Here We Go Again!

[Bill Babler]

I have not or will not be on Table Rock lake until after the maylay commonly known as the FLW derby. Have recieved emails and calls about just horrible behavior by some of the participants in wrapped boats. Most common problems, were Cutoffs, and High Speed Fly Bys, in tight situations and cove ends, and take overs at the launching ramps.

Did not whitness any of this, but since I am the Table Rock guy, I hear it.

There are some fish being found on Table Rock, but they seem to be in a very limited area. This area has been simply overtaken with derby fishermen and locals, and that is causing "Big Trouble in Little China." Couple of our premier guides might have found these fish to start, but the word is out Bigtime.

Why. Why do we have more problems as locals with the FLW, than we do any other of the multitude of other tournaments that come here. Yes, we are possisive of our water, and we don't want to be ramrodded around on it.

For some reason, some of the FLW participants, believe they have some type of dibbs on anything they want to do here.

My thoughts on this are that the FLW, is for the most part a Buy your way to fish circuit. You got the money, to register for all their events you are in. You need not win your way in, you need not have ever won anything, you just need to have MONEY. That kind of Money, the Kind of money to buy a entire yearly FLW circuit fee, is power.

That being said, Money for the most part means power. You pay you play. Some of these guys think, since they have paid to have a wrapped boat and have paid to fish here they can pretty much do what they want. ie the reason for the cutoffs and blowbys, and impropper ramp procedure.

Also they believe they are doing us a huge favor by being here. They are promoting tourism, staying in our hotels and eating in our resturants. I say to this, BIG DEAL! Branson is far past the economic gain that they bring. A big convention at the Hilton or Chateau blows their doors off, with really none of the premadonnas or any hassel.

What is a crying shame about this, is for the most part it is not the Big Names on the circuit such as the wonderful guys we met last week at the Babtist church, it is the "Want-to-be's" that are causing the problems.

I went back a couple of years and looked at all the stuff I could find on the Bassmaster Elite Series when they were here last. You know what? "NOT A SINGLE COMPLAINT, WAS REGISTERED ON THIS FORUM." Nore did I recieve 1 call or email. The reason, "ALL" of the participants are Professional Fishermen that have earned their ways onto the circuit. They are held to much higher standards and they act in a totally different manner. Buying there place into the tournament is not permitted, you have to earn it. Makes the playing field totally different. I tried to research other times Bassmaster has been here, and I personally have never had or know of anyone that has ever had a problem with any participant of a Bassmaster event on Table Rock or any of our surrounding White River or Missouri or Arkansas Lakes.

Just a totally different mindset, and a very different level of professional participant.

I will say this. There is just as high a quality in the Upper levels of the FLW. The problem is when you get below that top 30 guys or so, the trouble begins.

Lots of these guys on the FLW have earned nothing, yet they think they deserve VIP treatment. I know we are just a little Podunk Missouri and Arkansas community, but we do have some of the best Bass Fishermen in the World and they sure don't act that way. Charlie Campbell, Stacy King, Rick Clunn, Brian Snowden, Mike McClelland, Chad and Denny Brauer, Gido and Dehon Hibdon, Dave Barker and other fantastic guys that respect the people on the water, and have earned everything they have gotten.

If we are lucky, the FLW won't be back but while they are here, let them have their way. If you are having problems, don't support them by going to the Weigh-ins, just stay away from them. Conflicts that were close to coming this weekend need not happen. If it is to bad, call the Water Patrol. I'll tell you this, MSWP don't care who they are. They are expected to respect the law just like the rest of us. On a brighter note,they will be gone soon. And with God's Blessings, maybe they will not return.

Everyone be safe out there and for gosh sakes keep a good attitude, cause this fishin is due to turn loose as soon as they leave.

Good Luck

[Flippin]

Bill,

I wish you would tell us how you really feel.

They sure picked a good weekend as far weather. Too bad it is not suppose to sleet and snow this weekend. That would make it easier for me to stay away. Might be a good weekend to head to Stockton.

[Jason Essary]

Thinking of joining Bill and Bill and running to the upper bull myself. I want to take out my boy for the first real trip of the year and like &$%$ am I going to take him around guys that will act that way. Hope a lot of the FLW boys read this, but Im sure it wouldnt help if they did.

[Guest csfishinfool]

Did not whitness any of this, but since I am the Table Rock guy, I hear it.

Good Luck

Everyone complains, I've never had a problem with any of this. Now I have had my fair share or runins with locals who think they own the lake... can we hope they wont come back.

[skeeterp]

FLW boys are the devil Bobby Beuchet...Biggest load of crap. I'm not sure why I'm even bother to reply other than I read it over and over and it just gets to me some of the FLW haters. It's not the FLW guys, it's only a small % of individuals that act the way Bill is talking. Some people are respectful and some aren't. It has nothing to do with the FLW. I've been cutoff by local, buzzed by locals, had inappropriate actions at the ramp. I had a guy cut the corner in front of me so close, I got spray from his motor, this was in Anglers In Action 2 years ago. It has nothing to do with the individual, it has to do with how you were raised, how you respect yourself and others, and the choices you make to conduct yourself in a professional courteous way. Give the FLW boys a break! I am heading to the Rock on Sunday though, jerkbait all day, hope its good.

[zipstick]

Bill,

If the majority of FLW guys are poorly behaved, that's a bad thing. I fished this tour for three years and I did boat with a few guys who acted poorly, but most of the guys did behave well. The two nastiest examples that I witnessed personally were one guy was thrown out for cheating in FLW events, and one who has won The Bassmaster's Classic, (and no longer fishes the FLW,) threw a gigantic tantrum when he arrived late at weigh in. Yes, big bucks mankes many act like fools.

I'm not defending poor behavior, but the FLW last year featured 200 pro boaters as well as some co-anglers out prefishing in their own rigs. That's at least 130- 150 more tournament boats on the water as compared to the BASS tour guys who have 100 competitors. Just the sheer number of FLW boats makes a major difference in crowding and blow byes.

I've also fished many local and regional tournaments on Table Rock and other local lakes and I've been cut off on banks, spied on, nearly run over by guys who think they're driving a car on the highway, "cozied up to" when I landed a good fish, and even passed by at take off by lower numbered boats who try to weave in and out of traffic. I've seen other guys network during tournaments, and bend the rules in other ways as well. I even had a local gal co-angler rip the lower jaw of a bass to make the poor thing measure 12 inches. All I'm saying is that we have poor sports in all areas of the country, and the Ozarks is fairly well represented in this area also. I think bad pro and local behavior is just a reflection of our society generally today where respect is in short supply for many. Thankfully, many of the good guys can lead by example of how to behave on the water, and it would also be a good thing for the real pro's to take some of the rude boat jockeys by the scruff of the neck and give them some direct advice on proper behavior.

[denjac]

I think I will go play with them Thurs and friday. I believe this lake going to explode by week end!

[Bill Babler]

Excellent points made by all. We as humans are very imperfect, and we as locals, have no more right to the water than the touring pro's of any circuit.

Zipstick's point of just so many additional anglers on the water is a very well thought out analogy of what is for sure happening. Take that fact and then put the majority of those boats along with the locals in a 5 mile stretch of water and OOPS! you got problems.

This about the FLW, and then no more for me. I have a dear friend, that has not only fished the BassMaster top 150's,when it was going, and now Elite Series and the then Ever Start and FlW series in I believe he told me over 100 events on the Co. Angler Side. He is fishing this weekend and will be at my house in a few minutes.

As he tells me on the Bassmaster Elite circuit and before on the Old Circuit, you pretty much were in the boat with a Pro, that had a plan and an idea of what he was going to do. He was and is prepaired. You knew his name and how he fished. He said he has never had an Elite Angler ask him where he should fish.

Not so much with the FLW. As the CoAngler, you are pretty much in prayer mode as he tells me as to your draw. He has had on numerious times had FLW Pro's ask him where he fished yesterday or what he would do, or what he thinks they should do. They just didn't know. Maybe here is where the problem is. He has also fished with some of the top fishermen in the World on the FLW Circuit, and you pretty much know that as soon as you get in the boat. As Dave puts it, the Top half and the bottom half of the FLW are two different worlds.

It reminds me of the guy just wanting to kill that deer so badly that he mistakes the noise he hears for a deer and shoots a human. He really thought he saw the deer, but it was not.

Money,Fame, Coveting Glory, and the unbriddled Competitive nature to win can push very fine people to make hasty decisions, whether they be locals or strangers.

I wish everyone on the water this weekend Pro's and Joe's, Local's and Yokels a fantastic weekend and only the best.

Good Luck

[Hogfan]

Everyone complains, I've never had a problem with any of this. Now I have had my fair share or runins with locals who think they own the lake... can we hope they wont come back.

I agree with csfishingfool. Spoke to a few FLW "Pros" on Sunday at Shell Knob and got nothing but respect from all. The entire group shouldn't be judged by the actions of a few bad apples.

[Fat Boy]

I will agree with a little of everyone on this topic, I have driven a boat for the FLW on championship day and seen true pros or at least the top 10 was at that day. Now I have also seen the worst in what I would call the ones who have the money to pay to play, hell they ain't got a clue, they just have the money. I fished this past wkend from Buttermilk to Ashers both days I seen Pros act like true Pros and I seen boaters (so called pros) act like someone owed them something. I sit back and watched a boater from TX I think run by Campers PT going up lake he ran what he thinks was in the channel he has no clue how close he was to tearing something up, and he went out of sight going up lake staying in the channel the whole way. Lands sake he was on the Rock mid lake and thinks he needs to run the channel he ain't got a clue. As far as people acting like they own the lake that happens every tournament here just come to the upper James there are 2 boats that own everyting from Bridgeport up, I agree with Bill B.A.S.S guys do it the old way they earn there patches