MLF has officially cancelled the tournament.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/mlf-lewis-41625.html

It's a tragedy that will affect all those involved for a lifetime, unreal how life can change in a split second.

Yall. Let us not feed into the rumors. We will know more in time. Let’s give our best to the friends, families, those involved in the accidents. 

3 dead, more injured after boat accident in Major League Fishing tournament: report

 

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/major-league-fishing-tournament-canceled-after-deadly-boat-incident

 

Explore the Fox News apps that are right for you at http://www.foxnews.com/apps-products/index.html.

I just read the news story…not only did this happen about an hour south of me, one of the victims was from near where I grew up in MS. I knew the family, but not him personally. I went to church with one of his cousins or nephews or something like that. 

Very sad day for bass fishing.   Prayers for the families of those who lost their lives.  Hopefully some good comes of this and tournaments are more careful about conditions.

This tragedy is certainly enough to prohibited launching in the fog.

The value of a life is immeasurable.

I fished with the striper guide once last summer, I suppose in the same boat. He is a super nice guy, prayers for him and all those affected. 🙏🏻

UPDATE: 3 people died and 3 others were injured in the accident. 

 

ALEA said Joey M. Broom, 58, from Altoona, “was fatally injured when the Center Console vessel he was onboard was struck by a Nitro Bass Boat. Broom was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

 

Later Wednesday, ALEA named two other men aboard the same boat who had been thrown overboard during the crash and drowned. It identified them as John K. Clark, 44, of Cullman and Jeffrey C. Little, 62, of Brandon, Miss.

 

“The crash occurred near the Miller Flats area of Smith Lake in Cullman County,” ALEA said in a statement.

 

The ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division is investigating the crash, the agency said.

 

Neither the ALEA nor MLF provided information on the circumstances of the crash or the conditions of those who were injured.

 

MLF said that competitor Flint Davis was also involved in the crash. Davis issued a short statement on Instagram Wednesday.

 

“I want to thank everyone for the thoughts and prayers. I ask that you keep me and all of the other affected people and families in your prayers. I’ll let you guys know more when I can,” the angler said.

A court may figure out who was “right and wrong”. No matter what everyone lost. People lost friends and family. A man now has to live with the fact he was involved in an accident where others passed. I don’t wish either of those circumstances on anyone. I hope everyone involved finds peace. My prayers go out to everyone. 

Our thoughts and prayers to everyone involved in such a senseless tragedy.  

I cannot say this enough - ALWAYS wear your PFD. Not just when the big motor is running. ALWAYS.

 

Weather, wakes, and other boaters constantly put your life in jeopardy out there. If you don't like wearing a foam PFD all day, get a self inflating one. You hardly even notice it when you're wearing them.

 

Skip the new rod or new reel and get yourself a PFD that you can wear all day long.

Sad day for tournament fishing.  I have a feeling it will be a turning point for these big organizations like MLF, BASS, NPFL and even the opens. So sad for all involved and families affected.  

All of the BASS Opens this year being shortened due to weather seems a lot less silly today. 

This is just sad.

 

 

Aside from a delay for weather, what other steps could’ve been done to prevent this? I’m not sure. I wasn’t there. I’ve fished Smith Lake, but not miller flats, so I’m not sure about the location…

 

1 minute ago, Smirak said:

Aside from a delay for weather, what other steps could’ve been done to prevent this? I’m not sure. I wasn’t there. I’ve fished Smith Lake, but not miller flats, so I’m not sure about the location…

Maybe impose a speed restriction for first period?

 

I fished a kayak tournament on Guntersville a few years ago and I feared for my life one morning.  Many bass boat operators absolutely overdrive their stopping distance in fog.

8 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

 

Maybe impose a speed restriction for first period?

 

I fished a kayak tournament on Guntersville a few years ago and I feared for my life one morning.  Many bass boat operators absolutely overdrive their stopping distance in fog.

Forget fog. I get antsy on Guntersville in my kayak if I’m not fishing one of the coves or bays or something…if I’m ever on main lake, which is quite infrequently, I do get scared awfully quickly…

1 hour ago, Smirak said:

Aside from a delay for weather, what other steps could’ve been done to prevent this? I’m not sure. I wasn’t there. I’ve fished Smith Lake, but not miller flats, so I’m not sure about the location…

You’re kidding, right? Go slower 

Absolutely horrifying stuff. The slash across the drivers seat of the bass boat with the outboard detached is a chilling sight.

 

I don't see how MLF doesn't impose some changes after this. I think it's possible there may be legal actions somewhere in the mix. No matter what, everyone loses. Only change and possible justice can be served. Things are different forever. Horrible.

 

Wow.  Just unbelievable how awful this is.

From the damage it looks like the bass boat center punched the other boat went airborne knocking the OB and anchors.

I have been concerned with the big sonar screens blocking visibility at speed, can’t see over them.

These accidents will or should impact bass tournaments. Move the big screens that block vision.

🙏🏻for everyone evolved in these accidents.

Tom

8 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

You’re kidding, right? Go slower 

Yeah, it was a real question, but context gets lost on keyboards.  I didn’t mean it as “what do you want them to do” type of thing. It was more of a “what can they do to prevent that”? I am actually wondering what they could do? Could they go to a later start time? I don’t watch or know much about how the format of tournaments are really…

8 hours ago, thediscochef said:

Absolutely horrifying stuff. The slash across the drivers seat of the bass boat with the outboard detached is a chilling sight.

 

I don't see how MLF doesn't impose some changes after this. I think it's possible there may be legal actions somewhere in the mix. No matter what, everyone loses. Only change and possible justice can be served. Things are different forever. Horrible.

 

Just wanted to say that i went back and watched the latest flint davis youtube tournament video and his seat already had the seat cut on it so that appears not to be from the accident. For whatever reason it almost appears that the nitro logo was cut out of the seat (min 4:40 of the latest video). Just thought I would at least pass that along.

 

Really sad day all the way around. 

5 hours ago, Smirak said:

Yeah, it was a real question, but context gets lost on keyboards.  I didn’t mean it as “what do you want them to do” type of thing. It was more of a “what can they do to prevent that”? I am actually wondering what they could do? Could they go to a later start time? I don’t watch or know much about how the format of tournaments are really…

I gotcha. At the end of the day safety is up to the person holding the steering wheel, not the tourney director.