I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this, but tournament fishing has gotten plain stupid. I lauched at Coffman Beach last Thursday and a tournament was setting up on a weekday. I was told there were multiple tournaments on the same weekend as the Big Bass Bash LOZ. My buddy was at the lake that weekend and said the banks were covered by boats. This has gotten completely out of control. Tournament organizers have turned a wholesome pastime into a Las Vegas style gambling operation. The fisheries are suffering for financial gain, waterways are becoming more dangerous, and boat ramps are backed up a half mile long. Many of these fish weighed don't end up living. I have fished BFLs before and seen many dead fish, nice fish, floating around the weigh-in. I get to fish during the week, but I feel for the parent that wants to take their kid fishing on a Saturday just to see a hundred plus rigs at the ramp. Now, high school and college fishing are leading young people down a pipe dream where very few achieve success and others go into financial ruin buying $80,000 boats and enough tackle to supply a Bass Pro Shop. These schools need to build a ten acre lake on campus, stuff a hundred boats on it, and leave public fisheries alone. I get sick when I hear "pro fishermen" say we need to grow the sport. The way I see tournament fishing needs to completely cease to exist because it has imploded and thrown up all over itself. I don't care what anybody says "pro fishing" is not a job. Cops, teachers, nurses, electricians, grocery baggers, those are jobs. I'm not sure what I can do, but I plan on contacting Missouri Department of Consevation for tournament information/ regulations. Also after the election I'm contacting my state representative to share my concerns. If you feel the way I do, I encourage you to speak out as well.

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