Seems to be quite a debate stirring about whether FLW Outdoors should have cancelled the Red River tournament this week. A large contingent of FLW Pros approached tournament officials before the pre-tournament meeting and voiced their opinions over safety concerns, prompting FLW to cancel the event.
Rivers can be dangerous and accidents can happen under good conditions. Reports are that the river is high, current is fast and the water temp is cold, add in some unusually cold air temps, floating debris, underwater obstructions and over one hundred 70 mph bass boats and you have an accident waiting to happen.
These same conditions also make for some incredibly tough fishing. FLW anglers have been reporting on Facebook all week that fishing is bad with very few bites, some stating they had not had a bite all week. Of course there were some anglers who were against the cancellation because they had fish going or were confident enough in their abilities that they could earn a check, some just wanted to fish because that's what they do.
Safety should always come first, not only for the anglers but also for the co-anglers who are at the mercy of their Pro partner for the day. I do believe though that FLW should have a contingency plan in place for occasions like this. Last year BASS made a last minute change to a different venue for the WBT Championship after they deemed conditions dangerous on the Red River, proving it can be done. These anglers have too much time and money invested to just toss the tournament out leaving no way to recoup their losses.
In my opinion, FLW made the right decision based on angler safety. I do have to wonder though, had those anglers not approached tournament officials with their concerns, would the tournament still have been cancelled? Also, if those same anglers were catching fish, would the prevailing conditions have been an issue?
Art Simms Bass Fishing
- Art Simms
- I started bass fishing after watching all of the fishing shows on tv. A few years later I thought I was pretty good, until I entered a few tournaments. I quickly realized that I wasn't as good as I thought and was only donating my money. In 1997 I joined the Viking Bassmasters of the Minnesota Bass Federation to hone my skills with some guys more experienced than me. Since that time I have learned a lot and had some major success. I have been Viking Bassmasters Club Champion three times and won sixteen club tournaments. I was the Fishers of Men Minnesota East division champion in 2006, along with a few money tournament wins and numerous top tens.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
2010 Bassmaster Classic
Here are my picks to win the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, held on Alabama's Lay Lake February 19-21.
1. Tommy Biffle - One of my all time heroes, lives or dies with the flippin stick. On somewhat of a hot streak finishing 2nd & 3rd in the two Elite post-season tournaments. He will find fish in skinny water that other anglers miss. A gut feeling.
2. Gerald Swindle - Has turned things around and fished well all year. Fishing what could be considered his home lake, he's looking for revenge after his DQ at the last Lay Lake Classic. His first Bassmaster win could very well be this years Classic.
3. Gary Klein - Always the sentimental favorite. Fishing his 28th Classic, Gary wants the Classic title bad, the only thing missing from his already impressive resume.
Of course there is also KVD and Skeet Reese, but it goes without saying they are a threat anytime, anywhere.
1. Tommy Biffle - One of my all time heroes, lives or dies with the flippin stick. On somewhat of a hot streak finishing 2nd & 3rd in the two Elite post-season tournaments. He will find fish in skinny water that other anglers miss. A gut feeling.
2. Gerald Swindle - Has turned things around and fished well all year. Fishing what could be considered his home lake, he's looking for revenge after his DQ at the last Lay Lake Classic. His first Bassmaster win could very well be this years Classic.
3. Gary Klein - Always the sentimental favorite. Fishing his 28th Classic, Gary wants the Classic title bad, the only thing missing from his already impressive resume.
Of course there is also KVD and Skeet Reese, but it goes without saying they are a threat anytime, anywhere.
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