Okay, so now we're bass fishermen who have to worry about class systems, bankruptcies, inventory financing and who knows what else? I'm still trying to figure out how to keep that swimbait on the hook just the way I like it. Now you're telling me I need to think about politics, the economy, Genmar and some bubble thing? I suspect that most fishermen are like me and they just want to go fishing and compete in any tournament that'll let them sign up.

With the economy on its proverbial rear end I guess we all should have anticipated the changes. The entire free world can't possibly be falling apart while fishermen skate by unscathed. Most of us can remember the time when we went fishing so we wouldn't have to think about such nonsense. But tournaments are hard to find in some areas and a decent showing will barely generate enough money to cover your expenses. It's tough all around and there's a lot of empty seats on television during those NASCAR races on Sunday afternoons too.



But here's the thing: When fall arrives, college football stadiums across the country will continue to be standing-room only. Wait a minute, didn't we just say money was tight and it's tough all over? What the heck is going on here? They don't have to beg us to show up, they overcharge us for a drink of water and we blindly go stumbling into Tuscaloosa, Austin or Ann Arbor like sheep to the slaughter. Well maybe sheep to the slaughter only reside in Knoxville, but you get the point.

Likewise, we won't stop fishing and as long as I can convince two other guys to go with me we'll continue to figure out a way to take each other's money. The simple answer is we love it and we'll squeeze that last dime out of the bank account to go fishing.

Tournaments will cut back a little, boats will get more affordable again and no one will expect to live like a movie star on fishing income. At what point was it when we all decided that we could just quit our jobs and go fishing and Ranger and Strike King would pay the mortgage for us? A very few fortunate anglers in the last 30 years could really say they were able to pull that off over time. Unless I wake up tomorrow as KVD I think I'd better get my butt to work. Hey, on the upside, the retirement plan's better anyway.

We turned a terrible and huge corner when the two major circuits started dreaming of million-dollar television contracts and started reducing the fields with the NASCAR model. All this elite talk seems to have resulted in a reduced tournament schedule and a continual decrease in quality television coverage.

When we all watched Bob Cobb on Sunday nights and fished out of smaller, more affordable boats, I think we were happier. There were no fishing movie stars or million-dollars homes built off the back of grassroots tournament fisherman.

I don't have an economics degree but it seems to me when you create more opportunities for guys to realize their dream and fish at the highest level you'll sell more tackle and boats. FLW has cut the field and the only way to fish the Elite Series at this point is – well, I'm not sure you can even fish the Elite Series.

Who cares about elite and million-dollar paydays, fantasy fishing and all that crap anyway? Probably the 10 or 15 guys this year who'll benefit from it while the tackle and boat companies go out of business. Some guy in Arkansas didn't buy that new Ranger this year because FLW changed their qualification deal and tour size. Consequently, some guy at the factory in Arkansas couldn't buy his wife that new home she wanted and she left him for a civil servant with a steady check.

The same could be said for the co-angler who wanted to fish with BASS and doesn't really need to upgrade his equipment anymore because he can't fish with the professionals anyway.

Let's end the debate on which circuit has the most accomplished anglers, get costs, payouts and opportunities figured out and go fishing. I for one will be back chasing my dream next year just as soon as I get my bank account right-sized. See you on the water.

(Chuck Medley fished the FLW Tour as a pro for 3 years. Prior to that, he served his country for 24 years in the U.S. Army and retired as Command Sergeant Major from the U.S. Army Military Police Corps. He's been deployed to Iraq and the Middle East and is currently a Level II instructor and senior analyst for the Department of Defense.)