most of the regional circuits fish under ” BASS ” rules so on that level, there is little chance. I do wonder why Sage now prmotes a rod that is allowable on the BASS circuit, when its not an allowed method of fishing

Going back into to the middle 70′ the original BASS out of Ala, did have 1 day fly fishing events before the 3 day pro series. It lasted 1 year, and as Dewey Kendrick told me way back then, not to worry mike as good as fly fishing is, this type of fishing will be back, so much for that idea.

over the years, myself along with some others from the fly fishing world have gone off to do charity events, gotten with clubs to promote a fly fishing only events its all been good, I still dont see what the big deal is.

it makes you wonder how effective that spinner bait fly would be dropped along a cut bank with a huge bass slurping it in, while your crank baiting buddy comes up empty handed

if by some weird chance a Bass fly rod series starts up please someone let me know I will be there

all the best Capt Michael Farnham
Bass on the Fly , Mid Atlantic Fly fishing

From a purely intellectual and visual perspective, fly fishing’s a little like chess; the higher up the competitive food chain you go, the less understandable the sport becomes to the average fan.

I cut my teeth bass fishing, and I still enjoy going for them. As Ben Hogan once said about comparing tournament golf with the average golf played on a weekend, it’s two different sports. I watched the finals of the Bass Masters Classic last night, and what those guys were doing could not be described as “recreation”. It certainly wasn’t like the bass fishing I did as a kid.

I don’t think we’ll have much to worry – I can’t see tournament fishing transferring to fly fishing – it just doesn’t mesh.

That book is the Kindle edition (amazon’s e-book reader), so don’t buy it unless you’ve got one.

An excellent older book on the same subject is Bass Wars: A Story of Fishing Fame and Fortune written by Nick Taylor.

What’s true about competitive fishing it that it’s largely taken over the sport of bass fishing. Would the same be true of fly fishing?

If this idea ever *did* become successful in fly fishing, a good idea of what it’d be like can be found by reading:

Bass Madness: Bigmouths, Big Money, and Big Dreams at the Bassmaster Classic (Kindle edition)

This was one of the funniest and saddest books I read last year.

It’s an interesting idea that fewer of us could do more with less (courtesy the Internet I gather).

That’s what I try to convey to my clients who are intent on the friendly comp between pals…largest fish, most fish etc…

“Well, how about let’s just enjoy going fishing, together, quietly.?”

As far as increased viewer/user base “saving” our troubled waters (nobody mentioned this, but it often comes at defense of “popularizing” fly fishing) I call bullshit. 100,000 more anglers “slaying” it every weekend on your local stream does nothing. I say let our “sport” have some attrition. Seperate the posers. Those of us left who truly love this “sport” need to rally like hell and ALL GET INVOLVED to fight for what’s right.

Again, to quote Tom: “It’s “new” media outlets – blogs, a few of the video guys, and the other emerging online channels — that are providing the emerging bully pulpit.

Television has always been sold to the highest bidder, and though a few conservation organizations mount shows (Theodore Roosevelt Foundation, TU, etc), it’s done damned little to save fisheries.” I totally agree.

Adding more bodies to a war is old school tactics that never worked. We need to become lean, mean and efficient in our politics and our partnerships to save what’s left and improve what we have. I mean come on, what is truly good for any fishery also has intrinsic values beyond the success of the just the fishery.

Wow, sorry if I’m a little O.T…as far as fly fishing comps…yeah they are pretty gegh.

“Catch and Release” is a good thing, it doesn’t matter what the motivation was – the fact that it’s an accepted practise is the goal. BASS was able to convey that message inside of a decade to its legions of followers – via the Tube.

The “average guy” – the citizen that doesn’t even fish, gets the bulk of his media from the Boob tube. He doesn’t read newspapers, he stopped subscibing to magazines, and on occasion he has substituted a web site for a periodical. Even the web is going “video” in its interaction with humans – it’s obvious that full motion video is the preferred medium.

We need access to that same platform if we’re wanting to get heard.

We’re agreed on mainstream fly fishing media, they serve little purpose – save themselves, and as a tool for the vendor community.

TV requires vast sums of money, which is unheard of in our little “niche” sport. The only thing we have that’s worth those dollars is the spectacle we can generate; make it compelling enough (and carbon neutral) and we may find an audience.

What’s plain is the stage is set for some simple folk, evidenced by the below snippet from a foreign journalist covering the BassMaster:

“Yet none of the competitors I met at “meet the media” (300 of us) was lining up excuses. No blaming their travelling, sponsor commitments, boat, tackle, last night’s party or the ref (in this case, God). I can’t remember the last footballer I interviewed who said: “If there’s anything else I can help you with, here’s my mobile and home number. Thank you for your time,” as did at least six of my interviewees.”

Richard Petty nearly achieved “diety” status, and a couple of toothy fly fishermen on a Cheerios box couldn’t hurt our cause one bit.

If our mainstream media is dismissed out of hand, it’s because it’s an assemblage of bland, lightweight content. In truth, the mainstream fly fishing media rely on others to do fly fishing’s heavy environmental lifting while they focus on printing “conflict of interest” destination stories and warm, comfy gear reviews.

It’s “new” media outlets – blogs, a few of the video guys, and the other emerging online channels — that are providing the emerging bully pulpit.

Television has always been sold to the highest bidder, and though a few conservation organizations mount shows (Theodore Roosevelt Foundation, TU, etc), it’s done damned little to save fisheries.

That’s why the TV angle escapes me; imagine what little we’d know about the Pebble Mine disaster, TU national’s attempt to end access lawsuits, the Klamath dams issue, and a host of others if we relied on mainstream ff mags (FR&R excepted) and weekend television…

I don’t buy the “quiet sport” stuff at all, especially after 30 years of witnessing clown antics in the parking lot.

“How many you get – I caught 10″ – you lads count fish, grabs, bites, and long line releases – just like a legitimate weigh-in, the only difference is no corporate sponsorship or babes hugging your arm during the parking lot recitation of daring do..

“How would you like your favorite river …” – doesn’t hold water, because you’re only there 6 times a year. While it remains your favorite, you can’t see your way to share it with TV?

A bowl of popcorn, a warm sofa – and the howls of glee that result when the “expert” walks past where he should fish, and fishes someplace you know has nothing but dinks? That’s entertainment.

I think we’re missing the point entirely. While we all prefer the untrammeled solitude, we’re not able to convey the important message to the masses… fisheries are precious and delicate, and bugs and water quality dictate fishing quality.

Do you seriously think that fly fishing caused the BASS guys to release their catch? Nope, the TV cameras have likely promoted catch and release far more than all of our squeamishness over the last couple of decades.

Fly fishing on TV would allow a “bully pulpit” that we’re sorely lacking, a place to talk conservation and influence voters – to recapture some precious focus on OUR issues.

Our mainstream media is dismissed out of hand, and we lack tangible clout in any of the political venues. Tournament coverage would garner us a precious “foot in the door” – all we have to do is find enough characters to make us interesting..

That’s the hard part.