Fishing equipment, boat maintenance, GAS...some guys simply don't have the extra $100 laying around right now. Others feel like they simply donate to the same "hammers" each weekend.

And honestly, who cares if the big tourney organizations come East or not. Lakes today are pressured enough. Bring a huge tourney to your area, put the spotlight on your local lake, and watch the whirlwind of boaters who come from all over to fish.

After MLF came to Falls, Jordan, and Harris, I frequently spotted tags from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and WV. All of them saying the same thing "We saw those boys on TV wearing them out down here and decided to plan a trip."