Fishing show

[artcarney_agr]

I saw the show and was embarrassed to be from the same state as the Louisville fisherman. He should have been disqualified immediately and banned from the sport.

I am sorry that you feel that way, and I apologize for letting you down. It is a television show, and not just two guys out fishing...two guys out fishing doesn't draw ratings and allow the show to be taped again next year. UMF encourages pranks and outrageous behavior, and I complied as I do with anyone who asks me to do something. Had Illinois done what UMF had asked, then I wouldn't have looked near as bad.

[DJD]

I am sorry that you feel that way, and I apologize for letting you down. It is a television show, and not just two guys out fishing...two guys out fishing doesn't draw ratings and allow the show to be taped again next year. UMF encourages pranks and outrageous behavior, and I complied as I do with anyone who asks me to do something. Had Illinois done what UMF had asked, then I wouldn't have looked near as bad.

Dude,
I never saw the show but I have learned over the last 10 years or so that Bass Fishing shows are entertainment. There are no traditional guidelines, old school rules or any sacred lines you don't cross when it comes to entertainment, tournament fishing shows are no different.
I believe what you said about the producers wanting more and it goes along with my belief about that show....it's entertainment! That's all.... so people should understand that and get off this guy's case. Hope you had fun being filmed!

[wishniwasfishn]

Scott, i wouldnt worry about it at all. I saw the first two shows, and they wasnt worth watching. I can see why they asked you guys to goof on each other, at least your show was worth the time to watch. Tough luck on losing that fish. The other guy just didnt want to play the producers game, so it made you look like the bad guy, when you were doing just what they asked.

[Dave Stewart]

I have been waiting on Scott to chime in here before putting my 2 cents worth in on this subject. I can honestly say that I have no doubt that what Scott has said is true.


About 3 years ago when I was doing seminars at the Indy Show with Joe Thomas the UMF show series was in the final planning stages. I talked one on one with Joe about the new show and was privvy to a couple of meetings between Joe and others associated with this new show as they were using my break area for thier meetings. Basically, from my talking with Joe and Mark Randolph and from the conversations that I was privvy to indicated to me that the format for this new show (to include rules...etc..) was being planned to promote not only some friendly one on one competition between some well known pro's but also some controversial antics as competitors tried to best one another by trying to use the rules and antics to best one another. I remember Joe telling me that his vision of the show basically was to expect the unexpected and that he was excited to see what all these folks would do to use the rules incorporated and not incorporated into the matches that would be entertaining.

It is obvious to me that this match as well as some of the other controversial matches that this show has produced has met the expectations of the folks that planned this TV series. The only problem I see with the format of the show is that some of the folks that watch these shows are taking them too seriously as have some of the participants.

For the record: I have never met Scott, and other than reading his posts on this and other forums have not been associated with him. I do however remember when he founded the UL fishing team and personally remember taking note of the things I read about his successful efforts to get sponsors for the UL team and raise funds so that the team could participate in the college fishing arena. I can tell you what I read as I followed the building of the UL team impressed me. Like I said before, I have never met Scott that I can remember, I have seen his postings here and other sites and not always agreed with him but then again I am sure some folks don't agree with some of my posts either...as some will probably not agree with this post...but I do think Scott did exactly what he was asked to do...did he go too far..maybe...did Luke Clausen go to far.....maybe....if you asked most of the viewers the answer you would get is obviously..yes, but if you asked the folks making money off the show, probably no.

[MsgMills]

I finally saw the show, Dave Stewart and whoever else thinks that the antics of Scott were staged...ARE DEAD ON CORRECT... from how I have viewed the show over the last two plus years. The first shows were yes indeed boring as heck.... Scott got some people fired up over his stunt, but hey he got the attention of the viewers...Which is what Entertainment is all about.... Now the people who are slamming Scott will in turn tell other people to check out the show and those viewers will watch more as well.

It's a Business and with out stunts like this some of these fishing shows would fall on their arse. Due to a lack of actual fish catching in such a short period of time for the shows allotted time frame. Lord knows what I would have done if asked to do something crazy for entertainment for the viewers...probably cut the line on a fish or accidentally act like I fall in the boat and knock the other guy in the lake, one just never knows....

But if everyone who is slamming Scott would just sit back and think for a second, look at some of the stunts that were done by the Pros and that sort of stuff got more viewers and probably more sponsor's for the Show. Sponsors want viewers and the show wants Sponsor's......So crazy things must happen to make this show not like any other fishing show out there.... That's why it's Ultimate Match Fishing.

[DJD]

I use to watch this show even went out of my way to catch it but it's not my cup of tea. Too much contrived drama is needed to get the ratings. I'll stick with fishing local tournies and talking smack with my buddies when looking for entertainment with fishing.

[CTFSHWHISKER]

bad thing is the show is geting its reward while scott and luke, are taking the beating,even after luke said his went too far people who did like him still don't,
even though it was set up just as scotts.like dave said people are taking some of it to heart,now scott will have to explain himself more times than one..it's like wwe..remember swindles little deal,some are better actors than others..IKE has started something...

[Devils Horse]

This whole deal smells rotten. Just another reason for me to disdain the suits and talking heads at ESPN.

Doesn't help at all with the Illinois kid posting things like this in response to all the 'support' from his fellow anglers. (Taken from another web site) Don't know Scott, but his posts have never led me to believe he's a whiner. I visit the other site quite a bit, and I'm gonna bang a few heads together over there.

Start quote---
Hey everyone,

Steve Mui from Illinois here! I just wanna say thanks for all your support!!! Being on the water that day was a true test of will power. I don't know how many of you have fished big time tournaments, but this was the biggest tournament of my life. And being on camera made it that much more exciting and nerve racking. I'm glad you all liked the show!

My thoughts of the Louisville guy, I'll leave those aside. But what he did was very disrespectful, and I knew that being on camera I had to keep my composure and not do anything stupid. The image he built of himself on camera was built up and emphasized by the editors of the show. I had him mentally beat and I knew it. What they didn't show on camera was him whining like a little kid in the back of the boat for basically my entire 90 minute quarter.

The 4th quarter decision, looking back on it. I felt my smallie was smaller (haha) and I really wanted to be sure of the win, and not leave anything to question had I not fished the 4th. Plus his largemouth looked much bigger, and he put it in the well so quick i didnt get a good look at it. In the end though I believe his childish antics, came around to bite him in the arse. He deserved to lose that fish, and for that I chuckle.

Thanks again everyone! And keep an eye out for the next round match I will be in.

if you want to email me my email is [email protected]
End quote--

[MrSplitshot]

I believe you Scott...no reason to believe otherwise after reading your posts. It looks like you kinda got a bad rap for acting the fool. I guess that's why Hollywood aint exactly full of preachers and saints.

Entertainment...

I can remember a time long ago when it was "entertainment" enough to just be on the lake, make a cast, and get your plug demolished by a bass. Come to think of it, that time long ago was...October. That's enough entertainment for me. Everything has been "sensationalized" so much these days that things in life which should truly be entertaining at their face-value just aren't spicy enough anymore. That's part of the reason why interest in our sport by youngsters is falling...too many Mamas and Daddys have taught kids how to stare at a Gameboy all day instead of taking them out into the world and showing them what real entertainment is. It's a shame.

I'll stick with fishing local tournies and talking smack with my buddies when looking for entertainment with fishing.

Agreed.

You can't fish your way out of a 55-gallon drum, Dasher...you're going down next time over there at Lake E...I'm going to put Vaseline all over the back seat in my boat, knick your braid, and insult your Mama.

ENTERTAINMENT.

As Randy Savage would say it, OOOOOOOOHHHHHH YEEEEAAAAAHHHH.

[RoadToad]

After reading so much about this series I started recording it, and I just watched this show. Now if it was at the beginning, my recording may have missed it, but I didn't see where the format was explained much, if at all, and I think therein lies the problem. The only way I know that this type of thing is expected on this show, and encouraged by the producers, is from reading that on this board. Knowing that, I don't blame Scott a bit for doing that, or for the standing on the livewell thing, and I think his opponent should grow a thicker skin. But that's only because I read this form. If I was just hunting around for fishing shows and found this, well... the way they put the show together, it does make Scott look bad. And that's a shame, because judging from what he's posted in the past, he seems like a good guy. I would blame the producers, if anybody. I think they should have known that associating the names of universities with the show, and then encouraging sophomoric behavior (pun intended), would make people feel kind of like they had turned on a show expecting NCAA Greco-Roman wrestling, and instead found the WWF.

[redneckshadrap]

Maybe one of you could "suflex" the other of the front seat onto the deck. That'd really fire it up.

I haven't seen the show, but appreciate good entertainment.

Billy

[DJD]

Ha ha that was good. Where ya been? I'm in need on a FNF trip to Lake "E" if we can get a decent day we should try it. Remember you don't need to do much to get to me heck I almost fell in the water at Stoner just trying to get in your boat..lol!