With the passage of the New Year, so came a renewed vigor for the upcoming professional fishing season. While the pro ranks won’t kick off until February’s Bassmaster Classic and the first FLW Tour event in March, the semi-pro leagues got up and running recently in Florida.

But the major headlines were a disgrace.

As we all know by now, the big news at the first Bassmaster Open on Lake Toho was not about record catches, as initially thought possible, but about two guys who got in a fight. And while I had initially thought of dismissing the whole event and refraining from comment, I think such an occurrence requires a brief review to reflect on how it may affect the industry as a whole.

To back up a bit, as we all know, Ish Monroe and Keith Poche, both Elite Series pros, were involved in an altercation on the water that resulted in Monroe being arrested and charged with battery. Later, both Monroe and Poche were disqualified from the event, and both issued statements of apology that were published here on BassFan.

Exactly what happened out on the lake is irrelevant, as only those parties involved know the truth. I certainly won’t try to speculate who was at fault.

But after reading the statements and apologies of each pro, complete with misspells and omitted words in each, I can only imagine the incident wasn’t as cut-and-dry as we may be led to believe. For instance, Poche’s statement gives the indication that he was violently attacked for no reason. Yet he was disqualified from the event, and I’m fairly certain B.A.S.S. doesn’t make it a policy of DQ’ing innocent people who are violently attacked.

Regardless, what we have here is a potential black eye for the sport. I say potential for a reason; as we may be able to compare to similar acts of aggression in other sports, like NASCAR, in recent times and be swayed either way. Some of these were actually met by fans with good ol’ boy admiration, while others, unfortunately, were met with tragedy.

Is that where we’re going in modern pro fishing?

What’s really disappointing about the whole occurrence is that it overshadowed the real story at this event: Chad Morganthaler’s win. For the second time in recent history, Morganthaler, who hails from Illinois, went to Florida and stomped the field. Last time it was a do-or-die Classic berth on the line; this time, it was amidst a massive 200-boat field. As I’ve said before, this guy’s the real deal.

But sadly, this tournament will be remembered as the one where two hotheads got into a brawl.

The real question in everyone’s mind will likely be of the fallout. We’ve seen events with just a portion of this level of drama result in major upheaval in an angler’s sponsorship portfolio. Will this occurrence result in the same?

Truthfully, I’d be surprised if it didn’t. While the industry is light years ahead of where it was just a decade ago in regard to political correctness and outspoken pros, we’re still pretty far from cutting edge. I’m guessing a few sponsors may have a hard time swallowing this pill.

Also, as childish as it really is, such drama puts a little more mystique in the “Elite pros fishing Opens” column. Anyone who fishes these events has seen it: it’s the clique afforded to those who roll up in their wrapped rigs fresh from the Big Leagues. It’s like Mickelson playing a public course; heads turn on the first tee.

And occasionally, the tour guys seem to feed off this. Many fish aggressively, come into the dock or locks fast and hold little regard for their, or their competitors’, equipment. It sounds like that’s likely what happened here.

Either way, the forward progression of bass fishing seems to be moving toward competitive aggression. Years ago, it was easy to simply enact a “first anchored competitor” rule to deal with the vast majority of on-the-water conflict. In today’s era, it appears the tournament director must act as weighmaster, judge and jury, and babysitter all in the same day. Once again I’m reminded how difficult his job is.

But such progression falls into a grey area. Recently, it’s become apparent that many of the unwritten rules of bass fishing, like honoring a leader’s water or not cutting off another competitor, have been thrown by the wayside. Nearly every tournament broadcast on television seems to have an added aspect of drama brought on by competitors complaining about a lack of ethics by their cohorts. At times, it’s as if the cameraman is waiting for just such hijinx.

And then it bubbled to a head in a lock, before the fishing even began.

Times have changed. I think it’s important that we all use this event to recognize that and, perhaps, take a step back. Not everyone cheats on their taxes, not everyone cuts in line and not everyone threatens violence for a disagreement in a bass tournament.

I’m guessing that all included in this disaster would like to take it back. And, while they never will, at least we can all reflect on it and possibly learn from it.

Remember, it’s fishing.

(Joe Balog is the often outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)