Have you noticed?

You know I keep trying to have an open mind about all this, but have you noticed, since ESPN bought BASS, with all the Hoopla and fanfare, it's all about the money. Let's look back at what's happened. The change in the whole structure of the tour. A "two classic qualification," on a short season. The showboating, dancing, screaming etc. The lack of sportsmanship, civility and being a "gentleman or lady" on the water. Auguably the worst classic since 1987, also on the Ohio,which I attended, but hey it was on TV, sort of? Fish Fishburn gone, Don Scott gone, but now bought back, excuse me brought back, The Federation told to toe the line or get out, so they did. They keep saying they want to make it like NASCAR, HUH?
I don't want it to be like NASCAR, I want it to be like FISHING.
Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against making money. In fact, I'm all for it. But sometimes, the end just doesn't justify the means, and some say it never does. Oh, and I see by the board postings, I'm not the only one who thinks that the Saturday morning lineup went to hell this year. ESPN, can we just dial it back a notch and have a respectable sport again.

Well said, Skee, well said..............

FLW has some issues, too. I noticed several anglers weighing in OBVIOUSLY DEAD fish, at the Tour Championship (on TV).

And, yes ... ESPN is all about "extreme" this & "extreme" that, and ratings, and $$$ !! I can't wait for the "Full contact/smack talk/boat racing/fishing series" (sorry, just being sarcastic)

And the "Ultimate Match Fishing" show (Joe Thomas 2005 TV version) ... kinda struck me wrong, when anglers were fishing Marina boat slips --- and a big sign with BIG RED lettering came into view of the camera (& anglers), that said not to fish there.

Just some observations of mine, and IMHO ... it's not really helping or showing the true sport of fishing, more than it's showing the true nature of greed. ......... cp

I hardly ever watch today's "fishing shows"...every now and then I do but not very often, some reasons are because of lack of time and in my opinion the "stupidity" of the yelling, craziness and carrying on, not to mention the fact that if it's anywhere near halfway decent weather outdoors I try to be out in it...

My oh my how fishing shows have changed since the late 80's/early 90's. What little I can judge, the fishing shows today sure aren't no where near as good as they were back in the day when Hank Parker, Jimmy Houston, Bill Dance and BASS were all on CMT on sunday afternoons...it could just be me though, maybe I'm just getting old...

Food for thought; most of us grew up watching Jerry Mcginnis and the Fishin' Hole. He went fishing and would show you what he was doing and the lures he was using without making a huge sales pitch. This to me was enjoyable. I started leaning away from all the other shows when you felt you had to kiss a fish before you released it or holler out "AW SON".
As for the the changes being made with pro fishing and the hoopla around it? I look at it like this. If you have plans to fish proffessionally, then you will have to take these changes in stride and roll with the tide. Everything will always go where the money is!! If you fish for pleasure and or maybe small club tournies for a little competitiveness then don't feel that these changes are something to deal with, just relax and go fishing. Personally, I will never be good enough to fish at these levels, so my choice is easy to make.
Good Fishin' Folks

Could not agree with you more ..also I noticed in my newest Bassmaster mag Ikewhatever standing on his engine cowling landing a fish! Then on the inside an article on the evils of chew. Maybe its just this old rednecks opinion but I think that is sending two signals to any kids reading the magizine.
It's ok to act the fool with no life jacket on but don't you let the evil tobacco touch your lip....

I have noticed and have been disappointed. I know change can be a good thing but the bad things can come with change as well. I can see how ESPN will attract some younger viewers with their over the top approach but it has not worked for me. I find myself pulling for the veteran fisherman more than the new breed of young guns.

I've got two very good reasons for feeling that way:

1) Now on Saturday mornings, I can set my VCR to just tape the outdoor channel. Before I used to have to ask my wife to change the channels back and forth, as I was out fishing. BTW, we have the DishNetwork, so we can only tape what ever channel the satellite tuner is set to.

2) ESPN is going to save me some money. They have changed the layout of the BASSMaster magazine to the point that every article has become nothing but a sales pitch. Further, the subscription price has increased, SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE... (I'm thinking of Andy Griffth and thought of Gomer...LOL). So, by not resubscribing to the magazine, I will save enough for one more fishing trip!!!!

Danny

If ESPN wants to maintain it viewership it had better attract a BUNCH of younger people. I believe for every new viewer they attract with their stupid antics they are loosing two oldtimers. And, they should have sense enough to realize who has the most disgressionary dollars to spend on their sponsors product. Just a thought.......

Yep, you said it. However, it's still OK to Drink "Busch Beer" as they are a sponsor. So all you beer guzzing drunks out there on the water being a public nuisance are still OK for now.
Good Fishin Mates, glad to see there are still some of us "old timers" that are still in for the sport.

Alright guys heres my take, I am a younger guy, 22, but I have been raised with the same morals and beliefs as you "old timers" so heres another view. Times are changing, everywhere you look, progress in inevitable, in society, sport, and life. Five to ten years ago fishing was on a decline, yes we all fished but its popularity was flat. Now some of you may want this, to keep the lakes to you and yours but for the future of our sport to maintain what it is and once was, the younger generation MUST be involved. Now, hold on a minute, I don't exactly believe in exactly everything ESPN AND FLW does to our sport and this is why I am no longer a member to either. BUT I see everyday the rebound in youth involvment in fishing. I get calls weekly from college kids who want to join my team for a chance to fish some of our tournaments, ALOT of them come to me with stories of how they use to fish a lot when they were little but just lost interest, and now things like the ESPN and FOX college series are a chance for these kids to get back into our sport. NOW for every 5 youth IKE and his LIKES bring in, lets say at best 4 of them will model his antics and fish only for popularity and $$ and drive some of you CRAZY, but you have to believe in you hearts that one out of that five have the right background and morals to actually give back to the sport and build the future of it. Some of you may say, well that 1 would give anyways, but the undeniable truth here is that the recent popularization of our sport is bringing in the younger generations. AND for anything on this great planet to last it must progress and be passed on. With the way this country is progressing it is my opinion that without the leaps (disagree with me if you may) televised fishing is making these days, the sport would be dead within fifty years and our waters would be polluted, without a fish to be found. I dont like watching some of these guys on TV these days, so I TURN THE TV AND COMPUTER OFF, and hit the water. But times are changing guys, its evolution, and if you want to be able to have your great grandchildren involved in this sport its attention like IKE that appeals to them. It may not appeal to you, it may turn your stomach but they are not you, if a small child sees G-man ranting and raving about a fishing spot and gets excited about it, then it has served its purpose, and at that point you step in and imply how it should be and how he was in the wrong, BUT it still go their attention into fishing. Some, okay alot, do not agree with the direction fishing is heading these days but to stay with the times and society this is the way it is going to be. I have enough experience and enough maturity to see that the ends justify the means.
Kyle Crager

My goodness, did I really read that correctly??? Does the end REALLY justify the means???????? Its worse than I thought......