BFL LAKES 2010

[jcox7]

I talked to Anthony Wright a couple weeks ago. He was saying that he was not sure what the lakes for next year would be. He claims that he needs more input from the guys that fish in the state he asked me to put a list together of lakes that us tournament fisherman would like to see. I know that we have done this in the past and it didnt seem to make a diffrence but I figured I would do this for him and give him my findings so throw ideas at me. Also let me know what others are thinking.

This is just me wondering does anyone think that the BFL in MI. would run better if it was ran like the LBL division where all they fish is one lake all year they fish Kentucky Barkley all year out of two launches. Does anyone think we would draw more numbers if we only fished St. Clair & Erie out of two launches. I dont think that I wouldnt like this all that much but I wonder if numbers would be better?

Jeff Cox
teamsilverstrike.com

[Fishmael]

I think they should mix it up.  We need a (at least one) west side tourney again.  How about Muskegon with no off limits (meaning Lk MI and other lakes)?  That would definitely support the number of boats.  With Burt/Mullet being rated as one of the top 3 smallmouth fisheries in the U.S. (as listed by the FLW), how can you not go there too?

[TCook]

I would like to see a diverse schedual.

Burt & Mullett (early June)
Muskegon/Grand River with LM open(early July)
St Clair (Aug)
Muskegon/Grand River LM open (late Aug)
Detroit River 2 day (mid Sept)

[motocross269]

I would not want to see it limited to one body of water....

Here would be my choices....

Burt and Mullet
Grand river
St Clair
Charlevoix
Detroit river 2 day

[Jighead]

For purely selfish reasons I'd like to see them all on St. Clair, since I live three miles from the lake.

A more diverse schedule like those mentioned above would make things more interesting, but I really think that it would drive participation down.  They need to support the trail with the numbers, and I think St. Clair / Detroit River does that.

[MBell]

I don't care for the LBL format, but if it kept the boats above 150 I would fish it.  I also don't get over to the west side much, but if it would increse numbers I would be willing to travel.

Burt/Mullet(Spring)
Saginaw Bay(Spring/Summer/Fall, just not August!!!)
St Clair
Erie
St. Clair River (Fall)

-Matt

[skeeterman190]

 Hey im all for participation. thats a big thing. but how can U say that you are the best fisherman in Michigan when you win the points on the BFL? cause u can catch fish on st.clair and erie. thats crazy. its a great body of water, maybe one of the best in the world. but too tell me that you are an awesome fisherman cause you can catch them there and then weigh in 7lbs or something like that on the grand river shows me you are one dimensional. why dont you try fishing some tourneys down here in Indiana where i cut my teeth and see where you stand. I WANT A SPLIT SCHEDULE.I will fish the BFL's but think that we need to incorp some more diversity into it.-skeeterman-
Burt/Mullet or Charlevoix
Muskegon(lk mich open)
St.Clair.
Grand River (lk mich open) or Higgins and Houghton
Detroit River
We all get our fix 2 on each the west and east and a bed fishing bonaza on either one!

[cr]

Yes I would like to see it stay on one lake, LSC, and think it would increase participation. I live outside of Flint, so I can say that I'm not just saying that because I live next to the lake, but because it is one  the best fishery's in MI. Also it would make it easier to prepare/prefish for T's as opposed to trying to prefish a different lake for each T. Moneys going to be tight for many and that's where the bulk of the cost in fishing the BFL's go's, is prefishing.  But mostly I don't think it should go to Sandusky.   My Two Cents....

[Durand Dan]

Up to 90% of Michigan Bass fishing is Largemouth fishing. I believe that is what the trail should reflect.  It's great that St. Clair and Erie hold a great population of Smallie's but that doesn't totally represent what the state of Michigan offers,

[TCook]

I love smallmouth fishing but the way I look at it the guys we send down south for the regionals need to be great at catching largemouth. I would think most guys that fish the BFL's goal is to qualify for the regional and advance from there. I beleive with the current schedual that the majority of the top 40 are specialists at catching smallies on Erie and St clair and will likley do poorly down south in the regional. Like I said before just look at the results from Cherokee. I know we dont have reserviors up here like they do down south but I think if more rounded anglers were making the top 40 and fished for largemouth in the MI BFL the better chance they have. Maybe it will be different in Madison but I doubt it, we will see.
    I agree with your opinions though, participation and $$ will be the ultimate decider.

[skeeterman190]

 Durand Dan totally agree. we are just going to get in a peeing match here as we did on the post about the weekend series. im not gonna get any more in depth into this as to this post. I stated the lakes id like to see and the opinion that i had. i believe that the best turnout on numbers is on St. Clair and Detroit river because that is what has been catered too. There is a huge number of fisherman over there that will fish anything there. as is there is a huge number of fisherman on the Westside that will fish anything there. and dont gimmie no BS about all those tourneys are team tourneys. yes they are because thats what is there. so the 90+ guys that fish in there boats arent gonna come out cause they dont have a partner. when you get so far into this sport you really dont look for your partner to support u finacially. its more as somethng that you missed and may wanna pay more attention too. granted there are alot out there for the companionship and hobby but there are alot that would put up every cent they got to fish against you on THERE waters.-skeeterman- im done- see my schedule i hope at least one Westsider gets back in there, thank you.....

[Jighead]

I agree with skeeterman190's points about us sending the best 40 big water fishermen to the regionals, rather than the best rounded fishermen.  It doesn't really make sense to call our division the Michigan division if all we fish are St. Clair and Erie.  Nor does it make sense to send us to Ohio for one. 

Like I said before - putting my selfish reasons aside - I would like to see them mix it up and see what happens.  Maybe one St. Clair, one Detroit River, with the rest on inland "largemouth" waters.  We have alot of great bodies of water that will support 100+ boats.

My guess is it's more about the ramps and other facilities that won't allow the numbers on inland lakes.  The Grand has abundant municipal parking, with Metro Beach and Elizabeth Park not being DNR controlled ramps either ( I forget what Fisherman's Landing is).  Now, I haven't fished any tourneys on that side anywhere else so I don't know the numbers they draw and whether the ramps are DNR or not.  So don't jump on me......I'm only speculating.

[motocross269]

Dan or some of my other fellow Old timer's correct me if I am wrong on this...(It has been since the late 80s early 90s)

Back when the BFLs were Redman it seems to me that the schedule hit

Saginaw Bay
Muskegon Lake(Lk Michigan in play)
Wixom
Lake St Clair
Grand River
Coldwater chain of lakes..(Marble..I think it was)

If I remember right we had more boats then so it definetly is possible to put inland largemouth lakes on the schedule......

[SethV]

I like LM fishing more than SM fishing.  I grew up in the south and I find it much easier.  I would like to go back to the Grand more than anyone - I have only fished over there 2 times (BFL's) and had 2 top 10's. 

That said, I think if we want the best numbers, the trail needs to focus on LSC.  It is the highest profile lake with the largest number of fisherman. 

I will fish & support whatever gets the highest number of boats.  I love the BFL's, I just wish we could get them in the 150-200 boat range.  When I fished the NE division, we had full 200 boat fields and if you did not sign up early with a gaurantee, you would not get in.  That was a lot of fun!

Seth

[MadWags]

I think Burt Mullet is a fragile fishery and they should not return there in 2010. Those lakes should be rested and not fished during the spawn. LSC and its connecting straights on the other hand, has the numbers and the diverse eco system to support the fishing pressure of a tournament trail of this size. For more than selfish reasons, but also including selfish reasons, the trail should concentrate specifically on LSC. The number of participants will increase dramatically if all 5 tournaments are held on these waters. I am willing to bet on it!

[McCarter]

 

[jcox7]

Brian are those the lakes you plan on fishing with the BFL this year?

Just having fun with ya

Jeff

[LGMOUTH]

Im with all the largemouth guys.

Burt/mullet or Elk/torch
Grand River
St Clair
Muskegon
Erie

[Skip Johnson]

Well Jeff you know my oppinion allready but Ill post it anyways.
I DO NOT PLAN ON FISHING MANY IF ANY BFL's AS LONG AS SANDUSKY's ON THE SCHEDULE AND THE GRAND RIVER IS OFF!
At this time I DO NOT plan on fishing any, I will be in Cheboygen for the TBF and wont be fishing the BFL!
I spoke with Anthoney prior to last years sandusky tx and told him why it was the only tournament I wasnt registered to fish and he asked me to please fish it, well I did,,,, it sucked, I hated it!
I love new water, big water and Erie so it wasnt that, I just didnt want another smallmouth tournament or another Erie tournament and I love Erie its just that driving down to Ohio from port huron was realy far for a tournament that had only 80 something boats and what...something like $2500 1st place...pointless!
I couldnt believe they put Sandusky back on after only 80 something boats showed up, Anthoney's whole selling point was he was trying to increase #'s by pulling Ohio boys in...well that didnt work becouse we lost a bunch of Michigan guys and didnt get all that many Ohio guys obviousley so what the heck did he re schedule it down there again for? Im guessing the Sandusky chamber of commerce greased the deal to come back? pureley speculation on my point but I know for a fact Im not the only guy that burned Anthoneys ear off about putting Sandusky on the 2008 schedule.
Im not even wasting my time with a call to him again becouse it obviousley fell on deaf ears.
I wanted to fish the BFL and REALY wanted to try to qualify for regionals at Ft Madison but after I heard Sandusky was still on the schedule I decided to fish the Stren Central instead becouse that tour is going to Ft Madison and that tour IS NOT going to Sandusky.


                                RANT OVER
                                       

[DOWD]

I'll bet that FLWOUTDOORS signed a multi year contract with Sandusky, thus its back on the schedule for this year.
As for qualify for the regional, I did it in '07 only fishing 3 events. Its possible to skip one event and still make the regional.