There's a lot I don't get right now in pro fishing. Maybe you can help me.

1) I don't get a $5,000 entry fee per tournament. That is absolutely insane. And if I were spending that kind of money ($55,000) on anything, some kind of contract would be involved that both parties would sign.

2) I don't get why BASS doesn't treat the pros as one of its biggest sponsors – which, collectively, the pros are.

3) I don't get why on earth BASS makes the same one mistake over and over. It goes like this:
> Propose something half-baked without communicating with the anglers first
> Irate feedback from the anglers
> 11th-hour (right before the next season) changes made by BASS, some of which are new to the anglers, causing more irate feedback
> More changes made at 11:30, all of which are new to the anglers, causing yet more irate feedback

Hello! The solution is spelled: COMMUNICATE. That single thing is responsible for many of ESPN's and BASS's problems in this sport.

4) I don't get why BASS is unable to communicate to the pros, the industry and the fans the good things it is doing because it is doing some good things.

5) I get why some people don't like "Mike and his Likes," but I don't get why those people have to get so mad about it. Why bother? The fact is, Mike Iaconelli made it okay to be yourself in this sport, no matter who you are. That's fantastic. We don't have to like everybody.

6) I don't get why the pros have a tendency to blame other pros rather than the people who should be blamed – if blame is your thing. Gary Klein was not at fault for getting into the '05 and '06 Classics. Ike, Gerald Swindle, Skeet Reese, Marty Stone and Kevin VanDam aren't at fault for getting the lion's share of ESPN2 TV time. Why get mad at them? Is it easier than getting mad at the people who really are responsible?

7) I don't get how FLW Tour pros are allowed to practice with absolutely anyone before any tournament. That's unbelievable. Just wrong. And I don't get why that tour's rules aren't improved. It would only take about 30 minutes to make them way better.

8) I don't get why people who are holding onto the old B.A.S.S. won't let it go. Like it or not, it's gone.

9) I don't get why Schooled by Denny Brauer is being cancelled. I think that's one of the best fishing shows ever.

10) But then again, I don't get why ESPN has a bass fishing block on Saturday mornings. Duh!

11) I don't get why every pro isn't supporting the Professional Anglers Association (PAA). That group isn't supposed to be a love-fest – how could it be? A bunch of fishermen will never see eye-to-eye on everything. At worst it will be a valuable research tool. At best it could be the future of the sport.

12) I don't get the absolutism and negativity in this sport. ESPN/BASS is not evil, Irwin Jacobs/FLW Outdoors is not evil. Give it a rest.

13) I don't get why this sport is taken so seriously at times. Remember, we're all in this – those of us who fish, anyway – because bass fishing is pretty much the most fun you can have outside your house.

14) I don't get why everyone has been saying – for 5 years now – that bass fishing is where NASCAR was 10 years ago.

15) I really don't get how Kevin VanDam is so good. I mean, how is it possible? Should we be banking his genes somewhere?

16) I don't get why Fish Fishburne doesn't have a regular gig on a weigh-in stage. He's the best tournament emcee on the planet.

Jay Kumar is BassFan's CEO and occasionally manages to boat a bass.