(Editor's note: Chris Jones was employed by FLW Outdoors from 2002 until earlier this month. He was a popular tournament director and emcee for several circuits, most recently the Western FLW Series and Western Strens. He penned the following letter as a goodbye note to the people he met along the way.)

Dear anglers, sponsors, tournament officials, host communities, service-crew reps and every member of the fishing world whom I have come into contact with since I entered the tournament business back in 2002 – this letter is for you.

I want to start off by saying the inquiries into where I’ve gone and what I’ve been doing have been nothing short of overwhelming. For legal reasons, I cannot comment on my situation with FLW Outdoors, but the calls, messages and emails over the past few weeks as to "What happened?" "Where have you been?" and "Where are you going" have been incredible. So, instead of riding off into the sunset, never to be heard from again, I’ve decided to write this letter to bring closure to this particular chapter of my life.

I’ve met so many good people in this industry and have established so many great relationships that I couldn’t walk away without saying "thank you" for the opportunities that each and everyone of you gave me. I had the privilege and honor to work with so many good people in so many different capacities and for that, I’m forever grateful. Whether we crossed paths one time or many times, I want you to know that I’m thankful we got to spend that time together and I cherish each and every person that I ever came into contact with.

Ninety-nine percent of the people I’ve met in this industry are awesome people. I’ve made friendships and created bonds that no one can ever break nor take away from me. I always told the anglers that "the money spends, but the friendships that you make on the tournament trail will last a lifetime." I always put my heart into that statement and know it to be true.

Passion. That's a very powerful word, and it's what the great sport of bass fishing is all about. I can honestly say that every moment I spent in this sport revolved around passion. I often get asked, "How do you remember all of those names at registration?" or "How do you remember all of those stats and how well an angler did on a particular lake?"

I remember all of that because of my love for the game. I know how hard the anglers work and the sacrifices they make to compete in this great sport, and I'll always have the utmost and deepest respect for each and every one of them. I'm thankful for them and I’m humbled by them. I have many, many memories from the East Coast to the West Coast that have changed my life forever!

You know you’re doing something right when two of the legends of this sport give you their winning baits on the stage during their winning moment. That happened in two of my last three Eastern FLW Series events. Both David Fritts and Guido Hibdon gave me those baits and told me the greatest thing a tournament official could ever ask to hear: In so many words, "Thanks for making this so much fun again." Those words pierced my heart and made me want to work that much harder for everyone involved. Those are life-changing moments.

I've run divisions all over the country at the highest level of the sport, but there's always been a special place in my heart for the West. I had the opportunity to serve the western anglers for 7 years and watch their potential explode. That potential is still there. I want each and every one of you to know how much you mean to me and that I can only hope our paths will cross again some day. I miss you already.

What's next for me? To simply answer this question: I have no idea. I love this sport and would love to get back into the game, as I really feel like it’s my calling. However, this is a very small market, so opportunities to continue to work in the sport are limited. Things happen for a reason, so maybe it’s time for me to step back and watch for a while.

The passion still burns in my heart to serve the angling world, so if I ever get another chance, I want you to know that I’ll make it happen. Until then, good luck and good fishing. I’ll leave you with a few of those key phrases that many of you tease me with:

“Here comes another five-bass limit!"
“Wowwwwwwwwww!” (Probably the most popular one).
“That fish could make the difference in a paycheck at the end of the day.”
“We’ll see you right back on this stage at the next one.”

I would like to thank BassFan.com, the most popular competitive bass-fishing website in the world, for the opportunity to say thanks to all of those I had the opportunity to work with over the past 7 years.

God bless,

Chris Jones