TBF to BFLs, to Costas/Opens, and even College Fishing on both sides.  In both BASS and FLW there is a chance, however slim, that Joe Local can fish his way into the Classic and/or Elites (and comparable FLW events).  

 

Some invite-only super tour will probably be super popular, but without the grassroots foundation of BASS/FLW it's going to be a very different venture.  Don't forget that there are TONS of guys out there that are willing and ready to step into the BASS/FLW pro tours if a slot is open due to people leaving...Obviously they aren't all KVD-caliber, but you can be assured there will be SOME excellent anglers in that mix.  

 

 

If the top tier anglers / superstars leave and fish this trail exclusively - it would turn BASS and FLW into the minor leagues.  Yes, new slots for great new anglers to come in, but still extremely difficult for the average angler to make it financially. And, those that do end up making it happen would end up leaving for the new trail...

I enjoy watching MLF but it feels more like reality TV than a fishing tournament.    

It wouldn't surprise me if that is what they intended. 

 

That said..I would much rather watch an episode of a MLF competition than an Elite tournament rebroadcast. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Somebody may have let the cat out of the bag a little bit. 

 

18 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Somebody may have let the cat out of the bag a little bit. 

 

Sounds like he's on the outside looking in, trying to get answers...No cat in that bag 

4 minutes ago, Burrows said:

About what?

18 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Sounds like he's on the outside looking in, trying to get answers...No cat in that bag 

About what?

 

 

Yeah...sounds like somebody didn’t get invited to Atlanta.... that stinks because he’s a good angler...

 

i just started to listen to the ikelive episode with Ken Duke about the state of bass fishing...

 

I’m sick of waiting...

Just now, n8cas4 said:

 

 

Yeah...sounds like somebody didn’t get invited to Atlanta.... that stinks because he’s a good angler...

 

i just started to listen to the ikelive episode with Ken Duke about the state of bass fishing...

 

I’m sick of waiting...

The thing is, they likely have a number of anglers in mind they need to have a show/tour. Not everyone on the initial invite is going to accept. Maybe a lot won't. It was the same with the original MLF Selects. Point being they'll need to start contacting other guys to fill those available openings. Seems a little foolish to be going online, whining and griping at this point...good way to make sure you never get a chance at an invite if you're not careful.

36 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 

About what?