- The expansion of Major League Fishing with the Major League Fishing Fisheries Management Division, the Major League Fishing Angler Association (MLFAA) and the MLF Foundation. Gary says that MLF is constantly evolving and progressing. The vision is much grander than where they are today, he notes, but they continue to work diligently to build and put the pieces together to support the vision they have for Major League Fishing.
Gary highlights the growth that MLF has experienced and how the acquisition of FLW in 2019 pivoted MLF from a media platform to a the largest tournament fishing organization in the country with more than 15,000 anglers. Along with those giant strides, Gary also talks about their focus on improving fisheries, giving back, enhancing habitat, educating people and furthering research of fish across the country. - Talking about his career as a whole and how that shaped his vision for MLF, Gary highlights the thrill of starting off young by competing with B.A.S.S. against giants like Roland Martin, Jimmy Houston, Bill Dance and Rick Clunn. He notes one thing that separates competitive bass angling from other professional sports is that there is no age limit - the ability to compete is all based on a person's skill. For years he was able to watch himself evolve as an angler and watch bass fishing evolve, as well, into a business and sport. It wasn't until later in his career, in the late 2000's, that Gary says it dawned on him that the sport wasn't being elevated or progressing in the way he thought it could. Although there were entry fees, prize money at stake and a television show with a modest audience, Gary says it still just wasn't enough to make a big jump to what he considered to be a "sport". With that in mind, he began to get motivated and think about how bass fishing could be expanded into a true sport and from there MLF began.
The goal has always been to elevate bass fishing to where it becomes a true professional sport: a place where anglers can achieve greatness with their abilities and be rewarded for it. With a $7.6 million season purse up for grabs, one can argue that MLF is successfully carving out a spot for competitive fishing to be recognized as a true professional sport. - 2022 will be the fourth season of the MLF Bass Pro Tour. This premiere circuit is made up of 80 of the world's top bass fishing professionals. There will be 74 returning anglers and 6 new anglers that qualified via the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. Gary says he is excited about new blood joining the Bass Pro Tour. The anglers will visit seven fisheries during the regular season and will compete for a total season purse of more than $7.6 million.
- While every angler undoubtedly has their strengths with certain techniques or in particular conditions, Gary says success is very limited if you are a one dimensional angler. Traveling across the country, from coast to coast, and fishing all the major reservoirs and bodies of water forces a person to become a more versatile angler, Gary says. You'll learn to fish shallow and deep, dirty and clear, cold and warm, all different species of fish. Learning from each of those experiences is crucial to becoming a more versatile angler. The key to an angler's success in the future will then be knowing when to use what they have learned at the right time, based on the conditions.
Watch Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour on Outdoor Channel, Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. ET. Be sure to check out the 2022 MLF Bass Pro Tour schedule and watch each event LIVE on MajorLeagueFishing.com as well as MyOutdoorTV.com.
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