BPT Kissimmee Chain Fantasy Bass, My Picks

And here are my Predictor Game guesses:

MLF Fantasy Bass Fishing Is Up For 2023

 

Sign up and play by clicking here.

I won a fishing rod playing the Predictor Game last year.  

Props to MLF On Not Giving Out DQ's For Breaking Irrelevant MN Laws

 

MN has a law making it illegal for a fisherman to use two lines simultaneously. We also have a law that limits the number of hooks that can be used depending on the rigging method. The motivation behind those laws is so the unwashed masses and slobs don't end up killing fish. Professional bass fisherman on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro tour doing their craft is about as far from a slob fisherman as it gets. The law shouldn't be applied against fishermen that are the least likely to kill their catch by virtue of the fisherman's skill combined with instant catch and release format. But the Online Game Wardens had their hackles up this week because a few MLF Anglers were on camera this week with two lines in the water, and another angler had an illegal two Fluke rig set up. Those who were angered by this saw to it that citations were issued by the DNR. But that isn't good enough for some Online Wardens; they want to be able to put  Wheelers Angler Of The Year Trophy on their mantle by way of disqualification.

One of the reasons why the Pros broke away from BASS was its ham-fisted manner of leveling penalties that didn't fit the infraction. Major League Fishing is angler owned, so they make the rules. Their collective wisdom decided that a DQ would not be the proper punishment in this case. I 100% stand behind Major League Fishings' decision in this case. Wheeler earned that Trophy, and it should not be taken away for breaking a law that has no business being applied to a Professional Bass Fisherman in the first place, so says the Bass Pundit.       

My Luck Has Returned, Getting A Fenwick Rod From Major League Fishing

 

It has been a few years. Will be interesting to see which rod they send. I presume it is going to be a Fenwick Eagle. If I could pick, I would go with the 7MH casting. I don't know if I will have a use for what they send, but I'll keep an open mind.

Dude Wipes Dude and Brandon Palaniuk Returning To The Elites

Article Here...

After one year on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour two of the biggest names in bass fishing are going back to B.A.S.S..  This may or may not be an ominous sign for Boyd Duckett and the boys over at MLF.  Who knows how the MLF FLW take over is going to work out in the long run.  I think going back to B.A.S.S. is the smart bet.  When I lost Outdoor Channel last Spring when we switched to Direct TV my interest level in MLF nose-dived.  In fact, it wasn't until I was doing this post that I looked up The Bass Pro Tour on Discovery Channel which we do have.  I now have the DVR set to record.  I got to do something with my time this winter because with these back to back Thanksgiving week snowstorms it looks like my ice fishing got done before I could even get started.

Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour, My Thoughts:

Putting my pundit cap on and weighing in on the coming Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour.  I don't see how this idea will be sustainable.  I hope I'm wrong and this turns out to be a fantastic success, but I just don't see it.  FLW and B.A.S.S. are not what they once were not by choice, but because it's what the market dictated.  Tournament bass fishing is a niche sport with limited appeal.  I don't think the MLF BPT changes that reality.  I will be shocked if it does.

A Little Heads Up For Bass Pundit Readers

Major League Fishing gives away the juice.  And when I say they give away the juice, I'm talking waypoints, lures used, size of fish and time of day for each anglers catch all on Google Maps/Earth.

I was unable to locate the dock that Evers caught his 5lber off of on Pokegama.  Maybe you will have better luck than me at finding it.  Good Luck.

They don't have the round that KVD fished up yet or maybe I'm just not finding that info.  Using the MLF website can be a bit tricky to get the info you want.

Major League Fishing on NBC Today Noon

I meant to put this up sooner, but didn't get to it.  I wish it was a two hour show, instead of  just one.  I think I'm pulling for Quinn.

Major League Fishing -My Thoughts So Far

No I am not bored by the fact it has been a dock fest so far.  I found the 2nd episode particularly interesting and informative as to the different approaches that were taken.  I thought it was cool that Marten's got his key fish away from any docks and that was also a key factor for Ish in getting the win.

I think they need to get rid of Stone.  I couldn't believe what came out of his mouth near the start of the Episode 2 when he said Northern lakes don't fish well under the windy and rainy conditions they saw on Day      1.  What a load of crap.   Before that he guaranteed Smallies were gonna play on Day 2.  Wrong.  Then at the very end he contradicted what Kriet said about making the mistake of going back over docks he had already fished, when he still had fresh docks to hit.  Three strikes and your out Stone.

It's going to be interesting to see if Smallies ever play a role.

As far as the new fish care rules about not hitting the carpet and having to throw all fish back under the gunnel.  I like them and no Tac I don't care that the fish came off the hook on it's own.  Whoever it was that kicked the fish to get it in the center of the boat after it came off, I think it was Ish or maybe Skeet, should have gotten a five minute penalty.

Major League Fishing Coming On My Birthday

Congratulations to Brent Ehrler Major League Challenge Cup Winner

KVD figured out the fish too late and couldn't catch up.  Brent got 52.25lbs to Van Dam's 43.50lbs.  Basically Ehrler pulled a Van Dam in the first round getting 25lbs when everyone else was in single digits.  Brent extended the lead to 20lbs a  couple of different times.  Van Dam figured them out in the last period but by then it was to late.

Great Job Brent!!!

Major League Fishing on the Outdoor Channel

Well it's on enough that I should be able to catch the show.

Major League Fishing Challenge Cup Champion is ???

I'm not going to reveal it until Wednesday Night.  I will tell you this: one of the anglers not KVD got off to a Van Dam like start.  The only question is can KVD run him down?

Major League Fishing Episode #5

In this one McClelland, KJ, Skeet, Tak, Alton, and Faircloth battled it out.  From the preview to the Episode we knew the Alabama rig was going to play a role.  However, it was hard to know who that would be for as Skeet, Tak, KJ, and Faircloth all started by throwing it in the morning.  Conditions were a bit tougher this round as it was high skies and no wind.  It looked good for Skeet who got along some bluff walls and pulled away for a while.  But when he got to about 26lbs the fish quit and he didn't make any solid adjustments..  McCelland eventually caught up and surpassed Skeet throwing the McStick.  The Kelly Jordan went from last place to 1st and first to get over 40lbs.  McCelland  crossed 40lbs 5 minutes later.  Skeet was first out with 27.25lbs

So it's Van Dam, Ehrler, Jordan, and McCelland in the Final Round next week.

The smart money is on Van Dam, but who knows maybe the Alabama Rig will work again for Kelly J.

Major League Fishing Cussing, "Throw a Flag"

I know some people don't care, but I don't care to hear people swearing and there has been a fair amount of it in Major League Fishing.  The guys know they are on camera and I find it unprofessional that a Pro chooses to use expletives.  Keep in mind they are coming into my living room.  I know MLF is supposed to have a reality tv feel to it, but Professional fishermen should conduct themselves better than Rachel on Big Brother.

I think the way to help clean it up, is for the Boat Referees to give out penalties for using profanities.  There aren't enough penalties right now to make it interesting to begin with,  but this would change that.  Here is what I suggest:

1 minute per expletive used stepping up another minute each time another one is used.  I think doing this would make the show more interesting and the ref's would have something to "throw a flag" at.

Major League Fishing Episode #4 Recap

This is what I put on Facebook.  KVD pretty much kicked everyone's butt getting to 40lbs before anybody else got to 20lb.  I think the A-Rig might have done better had Kriet been more familiar with it, but who knows.
Brent Ehrler was the other guy to make 40, with the closest guys being 9.5lbs back.  Ike maybe would have got there had he started cranking earlier.

I think it was kind of sad/telling how Quinn just kind of gave up.

Major League Fishing Episode #3 Liveblogged

Here is my recap of Episode #3

Today's Anglers
Skeet
Kelly Jordon
Jeff Kriet
Mike McClelland
Boyd Duckett
Ish
Rojas
Byron V.

Starts with McClelland telling us they are loading up and switching Zone due the the win.  They will be going into it blind not having that the previous evening to study a map.

Shelli Sanders is looking especially nice today.
Stone calls it the "high maintenance group"
They can start fishing immediately no 15 minute scout time.
Find out about Rojas' injured thumb.
Kriet tells us he's a nervous guy and will have to bring it down a notch

Sasquatch farting it's time for Period #1
McClelland gets first fish 2.5lbs on a spinnerbait. on 5th cast of the day
Kriet says he don't want to know what other guys have
They are on the far East end of the lake
Byron finding out the KJ went to the same spot.  It's bridge pillings
Byron makes a big deal of not casting when KJ goes
Rojas gets a fish 2.75lbs and into the lead
I notice Dean's Ref handles the fish to be weighed presumably because of his injured hand
Byron talks about how he got his hotel.   "I never thought I'd be a Texan"
Duckett gets a 1.25lber on a jerkbait,   thinks he should be catching more than he has
Kriet gets a fish 45 minutes in 2.25lber
Skeet gets a keeper 2lbs
McCelland takes the lead on a spinnerbait, he contests the weight but then realizes he read it wrong.
Dean Rojas takes the lead 5.75lbs
Byron takes out the Alabama rig for his 1st time ever.
Skeet ends up missing a couple
Ish gets a 2.5lbs punching the grass.
Kriet says he hasn't fished anything I like
Edwin Evers talking about the boats being 18' with a 150hp
Kriet moves into 2nd
Byron gets a 1.5lber on a plastic
McClennand fishing the bridge piers and gets a little one on the McStick into 2nd
Kriet catches one and into the lead- he says it main lake points
Skeet gets a fish and moves to 3rd
Mike misses to on the McStick then catches one and takes the lead
McCelland thinks he found something fishing in the wind as the period ends
Jordan caught one just as time ran out, so he's on the board

Period 2:
Dean talking about his injured wrist
KJ misses a fish in a buzzbait says he's 1 for 4 on bites
McClellad pulls a school and you can kind of see as a 2nd fish hooks itself, McClelland is excited got in on the McStick it's a 2.75 and 2.75
He says there were 20 fish in the wolf pack
Hooks up on next cast on 4.25
Kriet misses a good fish says it was 5lbs
McCellend says Kriet is a "Spin out Case" "He can spin out with the best of them"
McCellnand hooks a striper "we do not need you, dadgummit I thought was another largemouth"
Skeet moves into 2nd
Kriet moves into 2nd
1 minute later Skeet hooks up "My blood is pumping now, boys!"
McCelland brings in 3.25lbs talks about how they wanted a hesitation in the retrieve
Dean catches one moves into 3rd
McCelland  hooks a fish while being interviewed by Stone says to tell em "I'm gonna put a McStick on and lay a smackdown on 'em"
The go to Kriet talking about how Mike is probably out throwing a jerkbait in the windy points
Show McCellend talking about rooming with Kriet and wants to see him make the cut. "I want to go to the final round with Jeff Kriet."
Marty Stone talking with Kriet asks if he can connect the dots and Kriet talks about Mike and a jerkbait
Duckett caught one and said he thought it was a "walleye" Huh!
Dean catches one and they confirm the Ref is handling fish because of the injury puts him into 2nd on the Fighten Frog. says he's gonna fish that place the rest of the day.
Kriet is out in the wind on a point and gets one immediately
KJ says "look at this dumb looking thing" as he goes to the A-Rig gets hammered on the 4th cast., it's 3.5lbs "I heard they hit it hard, that sucker crushed it"
Interview with Denny Brauer talks about catching fish on a shallow crank "that lead him down a path I wish it hadn't"
KJ gets another A-rig fish 4.5  moves him up to 2nd
1st time he's ever thrown it
Kriet gets one on a worm out of the wind moves him into 3rd
KJ gets another as does Rojas who moves into 3rd
"I boogered up 5 or 6 fish and it bothers me, bad"
"I'm getting my butt whipped I don't wanna hear who's catching them" Kriet

3rd Period:
Kriet starts jerking on points and gets one taking into 3rd
KJ gets a 1.25 on the A-rig
Skeet fishing Byron who's catching fish says "I'm letting Byron kick my ass, you kidding me"
Kriet hooks up on a 3.25 and gets into 2nd, Kriet's talking and quickly gets another on the jerkbait
Kriet gets another and then he pitches a jig and gets a toad 6.5lbs "When I pitched in to that clump and he hit it, I almost had an accident in my britches"
Ish has moved into 4th
Kriet gets one and moves into 1st
McClelland thinking about what Kriet is doing
Skeet lands a 3.75 and he goes into 3rd
Kriet catches a couple and increases his lead on the jerkbait'
"I know I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but if Mclelland is catching them he's jerking it" Kriet
McClelland talks about maybe going to see Kriet to see what he's doing
McClelland gets a 2.75" then another and another but Kriet gets one and stays ahead
"McClelland thinking he wants to win, he's greedy" Kriet
Boyd moved into 4th
Kriet gets another
Boyd misses one and cuts his finger
KJ gets a little bump on the A-rig
Skeet gets one that barely makes  it with 1.25lber into 4th and then he gets another on a worm
Ish gets a 4lber that puts him a half pound down on Skeet
Skeet gets another on the drop shot and then another and he moves into 3rd
Kriet's says he needs to get another cause he's 3.25lb up
McClennand gets one that's 2lbs
"I'm gonna be pissed if I get beat" Kriet with 2 minutes left
McClelland gets "the wrong kind, Kriet you are so lucky right now"
He hooks up again and it's a largie "take that Kriet!"
And time ends
"1st period was the game changer"

1st McClelland 38.5lbs
2nd Kriet 37.5lbs
3rd Skeet 23.25lbs
4th KJ  21lbs
5th Ish 19lbs
6th Boyd 16.75lbs
7th Rojas 12.75lbs
8th Byron 11.25lbs

"This group learned to play the game" Stone

The End

They let us know next round is 1st one to 40lbs

Major League Fishing Episode #2 Liveblogged

If you don't won't to be spoiled don't read.

The Anglers Today:
Biffle
Brauer
Evers
Faircloth
Grigsby
Ike
Jones
Omori

Period 1:
Start with Sasquatch farting.

Evers with first fish 2.25lber
Brauer 1.75lbs
Biffle 1.75lbs
Alton 3lber
Ike 1.75lbs
Ike swears trying to get back to fish.  He catches a short.
Omori catches a dink then gets a 1.5lbs
Biffles misses a couple on the frog
Grigsby gets a 2.5lbs can't see how big it is without his glasses
Ike fish spitting minnows.
Ike says conditions are perfect but the fish aren't going.
Evers is throwing blades up in the grass.
Ike lays an F Bomb on a little keeper
Biffle gets a good one on a frog 6lbs
Times up
Apparently Faircloth got 3 in the last 15 minutes he's in 4th place with 5.75lbs
Ike 8lbs 3rd
Evers 9.75 2nd
Biffle with 13lbs
Takahiro is in last with 2 for 2.75
Brauer says he's fishing some baits he'd never touch in a normal tourny

Period 2:
Starts showing Faircloth dropshotting
Biffle gets one on his Hard Head
Alton catches one that chokes it 3.75lbs into 2nd
catches a couple more real quick
Denny switched to a crank and gets a 3lber
Talking about how tough it's being today
Denny moves into 4th with 8.5lbs
Alton is up to his 7th of the period on a jerkbait, don't know what kind. He ties Biffle
Edwin gets one on a jerk.
Haven't heard from Ike at all.
Alton takes the lead
talking with Bobby Lane says he had good average of fish but he wasn't getting the numbers
says he got sick to his stomach being in last place
Faircloth gets one fish and goes from last to tie for 4th
End of period
Alton 14 for 21.50
Biffle 7 for 18lbs
Evers 8 for 13lbs
Takahiro 8 for 11.5lbs
Faircloth 4 for 10.25lbs
Ike 6 for 9.75lbs
Denny 5 for 8.5lbs
Grigsby 3 for 6.5lbs
Tak is junk fishing

If you don't want to be spoiled don't look.
Period 3:
Ike gets first fish, then another and he moves into 3rd
Briefly however as Tak gets one on the A-Rig and ties Ike
Evers gets a fish (not shown) and moves into 3rd
Ike moves into 3rd on a blade
Tak gets a 4.25 on the A-Rig moves him into 2nd
Ike catch's a good fish and proceeds to go Ike and dump two rods overboard, luckily they hung up on another rod. 4.25lb and he's into 2nd.  Ike also got lures caught on his wallet chain.and shirt.  His ref is trying  to free the lures up and Ike hooks a fish and goes into the lead.  Ike tells a story about getting a fish at the end of the period that didn't count because time ran out, but it clued him in the fish wind blown points with brush tops. Also they show a snippet from the last break wear Ike throws around a few expletives.
Biffle gets a 4.25lber to put him .25 behind Ike
Ike lands a 2lber
Biffle breaks off a big one gets the penalty
Ike is separating himself
Faircloth has been catching fish and gets a 3lber that puts him in 2nd
Ike goes over 20lbs for the period
Alton is catching shorts
Faircloth catches a 4.75lb out of a big mat of grass
Tak gets a 2.75 and passes Biffle for 4th
Faircloth pulls another 2.75 chunk from the hydrilla
Edwin is missing fish in the hydrilla
Ike with a "giant" flops over his official, He goes Ike "Game Over"
Biffle misses a bite in the last minute, so he's eliminated
Ike does a break dance.
Wow that Challenge Cup is a big ole ugly thing.

Ike with 17 for 34.5lbs
Faircloth 13 for 32lbs
Alton 15 for 23.25lbs
Tak  12 for 23lbs
Biffle 8 for 22.25lbs
Edwin  10 for 16.5lbs
Denny  8 for 15.25lbs
Shaw 5 for 12.25lbs

Well it wasn't near the weight we saw in the last one.  I thought for sure Tak was going to start whacking them on the A-Rig in the last period.

Major League Fishing Episode 1: Liveblogged

If you don't want to get spoiled stop reading:

Today we have
Mark Davis
Brent Ehrler
Hack
Klien
Bobby Lane
A Mart
Jason Quinn
KVD

What are penalties called for? They don't tell.

1st Period:
KVD first fish 3lber on 3rd Cast
2nd fish 2lber 15 minutes in.
A Mart gets 3rd fish of the day with 2lber
Davis got one.
Quinn got one
Bobby Lane has fish but isn't on camera.
Showing guys throwing A-Rigs: Quinn, Hack, Ehler with Quinn striking first.
Ehrler gets his 1st not on A-Rig
I'm kind of unhappy that aren't showing Lane as he said he would be throwing topwater.
They also are not showing  Klein, who has a fish.
No nets apparently as Ehrler gets a 5lber
KVD ends period with 11 fish for 23lbs
Ehrler unhappy about lost fish
So for it's KVD
Davis 7 fish for 15lbs
Quinn 5 for 12.25
Klein 4 for 9.75
Hack 5 for 9.25
A Mart 5 for 8.50
Ehler 3 for 8.25
Lane 3 for 6.50

2nd Period:
Mark catches 2 shorts at once.
Hack gets one on a frog and then another.
Klein starting to get fish
Still aren't covering Lane
Ohh Golly it's Grigsby. Lame.
Great more farting Sasquatch
guys are struggling this period, in calm bluebird sky's.
Quinn just had a school come up went to it and started catching them on the A-Rig.
Ehrler sounding frustrated.
KVD still catching them.
Ehrler breaks his line on 4lber gets a 1 minute penalty.

Period ends
KVD 19 fish for 36lbs
Quinn 12 for 30.75
Klein 16 for 25.75
Davis 9 for 18.25
A Mart 10 for 16.50
Hackney 8 for 15.75
Ehrler 7 for 15.75
Lane 5 for 11.50

Bagging on KVD for catching them
Finally they show Lane, and he talks about Jack's Links Beef Jerky.


If you don't want to be Spoiled stop reading:
3rd Period:
Hack gets 1st fish and into the 4th place cut spot.
Then Davis catches one and gets it back.
Quinn starts catching fish.
Quinn catches Van Dam and then goes up
A Mart takes 4th with 23
showing Lane catch a fish, and mentions Jack Links
Quinn gets a 5.75lber
A Mart missing fish, then gets one and goes up on Davis by 4lbs
A Mart gets another drop shotting
Davis gets a 4lber, Martens up by 4lbs
Klein is catching up to KVD on the drop shot.
Klein breaks is line and sits in the penalty box.
Davis gets a little on A Mart
Ehrler starting to scooch up
Ehrler catches a 5lber and jumps A Mart with 2 minutes left
Ehrler misses one and A-Mart lands  one 1/4 short as time runs out.
It's Quinn 58.25lbs
KVD 42lbs
Klein 41lbs
Ehrler 35.25lbs

That was really good, I recommend watching it.

HMMM Can't Get Major League Fishing to Load

I want to do a screen capture but the page isn't loading on IE. Loads up fine on Google Chrome, problem is my Screem Capture is here on Explorer. I'd know understand it.

Oops Just Loaded UP

Advance Cast Pay Per View went on sale today

The ADVANCE CAST total-event BassPass, a package of seven broadcasts, will cost $17.94, with individual episodes available for $2.99 each. (The seven-event BassPass package features a “free” week.)

However:
The ADVANCE CAST that begins on February 13 will feature the first day of competition. Each subsequent week will offer the next consecutive day of competition. The seventh ADVANCE CAST broadcast will be a wrap-up show that features in-depth, on-the-water segment with the winners from each round and the Challenge Cup champion.

I assume they are going to run the first show on a loop and then switch to the second show the next week or maybe you will be able to watch it on demand.  It does say anything about how long the episode will be.

So who's in? I probably will be.